After a good number of months in dormancy, my desires for a 9000 have again been piqued. After driving the 900's for a good number of years, I'm ready for something a little more quiet, smooth, a little bigger, and a bit more powerful. The 9000 seems a perfect choice! I love the hatchback *with* four doors. I drive on the highway a lot and do very little city driving, and I think that the 9000 would be a much nicer choice for this.

However, my father (the one who will decide in the end if I can sell my 900 and go for a 9000) is very skeptical about how reliable the 9000 models are. He feels, and has been advised by a mechanic, that the 9000 has too many electrical parts to fail and that they might be more likely to leave you A) stranded and/or B) with a huge repair bill -- in comparison the 900, anyway. He also feels that the engine compartment is more cramped and thus the engine will be harder to work on, as we do most repairs at home. He feels like it's a much bigger money pit than the 900's we've had.

Furthermore, we've had something like six 900's now, so we not only know what problems to expect, but can also pick out warning signs, have fixed most of the problems ourselves by now, and thus he's showing some resistance to switching to something new that we don't have some spare parts for already.

So, can you 9000 guru's help me allay my father's issues with this different model? I'm interested in 1993-4 9000CS/CSE turbo models (since these are the oldest of the body style I prefer and thus the most affordable), so if you can enlighten me as to the major problems I should expect, how hard it is to fix those things and others like brake pads, changing radiators, fuel filters, changing the tranny/engine oil, etc. etc etc. I'd appreciate it!

I know that the DI cassettes are problems, as well as heater cores and often motor mounts. I also know that the TCS can be a major bugaboo but that an ON/OFF switch can be implemented. Are there any other major things that I should expect? Are these cars more expensive to keep up than the 900?


Thanks for the help and all input you have for me--if you all say so, I am willing to accept that the 9000 may be much more expensive and harder to repair, but until you do, I would imagine that the two models are about the same. If you have any comments on the 1993-4 years for the CS, I'd appreciate them!


TIA,

Tim B.
89 900S HB 5spd 147k
91 900S HB 5spd 116k

posted by 209.222.21...

• Help me convince my father of the 9000's reliability..., Tim B., Mon, 22 Apr 2002 15:56:49 <-- Viewing This Message
  • Well, success, sort of..., Tim B., Tue, 23 Apr 2002 14:54:58
    • where are you in the US, and are you looking at, josh p, Tue, 23 Apr 2002 19:48:47
      • I'm in Maine. Suggestions for good places to find one??, Tim B., Tue, 23 Apr 2002 20:38:41
  • Re: Help me convince my father of the 9000's reliability..., Quasimotor, Tue, 23 Apr 2002 12:54:24
  • I've currently got one of each, so I'll toss in my $.02, Steve C, Tue, 23 Apr 2002 11:27:00
    • SPare control boxes?, Quasi, Tue, 23 Apr 2002 12:59:13
  • Have him drive one......, Bill U, Mon, 22 Apr 2002 22:01:01
  • Re: Help me convince my father of the 9000's reliability..., Andy D, Mon, 22 Apr 2002 21:28:34
  • Your dad has a lot of valid points but..., No Snaab, Mon, 22 Apr 2002 21:12:56
    • Yes, this is another point I've made to him..., Tim B., Mon, 22 Apr 2002 22:17:40
      • If you want a Passat with four motion, 5 speed, and, No Snaab, Wed, 24 Apr 2002 21:41:11
  • Compare time to r/r engine accessories...., Tony Wirtel, Mon, 22 Apr 2002 19:23:43
  • Re: Help me convince my father of the 9000's reliability..., meng, Mon, 22 Apr 2002 19:21:02
    • "involved relationship" is a good way of explaining..., Tim B., Mon, 22 Apr 2002 19:39:57
  • my family's had two 900's and a 9000... go 9K!, josh p, Mon, 22 Apr 2002 16:49:34
  • Re: the 9000 is more reliable than the 900........., zeke, Mon, 22 Apr 2002 16:20:53
    • Re: the 9000 is more reliable than the 900........., alistair lambert, Mon, 20 May 2002 09:32:04
    • ah, just what I want to hear! parts, though?, Tim B., Mon, 22 Apr 2002 16:40:13
  • some thoughts, saabaru, Mon, 22 Apr 2002 16:20:26
  • don't swear off the older 9000's..., nt moore, Mon, 22 Apr 2002 16:07:26

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