1995 Saab 9000 CDE - buy or not to buy

Hi,

I am interested in buying a 95 9000 CDE I found, but a trusted mechanic says that I should run from it...that the engine is garbage. Yet, it seems many people like this car. It's got 100,000 miles on it, and is only $3,750 Can somone tell me what they think?

Thanks so much! scarter

Reply to
scarter
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I think you should buy it. 100,000 miles is nothing with a full service history.

Reply to
Nasty Bob

If this is the V-6, yes, run from it, if it is the four cylinder it is a very good engine, one of the Best Produced, I have two 9000 CD Turbos.

Oscar

Reply to
Oscar Johnson

No Saab engine should be garbage after a mere 100,000 mi ! This suggests a professional inspection is in order.

Any Saab with dealer maintenance should have a near perfect engine at this mileage.

My own 9000 has not had the benefit of full dealer maintenace for the last couple of yrs but the engine is still sweet as a nut. First car I've ever owned that burns *no* oil. Even with 160,000 mi on it.

Use of full synthetic lubricant plays a large part in this. Don't use 'regular' oil *ever* !

Graham

Reply to
Pooh Bear

Reply to
ebee1

Did the mechainic actually look at the car before he came to that conclusion? Or was this his (misguided) opinion of SAAB 4 cylinder engines?

The SAAB 4 cylinder turbo engine is one of the best designs in automotive history. It is among the most reliable and has incredible longevity. If your "trusted mechanic" thinks otherwise, he doesn't know anything and it is he you should be running away from...

-Fred W

Reply to
The Malt Hound

This is probably true for the engines in the C900/9000/early 9-3 models (B201/B202/B204/B234). I have had three of them with more than 200000 problem-free km each. However the new 4-cyl engines in the 9-5/late 9-3 (B205/B235) have problems with crankcase ventilation leading to early oil wear out and corresponding early cam shaft chain wear out if you don't change change oil frequently enough. They also have a problem with excessive balance shaft chain wear out in combination with automatic transmissions. The balance shaft chain problems were also noticeable on the B234 although there I'm not sure about the relation with the transmission. I think there was a version of the B204 engine with balance shafts as well, but I've not heard anything about problems with that version.

As the engines are not really designed for changing the chains the repair is quite costly compared to service on engines with timing belts that require regular changes.

Then you could always argue whether the DI cassette is part of the engine or if it is considered as a part with limited life time?!?

Probably the B205/B235 can also become very reliable if Saab gets the time and resources to fix the problems. However I doubt that this will be case as the model life times are getting shorter and shorter. If you read Saab plans the 9-5 will be replaced by a new model in 2007 or 2008 after just 10 years on the market. As a consumer I would like a reliable car that runs at low cost without problems and not a car with a lot of new and fancy functions that have not been proven in real life. 10 years market time is too short for all design problems being discovered and corrected. To a great extent the motor press journalists are to blame here as they require new models every now and then and for instance already now thinks that the 9-5 is an old and out-of-date model.

A very good example here is the Volvo 240 series, a very reliable car that can last forever with low repair costs. It had long enough market time to have the early model problems at the end of the production. Boring?

Reply to
th

chances are its a six cylinder. if its running good now make sure to change oil regularly and MAKE SURE to change the timing belt if you are unsure of its last replacement. the 4 cylinder enginges have a chain and not a belt.

Reply to
salamisaabi

Dear Scarter, I purchasded a 1992 saab conv new in 93 as my dream car. It has been nothing but headaches. Unless your have money coming out your rear end or you are a back yard saab wannabe mechanic like some of the gurus in this room ,listen to your mechanic and thank god he is honest. The only reason i keep the car is the top goes down and I have so much money invested in it I cant get even near what I need just to break even. best regards papa

Reply to
PAPAGENE4JACK

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