Has anyone bought a used car knowing it was reported as a lemon?

[Jeanne B]

I was seriously considering buying an '03 9-3 Vector as my second vehicle until I ran the Carfax report today and discovered it was reported as a "Manufacturer Buyback or Lemon Reported" in CA with three of the four owners (the first owner had it 3 years, the second had it for a month, the third for 3 months). Interestingly the last owner was in Maine (where I live) and owned it for the last 3-1/2 years with no additional problems reported (other than rear brake caliper and alternator replacment) . Sorry if this is a silly question but would it be safe to assume the lemon problem was fixed knowing that the last owner had no problems? Is there any way to determine the cause of the manufacturer buyback?

I fell in love with the car as soon as I saw it so I was disappointed to see the Carfax report and I've been to about half a dozen Saab dealers and this is the only Vector I've seen.

I'm sure most people will say stay clear of it. I'm just curious if anyone has actually purchased a car knowing it was reported in another state as a lemon.

 

[surfergirl602]

You'd just be setting yourself up for trouble. Just because someone owned it for over three years doesn't mean that there weren't any problems with it. Many could be unreported, etc. or they tried to fix it themselves before trading it in.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

Also look at it from an resale perspective, if you're questioning buying it, others well question buying it from you later down the road.

Have you ever owned a SAAB or other European car?

 

[Jeanne B]

Also look at it from an resale perspective, if you're questioning buying it, others well question buying it from you later down the road.

Good point!!!