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Leap of faith ends in fall (long) Posted by Arabiflora [Email]  (#1129) [Profile/Gallery]
(more from Arabiflora) on Mon, 13 Dec 2004 19:19:46
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I promised a report back on my Ebay purchase of a ’93 900S sedan. Ebay description follows:
You are bidding on a 1993 saab 900 s sedan. The color is ruby red with a gray velour interior. This vehicle features automatic transmission, power moonroof, power windows, heated drivers seat. The interior of the car is very clean. I rate it a 7.5 out of 10. The exterior of the car is nice except for a dent in the rear passenger door (bottom half of the door **picture**). The car drives well as the automatic shifts smoothly. This car was a trade in here at the dealer (general saab-cadillac of west chester). 1993 was the last year for the classic 900 series. Car has current pa inspection. The car was just serviced. A new exhaust system (cat back) was just installed along with a fresh automatic trans fluid and oil change. Tires are good.
Stated mileage: 121,500., car sold “as is”, no warranty.
I flew from Madison, WI to Philadelphia, took a rental car 35 miles to Cadillac-Saab dealership in West Chester. Saw my new car leave the lot as I drove in, salesman said they had gone to put some gas in it. Car returned, my test drive extended from one side of the lot to the other-- started fine, shook a little bit at idle, handling was firm (not that I tested it rigorously). Finished the paperwork, took the key and headed west for home.
1st problem: That shudder at idle lasts all the way through acceleration to road speed; experienced Saab mechanics strongly suspect inner drive bearing is shot.
2nd problem: Transmission is probably on last legs-- shift from second to third is very late, takes some footwork and lots of RPMs before it clunks into high.
3rd problem: Speedometer is faulty and so too, then, is odometer. Speedo occaisonally doesn’t engage; other times it engages, wanders widely at low mph, settles out at road speed—65-70 mph, although guage reads 50 mph. Actual distance Philadelphia to Madison: 900+ miles; according to odometer: 438 miles.
I’m disappointed. I thought I was getting a relatively low mile car for low dollars, but suspect that what I have is a car that is only several shifts away from becoming a very expensive, high mileage parts car. I spoke with the sales manager to register my complaints. He offered to refund the entire purchase price if I drove the car back out to PA. That would bring transportation costs for theis (mis)adventure to $600 and I’d have nothing to show for it so I’ll pass on that. I suggested that they refund to me difference between $1425 purchase price and the $600 POS I took delivery on, he passed on that.
I don’t buy the dealer’s claims that they were unaware of the problems noted above since each is clearly evident in the first mile of a test drive (oh, and for good measure, the heat shield vibrates with annoying loudness; you’d think an experienced Saab mechanic would have tightened that when exhaust was replaced; rear muffler (not actually a resonator) misaligned so it rattles against body/fuel tank). It’s fair to ask why I didn’t take a thorough test drive and then take a pass on the car, and I don’t have a good answer for that. Partly it was because the return leg of the round trip plane ticket I bought didn’t leave for 5 days. Second, I’d been convinced by prior posts that the dealership prides itself on honest customer service and quality cars. Finally, I was in a hurry to get on the road home. To its credit, the car brought me home 15 hrs later with no incident.
So, that’s my story—so far. I’ll likely post sometime later to solicit advice. My inclination is to tackle the speedo first—I’ll try lubing the cable, and if that doesn’t work I may replace the speedo itself—there’s a 91 C900 in a boneyard that has comparable (nominal) mileage, could probably get whole cluster for $50. Then inner driver? Or just sell it and lick my wounds???
Sigh…
posted by 66.168.1...
, Mon, 13 Dec 2004 19:19:46 <-- Viewing This Message, Tue, 14 Dec 2004 14:02:58
, Tue, 14 Dec 2004 16:11:35, Tue, 14 Dec 2004 21:17:40, Wed, 15 Dec 2004 04:54:40, Wed, 15 Dec 2004 06:53:27
, Mon, 13 Dec 2004 19:35:05
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