Date: Fri, 11 Oct 2002 18:52:58 +0100 From: Grunff <grunffnopsam.com> Subject: Re: SAAB & dealers - who is responsible?
Robert Brown wrote: > Get off your high horse Mr. Grunff. OK - having seen many people drive > wonderful cars into the ground due to either a disrespect for the limits of > engineering or just sheer neglect, I do agree with you a fair bit. "If you > can't fix it then you don't deserve to drive it". No high horse involved - merely stating my opinion. > But for those who for some reason or another cannot sit under their cars > during weekends (I for one loved to do this all the time under my old 900 and > 99 but now I have 2 small kids so I prioritise them), it seems a reasonable > proposition to rely on the idea that 1) service by authorised dealers is done > according to spec since 2) manufacturers have a pretty good idea when their > parts will fail and have determined that it's better - businesswise - to > check/replace certain parts instead of having someone come up with a more > reliable though expensive design. Neither am I in any way advocating that everyone has to fix his/her own car. But they *should* understand the basics about how it works, and what is involved in the basic maintenance of the car. This includes understanding the importance of items like cambelts, and not relying on the possibility that the belt may have been changed at some point in the past when you first buy a car. > As far as Mr. Cornelio's situation goes, I hope he can get Saab to back down > from their silly attitude. It will only damage their reputation further. If > we're expected to get our hands greasy changing timing belts and the like, > then why are we expected to pay Saab's service network for their existence as > well? Lets say the OP recognised the importance of cambelts, and the consequences of their failure. He would no doubt have had the belt changed shortly after purchasing the vehicle. If the belt had then failed within a few thousand miles of being replaced, he would have a very good case for compensation. No greasy hands. -- Grunff
