Date: Sun, 12 Dec 1999 06:14:56 +1100 From: Peter Wilkins <wilkinspnopsamnet.au> Subject: Re: Reliability of late model Saab 9-5?
On Fri, 10 Dec 1999 16:36:19 GMT, tygrrr2nopsamo.com wrote : >Okay, so Saab's are cool and distinctive cars (if a little bit >quirky ... but then again, quirkiness is one of the reasons they're so >distinctive), enough that I'm actually thinking about buying one. > >But I've got some nagging doubts about reliability, because it seems >like Saab's also have a reputation for having lots of little problems >and some not so little problems -- e.g., old Saab 900's are infamous >for electrical system problems. > >I'm curious what people's experiences have been with newer models. I'm >thinking about buying either a 1999 or 2000 Saab 9-5 SE. Any feedback >from the group on reliability of the 9-5 in general? > >Past and current owners are invited to convince me that I should buy >the Saab instead of an Audi A6 Quattro :-) > I have a 98 model 9-5SE, 4cyl, not the V6. I have had 7 or 8 Saabs (99's and 900's) over 30 years and the only problems I ever had were headlining drooping in the 99's and 3 auto transmission failures. These happened at around 50-60,000km, one in a 3 door 99, one in a 4 door 99 and one in a 900. However, the 9-5 has given me more troubles in total (although all minor) than all of my other Saabs combined. It took me just on 12 months to have all the faults rectified, and although I am now completely happy with the car, I doubt I will buy another one after that experience! Firstly I had assembly problems - things falling off the car shortly after delivery, like fog lamps and the cigarette lighter base pulling out of the dash on first use. Then I had some annoying defects like faulty gear/brake interlock, front suspension judder, electric seat position memory failure etc) which I only got fixed after repeated complaining, and then found out that they were all known defects which Saab had instructed dealers not to tell customers about and only to fix if the customer complained. I also had intermittent engine vibration, starting and SID problems which continued on and off for over 9 months. Saab finally agreed to replace both the trionic and SID computers and that fixed all the problems. I'm not holding my breath though, waiting for the next problem - after that experience I don't have a great deal of confidence in the car. Mind you, the model was still pretty new in 98, and I think they now have most if not all of those bugs fixed in the 99 and 2000 models. Not sure about the quality of the assembly though. The other problem with Saabs in Australia is that they depreciate like hell. The resale value of my 9-5SE after only 15 months is just over half the $AU75000 I paid for it. A similarly priced and aged Merc is worth about $10,000 more. But despite all that, I love the car, and don't intend to get rid of it for many years -- provided the teething problems are over! I haven't seen the A6, they haven't been out here all that long, but have ridden in an A4 a few times. I prefer the 9-5 to that. In the end, buy what pleases you most - you have to live with it! -- Regards, Peter Wilkins (wilkinspnopsamnet.au)
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
