Date: Fri, 03 Oct 2003 01:36:35 GMT From: "Rector Family" <wrectornopsamamnycap.rr.com> Subject: Re: First...and likely last Saab
Volvos are indeed expensive to fix for certain repairs, however, I had very little go wrong with my car. Mine is a 1986 740 GLE wagon. The only major issue I had is that I had to replace the transmission at 120,000 miles. Bill "ma_twain" <ma_twainnopsamo.com> wrote in message news:3F7BAC38.5050907nopsamo.com... > More information would be useful in your comparisons. I too have a > Volvo and Saabs. > Check the Volvo group - it costs (at the dealer) $600 to replace one > cracked headlight lens assembly on an S80, while I can replace the a > headlight on my Volvo for $5. Why? - mine is a 1982 245 Turbo - still > running and starts with one turn of the key. What year and mode is your > reliable Volvo? Is it a Volvo made before Ford bought Volvo? > > As for Saabs, I have drive 900s since 1985 and I currently own two > Classic 900s. They have all been reliable. You have a relatively new > design Saab, so you can't compare my Saab experience directly with yours. > > 1. Tire problems- "unusually high tire failure rate" - what does this > mean - people who drive carefully can get over 80,000 miles on a set of > tires while others are happy to get 10,000 miles on a set because they > enjoy pushing the limits of the engine and suspension. > 2. Constant replacement of headlight bulbs - a car with a stiff > suspension and design issues with the bulb sockets can result in > frequent bulb failure - see the Volvo group about the V70 headlight > complaints > 3. failure of real locking mechanism - is the rear door aligned > properly, is the rear door being slammed shut? Issues here can cause > problems with the rear locking mechanism. > 4. Turbo seals - too much heat will damage seals and driving too fast > with a cold engine/turbo is not good either - are you letting the car > warm up and cool down per the Owner's Manual? Accords, to the best of my > knowledge don't have turbos - so no valid comparisons here. Does your > Volvo have a turbo? > 5. surging engine while backing up cold - I am guessing - you have an > automatic. It sounds like the engine is in high speed idle, normal for > a cold engine. When put into reverse, the vehicle surges and the > engine tries to keep up the cold idle speed setting. Get the engine > checked for anything which would cause the engine to idle higher than > normal when cold - it could be as simple a sensor needing to be cleaned. > 6. Groaning while turning the steering wheel, even when parked - could > be the power steering pump belt or the suspension. Using the power > steering to force the front wheels to turn without the car moving puts a > strain on the steering components and shortens their life. If you try > this is a car without power steering, you would realize the forces > involved. > > WORSS wrote: > > > After 70,000 miles, I feel my 1999 Saab 9-5 wagon is falling apart. Up > > until now, we have had very few problems other than an unusually high tire > > failure rate and constant replacement of the headlight bulbs. > > > > Now I am dealing with the following..... > > 1) Failure of the rear locking mechanism. I was told that the solenoid > > needed to be replaced by my Saab dealer ($180 or the part I believe) but it > > has now worked since they "lubricated" it. > > 2) Oil leak in the turbo. I was told that the seals need to be replaced in > > the turbo. No cost estimate given but I was told to live with it for as > > long as I can. > > 3) The car has a tendancy to surge when backing up while cold. I am told > > that this "may be" the throttle body. No cost estimate given but I was told > > that "this would not be good". > > 4) The car started to groan today. I am not sure what is wrong with it, > > but it has a constant groan that gets worse when I turn the steering wheel > > (even while parked). My guess is that the power steering pump is going bad? > > > > In addition, I need new brake pads and rotors. I know that these are > > "consumables" and I can't complain about getting 70K miles out of them, but > > if you add up all the money I will need to spend to fix this car it is > > absurd. I currently have a Honda Accord (140K miles), Volvo (190K miles), > > and an Acura (33K miles) and and not put this kind of money into all three > > cars combined! > > > > Needless to say, I am not impressed with my first Saab. > > > > Bill > > > > > > > > >
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