Date: Tue, 24 Feb 1998 16:56:59 +1030 From: dwareingnopsamaide.on.net[anti-spam-remove] (David Wareing) Subject: Re: Opinion Needed - Saab 900 Series/ 9-3
In article <34f27a67.4049730nopsam.igs.net>, spindrnopsamigs.net wrote: > I'm considering to lease a 98 Saab 900 SE turbo or the new '99 9-3 > <same car I think>. I'm interested in getting some feedback from > owners and past owners on this vehicle. I can't help you out with the new 9-3, other than comment that it looks like something I'd want rather badly, but... > Of particular importance is > overall reliability; safety <if you were ever in a saab during this > event>; I've been in two major, life-threatening accidents in a 900: In the first, I hit a kangaroo (and sadly, her joey) while travelling at over 100kmh one early christmas morning. (Roos seem to like headlights.) After leaving the road in an indescribable spinning motion, we hit wooden posts and were tossed around after hitting some dune-like dirt mounds. The front end of the car was a mess (bumper smashed inwards like a V, goodbye bonnet, engine pushed back towards us, wheels mashed, etc.) but my wife and I were physically unharmed. 900 was transported to a repair shop and came in again in great shape, albeit at substantial cost to the insurance company. (BTW, is there a roo/moose bar available for SAABs? It seems unlikely given the nature of the hood action, but it's a necessity for travelling in the outback around here, IMO.) Secondly, after turning at a traffic light, I was hit dead centre in the side by another car travelling at a minimum of 60kph. (Well, that was the speed reported to the police by the other driver -- that speed happened to be the maximum speed limit on that road...) The 900 was a total write-off but apart from some minor lacerations to my wife caused by flying glass, we both walked away from the scene in good shape. IMO, the 900 has saved the lives of my wife and I on at least one occasion, and very possibly on the other too. I have little doubt that I would be an organ donor right now if I was driving a lesser car at the time of those accidents. Lastly, my wife was involved in a minor accident (yeah, aren't we the lucky family!) where the 900 met the bumper of some little plastic box on wheels. The other car had a substantial damage bill for a new front end -- our 900's expenses amounted to a tin of polish for cleaning the bumper. So, yes, I'm happy with the safety of the 900. ;) -- David Wareing dwareingnopsamaide.on.net Macintosh Game Development <www.ambrosiasw.com/~dwareing> Get Mars Rising: <www.marsrising.com>
