Saab. What is it about them that just keeps you fixing them?

[Bobthebeard]

Having had many many cars over the years I just wondered why Saabs (in my case a 165,000 mile 9-5 and a 85,000 mile 9-3) just seem to make you want to repair them when stuff goes wrong?

Have given up on a couple of Honda Accords once mileage and age took their toll.

The Saabs however....

I just keep fixing them. They seem to somehow become cars that you are reluctant to give up on or let go.

In my case anyway.

Not that they are in any way unreliable, but a bit needy at a certain age.

Punting them on just doesn't seem right.

[SiC]

I have no idea. I always say this. There is something about them that gets under your skin.

 

They certainly aren't the most reliable of cars. A lot of them do big mileage because of the affection people give to them and prepared to have them fixed.

[Saabnut]

They used to say, once a Saab driver, always a Saab driver. In my case that is certainly true.

[Guest Hooli]

They used to say, once a Saab driver, always a Saab driver owner. In my case that is certainly true.

 

Edited because I've seen your garden.

[Guest Hooli]

As to Saabs, they aren't amazingly exciting but they are properly made so don't have stupid issues you have to drive around because no one designed them properly. Which makes owning one so much more pleasant.

[Inspector Morose]

Strangely I was wondering the very same thing earlier in the week whilst wrestling with the 93s exhaust flexi. For me its the was they just get on with the job in hand without fuss or bother. They’re never the best looker but you know that when the chips are down, they’ve got your back. Its a bit like the difference between a good marriage and a one night stand. Sure the quick shack up with the beauty from marketing is fun but you know it won’t (or indeed wouldn’t ) last the rigours and monotonous nature of normal everyday life. The woman (or man) you marry will. They’re the human Saab, they may require constant attention but you trust them to the ends of the earth.

[Guest Conan]

Weirdly enough this phenomenon seems to be international. And it's especially more obvious when you realise that over here they only started selling them in noticeable number after 1993 and stopped selling them after 2006 or so. So the Saab club is mostly old, well-off people fixing up 9000 and 900 NG and putting on Abbott stuff to make them go choo choo. And they will never buy anything else, ever.

 

I should try one to see what they're about.

[EoGS]

So far I’ve had a 9000, an OG 9-3 and currently a 9-5 dizzer wagon. I think it’s that they are a nice place to sit and clock up miles, while not being an Audi, BMW or Mercedes.

 

I know my car is basically parts bin raid of Vectra B and C parts but I genuinely can’t think of anything that suits what I need to do better.

[SiC]

I should try one to see what they're about.

It can take some time before it clicks. The amount of time varies between person to person.

 

Even the later Saabs had enough DNA left in them to still be Saabs - despite what some so called pundits may say.

[SierraMikeHotel]

I'm struggling to bond with mine but I think that's just down to the lowered suspension. I think I'd be in love with it if it was standard.

 

The ride isn't completely ruined, but I've started driving around potholes.

[Stanky]

I've had my ex-Vantman 9-3 (2004 YS3F) for 3 years and 55,000 miles. I love it, my wife loves it and was genuinely horrified when I muttered about getting rid.

 

Only the other day I was saying to Slartibartfast that I simply had no idea what to replace it with.

 

Its fast, comfortable, and well designed. Sure it has foibles, many of which I really ought to fix and i will get round to eventually but its just a very capable car.

 

I'm still not sure what I'll replace it with. it's done 155k now and I'm mildly concerned its going to start getting expensive soon. So far its only needed an alternator, and i got the local specialist to replace the ATF as I didn't want to break it with my hamfistedness.

[New POD]

You have reached a point in life where your car is RIGHT. All the other cars were compromise.

[New POD]

it's done 155k now and I'm mildly concerned its going to start getting expensive soon. So far its only needed an alternator, and i got the local specialist to replace the ATF as I didn't want to break it with my hamfistedness.

Durable car ownership vs bangernomics vs PCP.

 

1. You buy a car and keep fixing it and improving it. It rewards you by occassionally costing you money.

2. You buy a car. do very little and it rewards you by being a bit shit when is least convenient. And occasional you have to go out and spend money on a new one.

3. You rent a car with a warranty. it not cheap but at least you know how much it costs every month until you give it back.

 

If you have a car that is well designed why not keep it forever?

 

A guy i work with is an ex sales manger for Stoneacre i think. I struggled to explain that now my omega had done 200k. I'm spending moo gnu on it sip it rewards me with 300k which at this rate will be when it's 22 years old.

[dozeydustman]

Saabs are very ergonomically designed cars, everything in mine just falls to hand or is in easy line of sight. It's also very comfortable, spacious, economical, handles and rides well despite low profile tyres. It's got its niggles but any other car I've driven since owning this one just feels odd.

[xkjagnz]

I've had 3, a 900SE, a 9000 2.3 NA and a 9000 2.3 turbo

loved them, ran intergalactic mileages in them

the 9000 hatches are huge inside (4 adults a kid, 2 dogs and luggage from Andover to north of Inverness in comfort

even got a 2 door ginagerous metal cabinet in the back once

Just too expensive for parts in NZ, but were cheap to maintain in UK using GSF and Eurocarpart

Had 2 mercs and would prefer the 9000 any day

[beko1987]

I've always wanted a Saab. A friend of mine ran a succession of 9000s when we were 18/19 and they were always such a nice place to be. Own even did 15 months with hgf and was always fine!

[Richard]

I certainly get it for the pre-GM Saabs, although I've had my fill of those.

 

I've a feeling some of the character lives on in the GM models that retain Saab-type interiors but there wasn't the slightest trace of Saab in the Dame Edna thing that we bought. Can you see out of the windscreen on pre-Edna 9-5s without crouching? That was the thing that shocked me most about it, not being able to see out of the windscreen in a fairly tall car- especially as there was plenty of headroom to spare.

[dozeydustman]

not being able to see out of the windscreen in a fairly tall car- especially as there was plenty of headroom to spare.

 

 

I have found this with a large number of modern(ish) cars of varying sizes. Not sure if it's a crash safety thing or just design

[Cord Fourteener]

I'm struggling to bond with mine but I think that's just down to the lowered suspension. I think I'd be in love with it if it was standard.

 

The ride isn't completely ruined, but I've started driving around potholes.

My Saab 9-3 OG has factory suspension, and I aim for pot holes. It's like a challenge; here's a pot hole that'll make my bum hurt. Not found one yet. I'm in love with my smooth and responsive, yet tired old suspension!

[Tetleysmooth]

I asked this question in the 'ask a shiter' thread.

There's every possibility I'm collecting a 9-3 1.8t Linear petrol floppytop next Monday. It's an 05 plate - bloody brand new for me - so what should I be aware of?

It's a manual, which goes against all my rules, but a bar-gin.

What can I expect?

[Cord Fourteener]

I asked this question in the 'ask a shiter' thread.

There's every possibility I'm collecting a 9-3 1.8t Linear petrol floppytop next Monday. It's an 05 plate - bloody brand new for me - so what should I be aware of?

It's a manual, which goes against all my rules, but a bar-gin.

What can I expect?

I've never had a diesel, mines a petrol. Try asking UKSabbs.co.uk, it's a brilliant UK Saab forum, they have all the gen on Saabs, diesel or petrol. Other than that, expect ergonomic design, good build quality even if some of the switches are from GM/Opel/Vauxhall (as it was). The filters and most of the service items are GM and for everything else there are specialist Swedish parts companies. In general they are robust and well built.

 

The car is practically un-nickable due to the key barrel being by the gear stick and the reverse gear lock (instead of a steering lock).

 

Expect a strong engine, a nice ride and some quirks here and there. That's the best I can offer really.

 

Enjoy looking at it

[SiC]

The car is practically un-nickable due to the key barrel being by the gear stick and the reverse gear lock (instead of a steering lock).

 

That generation 9-3 lost the reverse lock on key. However they're pretty un-nickable as those key switches quite commonly fail.

[forddeliveryboy]

They were engineered by a fairly small team of naturally gifted engineers with a diverse range of real abilities, rather than your typical engineering graduate intake.

 

Their buyout by GM was tragic even on the Citroën scale, except for the fact the Swedes made life utter hell for the Americans.

[chodweaver]

They seem to stand apart from everything else, in a good way. No one regards them as disposable like other volume manufacturer's output.

The age of a Saab seems to be an irrelevance.

I will have one. I will find excuses to do many endurance-length journeys in it. That's what they're for.

 

A comment regarding a 900 I read many, many years ago in a motoring rag review has stuck with me: 'long term ownership is feasible, even likely'.

 

It was a supertest. Not one of the other cars reviewed got anything like that sort of reaction.

[Guest Hooli]

I've never had a diesel, mines a petrol. Try asking UKSabbs.co.uk, it's a brilliant UK Saab forum, they have all the gen on Saabs, diesel or petrol. Other than that, expect ergonomic design, good build quality even if some of the switches are from GM/Opel/Vauxhall (as it was). The filters and most of the service items are GM and for everything else there are specialist Swedish parts companies. In general they are robust and well built.

 

The car is practically un-nickable due to the key barrel being by the gear stick and the reverse gear lock (instead of a steering lock).

 

Expect a strong engine, a nice ride and some quirks here and there. That's the best I can offer really.

 

Enjoy looking at it

Uksaabs is run by Nick who hosted shitefest this year.

[mercrocker]

They keep popping up on my radar now and again.   I don't think I can face next winter as a Fiesta driver so this year's WBoD might well have a small round blue badge.   Our neighbour has a 51 plate 9-3 - his last in a long line of Saabs and he is doggedly refusing to replace it.   Must be something in it......

[Inspector Morose]

Just back after an 1100 mile meander in the 93. That's not long after a similar 1200 mile meander. No aches, no dramas, no fuss. 53mpg returned from an automatic estate not driven sedately - I don't think that's too shabby. It's everything I want in a car. Comfortable, economical, well thought out and able to shrug off long distances like they're a trip to the shops.

 

Saabs are for life - not just until the MoT runs out.

[SierraMikeHotel]

This is absolutely not the sort of thing I'd be doing myself, but what would I expect to pay to have the suspension returned to normal? It really is the only thing that stops me enjoying the car.

 

Might have a chat with my local garage but I'm not in a hurry to spend money at the moment.

[mercrocker]

As an aside to my earlier post, I went and talked Saabs with this neighbour of mine.   I knew he went on long holidays in it every summer but didn't realise its been driven to Andalusia and back every year.   What amazes me is it spends the rest of the year going a mile and a half to get his daily paper too - useage that guarantees a fucked engine in my experience.   I had always written these off as Vectras in a mini-skirt but there seems to be a lot more to them than that....

[danthecapriman]

I don’t think it’s just a Saab thing tbh. I’ve been well into Swedish cars most of my life, even as a kid I used to collect matchbox, Corgi etc etc models of Volvo’s and Saab’s! I got my first Volvo at the age of 18 and only been without one once for a short period ever since.

Volvo’s have an equally serious loyal fan base too, most of them know and love the cars and swear by them.

Although I’m firmly a Volvo man I can certainly relate to the Saab loyalty. Though with Volvo’s you don’t tend to have that sporty element to them! I’ll not be without a 740 ever again!