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I now have had my 2001 Saab SE Convertible for abotu six weeks (1,800 miles).
While it's a nice car, I have to say I am getting pretty dissatisfied with the quality of the vehicle. Now, I'm grading this car against other $40K cars I've owned and the Saab seems much more like a middle of the road Chrysler than a premium vehicle.
Defects:
1. The steering wheel was off about 10 degrees when I got the car
2. Wheel pulled hard left when I braked
3. Right side windshield washers didn't work correctly (took dealer 2x to fix this)
4. Horn started going off (not alarm) by itself.
5. Key transmitter is flaky. Doesn't always work correctly (even after numerous attempts.) Today for instance the trunk wouldn't open with the transmitter until I opened it manually and then closed it.
6. fastener clip that holds panel inside trunk was missing
7. Installed ashtray had broken clip inside and wouldn't come out.
None of these are big things, but they speak to the quality of the manufacturer and their quality control. I hope the major mechanical systems received more care. All of them were researched and fixed by the dealer, but that has required three trips there already. Today the key/trunk thing happened...and I'm just beginning to doubt this car.
As for the "premium" part of this vehicle...Saab has a ways to go. Charging extra for an armrest is ridiculous in a car of this price. Not having a garage door opener built in (and only offering that X10 option) isn't great either. There are a few other examples like the fact that the right hand door has a space for the trunk opener (right hand drive) and just has a plug in it. Seat belts that don't offer any way to adjust up and down. It would also be really nice if you could raise and lower the windows with the key. Little touches like these are kind of expected in higher end cars. The Saab comes in closer to the Sebring and Solara than it does the CLK 320 or BMW 325 convertible (except for its ridiculous plastic window).
Is the car bad? No, but it's not great...and I fear that it's not going to wear well (I really hope I'm wrong). It seems people compare Saabs to VWs which sell for significantly less when Saab is really pricing themselves in the Mercedes C Class, Lexus, Infiniti areas...and I fear that Consumers Reports might have been right...the car is overpriced for what you get.
I hope not...I'd love to be driving this baby in 10 years (my previous diesel Benz went 18 years and 185,000 miles) and still have the car driving well and the body/interior being tight.
...ken
, Tue, 8 May 2001 09:49:27
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