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Repair costs on a 9-3 convert

I have been driving SUVs since they were called trucks (my first was a

84 Jeep Cherokee) and I think I am ready for a change. I want a car where I can feel the wind in my hair, while I still have hair left.

I am thinking about a 00 or 01 convertible. I have talked to a couple of people that I have seen with Saabs locally (Washington, DC area) and almost without fail the second thing out of their mouths- the first being that they love the car- is that repair costs are high.

Now having driven trucks/suvs for almost 20 years, I am used to repairs that are more than what they would be on a Honda civic. I just spent over 3200 for a new automatic transmission for my 94 Blazer.

My question is: Are repair costs on Saabs higher than comparably priced luxury cars or have the people I've been talking to just upgraded from a Civic and were not ready for slightly higher repair bills.

The reason I ask this is that I tend to keep cars until they are no longer reliable enough for day to day transportation (my jeep had 160k miles and my Blazer has 155k) and if I get a Saab, I just want to know what I can expect as far as operating expenses are concerned.

Thanks for any thoughts.

Reply to
Len Gerstel
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It's (a) - definitely lower repair bills than the German makes, and better service, too. But it's not a cheap car, and part prices can't be expected to rival entry level cars'.

Also if you fo for an '01 you should still have some free maintenance left - that'll give you a good feel for the cost involved.

...pablo

Reply to
pablo

They'll be comparable to what you'd expect to pay for a car at that level. Repairs on my 1995 9000 are a lot cheaper than they were on my 1994 Mark VIII. Parts are readily available and in D.C. you can probably find a good mechanic. If you work on it yourself, the engine compartment is very nice compared to the cramped quarters in small cars. Personally, I find the cost of repairs to be reasonable and actually low when you put the pleasure of driving a Saab on the other side of the equation.

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Reply to
LauraK

I have a 1996 900SE, which I have owned for three years. To make the obvious point, for any car, repair costs are significant, not just if they are high on a per hour basis, but if there is a need for frequent repairs. I have found the repair costs on my car to be high, and the need for repairs to be frequent.

Apparently, from consumer surveys, later model Saabs are more reliable (perhaps as a result of the GM takeover). However, I have been disappointed in mine, because of the reliability and repair cost factors. Part of my problem is that some of the repairs I have had to pay for have been to features on my Saab that have not been on any other car I have owned. To take one example, I recently had to pay out more than $300 to fix a false warning about low coolant levels. The sensor could not be replaced separately. I had to pay for replacement of the overflow tank, including the sensor.

Reply to
Kenneth S.

To take one example, I recently had to pay out more

I am ready for that kind of repair. For example, one of the Blazers fuel injectors went bad and I had to replace the whole injector system for $900. All vehicles have a few quirks like that.

I guess I am asking more about the day to day kind of stuff. Brakes, regular maintenance, that kind of thing.

Thanks, Len

Reply to
len gerstel

I live in the DC area, also. The parts are fairly expensive, and dealer service tends to be pricey. I had a really bad experience with VOB service in Rockville. I now use an independent called Viking in Gaithersburg. They do great job - reasonable hourly rates, and they really know their stuff. An example of maintenance costs - they've quoted me $375 for my 60k service on a 1997 900s convertible. Good luck, John

PS i have no relationship with Viking, other than being a sastified customer.

Reply to
John Murphy

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