1994-2002 [Subscribe to Daily Digest] |
Compared to an American car, I would say parts are more expensive, but for the most part are not totally outragous.
Saabs are among the easiest vehicles to work on, in my opinion.
I have had 5 Saabs since 1986 and they have been great cars. Reliable, easy to maintain, and never left me stuck on the side of the road.
Like any car, they have their problem spots, but if you stay on top of maintenance and stick religiously to Saab's prescribed preventive maintenance schedule, including Major Service every 30K, you'll be fine.
So you have to consider your position on car ownership. If you are the type that refuses to buy anything but the cheapest gas, goes 15,000 miles between oil changes, runs tires until they are bald, waits for brakes to be metal on metal prior to servicing, then I would say a Honda may be a better car for you. Not trying to sound like a jerk, but just want you to make the right decision. Saabs are not super high maintenance, but they are maintenance oriented cars. If you take care of them, they will take care of you.
If you are inexperienced/unfamiliar with Saabs, I would HIGHLY recommend you have the vehicle in for a PPI (pre-purchase inspection) at a Saab dealership or independent experienced Saab mechanic. You need to know what you are getting.
As with any car, get the service history from the seller, get a feel for how well the car was maintained, garaged, waxed, etc.... since this ultimately determines how trouble-free your used-Saab experience will be. Any Saab dealer can pull the entire service history (of work performed at Saab dealers) on the car from the VIN #.
On the NG900 (1994-1998) the plastic pulleys on the serpentine belt are a very common problem. They make noise as they fail and then sieze and throw the belt. An inexpensive fix, but a pain if you end up stuck on the side of the road somewhere.
Hope this helps some,
Nick
95 900S
93 900S
...Saabs since '86
posted by 24.160.2...
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