1999-2009 [Subscribe to Daily Digest] |
Man, I hear ya. I have a 1999 9-5 Sportswagon. It eats my little wallet for breakfast. Saab (the company) may as well be non-existent. There was something they should have opted to replace on my car a couple of years ago (can't remember what it was with all the repairs I have had), they strung me along and then denied coverage of the repair. I even brought her back to life after she was totalled in a car accident where a guy having a heart attack hit me. I spent a ton, but I had only owned the car for a short time, loved it, and it the cost to put it back on the road was still less than certified pre-owned. BTW, I had to cover the repair minus collision, as the state of NJ is a stupid state. His insurance company didn't cover the repair as he was dying and not negligent. Don't move here. You will forever be trying to save yourself from this place!
Anyway, I'm having the engine mounts replaced this week and I just had the brake booster replaced. $1200 total at my indy. I had a few pump replaced during the holidays ($600), had the blower motor replaced $135 (bought part online and had my indy install it), and the ACC system is nuts (warm one side, cold the other; not cold enough for summer, not hot enough for winter); all 4 2yr old Borbet wheels are bent perhaps from Rte. 18 construction; need to fix SID; a lot of button lights are out from "repair by Ultimate Collision" from accident; crank sensor replaced last summer; may need springs/shocks/struts (feels flat when I hit a bump); occasional growling sound upon acceleration . . .
Yet somehow I manage to love this car. I'm sure I need to get out more and see other cars. But she suits me, is like a jack knife, and I like that I get to know her better over time. While she isn't great on gas in this economy at only about 16.5 mpg, I am not buyin' another car in this economy. I feel like a homeowner, who's home is paid off while the economy is going to Hell. And it's not a bum-by car. It's beautiful. While my 2 jobs don't really cover the repairs, I'd rather find a better job than get rid of her. The design of the cockpit is far better than the 96 Honda Passport I owned. That whole team should have been fired. I am not turning a blind eye to the problems. It is a huge inconvenience and financial hassle and I really don't like it, particularly in a state that doesn't have any real transportation system.
However, all though she is my first Saab, she will be my last. The local Saab dealerships are closing and so there is not much local support for the car. With the addition of the slower economy, I wouldn't be surprised if Saab went out of business altogether. Perhaps the well designed cockpit will become something of the past in exchange for hybrids, tininess, but perhaps more reliability, etc. While reliability will be welcomed in my life, I will always feel as if I'm getting a bit less bang for the buck. But it's like the way I've often shopped for other things. Buy it this year because they're going to find a way to make it cheaper and charge you more next year, while you're working the 5 for 1 job to pay for it all on your high interest credit card. Lovely life.
Good night.
posted by 69.248.103...
, Mon, 17 Mar 2008 14:58:08, Mon, 17 Mar 2008 10:12:56
No Site Registration is Required to Post - Site Membership is optional (Member Features List), but helps to keep the site online
for all Saabers. If the site helps you, please consider helping the site by becoming a member.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
