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We are big Saab fans, but if you read the forums there are lots of reports of sludged up engines at relatively low milages (eg 50k). Ours is an ex-Saab car and we are still very happy with it, but I think Toyota and Honda seem to be the one to go for if you are cautious. I don't know if any modern car can be regarded as 'bullet-proof' . I felt like our old Saabs were, but they were relatively simple - seems to be so much more to go wrong on modern cars. At least Saabs are cheap second-hand.
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Yes I just looked at tintin's link to Saabscene. Clearly major problems with sludge build-up leading to engine failure regardless of milage and correct servicing. Saab themselves have been quite compassionate about it but it doesn't look good for older models.
Right, I'm off to look into the suggested Fiat now. Thanks for that.
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I thought they were bullet proof as well until I owned one.
I have never thrown so much good money after bad.
Funny how a theory develops.
My brother has not long had a new 9-3 estate thingy or whatever saab choose to call them.
In his first 1300 miles it left him on the road side 5 times waiting for the recovery man.
After grumblings to 5th recovery man on what a piece of absolute rubbish his vehicle was the man did reply that most of his call outs are to Saabs and Renaults (of all ages).
Not a detailed piece of research I admit but the view of someone who seems to recover alot from breakdowns.
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I quite like the 9-5's and I think they are comfortable and good to drive. The 2.0T with autobox (paddles on the wheel) is a lovely drive. I don't think they are especially reliable though and locally I've heard of both failed turbo's and gearboxes at under 100k. The DI units are also a common failure and not a cheap item!
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I don't know why anyone thinks SAABs are either relaible or cheap to run. We had a few company turbos in lates 1980s and early 1990s until they were taken off the lists as horrendously expesnive to run by our Transport Manager. Later ones just continued the tradition...and GM engineering cutbacks/philisophy in Europe has a checkered history with regard to engine design and long life..(compared eg to Ford: compared to toyota they are rubbish).
I read a Car Mechanics article on buying used SAABs in past 2 years .. basically long lists of weak spots due to poor design..
madf
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After grumblings to 5th recovery man on what a piece of absolute rubbish his vehicle was the man did reply that most of his call outs are to Saabs and Renaults (of all ages).
I know a couple of RAC/AA callout technicians and they say the same thing. Renaults and Saabs to be avoided (and old Peugeots good, new ones bad seems to be the other pearl of wisdom that always comes out). When I asked about the rebodied Vauxhall thing, they agreed and couldn't come up with a reason why they should be less reliable, but apparently they are.
Funnily enough another AA man (a total stranger; I'd called them out as I'd locked the keys in the car, doh) volunteered the same info about Saabs without prompting. He told me this in the same sentence as a comment about this being the first Hyundai he'd seen in 18 months, make of that what you will.
So either this is a line they're being told to say (highly unlikely) or Saab/Renault really do have a serious problem with their cars going bang and leaving owners by the side of the road.
To be honest to me Saabs have always been about individuality and safety -- reliability has never really figured as a particular strong point (although I personally don't know of any horror stories, and Saabs do seem to last a long time).
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....Saab/Renault really do have a serious problem with their cars going bang and leaving owners by the side of the road....
This happened at the opera here last month, a colleague had borrowed his girlfriend´s lowish mileage 2000 Saab 9-5 to drive up from Munich, cambelt went snap, engine went bang, he nearly missed curtain up for the show.
Quote for a replacement engine ?6k. Ouch.
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....Saab/Renault really do have a serious problem with their cars going bang and leaving owners by the side of the road....
I recently asked an AA patrolman which cars he'd recommend, and he said "anything except a Saab or a Renault". Says a lot. He even reckoned new Fiats are more reliable than Saabs.
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... add another one to the list then Greg (see above).
If multiple AA engineers are saying that Saab and Renault are junk, then it must be so.
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How come the cam-belt went snap? Saabs are chain-driven. I've had a 9-5 for 3 years, apart from a turbo ( common problem at about 80k with light-pressure Turbo) it's been faultless.
In fact it's had far fewer problems than our A6.
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'Funnily enough another AA man (a total stranger; I'd called them out as I'd locked the keys in the car, doh) volunteered the same info about Saabs without prompting.'
Yeah, right! You call out an AA man and he immeadiately, completely un-prompted, suddenly starts denigrating another make, for no reason. Yor 'avin a larf incha?
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Yeah, right! You call out an AA man and he immeadiately, completely un-prompted, suddenly starts denigrating another make, for no reason. Yor 'avin a larf incha?
Unprompted in the sense that I did not ask him "so what do you think of Saabs then?". I had of course asked him about what cars he sees most of, well the actual question was something along the lines of how do these Hyundais compare given that they're cheap, at which point he said he hadn't seen a Hyundai in 18 months, and that all cars these days are pretty good(the usual "there are no bad cars anymore"), just Saab and Renault seem to give trouble etc.
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I've had a 9-5 for 3 years, apart from a turbo ( common problem at about 80k with light-pressure Turbo) it's been faultless.
That's hardly a strong recommendation is it?!
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Complete unrepresentative nonsense. I don't know about Saab but Renault use the AA as their standard breakdown package when you buy a new Renault, so they are bound to see more Renaults. Only would be representative if all manufacturers used the AA.
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Regarding Saabs, my brother runs them and hasn't complained of any problems other than routine wear and tear items. He had a 9-3 and now has the 9-5. He would complain about the time of day given half a chance.
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Saab also use the AA as the standard breakdown service for first 3 years from new
Incidentally I have also spoken to 2 AA men this year who saw I had a Saab (both times when son's cars have had problems & dad has gone to help) neither has said anything about unreliable Saabs.
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Complete unrepresentative nonsense. I don't know about Saab but Renault use the AA as their standard breakdown package when you buy a new Renault, so they are bound to see more Renaults. Only would be representative if all manufacturers used the AA.
True, but if Renault offer 3 years of AA cover on a new car, I would hope that in the first 3 years of owning a brand new Renault I wouldn't have to take up their offer of AA assistance!
If Renault only offer 1 years free AA cover on new cars its even worse if your new Renault breaks down in the first year!
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Renault offer three years AA cover on a new car.
I would indeed be annoyed if my Renault broke down in the first three years - but then I would be with any make.
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I'd be disappointed having to call out the AA for anything. My membership is purely so I won't be stranded away from home with a flat battery etc - I don't expect anything else to go wrong with my car, which is 6 years old. My last car was 16 years old when I got rid, and that never needed an AA callout. If AA technicians are saying that Saab and Renault are the least reliable cars, how can anyone say "rubbish - i'm buying one anyway"?! I do drive my girlfriend's Renault, which hasn't broken down yet (touch wood), but the DCi engines don't have a great track record, so it's only a matter of time....
Incidentally, the AA bloke I was chatting to was when my mother's Vauxhall Vectra died. I mentioned I'd just bought an Almera, and he said "we never come across them to be honest". He said his own car was a Mitsubishi, and his wife's was a Nissan. Funny how he doesn't drive a Saab or a Renault isn't it?!
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He said his own car was a Mitsubishi, and his wife's was a Nissan. Funny how he doesn't drive a Saab or a Renault isn't it?!
You'd be surprised how many people in the motor business drive Jap cars as their own cars.
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Hi
As a member stated here already - sabs are/were more safety concious, but now days all major car makers are.
About 20 years ago my father had a sab and that shape still looks good today with here long bonnet, and that car was the orginal bullet proof car.
Why not consider an Audi 80E avant/estate as shape does not look old, and that model was built upto 95/96 and with a service history and about 120k on the clock, you should still get VFM.
The Audi I recently sold appeared to be of good build quality but only covered about 10k and no probs, but not certain how it would compare to the 80E. The Merc I now have, the suspension is not built for Londons pot holes and speed humps - even when driving carefully, I've had the car in for warranty repairs to the bushes several times, and footbrake/handbrake rachet jammed, winow motors messed up and cars front passenger side tyre o/s edge wears out double quick.
I'm considering buying another Audi. Did consider a Sabb sport saloon becuase not many around, but have read about turbo probs.
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