1985-1998 [Subscribe to Daily Digest] |
[Profile/Gallery]
, Thu, 18 Jul 2002 10:30:35
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... I had the dealer do everything. Kept up the Saab service history on them and never had too many nasty surprises. Towards the end with my '87 2.0T, I changed the oil, filters, plugs, etc. myself, as I didn't see the point in keeping up the Saab service history on a car that was worth very little. However, when I sold it at 200K miles, I started the Saab dealer services again with my CD, as it was a condition of the warranty. Same thing with my Aero. However, when the warranty ran out on that and the dealer made a major cock-up, I decided to service it myself, as I had with cars before my first 9000. I could just have gone looking for another dealer (or good independent mechanic), as they're two-a-penny here. My 9000s are my hobby, but I could just as easily have the dealer/mechanic look after them and never have to know anything about them at all, even though I'm not rich. The money I save by doing it myself helps to pay for the upgrades to the Aero. And yes, I do enjoy it.
I can't do without a car these days, so I've bought a CSE to run as my everyday car because I like to take the Aero apart (and put it back together, of course), as modifying it has become a hobby. I also want to take the Aero on track days and no matter how reliable a car is on the road, nasty things can happen on the track. The CSE has been Saab-serviced all its life, and will remain unmodified (but I'll service it myself). I will be both surprised and disappointed if it does not prove to be completely reliable.
And in the last two years, the only times the Aero has been off the road when I should have been driving it to work have been when I've been tinkering with upgrades and it took longer than I expected.
One thing I wouldn't do - and perhaps this is relevant to your own situation - is maintain someone else's 9000 (or any other car) that I hadn't bought myself. I hope I can spot a car that has suffered neglect or abuse, and walking away is always a viable option. I've done a lot of walking away in the last couple of weeks, but finally managed to buy two 9000s that I think will make reliable long-term drivers (OK, so I was only looking for one, but the other was a very good deal and I was intending eventually to get another 9000 to take over the Aero's daily duties anyway).
Finally, perhaps we have a different attitude here in the UK (and Europe). We expect cars to need regular maintenance, just as you expect cars to need oil changes at ridiculously (to us) short intervals. It's just that we look at the whole car, rather than the oil and filter.
Perhaps I *am* old, but at 37, I like to think I have a few good years left.
posted by 62.253....
, Wed, 17 Jul 2002 23:45:58, Thu, 18 Jul 2002 10:30:35, Thu, 18 Jul 2002 22:38:25
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