New Saab owner - a few questions...

[Kuroblack]

Folks

I'm planning to trade in my current Nissan for a 93 Vector Sport TID next week, and just wanted to ask a few questions...

1. Being realistic for a second, I'm not really expecting the Saab to be Nissan-like in it's reliability. Luckily, I appear to have an excellent dealer (which always helps) but I was wondering what issues I shoul dbe looking out for..?

The care is 8 months old, so has a stack of warranty - which makes me feel a little better.

2. The car has some kind of telephone setup, but I'm not sure what this is. The car is the previous genertation 93, so the Saab website is pretty useless. I remember the car has wheel mounted buttons, but would anyone have any tech details...?

3. MP3 - the spec says something about MP3 - does this mean the CD player will play an MP3 CD, or do I have to use an external device with the 3.5mm plug?

Thanks all

[craig1912]

Folks

I'm planning to trade in my current Nissan for a 93 Vector Sport TID next week, and just wanted to ask a few questions...

1. Being realistic for a second, I'm not really expecting the Saab to be Nissan-like in it's reliability. Luckily, I appear to have an excellent dealer (which always helps) but I was wondering what issues I shoul dbe looking out for..?

The care is 8 months old, so has a stack of warranty - which makes me feel a little better.

2. The car has some kind of telephone setup, but I'm not sure what this is. The car is the previous genertation 93, so the Saab website is pretty useless. I remember the car has wheel mounted buttons, but would anyone have any tech details...?

3. MP3 - the spec says something about MP3 - does this mean the CD player will play an MP3 CD, or do I have to use an external device with the 3.5mm plug?

Thanks all [/b]

1. I've a 3 yr old 9-3 Vector Sport 150 TDI and apart from an EGR valve replacement (this is very common) its been very reliable.
2. If it has the built in phone there will be a SIM card reader in the boot (underneath the rear parcel shelf). You need a big SIM card. Mine works fine with a PAYG vodaphone card- I divert my mobile to it when I'm in the car.
3. I don't think the CD player is MP3 compatible but there is a 3.5mm plug in the central armrest for an external MP3 player

[p_square]

I have the standard (AMP 1?) radio CD with ext 3.5mm plug and it is MP3 CD compatible (9-3 MY07). As soon as you insert the CD you get a little browse application and some track info displayed. It's not iTunes, but it does its job well. The input jack accepts anything without problem. My iPod does sound a little bit quiet and I always have to crank it up to hear anything at all.

You should be fine, I'd say.

As far as reliability is concerned, I am not the person to ask...

P

[sgould]

I suspect you are getting a 2007 car. This will be the old shape outside but have the new (current) style dashboard inside??

If so, I believe that there is a socket in the dash for you to connect an IPod or similar. Don't know about the CD playing mp3 stuff though.

If you don't have the Saab phone box in the boot, you need to install your own phone. There should be a connector in place to link this to the car audio. Only the volume button on the steering wheel will work with this. Se this thread from yesterday about putting a phone in: http://www.saabscene.com/forum/index.php?s...;#entry31666204

[stevedol]

2007+ audio system CD player is mp3 compatible, i.e put mp3s on a cd and the player will read and play them.
The Infotainment handbook describes how the CD should be compiled.

[Kuroblack]

Thanks folks

Yes the dash is pretty new, I don't have the separate binnacle in the centre of the dash, and it's surrounded with chrome too - if that makes sense.

I guess I'll just have to take a good look around when I pick it up!

[sgould]

Some owners have had the chrome surround sprayed black to remove the reflection from the windscreen! Could be a freebie from a good dealer, if it bothers you. I found the reflection a problem on a test drive I did.

[kprm77]

Welcome to Saabscene kuroblack