1994-2002 [Subscribe to Daily Digest] |
Members do not see ads below this line. - Help Keep This Site Online - Signup
I am considering purchasing a 1997 900S 4-door hatchback w/ 60K miles on it (stick shift). It feels like a great ride to me, but then again I am coming off of a stick-shift Ford Escort wagon, so I may not be very objective. I took it to the local Saab dealer to take a look and they told me the following should be done:
1) Idler pulley + serp belt due to cracking in the belt = $96 in parts + 1.5 hours
2) Center muffler has a small hole in it = $245 + 1 hour
3) Clutch cable is "sticky" = $56 + 1 hour
4) Input shaft seal ("possibly") = $57 + 8 hours YIKES!!
5) Strut bushings = $157 per side + 3 hours
My thoughts (a confessed mechanical idiot) on each of these follow. Any comments and advice re: the necessity, commonality, and price of these items would be most greatly appreciated:
1) The idler pulley and serp belt seem completely reasonable to me, and based on what I have read it appears that it is typical for these to need replacing at this juncture.
2) Do I really care about a tiny hole in the center muffler? I can't hear anything when I drive it, and it sounds fine to me otherwise. Can this wait until such time as it becomes a real issue?
3) The clutch feels fine to me. Maybe it should be replaced just as a preventative measure. What is a typical replacement schedule on these cars? My Ford lasted until 100K miles -- I would hope a Saab would do at least as well!
4) They suggested the input shaft seal should be looked at as long as they are going to be in replacing the clutch. I have no idea why that makes sense or even if it makes sense, but I blanch at the notion of paying for 8 hours of labor on my "new" car. They said there is no particular reason to think the seal is bad, but it's a good idea to check as long as it is accessible.
5) They say that there is a slight "something" in the ride (I forget the exact word they used) and that the strut bushings maybe need replacing. Again, the ride feels fine and dandy to me, and sinking $500-$600 into something that isn't bothering me seems a waste, unless it is going to deteriorate into a major problem in the future which will cost even more to fix.
I get the impression that the Saab dealer is perhaps trying to make the after-market dealer look a little bad here, but I can't know that for sure. Incidentally, I am paying $12,500 for this car. Am I getting a decent deal given all of the above? Which of these things could be put off and for how long?
Thanks a ton in advance for any tidbits you all can throw my way...
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.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
