Hi everyone,
I bought a 2005 Saab 9-3 Arc Convertible from a neighbor about a year ago for $1,800. Never even considered a Saab but drove it and really liked it, plus I have a 6 year old daughter so rides in the convertible going to get some ice cream is very fun.
132k on the clock when I purchased, have about 138k now after a year (the Saab shares time with my daily driver 2004 Mazda 3). I attached my before and after of my progress through the year.
The first is the fill hole after 2 months/800 miles with 1 quart of MMO and 5 quarts Mobil 1 0w-40 Euro. Others include headlight restoration, throttle body cleaning, convertible top cleaning, Saab center cap clean (nothing worked to clean it except, you guessed it, nail polish). The ATF on the left is when I first drained it (black), the middle picture is the current ATF state, and the right is virgin ATF for reference. I've done 3 drain and fills over the year.
Finally some trim restoration with Meguiars and a before and after of the car as a whole (I sourced some OEM Saab 17" Five spoke wheels so I now have summer tires on those, and kept the 16" wheels that came with the car and A/S for winter).
If you have any tips, stories, knowledge to share on Saab 9-3's please share! Thanks for reading.
I bought a 2005 Saab 9-3 Arc Convertible from a neighbor about a year ago for $1,800. Never even considered a Saab but drove it and really liked it, plus I have a 6 year old daughter so rides in the convertible going to get some ice cream is very fun.
132k on the clock when I purchased, have about 138k now after a year (the Saab shares time with my daily driver 2004 Mazda 3). I attached my before and after of my progress through the year.
The first is the fill hole after 2 months/800 miles with 1 quart of MMO and 5 quarts Mobil 1 0w-40 Euro. Others include headlight restoration, throttle body cleaning, convertible top cleaning, Saab center cap clean (nothing worked to clean it except, you guessed it, nail polish). The ATF on the left is when I first drained it (black), the middle picture is the current ATF state, and the right is virgin ATF for reference. I've done 3 drain and fills over the year.
Finally some trim restoration with Meguiars and a before and after of the car as a whole (I sourced some OEM Saab 17" Five spoke wheels so I now have summer tires on those, and kept the 16" wheels that came with the car and A/S for winter).
If you have any tips, stories, knowledge to share on Saab 9-3's please share! Thanks for reading.
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