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Re: Good Used Car? Posted by Justin VanAbrahams [Email]  (#32) [Profile/Gallery]
(more from Justin VanAbrahams) on Wed, 23 Apr 2008 16:58:46
In Reply to: Good Used Car?, Doug  [Profile/Gallery]
, Wed, 23 Apr 2008 16:27:53
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I think it depends on the car and the driver.... I've had nothing but c900s as daily drivers for the better part of ten years and I have zero complaints. Regular maintenance and, more importantly, regular *proper* maintenance will keep a 900 roadworthy pretty reliably.
Most people who I've heard complain about their c900 not being suitable for daily use are either cheaping out on repairs ("That motor mount isn't too bad," or "the head gasket isn't fully blown") or taking their car to a place that fundamentally is unfamiliar with Saabs... Point in case - I recently bought a c900 from a guy who was tired of constant repairs - an alternator, a starter, a fuel pump - all replaced trying fix a constant failure to start. The shop that was doing the work blamed all the issues and "failed" components on them being old. Problem was a $36 ignition switch that needed to be replaced, easily diagnosed with a test light during a no-start condition. Car has now been flawless for two months.
I think people tend to look at cars as an investment, which is flawed. Spending $2000 on something that's worth $1500 doesn't make a sound investment. But, cars are ALWAYS a losing proposition ... they are not financial investments! A car is an investment in your freedom, your safety, and your driving happiness. A c900 can deliver on all fronts. There's not many cars you can get into for two grand that'll do what a c900 will... a comparable BMW or Benz will cost you double, and a similarly priced Accord or Camry is neither safe nor fun.
What will fail first is a complex matter, but I think it's universally agreed that the transmission is a weak spot. Not necessarily weak compared to other cars (see Ford Taurus transmission, for example), but I'd say reliably one of the first big $$$ items to go. Motor mounts invariably go bad, and professional replacement is multi-hundreds. Convertible tops are very pricey and all will eventually need replacement but, again, no sooner than other 4-place convertibles. Other replaceables like CVs, ball joints, etc. are average to above-average in their durability and not overwhelmingly expensive to boot. Not Camaro cheap, mind you, but keep in mind you're maintaining a $35,000 car, not a $20,000 car. Consumables like brakes and belts and such are of standard intervals - nothing exotic.
Chances are if you're buying a c900 you're buying one of two types of cars - one that was bought used for cheap and has since been ignored and beaten and is now being offloaded, or one that was generally loved and cared for and the owner is just moving on. It's pretty rare to find a car that's gone 20 years and 200,000 miles suffering neglect all along. Even the best cars won't manage that kind of lifetime without care. You'll know what car you're looking at pretty readily. :)
posted by 65.78.132...
, Wed, 23 Apr 2008 16:27:53, Wed, 23 Apr 2008 21:03:22
, Wed, 23 Apr 2008 17:32:43, Wed, 23 Apr 2008 16:58:46 <-- Viewing This Message
, Thu, 24 Apr 2008 06:29:21
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