but the answer varies from car to car. This is true for all cars, not just Saabs. In the cheap-to-keep category you are best with a Yota-Honda-Mazda-Nissan-Suby. These are reliable cars that have fewer weird things going wrong that make your checking account thin. But they ain't perfect and since you are buying used for not a lot of bucks, any one of those can wind up needing all kinds of stuff, too. I find Japanese cars aren't any less expensive to fix for the the most part. But they may need less, depending on where in the replacement cycle they are --and how much dies at once.

Saabs are not necessarily cheap to run, but as others note, if you DIY they are not so bad. The 9Ks do have their issues, BUT if you find a car that has service records and you see that some of the key trouble spots have been dealt with fairly recently and the car is clearly well-maintained, then they aren't a whole lot different than many other cars.

It's important to differentiate between normal stuff (tires, brakes, exhaust systems, a radiator, belts and hoses) and the more unique 9000 stuff like motor mounts, DI, heater core and blower. The normal stuff isn't really any more expensive for a Saab than for a Honda. The more unique Saab stuff can be, but if you do your own work and come here for advice the cost of owning a Saab is not really all that much more than other cars.

The other thing is not to sweat perfection. The '95 CS I bought for my daughter needed a bunch of stuff. I fixed all the critical pieces and do others as they come up. But she has a safe, reliable ride that will last her a while. It's not perfect, but she doesn't care. My '96 CSE isn't perfect either, but it's a lot cheaper than buying something newer that is.

Have the car looked at and test driven by a good Saab indy. Guys who only work on Saabs some of the time won't know what to look for. Find out what it needs and is likely to need. And what those things might cost. Then make your decision. The 9K is a fabulous car, but know it will require some tinkering.

posted by 69.163.38...

• Should I buy my first Saab?, apparitimyon13, Sun, 11 Dec 2005 08:03:33
  • You're asking some of the right questions...(long), Noel, Mon, 12 Dec 2005 05:27:52 <-- Viewing This Message
  • Re: Should I buy my first Saab?, techlectic, Sun, 11 Dec 2005 18:23:27
  • Re: Should I buy my first Saab?, T. Christopher, Sun, 11 Dec 2005 15:19:05
  • Re: Should I buy my first Saab?, saabnroark , Sun, 11 Dec 2005 13:33:36
  • Re: Should I buy my first Saab?, Ari , Sun, 11 Dec 2005 09:33:08
    • Re: Should I buy my first Saab?, aaron, Sun, 11 Dec 2005 09:49:39
      • Re: Should I buy my first Saab?, taurus-sho, Sun, 11 Dec 2005 10:08:50
        • Re: Should I buy my first Saab?, spg27, Sun, 11 Dec 2005 17:55:01

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