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9000 Survey Part 2
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Survey compiled by Brett F. Martin (martinb@nosc.mil)
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PART II
2.3 L ENGINE: late '90 through '97
Engine mounts:
Aggressive drivers are needing new engine mounts at an average of
70k miles/112k km. The life span of these mounts for average drivers isn't
apparent yet.
Oil leaks:
44% are reporting oil leaks.
Head gaskets:
3 owners (6 %) report head gasket failures before 60k miles/96k km.
The driving styles, climate, and vehicle year vary. This fact is
disturbing, since it appears to be a design or manufacturing defect that is
likely to afflict many more vehicles. Saab!
has not given any of these owners relief where the failure happened
outside of the warranty period.
Direct ignition:
13% of owners are reporting direct ignition failures. These owners
represent a variety of driving styles, climates, and years of vehicle. From
experience on the 2.0L engines, DI failures are likely to become
increasingly common. Drivers are typically !
left stranded when the DI cassette fails.
Crankshaft pulley:
27% of 1992 owners report crankshaft pulley failures. See the
comments on the 2.0L engine above.
Clutch Master Cylinder:
The clutch master cylinder appears to have an average life of 50k
miles/80k km. (See comments on the 2.0L engine.) In addition, the clutch
slave cylinder appears to be failing prematurely on 1991 models - an
expensive repair.
Brake life:
The average life for front brake pads is 50k miles/80k km. The
front rotors are being replaced 25% of the time.
Exhaust:
Exhaust system components are being replaced at an average interval
of 68k miles/109k km.
ACC:
19% of owners report various automatic climate control failures.
The electronic control unit is failing more frequently than the older units.
The manual climate control is prone to problems as well.
Heater core:
8% of heater cores have failed - each before 60k miles/96k km.
Dash lights:
13% of owners report burned-out dash light bulbs. See comments for
2.0L engine.
Light warning system:
8% of owners reporting false negatives. See comments for 2.0L
engine.
Air bag warning light:
21% of owners report that the SRS airbag light doesn't turn off.
This is apparently due to corroded contacts. Although the warning light is
staying on, Saab claims that the air bag is still operational.
Stereo:
13% of owners report malfunctions with their factory stereo.
Creaks and rattles:
19% of owners report creaks and rattles.
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AVERAGE FUEL ECONOMY
engine/transmission everyday mpg (US) highway mpg (US)
----------------------------------------------------------------
2.0L/manual insufficient data insufficient data
2.0L/auto insufficient data insufficient data
2.0L+ turbo/manual 24.8 29.0
2.0L+ turbo/auto 21.1 26.1
2.3L/manual 22.0 27.8
2.3L/auto 23.4 28.4
2.3L+ turbo/manual 24.6 28.3
2.3L+ turbo/auto 22.2 26.5
SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT:
interior design: seating position, headroom, glove compartment, cup holder
and other ergonomics (21)
automatic transmission: performance and reliability (7)
limited slip differential/traction control (4)
manual transmission shifter feel (4)
smoother engine (4)
ergonomics of ACC1 (automatic climate control for '85-'88) (4)
quieter interior (3)
better sounding stereo (3)
exterior styling (3)
reduce C-pillar blind spot (2)
WHY SOME CURRENT OWNERS WON'T BUY A NEW 9000:
want better reliability (10)
want better performance and more refinement (9)
want lower cost of ownership - lower price, less expensive parts and less
depreciation (7)
want all-wheel drive (7)
local dealer is either of unacceptable quality or too far away (6)
want SUV (4)
want different exterior styling (4)
want hatchback (4)
want more cargo space (3)
want more safety (3)
prefer new 900 (3)
smoother ride (2)
don't want to buy another Saab (2)
WHAT OWNERS THINK OF SAAB, THE COMPANY
1st time buyers:
39%: no opinion
24%: comparable to other importers/reasonable
18%: they care a great deal about the satisfaction of their customers and
repeat business
6%: I am dissatisfied, but I blame my dealer rather than Saab
6%: Saab is unconcerned with my repeat business
6%: I didn't get what I paid for; I've been cheated
previous Saab owners:
35%: they care a great deal about the satisfaction of their customers and
repeat business
24%: comparable to other importers/reasonable
24%: no opinion
7%: I am dissatisfied, but I blame my dealer rather than Saab
6%: Saab is unconcerned with my repeat business
4%: I didn't get what I paid for; I've been cheated
30% of owners have had direct contact with Saab Cars USA.
40% of 1st time buyers were satisfied.
75% of repeat buyers were satisfied.
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RATINGS FROM OWNERS OF 2.0L ENGINE 9000:
Percentage of these vehicles bought used: 97.5%
% in accidents: 26%
% of accidents with injury: 10% type of injury: back
% that have had fender lights stolen: 5%
% that have received other types of vandalism: 23%
% owners that have owned classic 900 models: 33%
According to these 900 owners, their 9000 has had comparable reliability,
has been less expensive to fix, and has better driving performance.
% who are prior Saab owners: 54%
Prior Saab owners' reasons for purchase:
performance (19)
safety (13)
space (12)
Saab (5)
value, styling, luxury, reliability (3)
prestige, dealer (1)
1st time Saab buyers' reasons for purchase:
space (15)
performance (13)
safety (8)
value (4)
luxury, reliability (3)
prestige, Saab (1)
Driving style of prior Saab owners: 19% conservative; 29% aggressive; 52%
mix
1st time Saab buyer driving style: 29% conservative; 29% aggressive; 41%
mix
Ratings from prior Saab owners:
reliability: 38% very pleased; 52% satisfactory; 10% unsatisfactory
performance: 81% very pleased; 14% satisfactory; 5% unsatisfactory
cost to keep: 14% very pleased; 62% satisfactory; 24% unsatisfactory
overall: 67% very pleased; 33% satisfactory; 0% unsatisfactory
buy again: 62% absolutely; 24% maybe; 5% no
Ratings from 1st time Saab buyers:
reliability: 50% very pleased; 38% satisfactory; 12% unsatisfactory
performance: 61% very pleased; 33% satisfactory; 5% unsatisfactory
cost to keep: 17% very pleased; 53% satisfactory; 29% unsatisfactory
overall: 50% very pleased; 44% satisfactory; 5% unsatisfactory
buy again: 36% absolutely; 37% maybe; 21% no
The makes of cars that interest prior Saab owners:
Saab only (3)
Volvo (3)
BMW (2)
MB (2)
The makes of cars that interest 1st time buyers:
Volvo (3)
BMW (2)
---------------------------------------------------------------
RATINGS OF THE 2.3L CARS THAT WERE BOUGHT NEW:
Prior Saab owners:
dealer: 33% very pleased; 56% satisfactory; 11% unsatisfactory
reliability: 67% very pleased; 19% satisfactory; 14% unsatisfactory;
performance: 77% very pleased; 23% satisfactory; 0% unsatisfactory
cost-to-keep: 57% very pleased; 29% satisfactory; 14% unsatisfactory
overall: 68% very pleased; 27% satisfactory; 5% unsatisfactory
buy again: 52% very pleased; 23% maybe; 27% no
1st time buyers:
dealer: 55% very pleased; 36% satisfactory; 9% unsatisfactory
reliability: 60% very pleased; 40% satisfactory; 0% unsatisfactory
performance: 64% very pleased; 18% satisfactory; 18% unsatisfactory
cost-to-keep: 20% very pleased; 70% satisfactory; 10% unsatisfactory
overall: 64% very pleased; 36% satisfactory; 0% unsatisfactory
buy again: 30% very pleased; 80% maybe; 0% no
Ratings for all 2.3L models (including the new ones rated above):
58% bought new.
26% who bought new are first-time Saab buyers.
40% who bought used are first-time Saab buyers.
38% of owners have been in accidents; 17% resulted in minor injuries
3% have had fender lights stolen
13% have had another form of vandalism
50% have owned a classic 900
According to these 900 owners, their 9000 is more reliable, provides better
performance, and costs about the same to maintain.
Prior Saab owners' driving style: 28% conservative; 25% aggressive; 75% mix
1st time Saab owners driving style: 20% conservative; 47% aggressive; 33%
mix
Prior Saab owners' reason for purchase:
performance (20)
space (18)
safety (16)
Saab (10)
value (7)
luxury & reliability (3)
styling, prestige, and dealer (2)
1st time buyers' reason for purchase:
space (12)
safety (11)
performance (9)
value (5)
styling (4)
prestige, reliability (1)
Prior Saab owner's interest in other makes of car:
Audi (7)
MB, BMW (6)
other European (6)
Japanese (5)
SUV/minivan (4)
American (3)
1st time buyers' interests in other makes of car:
Volvo (5)
BMW, MB (3)
American (2)
Prior Saab owners' ratings:
Dealer: 33% very pleased; 53% satisfactory; 13% unsatisfactory
Reliability: 65% very pleased; 24% satisfactory; 12% unsatisfactory
Performance: 72% very pleased; 28% satisfactory; 0% unsatisfactory
Cost to keep: 61% very pleased; 28% satisfactory; 11% unsatisfactory
Overall: 68% very pleased; 26% satisfactory; 5% unsatisfactory
Buy Again: 47% absolutely; 27% maybe; 26% no
1st time buyers' ratings:
Dealer: 43% very pleased; 29% satisfactory; 14% unsatisfactory
Reliability: 33% very pleased; 66% satisfactory; 0% unsatisfactory
Performance: 57% very pleased; 14% satisfactory; 29% unsatisfactory
Cost-to-keep: 17% very pleased; 67% satisfactory; 17% unsatisfactory
Overall: 57% very pleased; 43% satisfactory; 0% unsatisfactory
Buy Again: 14% absolutely; 86% maybe; 0% no
--------------------------------------------------------------
GENERAL STATISTICS
Number of participants: 87
Number with 2.0L engine: 39
Number with 2.3L engine: 48
Number with turbo: 59
Number with manual transmission: 56
Number purchased new: 35
First time Saab buyers: 33
Type of driving: 15% mostly city;17% mostly highway; 68% mix of city and
highway
Style of driving: 24% conservative; 29% aggressive; 47% mix of conservative
and aggressive
Climate: 20% unusually cold winters; 13% unusually hot summers; 5% unusually
cold winters & unusually hot summers; 43% average summer & winter; 18%
moderate temperatures all year
Percentage of turbo owners using medium or high octane gasoline: 68%
Percentage of all owners who change their oil between 3000-5000 miles: 83%
How oil is changed: 38% regular mechanic; 11% oil change shop; 51% self
Maintenance schedule: 52% strict "by-the-book"; 24% more strict than
"by-the-book"; 24% less strict than "by-the-book"
Who is the primary source of service?
Cars 0 to 5 years old: 17% self; 58% dealer; 25% independent shop
Average annual service cost (excluding self): $617
Cars greater than 5 years old: 15% self; 23% dealer; 61% independent
shop Average annual service cost (excluding self): $1095
Overall rate of failure for cars bought new and held by the same owner till
now:
95/94: 1 repair per 14,240 miles
93/92: 1 repair per 11,600 miles
91/90: 1 repair per 9, 400 miles
89/88: 1 repair per 11,700 miles
87-85: 1 repair per 10,200 miles
Reliability breakdown by model year of cars bought used:
years avg # fixes since owned avg miles owned avg mileage
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
85-87 16.6 58,000 137,000
88/89 16.1 62,700 123,000
90/91 11.7 56,000 99,000
The actual reliability of the cars versus the prior Saab owners' reliability
rating:
very pleased: 50% were actually worse than average
satisfactory: 61% were actually worse than average
unsatisfactory: 80% were actually worse than average
The actual reliability of the cars versus the 1st time Saab owners'
reliability rating:
very pleased: 58% were actually worse than average
satisfactory: 93% were actually worse than average
unsatisfactory: 100% were actually worse than average
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RECOMMENDED TIRES:
Dunlop D60 A2 (6)
Dunlop D40 M2 (4)
Michelin Pilot (2)
Pirelli P4000 (2)
Pirelli P700Z (2)
Nokia Hakka (2) - snow/ice tires
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