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Re: Defecting
Posted by box100 (more from box100) on Fri, 12 May 2000 13:38:18
In Reply to: , Kok Chen, Sat, 17 Dec 1988 12:00:00 

I am also defecting.  I have remained active in this group because I still
have my '90 SPG.  But when my '89 900 daily driver's timing chain broke 2
years ago, I replaced it with a Subaru.  I love all wheel drive.  Saab was
right to introduce front wheel drive way back when, but all wheel is even
better and Saab should offer it.  Also, the Subaru dealer charges $52/hour
for labor and does oil/filter changes for purchase customers for $10.50. 
The Saab dealer (which sells Saabs side by side with Lexus) charges $70 per
hour labor and $23.95 for oil changes.  They charge higher prices for labor
on Saab and Lexus compared to Toyota and the GM brands they sell.

Saab, which used to offer cars priced a little above average, now is
getting way above average, trying to compete with Lexus and the like.  The
parts cost is phenomenal, and except for the new, rather expensive 9-5,
reliability over the last decade has been poor.  

I bought the SPG used with 34,000 miles.  The tires and all brake pads had
been replaced by the dealer just before I bought it.  Over its life to
130,000 miles, the following was done in addition to routine maintenance:

Front wheel bearings.  Replacements proved defective and had to be replaced
again (warranty).
Both rear calipers (because of parking brake problems).
Both rear calipers again because of freezing up.
One front caliper
All rotors (wore too thin)
Rear rotors again.
Parking brake cables
4 sets of front brake pads, 3 sets of rears.
Exhaust system 
One CV joint and boot
Fuel Pump
Water pump.
Turbo Bypass valve
3 Distributor Caps
Heater valve
Several hoses
Crankcase valve (twice)
2 Sets of spark plug wires
Alternator  (actually, only the regulator was bad).
Clutch rebuild (when throwout bearing failed at only 75,000 miles).
Driver's Seat Belt Assembly (jammed reel)
SRS Contact Ring in Steering Wheel
Several front end alignments because of outside edge tire wear.  Tires
still wore on outside edge in spite of rotation and alignment checks.
3 sets of tires (making 5 total over its life)
A/C started very minor leakage 4 years ago. Dealer refused to recharge it,
citing new law, so now needs complete replacement because seals dried out.
The turbocharger mysteriously stopped operating for a few days, but then
resumed as if nothing had happened.  Never did find the problem.
LH injection system controller  (REBUILT UNIT for $509 PLUS 1 1/2 hours
labor).
PLUS all routine maintenance and fluid changes.
Vehicle has had to be towed 4 times because of failures.
3 batteries (one was warranteed)

This car had been maintained to factory specs with 5,000 mile or (usually)
less oil and filter changes.  I don't know how the previous owner treated
it, although the service records indicate that it was maintained by the
book and had oil changes at about 4-5k intervals when he owned it.

Posts in this Thread:
StateOfNine.com
SaabClub.com
Jak Stoll Performance
M Car Covers
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