Date: Tue, 14 Aug 2001 21:15:00 -0400 From: "Kenneth S." <nimrodnopsams.com> Subject: Re: 1999 9-3 conv. rattles and squeaks
I made a mistake. It's a turbo four-cylinder, not a V-4. Harry Davis wrote: > > Are you sure you have a 'turbo V4'? The last V4 for Saab was back in the > 60's or 70's and they were not turbo. The 4 cyl is an inline transverse > mounted engine and there is now a V-6. > > "Kenneth S." <nimrodnopsams.com> wrote in message > news:3B76FBDD.41A6nopsams.com... > > Bob wrote: > > > > > > On Sat, 11 Aug 2001 11:14:23 -0400, "Kenneth S." <nimrodnopsams.com> > > > wrote: > > > > > > >I had quite a number of irritating problems after I bought the > > > >car, but I have now -- I hope -- had them fixed, > > > > > > Condolences, but you bought a 5 year old car with a large number > > > of miles and an unknown history. I think you might forgive Saab > > > if it wasn't quite what you expected. > > > > > > >However, there are several shortcomings in the execution of the > > > >concept, and squeaks and rattles is one. > > > > > > Squeaks and rattles can be fixed. Having bought many cars both new > > > and used, I'd stand by that statement for any vehicle. Saab are > > > certainly no 'rattle bucket'. In fact, Saab is one of the few > > > manufacturers that actually issues TSB's for squeaks, rattles, > > > windnoise, etc and then pays to fix them well past the declared > > > 16K warranty. Try getting a rattle fixed in your Mitsubishi at 40K > > > miles and let me know how they handle it. > > > > > > >Strangely enough, in view of > > > >the fact that the car is Swedish-engineered, there are several > > > >unnecessarily gimmicky touches about it, e.g. the idiotic > > > >climate-control system, > > > > > > Huh ? What's wrong with their climate control ? The functionality > > > is more advanced than most other cars, allowing you to program > > > the 'start-up' and 'top down' setting to your personal preference > > > as well as more dynamically handling the vent control as the car > > > warms or cools. Other than that, climate control is climate control. > > > I own several cars with it: All allow you to set a temperature and > > > let the car handle the details or to run it manually. I'm not sure > > > what your beef is (?) > > > > > > >but some of the basics (such as a smooth, quiet engine) are lacking. > > > > > > Huh again ? Do you have a 4 cyl or turbo ? Or the V6 abortion that > > > the parent company (GM) that you are apparently expecting to be > > > a savior so moronically insisted that they install even though it > > > runs worse, get worse mileage, has less power, is less reliable > > > and in general is a POS in the 900 series ? > > > > > > The turbo 4 cyl is one of the quietest 4 cyl motors I've driven. > > > Mine is smooth and powerful. I've often complained that it's hard to > > > drive this car because you can't use the engine sound (or vibration) > > > as an indicator of when to shift. Too many times I've found myself > > > running 2nd gear at 4K RPM because I got slowed a bit on the upshift > > > to third and then that damn smooth Saab motor forgot to remind me > > > that I was still running the gear. > > > > > > Doesn't sound as if you like your Saab much. I'd suggest you sell > > > it and buy that Subaru. > > > > > > Bob > > > > I have the turbo V-4. Particularly under heavy acceleration it is by > > no means as quiet as other four cylinder cars I have driven, e.g. the > > Peugeot hatchbacks that I've rented while on vacation. I also have a > > Mazda Miata (MX-5), which has a four-cylinder engine. While it is no > > quieter under acceleration than the Saab, it idles more quietly and > > smoothly. The idle on the Saab is about 900-1,000 rpms, and that may be > > part of the problem (although at the last service the dealer told me it > > was at specification). I also use synthetic oil in the Miata, and I > > plan to switch to that on the Saab, which also may help. > > > > I'm skeptical about the value of climate control on ANY car. I'd > > rather adjust the AC and heating myself. The particular problem on my > > car is that turning the temperature down, in order to get the AC to kick > > in, is a matter of pushing one of two buttons, one marked red and the > > other blue. The buttons are not illuminated, and it's quite tricky at > > night. I don't see the point of trying to convey an impression of > > luxury by a gimmicky climate control system, when you haven't got the > > basics right, like having a quiet engine and a rattle-free body. > > > > I plan to stick with the Saab and hope to get some of the remaining > > bugs ironed out. As I said before, the basic concept of the car is > > right, and everyone says it's the safest car on the road. However, I > > admit I am disappointed. This is my first Saab (and I had been > > interested in owning one back to the days when they had two-stroke, > > three-cylinder engines). I always buy used cars, and I got the Saab at > > quite a reasonable price, considering what they cost new. The U.S. > > market seems to impose a heavy depreciation penalty on Saabs. If I were > > Saab management I would take that as a signal that some things needed to > > be attended to. > > > > I don't subscribe to the view that one must have a religious belief in > > Saabs, and not question anything about them. However, I may switch to > > another denomination when it comes time to replace my 900SE. By > > contrast, I have no reservations about the Miata, which I would > > unhesitatingly recommend to anyone.
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