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1994-2002 [Subscribe to Daily Digest] |
I think yo eddy has a valid point. I bought a 1999 9-3 in 2001 with 24K miles. The car now has over 91K miles on it. I do understand the argument about the potential costs vs. the definite costs of a monthly payment as I have paid off my car loan. However, the issues that come up so often on this board with Saabs are not just examples of the "quirkiness" of Saabs, they are actual design and engineering flaws that sometimes are not cheap to fix.
DI cassettes for example - they are so defective and expensive. I am on my second one and from reading some of the posts, I've been lucky. On this board, it has been suggested that I buy an extra DI cassette just in case my new one fails because it's such an easy DIY fix. This is a ridiculous suggestion. Any Saab owner who keeps an extra DI cassette in his/her trunk has entered a twilight zone to another universe full of Saab apologists. Yes they may say this is smart or prudent it is to keep an extra cassette in one's trunk but how smart is it to keep a car after warranty with full anticipation that the DI cassette will break again soon.
I have had a CV joint go at 35K miles - very unexpected.
My left back brake froze up and wasn't working at all until the dealer pointed out that the pad looked new while the right brake pad was worn completely.
Furthermore, my Saab is definitely not a "cold weather" car as I have read in many of these posts. My front suspension (bushing) creeks like a dorm mattress every morning the temp is below 35F and have been told by the dealer that it's "normal". Co-workers of mine are fearful when we carpool. If my job description changes to on occasion involve driving clients in my car, I will surely have to sell the car and buy another for this reason alone! Mind you this car was made in Sweden where they have much colder winters than in the mid atlantic. At 89K miles, the resistor for my heater broke. Also - I have twice I've had the knob on the vent selector break off in my hand. These are not cheap fixes
The emblems...I know it's a cheap DIY fix but I have never owned a car before where the emblems stickers fell off.
A portion of pipe in my exhaust system started to rust (before the catalytic converter). This is unacceptable to happen at 70K miles for a car that was made in 1999. My last car - the exhaust system on my 1989 Pontiac lasted 150K.
The check valves on my windshield and back window water jets have been replaced a couple times. Yes a cheap fix but it's still a nagging problem.
My first SID lasted 40K. The first was replaced under warranty after so many of the pixels went out. Now at 91K I'm started to get whole lines of pixels that don't work. I am living with this even thought it makes finding a station on the radio a guessing game at times.
So for those looking to buy a Saab, understand that the car is fun to drive and has a good balance between performance and gas mileage as many of those who've posted here have said. But owners and prospective owners need to also know that the potential repairs costs of a Saab are quite expensive. For a car that had an original sticker price of 30K, I expected a hell of alot more reliability.
posted by 129.25.3...
, Wed, 11 Jan 2006 23:57:00
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