Date: Mon, 25 Oct 1999 13:52:41 -0400 From: Chris Ault <aultnopsamelnetworks.com> Subject: Re: Saab 9000 electrical reliability...?
Dave Matthews wrote: > > Hi folks, > > About six years ago I bought a 1987 Saab 9000, fully expecting it to > give many years of relatively trouble-free motoring. WRONG!! The car > (which had done just 60,000 miles, came with a full Saab service history > and was indeed sold as an "Approved Used Saab") suffered myriad > electrical problems (dashboard bulbs constantly failing or illuminating > when they shouldn't have done, sunroof, horn, alternator, heated seats > and cruise control being the ones I remember but there were lots of > other things too). In the fourteen months I had it, the car was back at > the dealers once a month on average. In the end I *had* to sell it > because the dealer couldn't get the horn to work and here in the UK that > means MOT Test failure. To be candid the Saab 9000 was by far the most > unreliable car I have ever owned (I've tended to buy Fords.) > > .... Anyway, despite all this, I loved the car! And I got to thinking > the other day that I might like another. So what I would like to know is > are these cars any better these days? I would be looking to buy a 1993 > or 1994 model. I'm also curious as to whether I was simply incredibly > unlucky or were all 9000's built during the 1980s as bad as mine? Sorry to read about your difficulties with your 9000. I've got an 87 9000 and not had any problems like you describe, nor have I read on Saabnet.com about others who have. Mine has been in the shop only a few times for things that I can't fix: AC, water pump, and I've fixed wheel bearings, brakes, and the high beam switch. Notice, no electrical problems... So far I've had years of trouble free driving and I would not hesitate to pick up another in a second. I also plan to keep the car for several more years. I'm sure that your car was a freak statistic, not at all indicative of the mean. Go ahead, throw caution to the wind and get yourself another Saab, you'll not be sorry. -chris