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I don't think of it as denial, but as putting up with certain things because you like the overall package. From comments I've seen on this BB over the years, Saab owners like the combination of things that Saabs provide, but they freely admit that Saabs are not first in any one category, except perhaps safety in some studies (like Folksom). The hypothetical Saab owner you propose that claims (or more like, bothers to claim) that Saab quality and reliability are equal to those of BMW may exist somewhere, but only in small numbers.
Maybe BMW's are more reliable than Saabs, but I guess my expectations are that I should have to fix something, some time, on my Saab that has 160K miles. So last year its radiator gave up the ghost, and I stuck a new one in one afternoon. It was easy. Then three years ago the DI cassette fried, and I plugged in a new one. It was easy. And a year before that, my heater core began leaking, so I stuck in a new one. That was....no, that one was hard. But it's good for another 10 years. I guess my point is that I'm comfortable with occasionally working on my car. And I would bet that a BMW at 160K would need something once in awhile, too. So I don't aspire to this goal of ultimate reliability because I think it's unrealistic in a higher-mileage car (all my cars eventually end up over 100K, except the one that was crashed), and because I'm fine with occasional repairs.
As far as reliability of the 900, I had an '87 900S, and I would say it was very reliable, except for that stupid automatic belt system that was mandated by the gov't. I did talk with a Saab-only dealer in the late 80's, and he said that Saabs had shown above-average reliability through the 80's, but that other makes were catching up, some surpassing Saab (ie, so it was time for Saab to get on the stick and respond to market challenges). Your bad experience with 900 reliability does not sound typical of the model.
I've read posts from a good many people over the years on this BB who have switched to other makes and have talked about the unreliability of Saabs. I honestly don't know what they're talking about. Maybe they are looking for the perpetual motion machine - the car that keeps going without ever needing any repairs.
'87 900S 3-door (sold)
'88 9kt
'91 9kt (my favorite)
'95 9000 CSE (rip)
'01 9-5 wagon
posted by 69.130.196...
, Mon, 14 Aug 2006 11:07:09
, Tue, 15 Aug 2006 12:36:07
, Mon, 14 Aug 2006 20:01:24, Mon, 14 Aug 2006 12:08:10
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