Date: Wed, 30 Sep 1998 02:54:11 -0700 From: Justin VanAbrahams <jvanabranopsamnet> Subject: Re: SAAB 9000 2.3 CS crank shaft problem
Andy wrote: > > Ken, > Yes, I told the story some time ago and just for those that might be > considering buying a Saab this is my warning. Learn from my mistakes! You > don't need to repeat them! Don't buy a Saab! Saabs endurance and longevity > is a myth! Sir, you are on crack. While I don't doubt your claims that your Saab had problems, I seriously question whether or not you are the rule or the exception. In the past five years, I have owned ELEVEN Saabs. Here's a brief rundown: 1. '84 900T - sold at 130,000 miles with nary an issue 2. '88 SPG - I wrecked this one two weeks after buying it (had 77k at the time) 3. '90 900T - Had this one for six months. Wrecked it at 102k miles 4. '86 9000T - sold at 125k to my roommate, who is nearing 140k 5. '88 900T - sold at 135k with its worst attribute being a ripped driver's seat 6. '85 900T - still own it at 190k, and looking forward to 200k 7. '90 SPG - has a mere 50k on it, and loving it more each day 8. '88 9000T - 212k and needs a new ABS accumulator; gave it to my dad 9. '88 9000T - 190k and sold it to my roommate's parents - runs great 10. '87 9000T - 215k and, unfortunately, I used it for parts * It is worth noting that this car ran FLAWLESSLY and I'm sad I had to tear it down - but the price I would have had to pay for all sorts of spare parts to keep 3 9000s *looking* good with over 500,000 miles between them would have been astronomical. I didn't need a SINGLE mechanical part from it since all three 9ks *run* great - I have its engine and tranny complete with turbo and all accessories in the garage still. 11. '80 900T - this car is gonna be recipient to a 16v engine and 5-speed tranny to replace the 8v and 4-speed which got it to its current 185,000 miles. It still runs great, and I bought it from a guy who used it as his daily driver. If that's not reliability, I don't know what is. These cars were all bought used, came from all over California, and from various backgrounds. > So, in addition to all the other problems here's one more: > Does your Saab also make a humming noise if you have to break abruptly at a > high speed? On average, I have to install a new set of front break discs > every year (!!!) The first (and only) time they did it for me under > warranty. One of them, authorised, certified SAAB mechanics, pretended to be > surprised that something like this had happened. Years later an other Saab > mechanic told me, it was a common fault since they started installing new, > asbestos-free break pads. The break discs tend to overheat and warp which > then results in an awful noise and vibrations in the steering wheel. WHAT??? Saabs have NOTORIOUSLY well-designed brakes. They started using abestos free pads in like 1982 - and just about every car on the road uses them today. Whatever mechanic you went to was either very misinformed, or a liar, or both. > There > are many more similar stories about my Saab 2.3 CS (obviously a Monday car). > I don't want to bore all the readers. I just want to warn them. > Now, as far as your comments to my letter, Ken, I think you must work for > Saab and/or for Amsoil. Well, I have been using Shell - synthetic oil - The > best there is. I challenge you to find one person in America who believe Shell to produce the best oil in the world. I stay away from their gasoline due to industry-leading alcohol content in 89 and 92 octane gases, and I seriously doubt their motor oils are of any higher quality. Most any mechanic would recommend Amsoil WAY over Shell, and I'll bet they'd put Redline or Mobil 1 over Shell as well. Syntec is FAR better than Shell oil, and it's not the best for turbos due to low zinc content. > Or... do you want a car that you will also drive you from A to B and will > not break down? A car that is reliable, a model that is developed with prior > experience of millions of cars produced and sold? I want a car that will last 200k+ miles and not feel old by the time it gets there. > While Audi, VW, Volvo, BMW, sell well over a five millions each, Saab has > just stopped manufacturing the 9000 after only 500 000 ever built. Good! It > wasn't worth continuing. WHAT??? The 9000 lasted twelve years in production. Keep in mind you're talking about a company that only MAKES 100,000 or so cars per year... How the FUCK would you expect Saab to sell 5 million 9000s per year when they don't even have the production facilities needed to do that over the course of a decade???? Jesus - next you'll tell me Ferrari, Lamborghini, McLaren, or other industry notables peddle crap because they only make a couple dozen cars per year. > a sad owner of a '92 9000 CS 2.3 I'm very sorry that your 9000 didn't work out for you. I don't doubt there are other people in this world with similar problems with Saabs. Hell, I remember my dad's 1981 900T - that car had a SERIOUS problem with the vapor recapture system in the gas tank. He traded that car in after two years... but you know what? He replaced it with a 1983 900T that was a WONDERFUL car - I virtually grew up in it. And since then, I've owned 11 Saabs of varying models and of varying years, and I've never seen a bad one. Two of them saved my life. Three of my friend's own 900Ts - one has 180k, another has 170k, and another has almost 200k. It's one thing to have a bad experience, it's another thing to slam an entire company based on your LONE experience. -Justin Proud Saab Owner Proud Shell Oils Avoider
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