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Date: Thu, 19 Apr 2001 11:55:33 GMT
From: james mcnab <vinylnopsamatico.ca>
Subject: Re: Saab's reliable or not??????


Here's my two cents worth, I've been driving my 1997 Saab 900 S since december, which I purchased in lieu of a 1999/2000 jetta or golf. I did fairly extensive research before I dove into the realm of what are, comparatively, rare imports. What I learned was that Saabs are, in almost every respect, better built cars: the engines are more finely tuned and run very quietly with very few problems; the body is made a little heavier in every regard, which fends off long term rust-through and ads to is structural integrity; the suspension is made from the highest grade metals on the auto market and will really go the distance; I could go on.... Naysayers usually reference three things: electrical problems, bad gas mileage, and blame the relatively big decline in used valued to servicability issues. If you look to consumer reports you'll see they note that the electrical is far more complicated then the average vehicle, but it breaks down no more regularly. And as of the 1999 9-3 it was revised to a bus system that is far more reliable. My car isn't a turbo, but what I've found is you'll gobble gas to the tune of about 13-15L/100km if you push the car the whole time, which can be a lotta fun. However, if you drive like daddy, and I did yesterday driving from Waterloo to Toronto and back (about 225km) you can easily get 8-8.5L/100km, which isn't bad. And then you can drive a long way with a 68L tank! Finally, you will need to find a mechanic (possibly your dealer) who's good with imports as the car gets beyond 5 or 6 years, but the big decline in used value isn't related to this: Saab does virtually no advertising in North America, so its perceived value beyond warranty is low. Volvo's would be the same if they hadn't been working the market for 20+ years embedding in our minds how safe and reliable they are (I doubt they're any better then Saabs.... and they're a lot less fun to drive). Anyway, when I sit in my friend's new golf it feels like a go-cart, some cheap box on wheels. When you drive an all-stock saab, turbo or not, you get to laugh at the guys who tweak-up their cute little honda's. And you get to tour or rally in style.... best of luck, james Angelo Benjamin wrote: > > I am considering buying a 96-99 900 or 9-3 and have looked at books in > Chapters(canadian book store) about saab's and they all say run, don't walk > away from these cars. Yet on numerous websites including Microsoft's > carpoint they say that these are great cars. Can anyone shed some light on > the subject before i buy one of those new jetta's that everyone has! > > thanks > angelo

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