Date: Thu, 30 Aug 2007 09:38:02 -0700 From: Laff4lifenospamcom Subject: Saab story here.
I've been a Saab owner since the early 90's (I'm on my 2nd Saab) and I think this will probably be the last Saab. As much as I've loved both my 900S and my 9-3 SE convertible, I cannot stand how expensive it is to keep a Saab. I didn't have as many problems with my 900S as I have my convertible, but still...I think I'm finally done with Saab. Here's my story: My convertible is a 1999 SE w/74K. The mileage is low due to me having a company vehicle at one time and I didn't drive the Saab for months. I decided to sell the car this year to buy something that's less expensive to maintain and not a convertible. Unfortunately, I was rear-ended last Spring ($4200. damager) which set my plans of selling it back. The car runs perfectly now (it should, I've put enough $ into it and the entire rear-end was rebuilt after the accident) . The problem is...the Soft Top is not working!!! Who in the hell wants to buy a convertible that you can't put the top down? I didn't realize there was a problem with the convertible top until it got warm enough to put it down (a month or so after the accident). I brought it back to the auto body shop that did the work on it (after the accident) and at that time, the top was still going up and down...but it kept stopping and hesitating. The mechanics were not Saab mechanics so they seemed to think the top was fine. IT WASN'T FINE, they just didn't want to admit they didn't completely fix the top. I emmediately called my insurance company and explained to them what was happening, the soft top was not working properly since the accident and the shop that fixed my car doesn't seem to know much about Saab convertible tops. The insurance company said to take it to another mechanic. Needless to say, I'm getting more than frustrated at this point. I take it to another mechanic and he told me that if he were me, he would detail the car, put the top down and drive into a dealer and see how much they would give me for a trade in. He said that they would probably just sell my car at an auction anyway, they wouldn't look closely at the top. I did as he said and the highest trade in offer I've gotten was $6000. (Kelly Book trade in for that year and mileage FAIR condition is almost 7K, Good is $7.5K, Excellent $8.8k). My car is in great condition...except for the GD top! Now I'm completely screwed because now months have gone by since I last spoke to my insurance company (the summer is almost over) and currently, the top will not go up or down at all anymore. Even if I wanted to try to sell it myself, no one will buy it with a top that won't go down! Any suggestions out there??? Sorry so long w/my Saab story but I'm really in a pickle and someone I told my story to suggested I post my story here to see if a fellow Saab person might be able to give me some suggestions....other than BURN THE CAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!:)
