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Is this worth taking a chance on

Posted: Sun Jun 19, 2022 2:13 pm
by Stu9
I have the chance of an old 99' 9-3 vert, a few things done but not sure, no mot but seemingly runs and drives and the roofs works (which is a bonus :mrgreen: ) how much should I offer or leave it.

Re: Is this worth taking a chance on

Posted: Sun Jun 19, 2022 2:41 pm
by Espin99T
A question more suited to ''What's it Worth''.

Re: Is this worth taking a chance on

Posted: Sun Jun 19, 2022 2:47 pm
by Stu9
No problem I haven't been on in a few years and didn't see this section sorry.

Re: Is this worth taking a chance on

Posted: Sun Jun 19, 2022 2:56 pm
by John Wigley
Stu9 wrote:I have the chance of an old 99' 9-3 vert, a few things done but not sure, no mot but seemingly runs and drives and the roofs works (which is a bonus mist en: ) how much should I offer or leave it.


Good afternoon, 'Stu9'. We bought a '99 with new MOT from a dealer in 2015. We paid £1995 for it and had it checked out at our trusted local garage. They reported that although the hood was working correctly, two of the rams were leaking quite badly. These later failed in short order, before which the hydraulics required topping up every 10 - 20 cycles. It is better not to take the roof operation for granted, but to check it thouroghly.

Secondly, do try to view the underside on a lift. Our garage found corrosion (I kept the photographs for evidence) close to the jacking points that they considered should have been an MOT fail. Words were had with the supplying dealer and this was made good, but by then we had lost confidence in the car.

When we found that the cost of new rams would exceed the value of the car, we part exchanged it at a Saab specialist (who could not have been more helpful) for an '06 car. These, in our view, are a much better proposition, with their improved hood and much reduced scuttle shake compared with the earlier car.

I'm not saying that you should look a gift horse in the mouth, but our experience turned into an expensive mistake. Our mistake was to trust the dealer in question despite their good local reputation. An expensive lesson, which we should not have needed after almost 50 years of motoring, was duly learned. Do your homework and remember, buyer beware!

Regards, John.

Re: Is this worth taking a chance on

Posted: Sun Jun 19, 2022 3:15 pm
by Stu9
Thanks John, Yes I had the "old" model a few years ago and scuttle shake was quite bad, overall though a nice example but I'm going back easily about 10-12 years. I have also had the "newer" model but in estate/wagon flavour and although it was (as you rightly say) a better made example, it drove lovely but had an electrical fault with the passenger headlight (when I turned the lights on the left after a few seconds went out :loco: ) I never did find the problem.

But yes it's buyer beware ect as we know, it's not far from me a tempted to go and see it and depending on what I see, I may well maybe go for the "newer" one.

Sorry I forgot to mention that it's auto as I want "lazy" driving again :D

Re: Is this worth taking a chance on

Posted: Sun Jun 19, 2022 7:52 pm
by Stu9
I thought I might have more responce but I guess it's just an banger at quite literally beer money, I'll think about it.

Re: Is this worth taking a chance on

Posted: Sun Jun 19, 2022 8:24 pm
by John Wigley
Stu9 wrote:I thought I might have more responce but I guess it's just an banger at quite literally beer money, I'll think about it.


Without seeing the car, it's difficult to offer a meaningful opinion, 'Stu9', which is why I deliberately refrained from suggesting a specific figure. If pressed to declare my hand, I would think that, in reasonable condition but without a current MOT, it is probably worth a little more than scrap value - a few hundred at most.

If it were my car and I had a reasonable degree of confidence in it's ability to pass an MOT, I would invest 50 quid in putting it through one. If it passed, I would then advertise it at perhaps £995 ONO expecting to haggle and shake at maybe £750. If it failed, at least I and any intending purchasers would know upon what and the likely cost of rectification. This, in turn, should indicate a realistic asking price. Without an MOT, it is an unknown quantity, will require trailering away, and, as such, I suggest, of little significant value.

That's about as much as I think anyone can reasonably say at this point without knowing a great deal more about the motor car in question. Why not have a look at it and let us know what you think? That way, you may well receive more rsponse to your request.

Regards, John.

Re: Is this worth taking a chance on

Posted: Sun Jun 19, 2022 9:09 pm
by databar
I'm afraid i agree with John and not knowing the condition of the car it's
How long is a bit of string, worth scrap £200, with MOT £500 upwards, good condition £1500/£2500

Re: Is this worth taking a chance on

Posted: Sun Jun 19, 2022 9:26 pm
by Espin99T
databar wrote:I'm afraid i agree with John and not knowing the condition of the car it's
How long is a bit of string, worth scrap £200, with MOT £500 upwards, good condition £1500/£2500


^^What he said.

Re: Is this worth taking a chance on

Posted: Mon Jun 20, 2022 12:52 pm
by Stu9
That's true
I might not be going for it as the seller's being a bit of an a hole