Date: Mon, 13 Aug 2001 23:51:13 -0400 From: "Kenneth S." <nimrodnopsams.com> Subject: Re: 1999 9-3 conv. rattles and squeaks
This thread started off because someone complained about rattles and squeaks in a 1999 -- i.e. a relatively new -- Saab. That coincides with what others have said. Someone commented that a Mustang convertible, which is much cheaper than a Saab convertible, didn't suffer from these problems. Furthermore, I am not alone in my comments about noise and vibration: the consumer magazines say that Saabs are not up to modern standards, in terms of reducing engine and road noise. I intend to keep my Saab, and see if I can get the remaining bugs worked out. I appreciate many of its qualities. However, I'm not persuaded that everyone who owns a Saab must studiously ignore its shortcomings. The depreciation rate of Saabs appears to be substantially greater than that of other cars in its class. If nothing else, that suggests that it's better to buy one used, after someone else has absorbed the depreciation. I bought my Miata used also, and have spent far less money on repairs for it in three years of ownership than I have spent in six months of ownership of the Saab. (Fortunately, I have now had several months without any necessary repairs to the Saab, and I'm hoping the problems are behind me now.) Bob wrote: > > On Sun, 12 Aug 2001 17:57:49 -0400, "Kenneth S." <nimrodnopsams.com> > wrote: > > >I have the turbo V-4. Particularly under heavy acceleration it is by > >no means as quiet as other four cylinder cars I have driven > > a. Unde WOT, I'd expect a little sound from 185HP 4-cyl turbo motor. > b. My Saab's cooling fan generates much more noise and vibration > than the motor does. The motor is wonderful. I expect it to last > 300K miles. I'll admit that it isn't quite as smooth as a Honda, but > I don't want a Honda motor. > > > The buttons are not illuminated, and it's quite tricky at > >night. > > The temp control buttons are isolated by themselves on one side. All > you have to do is find one and push it. If the temp setting goes up, > then lower your finger 4mm and push the lower button. Done. It just is > not that hard. > > >I don't see the point of trying to convey an impression of > >luxury by a gimmicky climate control system, when you haven't got the > >basics right, like having a quiet engine and a rattle-free body. > > Gimmicky ? How about carefully engineered like the rest of the car ? > No car design is perfect mechanically or ergonomic ally perfect for > everyone. Wanna hear some BMW or Porsche stories ? How about > Mercedes ? > > You're the only one I've ever heard complain about the Saab's motor > being too noisy. I think you have a mechanical problem. Most Saab's > are relatively rattle free and the dealer fixes those that occur for > as long as your warranty lasts. > > > I always buy used cars, and I got the Saab at > >quite a reasonable price, considering what they cost new. > > Again, you bought a pig in a poke when you bought a used car. Who > knows what the previous owner did to it ? Don't measure all Saabs > by the rattles or noise in yours. Mine is quiet. Maybe the previous > owner rarely changed the oil and you have internal engine damage. > Perhaps there's a reason yours was so 'reasonable' in price ? > > >The U.S. market seems to impose a heavy depreciation penalty on Saabs. > > It's a popularity issue. Saabs are not as well known as Hondas. Also, > it's a perception issue. Work out the depreciation on a Nissan Maxima > based on what it actually goes out the door for, and let me know > how much difference there is (Hint: I already did it, there's not > much difference). > > >By contrast, I have no reservations about the Miata, which I would > >unhesitatingly recommend to anyone. > > Oh yeah ? Had to use that warranty much ? Did you happen to read the > post in the Miata group from the guy who was denied warranty coverage > at 20K miles because he had a 'big bore' exhaust installed ? The > dealer said it was obvious by the exhaust that he was driving the > car hard and refused coverage. Mazda backed the dealer up, all the > way to the top of the management ladder. Talk about management and > customer relation problems. > > In contrast, Saab sells a performance exhaust from the factory, > and is now even selling performance chips to pull more HP from > your turbo... and the entire car is still under the 'we fix > anything' 4/50 warranty. > > Bob
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