Date: Sat, 13 Nov 1999 00:02:34 GMT From: Josh Landess <jlandessnopsam.com> Subject: Re: ad hoc comment: Saab vs. Honda
On Fri, 12 Nov 1999 06:59:30 +0800, watersnopsamfic.net.hk wrote: >I formerly had an 86 Acura Integra (bought in 92) and an 88 >900S (bought in 90). Sold both in 95 when I moved overseas. >Acura was my first Honda and Saab was my 3rd "old" 900 >model. Acura was bulletproof. Saabs were all prone to minor >failures plus one detonated a 3-sp auto trans under >warranty. Overseas (HKG) bought 92 Civic and 94 "new" 900S >in 95. Both trouble-free until recently when 900S cooling >ban began to fail. I agree the "new" 900s are far better >than the old ones in reliability (if slightly less >Saab-like), maybe not to Honda standards yet, but getting >there. Saab service has always been more expensive, but I >have the feeling that a Saab that has been maintained by the >book from day one should go pacifically forever. The problem >is finding one of those in the used car market, I guess. Your experience clearly is a pertinent one, and largely mirrors my = more-limited one. The last portion of your comment is food-for-thought, but I'd have = to question it. Many marques, I think, if maintained meticulously from day one, will go = pretty far. My impression has been that a Saab engine will do 200k-250k if well-maintained. The rest of the car is going to have varying degrees of reliability, though presumably good preventative maintenance would help a= bit. I'm glad to hear that the marque has done its part to improve in the area= of reliability. The Saab-service-is-more-expensive thing has also stung = quite a bit. Awhile back there was this hilarious radio ad which went something like = this:=20 There's an "Answer Guy" and you could call him and get an answer to = practically any difficult dillema you faced. Caught fooling around? No problem, he = could suggest a solution. Lost your job? Call the Answer Guy. So then this guy calls in about his car. "Don't tell me", says the = Answer Guy, "you didn't buy a Honda". "Well yes, that's right" replies the guy. = "Sorry, can't help you, goodbye" says the Answer Guy. At the time, I used to hear this as I drove my Acura around, and I = thought it was pretty funny. Not laughing much anymore. 'Course I also liked the Saab radio ads about= going out for a drive, and by the time you get a few hundred miles, you can't = remember what it was your wife wanted at the super-market, but the pleasure of = driving a Saab has waned, and they never did have that power-to-weight issue nailed= down as well as Honda. jl
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