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Posted by plum [Email] (more from plum) on Fri, 30 May 2003 14:09:52 Share Post by Email
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Well, it has been a hell of a trip.

This message board has been such a terrific reference, and taught me so much about my Viggen. Thanks to anyone and everyone I've interacted with here, and best of luck with your Saabs.

Enough preamble, here's my last Saab story.

I recently purchased some Pirelli P-Zero Neros for the Viggen. As I do for any service, I brought my car to Gary Blake Saab (herein referred to as GBS) in Exeter, NH. I bring the Viggen to GBS because Saab Nashua North is an awful place to deal with, having originally purchased my car there and experienced troubles to no end; GBS has always treated me and my car with a modicum of respect. At any rate, I brought in the tires for mounting and balancing, had a seat in the waiting room, and patiently awaited the word that things were all set. New tire day is awesome, anyone will agree. Nothing like getting those old, tired shoes off and silently driving away on a pristine set of road hugging rubber.

About 30 minutes later, a service rep came into the waiting area and asked me to come take a look at "something". As I entered the service bay, I saw something very wrong: my Viggen wheel missing giant flecks of paint. For a moment, I felt like this wasn't happening. I stared around aimlessly in complete shock as the technician tried to explain what had happened. What had happened? He explained that the finish had just "come right off" and it was clearly some kind of manufacturing defect. He explained that the dealership would try to work with Saab USA and he was pretty sure they had a good case for some kind of goodwill. I was still in shock, trying to process what had happened. Giant flecks of paint on the floor. A gnarled, massacred wheel; a once pristine, completely straight original wheel. I could only hope their efforts with Saab USA would prevail. I pleaded with them for a new rim to no avail. The parts department tried to sell me a "refurbed" Viggen wheel; a completely trashed and rashed but otherwise painted wheel, for $179. I declined as I suppose most reasonable people would.

The technician took me aside one on one and said "I'm a Master Tech. You don't have anything to worry about. I'll talk to them, I've been doing this for 15 years, you'll be all set.". Thank God I was talking to someone who could at least go to bat for me. I knew the Viggen wheels were soft, and thankfully someone could substantiate this claim. Particularly a Master Technician. This would be very helpful.

Another half hour, and the rest of the tires were finally mounted without incident. GBS offered me employee discount for the mount and balance, which was a nice gesture. I pulled out of the lot and into the gas station next door. Viggens don't run on fumes you know.

Pump in filler pipe, and I'm standing around, watching my $30 turn into gasoline. I begin to further examine the ghastly wheel. What a mess. What an awful, awful looking piece of shit. The car looks ridiculous with this wheel on it.

Then I look at the other wheels and I notice two of them have incredibly deep gouges which run the entire circumference of the wheel. I look again and again to be sure this is right, because these damn well weren't there before. But in fact, they are there. They are very there. And in a moment, I realized just what had happened.

I topped off the tank, started her up, and beelined for GBS. In a hazy, vicious anger, I proceeded to the service desk and summoned the service manager. In the lot, we had a look at the wheels, and in one look, we were both on the same page. The damage and its cause were self-evident. The Master Tech had single handedly mangled 3 of the 4 wheels on the mounting machine. Had I driven away, safe in the knowledge that we were about to fight a goodwill claim with Saab USA, I would have returned home and played the "you did it, no you did it" game with regard to the other damaged wheels. But there would be no games. GBS trashed my wheels and tried to blame it on a Saab manufacturing defect. I expressed my sentiments in no uncertain terms. GBS almost completely fucked me over. Almost.

Good thing I needed gas that day.

For a man to look me square in the eye and lie to me, as the "Master Tech" did...I have no way to express this feeling in words. Betrayal, distrust, dishonesty, cowardice - this could only be the fetal beginnings of a full grown hate I have for Gary Blake Saab.

After much negotiation, the wheels were refinished at no charge as I drove about in a 9-3 ragtop for two weeks. Some of you might say "I'd have made the bastards buy you new wheels". Don't believe I didn't try. But when you reach an impasse that can only be solved by either taking a viable alternative or taking someone to small claims court, you take the viability. Two weeks later I had sharp looking, refinished, powdercoated wheels, and I was satisfied with the outcome. I headed back to the office on the morning I picked it up, and was happy to be back in my good old Viggen again. New tires and, effectively, new wheels.

Within ten minutes, I phoned GBS, alerting them that my girlfriend had left some CDs in the glovebox of the convertible loaner.

"No problem Chris, I will go out there right now and take care of that."

Someone already had. Within ten minutes of dropping the loaner off, someone had already rifled through the glovebox and pocketed everything, including the CDs. And of course this was some "unknown" person, and of course, no one would possibly own up to it. I would expect nothing less from Gary Blake Saab.

And that friends was the last straw. I sold the Viggen. Private party, 80,000 miles, $15,000. The new owner got himself a wonderfully maintained orignal Viggen, and I never have to see another Saab dealer again.

Good luck to the rest of you, drive like hell, drive safe, and keep your eyes open. You never know what you'll see on the road or off.



-Chris Plummer

RIP Tim and Kyle

posted by 209.113.183...

http://www.lightningblue.org

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