Are parts for Saabs becoming expensive?

I'm thinking of buying a 2007 Saab 9-3 Linear Sport, 1.9 diesel. It's in good condition and seems to be a very good price, but I'm told parts for Saabs are becoming ridiculously expensive and that's why you can purchase them so cheaply. Can you shed any light on this?

Jules Hickson (Dublin)

Jun 2015 Filed under: choosing used car

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Expert answer

Hi Jules,

You could be on to something there alright. The 9-3 is generally a pretty reliable car, although you have to watch carefully for things like engine ECU problems (if it's slow to fire up or runs sluggish then walk away) and gearbox and clutch issues. 

As for parts - there is definitely a price difference. A quick trawl of the listings over at micksgarage.ie will show you that, for instance, a replacement front wing for the 9-3 will cost you €114 whereas the same part for a contemporary BMW 3 Series will only set you back €70.  That's not the case right across the board for all parts but there is definitely a premium charged for Saab bits.

Neil Briscoe - Complete Car Adviser
@neilmbriscoe