Date: 27 Dec 2006 10:09:42 -0800 From: "jtpryan" <jtpryannospaml.com> Subject: Re: Million Mile Saab 900 SPG
Fred W wrote: > - Bob - wrote: > > On 5 Dec 2006 23:04:45 GMT, Dave Hinz <DaveHinznospaml.com> wrote: > > > > > >>On Tue, 05 Dec 2006 18:47:37 GMT, Jeremy Brown <jerem43nospamnet> wrote: > >> > >>>Check this guy out: > >>>http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=538098 > >>>A million miles on his 1990 SPG with only regular maintenance. Just > >>>collision damage replaced. > >> > >>That'd be Peter. I was wondering when he'd hit it, I figured it was > >>about due. Pity that Saab won't take it for their museum in trade for a > >>new one, before the buyout that was the plan from what I understand. > >> > >>Dave Hinz > > > > > > What a bunch of chumps. It's only the world's greatest advertising > > opportunity. Film him with the Saab, highlight that he went 1 mil > > miles, say something like "Peter xx drive his Saab one million miles > > without any major repairs. As a reward, we gave him a new one asked > > him to do it again". > > > > I can't believe they'd be stupid enough to miss an opportunity like > > this. Even if we know that a newer one won't go the distance like his > > 900, the public doesn't. Some marketing genius probably decided that > > it might encourage people to hold on to their cars longer. > > > > > Funny, Toyota seems to think this is a good idea. But their top mileage > owner is some guy with only a little over 300k miles AFAIR. I guess > their marketing doods went to a different school of business? > > That kind of advertising goes a long way toward creating the "perception > of reliability" which is far more important than any reality. Toyotas > are not really any more long lived than SAABs, in fact the reverse is > probably true, but that isn't the public's perception. Just ask someone > not in tune with either brand... > > -- > -Fred W You have GOT to be kidding. I have owned 4 Celicas and 1 Corolla. My wife is now on her second Saab. I drove all those Toyota's to between 150 - 200k, only getting rid of them out because I found something I wanted more at the time. I never had ANY problems with any of them other then wear items. The 2 Saabs have driven me nuts. Nothing really major (other then the turbo going at 30k, under warrenty thank God), just a lot of nudgy stupid crap, electric windows failing, e-brakes going, etc. Not to mention the incredible stupidity of putting the ignition between the seats so any liquid that spills goes into it like a drain. Lots of time sitting in the garage in winter with a hair dryer. I would love to meet the engineer that dreamed up that one. The one that had the turbo go was her current one, a 9-3 convertible. We bought it used, but originally I think it went for close to 40k, right? And the turbo goes at 30k?? That is just wrong. I am a fanatic for maintenence, so it isn't like we mistreated it, and it only had 20k on it when we got it, so how bad could it have been mistreated before? Then there is the top. That gave up the ghost last summer... again. This time out of warrenty, so we haven't even bothered getting it fixed, so now it's a hard top. I now own a Mini Cooper S with 125k on it. Bought it new loaded for 24k. Rides like it was new and has no problems, and that is a first year model! Sorry to go on a rant, but I just couldn't pass on comparing Toyota reliability to Saab. They may be more boring then a Saab, but they are in a completely different league for reliability. One car going a million miles does not make an entire line "reliable".
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
