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I will be bold enough to say that few vehicles are as friendly to the DIYer as this. This is particularly true when you consider the awesome online resources. Second to none!
For every repair you listed, you paid about 50% or more of the cost (just a wild guess) for labor. Take the DI cassette for example. This is an expensive item, about 300.00 brand new, but it only takes about 10 minutes to replace it. Go back, read the invoice and then decide how much you paid vs. should have paid.
The brakes are another fine example. For 500.00 dollars you can install top of the line components of excellent craftsmanship all around, not just front or back. We are talking pads, rotors, retaining clips, retaining screws, caliper cleaners, etc. You can probably change all 4 wheel brakes, rotors, the works, for about 250.00 if you use factory components. 250!! For all four wheels!
Changing the DI cassette is not any harder than doing an oil change. In fact, even the oil change is more difficult in many ways!
Back to your question, keep a close eye on the following: Heating/cooling system hoses such as the upper radiator hose, lower radiator hose etc. These tend to start leaking/break with age. The waterpump is also a common problem. The vacuum lines get brittle with age. The Automated Idle Control (AIC) valve also needs a cleaning from time to time. All of these are easy to do. Some like the water pump are a little more daring than others (cleaning the AIC).
When you take the car to a dealership for a tune up, you are paying for their renting spaces, their insurance cost, putting food on their table, their time, which is precious just like yours, etc. It is not unreasonable to pay a lot for the type of work you are requesting, assuming it is done professionally.
The question becomes, how much is YOUR time worth? How much money do you have? Everything you mentioned sounds like almost routine/common problems that would happen on any car. For Saabs, you hit all the "usual suspects" list. If the finances are making you rethink about all the cost, then you came to the right place! We are here to help, so if like me this will be your first DIY experience... well, welcome aboard!
posted by 208.50.1...
, Wed, 15 Dec 2004 19:45:23
, Wed, 15 Dec 2004 19:31:06
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