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My '01 9-5 Aero sedan has rusted to the point of not really being able to pass its upcoming scheduled inspection in May. Our local Saab specialist has sold his business and retired. As I mentioned in an earlier post, there is one Saab master mechanic working 1 day per week at the shop that bought the former Saab business. I am not aware of any others still working in this area.
I had the Saab master mechanic go over my Aero, and he reported: E-brake system needs replacement, rear body rotted out by the shocks (both inspection killers), exhaust needs Cat-back replacement, driver's footwell rotted, brake and fuel lines rotted, not yet leaking, one control arm rotted, steering rack has some play. So at 184K miles, and 19 years in the salt of Upstate NY, that pretty much seals the car's fate.
Our family still has three 9-5 wagons, not too much rust among them yet. I guess we've been dedicated Saabers for so long, the thought of driving anything else has never really occurred to us.
I was looking around for a replacement used car (haven't bought a new car since my first Saab in 1982...) and saw some Volvos that looked OK, but the interiors are IMHO kind of sterile and ugly. And then it occurred to me: If you go to any decent foreign car repair shop, you tend to see all kinds of makes and models. Is something like a lightly-used Saab 9-3 Aero Combi so "exotic" and it requires a specific Saab-experienced mechanic to service? You can buy a used 9-3 Combi for less than $10K from a warm state with no road salt.
Personally, I don't really see any other makes out there that appeal to me. I'm not going to spend a lot of $$ on whatever I buy, as my profession has changed from my younger days, and I no longer drive very much except locally. I would be keeping my next car outside, as usual, as our garage is too small and awkwardly posititoned to hold a vehicle during bad weather.
Any insights from folks who have found themselves in similar positions would be appreciated!
posted by 184.12.142...
, Mon, 22 Apr 2024 08:40:08
, Mon, 29 Apr 2024 11:47:52, Mon, 29 Apr 2024 13:32:53
, Mon, 29 Apr 2024 14:32:32
, Mon, 29 Apr 2024 13:53:27, Sat, 20 Apr 2024 18:15:38, Sat, 20 Apr 2024 18:23:24, Sat, 27 Apr 2024 02:52:18
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