2237 messages,
Last post on Jul 17, 2012 at 6:08 PM
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Saab 9-5 Forum.
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Saab 9-5, Sedan
#1846 of 2237 Re: Saab vs. Lexus [what_say_you2]
by j umberger
Mar 21, 2005 (3:07 pm)
Hands down if you like the looks of a Lexus, go with that. Saab won't come close in terms of reliability or cost/hassles of repair.
Our 2002 9-5 needed new rotors after 25,000 miles. And the last year we've had it in the shop 16 times. Mostly warranty-covered items breaking, but still a big hassle being at the dealer every 3-4 weeks. And if you encounter any major problems, Saab corporate won't help you out.
Mar 22, 2005 (8:48 am)
I POSTED COUPLE OF MESSAGES ABOUT 1999 SAAB 9-5 WITH 71K ON IT. IT DIED ON ME THE OTHER DAY ON HIGHWAY WHILE DRIVING. DEALERS COULDNT FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM AND THEY SAY EVERYTHING IS ALRITE BUT THERE IS DEFINATELY SOMETHING WRONG. IT STARTS SOMETIMES AND THEN WHEN CAR IS WARMED UP THE ENGINE STOPS EVEN WHILE DRIVING.
IF HERE SOMEONE CAN GUIDE ME AND ADVICE ME OR IF THIS HAPPENED TO SOMEBODY OVER HERE. NOT SURE WHAT TO DO IN THIS SITUATION AS DEALERS COULDNT FIND ANY PROBLEM
Mar 22, 2005 (10:52 pm)
From my experience, different dealer has different inspect method to find the problem. So please try others that will help you find the answer soon.
#1849 of 2237 Re: SHUT OFF [maniktala]
by j umberger
Mar 23, 2005 (4:24 pm)
Our 2002 9-5 drove fine for over a year and then the transmission began acting strange. Began cutting out and hesitating while accelerating. Almost rear-ended twice because of it. Dealer "could not replicate problem" after checking it 16 times over a 12 month period. We finally turned in the lease three months early because my wife was afraid to drive the car. We were unable to get anyone from corporate or even a regional rep to get involved. The customer service call center even delined our request to refund one month's base payment since it was in the shop for 45 days for this and other warranty repairs. GOOD LUCK.
#1850 of 2237 Re: SHUT OFF [j umberger]
by blckislandguy
Mar 23, 2005 (8:19 pm)
JLumberger, I may not agree with you on the stats on recent SAAB reliability but I sure do agree with you on how they know how to kill a brand. Why put up with the quirks of a SAAB if you aren't going to get some hand holding when you have a problem? Why buy a suit from Brooks if they aren't going to adjust the waist free of charge after 30 days?
Take SAAB resale figures. Unlike a Lexus or the Germans, no one buys a SAAB at MSRP. The factory has artificially high list prices, subvents the leases and deep discounts to move the iron. As a result the resale values are awful. And the brand is cheapened. (I think though that if you compute the resale values from transaction prices, they aren't that bad.)
All of this reduces the brand to a K Mart item. This strategy (fictitous list prices, move the iron at any cost, poor customer service and no incentives for brand loyalty) must be driven by people who care only that they keep their job for one more quarter and to hell with the integrity of the brand.
Speaking of strategy, the buff books have announcements about SAABs new 9-3 touring wagon/sport wagon. The problem is that it is only going to be offerred in 2WD! No one in their right mind is going to buy one with all the great AWD wagons available in this niche. SAAB by sticking to 2WD has simply given up the "winter car" niche they held 30 years ago.
Maybe they just ought to roll up SAAB and merge with Saturn to form just ONE underperforming division?
#1851 of 2237 Re: SHUT OFF [blckislandguy]
by j umberger
Mar 24, 2005 (5:27 pm)
good comments - I agree with you
I wasn't aware of the 2WD sport wagon - no niche there...sounds like they reached once again into the GM parts bin and threw something together.
I negotiated the $36k sticker on our 2002 9-5 down to $30k, which I thought was an amazing deal. I was shocked to learn 2 1/2 yrs later that wholesale was $9k. That's well below the average 3 year depreciation on most vehicles. And you're right - steep GM discounts, poor customer service and no regard for the integrity of the brand reduces a once cult brand to K Mart items.
Meanwhile, my Audi continues to exceed my expectations at every turn and we LOVE our new Land Rover LR3. It's reassuring to know some brands are still building great products and creating loyal customers.
#1852 of 2237 Re: SHUT OFF [j umberger]
by blckislandguy
Mar 24, 2005 (7:54 pm)
J Lumberger, SAAB is really in trouble because you're the kind of guy that they should be selling to. Obviously, you are willing to put with some of the hassles with the less than stellar launch of the LR3 and the less than perfect Audi to enjoy driving/owning them. If SAAB can't keep an LR3 owner happy (How many times has yours stalled?)...
While I sympathize with you on your resale value, you didn't tell us how many miles it has, what color and equipment or what NADA retail or Kelly Blue Book is. Say, that the average retail value is 15K before a high mileage, bad color or manual shift deduction. Fifteen thousand is OK because that is a 50% residual over three years. Only certain SUVs do much better. Lets keep in mind, that your 9K wholesale price is only a wholesale price and could be mileage, color and equipment driven.
I think it is important to compare resale with transaction price, not suggested list price. The much touted BMW high resale is in part a function of the yuppies paying full list price for the blue propeller on the hood. I'd rather buy a three year old AERO at a great price.
#1853 of 2237 Re: SHUT OFF the CAPS LOCK!!!!
by ponytrekker
Mar 25, 2005 (7:10 am)
Sounds bad. DI cassette?
Mar 25, 2005 (2:33 pm)
wipers do not go to park position on my 9.5 what is the problem?
#1855 of 2237 Pics of my AERO
by aeronaut
Mar 25, 2005 (5:56 pm)
See some pics of my car taken last summer at
www.cardomain.com/memberpage/807002