Date: Sun, 07 Sep 2003 09:45:16 GMT From: Paul Halliday <pjghnopsamyonder.co.uk> Subject: Re: Saab Complaint
in article MPG.19c3c910fd1bd7c1989dbanopsam.sonic.net, milt brewster at milt73nopsamc.net wrote on 06/09/2003 19:51: > In article <BB7F542C.9514%pjghnopsamyonder.co.uk>, > pjghnopsamyonder.co.uk says... > >> in article MPG.19c2951e57a2b84989db2nopsam.sonic.net, milt brewster at >> milt73nopsamc.net wrote on 05/09/2003 21:42: >> >>> Less than 11,000 miles on a 2000 9-3 coupe. >>> >>> SECOND catastrophic freeway blowout in six months. Both quick >>> and dangerous. >>> >>> NEW Michelin tires have/had 11,000 miles on them. The first >>> blowout occurred at only 5500 miles. The Dealer has refused to >>> deal with the issue. >> >> Tyres are tyres. What does this have to do with Saab? If you're not happy >> with Michelin, then buy another brand. I have Michelins on the front and >> Avons (my old front set) on the rear. They seem fine. > > Good for you. I hope your luck continues. Nobody should have two > blowouts on the freeway in six months, driving a new car. Not > even the people in this thread who have been frankly insulting. Agreed, but I think you've been an unwitting victim of plain bad luck. > Sometimes tires are not made well. Tire failures are always a > safety issue, and American Tire Manufacturers are supposed to > recall tire batches that do not meet manufacturing standards. > > From calling around yesterday, I find that around five Michelins > are experiencing blowouts out of a hundred on new small cars -- > this is very high, and Michelin should recall these tires. Saab > owners should know that Michelins are failing catastrophically in > high numbers like this. Because it is a product safety hazard, > the Saab Company (GM) should replace these tires. On what do you base this statement? Is there some un/official tyre watchdog that holds some stats on this kind of thing? I'm interested. >> Were yours at the correct pressure? When did you last check the pressures? >> It's one of those things, along with fluids, that should be checked on a >> regular basis to ensure that the car is running as per the manufacturer's >> intention and to keep you safe. > I am very careful with my tires and made no obvious errors like > this. I hit no potholes. This was not "road damage," as US Tire > mfgrs like to claim. >> If you've had two blow-outs so far, I'd suggest you're running them more >> than a little over-pressure. > Good guess, but nope. I check my tires carefully and had no > reason to suspect this was going to happen. Okay, that's good. My apologies if you read my comment as an aspersion. >>> Today I would trade this Saab straight across for a comparable >>> Honda Civic ... >> >> Is there a comparable Honda Civic? > No, and that's my point here. The Honda Civic sells for 60% of > the cost of a 9-3 Saab, yet the Civic has a better safety and > mechanical record -- and certainly has better customer care. > While I like to drive a car that's fun, I MUST drive a car that's > safe and reliable. Oh, you mean "if" there was ... > Saab should be purple with embarrassment that a car like the > Honda Civic can outperform it. In what way? Style? Comfort? Speed? MPG? 0-60? Mileage? Tyre choice? Do you want to play top trumps, or make a point? > And I meant what I said: If somebody made it easy for me, I'd > trade my Saab for a comparable Japanese car this week. I need a > car that is safe and reliable. ... and presumably if you traded for, say, a Toyota Corolla, which came with Michelin tyres (as my father-in-law's did) you'd have the tyres changed? The tyres you run on your car is your own responsibility. If you saw the tyres Saab put on their cars as sub-standard, you should've changed them straight away. Lucky for me, the only new cars I've bought have been Fiats, who use Pirellis :) If your point was to slander Michelin, then I think you've made that point. Perhaps if you just paid out for a new set of tyres (all 4), you'd feel better about your Saab. You have said that you used to be a Saab fanatic, so why let a set of rubber spoil that? Paul
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
