Went to the local gas station indy to get a battery the other day. These guys have worked on my wife's Exploder, but not my Saabs. They are good wrenches, and see most makes and models come through the shop.

We had an interesting talk about the declining quality of cars today. They are seeing quality head south on every make of car, Saabs included. Trannies are the worst spot, they told me. No car maker--even Toyota-- is making strong, long-lasting transmissions. They are seeing Nissans and Yota with failed trannies at 80 to 100K miles. Still not quite as weak as, say Fords or the main GM brands, but still dying early. So when someone says Saab trannies are terrible, they're not. They are just like everyone else's.
Rovers have a problem with main bearings spinning.
All the Korean cars, with the supposed 100K mile warranties, are falling apart much sooner than the warranty would make one think. And there are so many exclusions and caveats in the warrranties that they have people wih Kias and Hyundais coming in with stuff the manufacturers say isn't covered. And the parts can be expensive.

There's another thread further down were someone comments on how cars have become disposable in our throwaway society. Makes sense, if you are a car mfgr. With so many cars being leased, and few people inclined to drive cars with over 100K on them, why build a car that can go 150-200K? Build 'em cheap, sell 'em. And sell another one in a few years. Just load them up with features so people think they are getting a lot of value with all the nice (high profit margin) toys.

Keep maintaining your old Saabs. They really don't make 'em like that anymore.

posted by 24.52.16...

• The death of quality (long), Noel, Fri, 29 Apr 2005 06:06:48 <-- Viewing This Message
  • Just the opposite...., Mike Lynch , Sat, 30 Apr 2005 16:59:00
    • I agree..., No Snaab, Sun, 1 May 2005 10:58:06
  • Re: The death of quality (long), Bill in VA, Sat, 30 Apr 2005 11:48:52
  • Re: and long live fashion... (well sort of), t_mokes, Fri, 29 Apr 2005 17:24:14
  • thanks go to the "Wal-mart" mentality..., bamaSAAB, Fri, 29 Apr 2005 10:57:06
    • Re: thanks go to the "Wal-mart" mentality..., Yak, Fri, 29 Apr 2005 16:10:37
      • not really persuasive, nt moore, Sat, 30 Apr 2005 19:42:00
  • Re: The death of quality (long), hazelnut, Fri, 29 Apr 2005 07:43:44
  • It's not just cars ..., Urby, Fri, 29 Apr 2005 06:46:12
    • Re: It's not just cars ..., CFishgo, Fri, 29 Apr 2005 09:29:13
    • What a hoot!, RS , Fri, 29 Apr 2005 06:55:14
      • Re: What a hoot!, Urby, Fri, 29 Apr 2005 09:04:30
        • Mmmmm....beer!, NonStop , Fri, 29 Apr 2005 11:26:10
  • Re: The death of quality (long), plano saab, Fri, 29 Apr 2005 06:21:55
    • Well, OK...but I think it is INITIAL quality, Noel, Fri, 29 Apr 2005 15:11:12
    • I think initial quality is up, long term quality down, Wes, Fri, 29 Apr 2005 08:12:09
    • I'll have to agree with you, J, Fri, 29 Apr 2005 07:23:48

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