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This past January 2002, I purchased my first Saab, a 1985 900 Turbo with 197K when I got it. Living in the DC metro area, I drive 22 miles to work each day in the worst traffic in the country (literally) and it takes me a good hour and a half at the least. I don't believe in buying new cars and didn't want to get the same damn thing everyone else here has because that's just foolish. Coming from Vermont almost everyone had a Saab at some point because they're like a two ton plow incognito. My cousin got into an accident with hers, totaled the thing and came out without a scratch. I've owned both American and Japanese vehicles, all of which have been bigger headaches that not. They irritate my best friend because she says they remind her of all the snooty people in Manchester, so naturally it was my first choice this time around.
I test drove the car, which had every maintenance record and service receipt for the past 17 years included with it, a few minor problems (SAAB emblem on grill came off, map light behind rear-view mirror didn't work, minor things)... the entire interior upholstery had been replaced and is like new, engine sounded fine, drove beautifully and the turbo had that high pitched whirr that gives warm fuzzies. It even came with that giant red 1983-93 complete guide to every aspect of your car book, the original owners manual and the 17-year old key chain! I bought it for $2,000. At 200K, I had the oil changed (Mobile 1 Synthetic, of course). The thing still gets 30+ mpg even in this crap stop and go traffic down here. Around 202, I noticed a clunking in the engine and the idle started to get really bad about dipping down to about 5 when stopping and idling still, got really hot then cooled down, then one sunny day the drivers side window got stuck down. I took it in to Auto Scandia, checked the cooling system which they said was fine, resent the engine specs and installed a new window switch, all of which cost a whopping $260. I highly recommend them for anyone in the area.
Anyway, a couple days after I got the car back I looked down and the water heater gauge was hotter than ever. I called and they said it could be just the temperature gauge or as complicated as a blown head gasket and I had to bring the car in to have them check it. The day after that was the first day it rained since I got it back from them, lo and behold, the wipers didn't work. I called Auto Scandia, they said silly girl, we can't help you over the phone you still have to bring it in (they're 30 miles from my work and there's no way I was driving that in the rain with no wipers, even in a saab :) ) and gave me a quote on worst case scenario a new wiper motor plus labor, so I called someplace closer to see what they had to say. Eurasian in Tysons, the guy who answered the phone was not only rude, but told me since the wipers went on the car and it was getting a little hot and now has 203K on it, he told me "ya don't replace the wiper motor, ya replace the car". Where's the love???? Sorry pal, not all Saab owners are doctors, lawyers and indian chiefs, we can't just go BUY a new on because the wipers don't work anymore. He wouldn't even give me a quote on his labor and a new wiper motor to compare against, had no interest in helping me or even listening. After a few choice words for him regarding his attitude, I hung up the phone.
My POINT is (sorry, I'm a girl and therefore a bit long winded), I did a little research and decided to at least try what I could do myself to try and solve what could possibly cause a problem like this, bought a pack of 15a and 30a fuses and replaced all the older ones of those currently in the car. Just in case that didn't work, I RainX'd my girl because lets face it, RainX is amazing. After a bit of detailing, a wash, some love and conversation, I hopped in, started her up and voila, wipers worked like new. Not only that, the cooling problem seems to have dissipated (where's some wood), the AC works better, the ride is noticeably smoother, the engine is quieter and there are lights I didn't even know existed inside. Almost every problem I had is fixed (I'm going to go find a tree to knock on now that I'm saying all this... unfortunately it can't fix the leaking hydraulic seal on the steering rack they found while inspecting it... but power steering fluid once every couple months is a hell of a lot cheaper than $800 to fix right now and they said it should be fine for a while with that), so I came to the logical, obvious conclusion that any problem you have with a SAAB, buy fuses. They fix all the problems. It's the solution for everything. Fuses. I stand firm. CV joints going? Buy some fuses. Transmission shot? Fuses. Whole car is in a wreck, engine is at the bottom of the Hudson, molten lava and fire pours in through the A/C unit for no apparent reason? Buy some fuses, put some butter on it and she'll be good as new. I swear that washing it and giving it some attention made it a happier car (because Saabs are, as we all know, the first form of A.I.). This weekend, I'm going to wash it, wax it, vacuum it and Armorol the inside. With any luck, it'll turn into a 2002 9-3. ;) Actually, no, I dig my inverted bathtub on wheels.
That's my story and I'm sticking to it for anyone who is bored enough to read my little diatribe. I don't know that I'll ever buy another make of car again. I really should stop talking now before the swedish gods of luck sense my gloating and strike her down into Saab heaven, angel that she is. Although, I don't think she likes that her name is Brak. ;)
Feel free to reply with any advice or comments! I should probably go back to actually doing my job now. :)
Unconditional love to the rest of my Saab family,
Linnea.
posted by 198.17.243...
, Fri, 14 Jun 2002 11:36:58, Fri, 14 Jun 2002 12:04:03, Fri, 14 Jun 2002 14:08:54
, Fri, 14 Jun 2002 11:30:05
, Fri, 14 Jun 2002 11:11:53, Fri, 14 Jun 2002 11:54:42, Fri, 14 Jun 2002 12:20:27, Fri, 14 Jun 2002 13:44:55, Fri, 14 Jun 2002 11:30:34
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