Date: Tue, 25 Feb 2003 02:48:18 -0400 From: Dexter J <lamealameadingdongnopsamlamelame.org> Subject: Re: SAAB To buy or not to buy
Salutations: Lloyd Cimprich wrote: > > Would I be better to look at other SAAB models rather than the 9000? Does it > seem like I have the bug or maybe the does fact that I have a Renault Fuego > make it obvious I am a sucker for punishment. > > I would like to keep the cost down as I have five cars now (four detroit > iron on road plus Renault) and will have to rationalize soon. I do hope to > replace one of my Chev Estate Wagons with something safe, reliable and more > fuel efficient. One of my wagons (Big Blue) is close to 300,000 km and is > starting to feel its age but still starts up in our recent -30 c > temperatures. > > TIA. > There is much debate - I personally think the old gen 9000 is the best all round for comfort and safety and price.. When I was younger - I loved the 80's 900 3 door (that weird looking one with the long back end hatch).. Heck - I even owned and kinda liked a 1979 '99. Possibly the ugliest car of a particularly a ugly time.. But it rolled off the 401 at 120kph+ outside of Pickering with three passengers and we - all - made a wedding the next day in Montreal with a little seat belt burn.. Every model line has it's fetishists.. But it's really not about models - it's about the leg work with the particular used SAAB in question at the get go.. Head to the parts counter (perhaps in light disguise just for fun).. Chat up the parts guys explaining that you are looking for a complete service bulletin history on whatever you are looking at - then take the car and the service bulletin to whoever you trust to really look at it - and Bob's your uncle - you know what's in trouble with her and what might be coming.. The size and depth of the bulletin will be very alarming - but not everything on the list will be wrong with your particular candidate.. Don't let it weird you out at first look.. SAAB went nuts for documentation and records as the GM buy out and hand over went along so - while it will be hugely more detailed and in depth than anything you would have ever seen for your GM or Fugie - it is actually hugely more detailed and in depth than you have ever seen for your GM or Fugie (and pretty much anything else outside of the space shuttles).. This is a lifesaver really.. Pay a good non-SAAB shop a couple of hours to look it over carefully with the service bulletin in hand. Haggle it down on the report and you might just end up in my heated seat - where I have spent a little over $3,000 Canadian (purchase and complete repair) on a set of honestly great wheels that will now politely rust out over the next three years for a little less than $300 a year all in and will likely have a perfectly good power plant even then.. Total cost of ownership to me is will likely be about $4,000 - or - a little less than $100 a month over the likely life of the car if I - don't - paint it.. There are rumors of million kilo SAABS - I've never met one - but - there are those who claim to have seen them.. However - the folks who have pooched out the 1992 CSE I mentioned earlier had gone so far as to re-paint, put a suspect "rebuilt" engine in (with a bad water pump) and still hadn't sorted out their sour turbo, messed up cruise and window electric's.. It looks for all the world like they then hit a frost heave at speed. However they then drove it around for a week while waiting for an appointment to have the tranny looked at as it started dropping gears - they drove the tranny until it bled to death and literally came to a complete halt on the road.. And then - had it strap towed so that they snapped off the cast iron header at the turbo.. ! .. So now they are looking at better than $6,500 worth of work in the engine bay alone to put it back to rights - or - dump it to me for about $500 so I can look at transplanting my current power train and electronics in and making it live again.. Slightly less hot than the 2.3 engine - but what the heck.. They hate me even now for my seemingly insulting offer I suppose - but there is an argument that they are still getting more than the car is worth as it sits.. They might have bad 'carma'(tm) and I like to think they should really get out now.. I guess they are kinda in denial so far as they firmly want $1,500/$2,000 - but they are wrong.. If you hunt around the net for personal sites a bit - use google - you will see similar stories from both sides. But - with the model years completely reversed.. Because - if a particular car (not a model line mind you) was a lemon out the door - or hasn't been looked after - it is not usually worth fixing up and just I happened to come across a lucky find with my '89.. If you do get screwed anyway having done the legwork - maybe you can marry it to something that is working as I am thinking about. Very possible and usually cheaper than fixing anything serious - but that's not for the faint of heart.. There are more luxury appointments in the 1992 model lines and it has a TCS that is very kuel if it's working right I am told.. However - it also therefor has more to go wrong with it - so in relation to your specific question - I would suggest you carefully give the one you are thinking about a very close inspection to see what is going on.. If if checks out - you may well have a fantastic car that could save you or someone you love one day and which will blast along on cruise - exactly - where you set it (90 to 200+ kph) and will be the style envy of your co-workers and neighbors for some years to come at an average of 5-7 liters per 100km depending on how fast you run it.. Mine has a factory dash computer which lets me know exactly in real time as I'm driving.. The 9000T with the leather kit will also be the most comfortable ride you probably ever had (unless you've ridden around in a Bently) - a pleasure to be stuck in traffic with really.. If it checks out and you are good about regular maintenance as described in the manual - it will also last a very long time (given it has already made it to the ten year mark and you had it checked over carefully).. It - will work like a tractor - through the rest of its long life - so that you too will consider painting her when the time comes as I am for my 1989.. I can respect a man who has a French car - they too are really great when they work.. Always kinda of odd looking to my mind though.. The difference is that SAAB carefully documented pretty much everything that could or did go wrong on every car they put out and - that - makes it both a relatively inexpensive buy most places - and - fairly easy to cost out what is or might go wrong with one you are thinking about.. Good luck - I think I am finally written out on this one.. :) .. -- J Dexter - webmaster - http://www.dexterdyne.org/ all tunes - no cookies no subscription no weather no ads no news no phone in - Real Audio 8+ Required - all the Time Radio Free Dexterdyne Top Tune o'be-do-da-day Bill Monroe - Blue Moon of Kentucky http://www.dexterdyne.org/888/009.RAM
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
