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AFOS

Champion Author
Chicago

Posts:30,653
Points:3,099,565
Joined:Jul 2001
Message Posted: Jun 15, 2005 10:13:26 AM

Thought I'd kick off this forum with a topic. I had '72 Saab 99 that I kept until 1991, 204,000 miles. Only major engine repair was a head gasket about 87K miles. Had to replace clutch slave cylinders every 18-24 months. At the end it had one cylinder with no compression, one with only 50%, so it didn't have a lot of power. But each fuel injector had a separate wire lead, so when I disconnected the fuel supply to the dead cylinder the mileage jumped back from around 18 back to 22 mpg. However, when I had two tires fail in a 2 week time, I decided maybe that was a sign that it's days were numbered.
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noblegiant
Champion Author Philadelphia

Posts:2,185
Points:965,520
Joined:Nov 2007
Message Posted: Nov 15, 2012 11:33:52 PM

I've Had A Few Very Minor Repairs, Parts Are High But The Best Way Is To Shop Online.
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noblegiant
Champion Author Philadelphia

Posts:2,185
Points:965,520
Joined:Nov 2007
Message Posted: Sep 5, 2012 1:01:17 PM

Great! Maybe I'll Move Up To A 2011 9.5 In The Near Future.
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noblegiant
Champion Author Philadelphia

Posts:2,185
Points:965,520
Joined:Nov 2007
Message Posted: Jul 29, 2012 12:59:31 AM

just got the 9.5 and so far i'm feeling it!!!
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daffodildeb
Rookie Author Gasbuddy

Posts:1
Points:120
Joined:Apr 2011
Message Posted: Apr 22, 2011 10:16:18 PM

MazGuy2010, I just found this site, and saw your post. We were always sports car buffs, and three of our cars would have been there during your reign at Willie's! We lived in St. Louis during the mid 60s to mid 70s, and I bought a '69 Saab Sonett from him. It came from the factory as a white car, Willie painted it gold because some woman wanted a gold car, and I in turn painted it burnt orange after it had been rear ended and pushed into a third car. I was hoping the bright color would help people keep from pulling out, but alas, that didn't happen. I owned it until we moved to Houston in '75. The dealer there had never seen one, so I was afraid to bring it with us. We did, however, bring our Ivory '64 Porsche SC Sunroof Coupe, which Hubby bought in '67. We still have the car, now fully restored. Both cars were serviced at home and at Willie's, as was our pumpkin-orange '69 BMW 2002, which we bought used in about '71. Any of them ring a bell?

We currently have, in addition to the Porsche, an '07 MINI Cooper S and an '07 BMW 530xi Wagon, both great cars that are very economical. The latter is our 5th Bimmer, the 2002 being the first.

I assume by now Willie has passed on. If so, do you know when? How long did he own the shop? And please solve a great mystery of life for me. In the field next to the shop he had a lot of wrecked and parts cars. I remember seeing a Japanese car of some vintage--I remember it as being a beautiful sports car with RHD, but I've never been able to figure out what. Do you know?

[Edited by: daffodildeb at 4/22/2011 10:24:18 PM EST]
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leadfoot48
Rookie Author Grand Rapids

Posts:69
Points:150,655
Joined:Jul 2004
Message Posted: Sep 7, 2010 6:07:06 AM

We own 2 Saabs a 2005 9.2x with 177000 miles and no major repairs. Just purchased a 2008 9.3 areo xwd what a joy to drive and super fast like haveing a sedan sportrs car with it's turbs v6 engine rated at 24mph highway but we are averageing 23.7 and on trips with all highway driving some where between 28 and 29 mpg. With only 13000 miles on it milage should get better. XWD is just amazing!
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MazGuy2010
Rookie Author St. Louis

Posts:1
Points:120
Joined:Apr 2010
Message Posted: Apr 23, 2010 3:08:39 PM

I went to work for the first Saab Dealer in town, SplisgaRdt Automotive in Rock Hill in 1968. After working as a line mechanic, Willie decided that I should be his Parts Manager.

Spent 8 years there & of course managed to learn quite a bit about foreign cars because Saab wasn't the only make that we serviced. Mercedes, Porsche, VW, MG, Austin-Healy, Rolls-Royce, Ferrari, Maserati, Lambroghini, were just a few of the vehicles that rolled into the shop at 9736 Manchester Rd.
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i4runner
Veteran Author Orlando

Posts:278
Points:59,910
Joined:Oct 2009
Message Posted: Oct 29, 2009 3:55:11 PM

I have been helping a young friend revive and update a 1986 Saab 900 Turbo SPG. We have had a lot of fun doing it and it is a great learning experience for an 18 year old. When we first looked at the car I was certain I was in over my head when I popped the hood and the engine was in backward. Crazy Swede's.
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metricauto
Sophomore Author Oregon

Posts:193
Points:74,640
Joined:Aug 2009
Message Posted: Oct 4, 2009 9:06:17 PM

Saab's seem to be a well designed solid vehicle and company. I like them, A friend of mine had a Convertible 9-5 it was nice to ride in

[Edited by: metricauto at 10/4/2009 9:06:55 PM EST]
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skybiker
Champion Author South Carolina

Posts:7,403
Points:1,585,640
Joined:Jul 2008
Message Posted: Oct 27, 2008 9:13:53 AM

Bought my first Saab in 1966. Had 3 cylinders and a 4 speed on the column. Had to mix oil with the gas as it was a 2 cycle engine. It did have a lifetime warranty on the engine though. Got 35 MPG both city and highway.
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1outlaw
Champion Author Wisconsin

Posts:1,761
Points:94,975
Joined:Nov 2005
Message Posted: Aug 6, 2007 9:30:57 PM

I bought a 2004 Saab 9.3 Aero for my wife and the bad part is- I never get a chance to drive it. It is a blast to drive. I want my next one to be the 9.5 Biopower.
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RCinNM
Champion Author New Mexico

Posts:6,453
Points:925,415
Joined:Sep 2005
Message Posted: May 29, 2007 11:20:07 AM

I started off with a used 1978 Saab 99 nonturbo, manual. It was a great car, had power and super gas mileage. I was getting 35 city 44 highway. My second Saab was a 1979 Saab 900 nonturbo auto. It was in better condition than the 78, but I didn't like the auto. My third Saab was a 1980 Saab 900 Turbo, 5 door, manual. This car was the best! After putting nearly 300,000 miles on it, the transmission was starting to go. The only thing I did with it, other than the norm (tires, oil change, brakes, etc.) was change the clutch once and the waterpump.
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jujubee92
Champion Author Alabama

Posts:2,714
Points:398,750
Joined:Sep 2005
Message Posted: Oct 28, 2006 7:54:42 PM

Ok--I had posted that we had a Saab 92x and loved it, but we just traded it for a 2003 9-5 sedan and it is SOOOOOOOO much better.
The 92x handled well, got decent mileage for an AWD and had no problems. However, it just wasn't big enough for us and not nearly as comfortable to sit in for long drives. My husband, who has a herniated disk and is also 6'2", couldn't stand to be in the car for more than 20-30 minutes--the seats are just so darned hard!

Anyways, it's nice being in a "real" Saab again!
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durems
Champion Author Dallas

Posts:3,366
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Message Posted: Aug 21, 2006 2:07:55 PM

I love my 9-5 Saab wagon, which we bought new in 2000. It has had numerous problems (all expensive to repair) and gets atrocious mileage, but you can't beat the way it drives and the comfortable ride. Our dealership (Sewell) provides wonderful service, so no complaints there.

[Edited by: durems at 8/21/2006 2:08:12 PM EST]
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patmd
Sophomore Author New Jersey

Posts:166
Points:33,680
Joined:May 2006
Message Posted: Aug 7, 2006 5:27:44 AM

I bought a 93 9000 CSE about a year ago. When I bought it it only had
80,000 miles on it. The car was very well kept. I love this car.
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smartpoage
Rookie Author San Diego

Posts:47
Points:38,215
Joined:May 2006
Message Posted: Jul 11, 2006 11:45:36 PM

I had a friend with a mid 90's Saab with lots of miles and Heated Seats, He Loved it, a few minor nagging repairs but it was solid!
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CamryCheapster
Sophomore Author Massachusetts

Posts:185
Points:2,213,020
Joined:Nov 2005
Message Posted: Jul 4, 2006 4:24:21 PM

I bought a used '70 SAAB 96 with the V4. It had over 200,000 miles and ran great. It ended up rusting away. It was awesome in the snow.
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batzmarukliy
Rookie Author Houston

Posts:40
Points:20,175
Joined:Apr 2006
Message Posted: Jul 1, 2006 8:01:55 PM

Hi
I have a SAAB Viggen
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#12#_ToplessSaaber
Rookie Author California

Posts:20
Points:280
Joined:Jun 2006
Message Posted: Jun 22, 2006 7:02:13 PM

Love my topless 98 900 -
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MadMax777
Rookie Author New Jersey

Posts:5
Points:6,475
Joined:Apr 2006
Message Posted: Apr 28, 2006 10:55:29 PM

We have a Saab 9-3 in the family, and it is awesome. True, we have had a couple of minor glitches and it is not cheap to repair, but it's all worthwhile when you get behind the wheel. Pure fun! There really is something about driving a Saab thats unlike other vehicles I have driven in the past, and they are numerous. Relatives also have had the Saab 900s and all had over 150,000+ miles on them. I hope the 9-3 can live up to its pedigree.
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canaveral
Rookie Author Toronto

Posts:3
Points:553,210
Joined:May 2004
Message Posted: Dec 28, 2005 11:11:05 AM

To me Saab ownership has been a love/hate relationship. I have a 9-5 which I bought new. I have never driven a car in the winter that comes anywhere close to the Saab in performance and handling, especially in snow. The car is a joy to drive. On the other hand, it spends a lot of its time at the local dealer being repaired. My repair list would fill a book. The car had to be towed no less than three times because everything suddenly went dead. The dealer has never found the cause. I have also experienced the poorest of dealer service from the Saab Saturn organization. I have actually received the car back on several occasions where I found that the dealer has caused additional damage to things that were working. The dealer also likes to play this cat and mouse game regarding what is or isn't covered under warranty. GM has had to intercede constantly on my behalf. I have kept the car this long only because I bought an extended warranty. When it is up, the car is history.
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phintleroy
Rookie Author Connecticut

Posts:15
Points:850
Joined:Nov 2005
Message Posted: Nov 12, 2005 6:45:41 PM

I'm all around very satisfied with my 9-5.
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nhhawkeye
Champion Author New Hampshire

Posts:10,446
Points:2,129,555
Joined:Sep 2005
Message Posted: Nov 5, 2005 11:14:57 PM

I drive a 99 93 and and I'm getting 33 MPG. Have had it for 6 months after parking a 95 900 that had 330K. I like the mileage and maintenance on it is no more expensive then what I had with the VW's I use to run in the past.
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HiGasSux
All-Star Author Maine

Posts:963
Points:203,205
Joined:Oct 2005
Message Posted: Oct 31, 2005 10:39:26 PM

mine was about the same.. nickels and dimes all year long..
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AFOS
Champion Author Chicago

Posts:30,653
Points:3,099,565
Joined:Jul 2001
Message Posted: Oct 31, 2005 9:44:47 PM

HiGasSux...
I referred to my '72 as my "sob story." Frequent nickel and dime things (although no major engine repairs). In addition to clutch slave cylinders, the care generally needed a new muffler every couple years.

They don't make cars now like they did then (thank goodness)
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HiGasSux
All-Star Author Maine

Posts:963
Points:203,205
Joined:Oct 2005
Message Posted: Oct 29, 2005 10:53:42 PM

my brother always refers to it as my SAAB (sob) STORY whenever I mention a saab story.
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Saab93
Sophomore Author Akron

Posts:157
Points:21,485
Joined:Sep 2005
Message Posted: Oct 29, 2005 10:08:39 AM

I recently bought a 9-3 and absolutely love it. My only shock came when it was time to change the oil - $80.00 later, I learned about synthetic oil! LOL

I've only had the car a month and a half, but wouldn't trade it for anything.
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Bammerone
Rookie Author Twin Cities

Posts:12
Points:69,830
Joined:Aug 2005
Message Posted: Oct 19, 2005 4:15:59 PM

I have a 200 9-5 SE and love it. Bought it a couple years ago coming off lease. Has anyone seen the 2006 models yet? I understand they are coming back out with a 6 cyl and the design is a bit more aggressive.

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geezer
Champion Author Albany

Posts:21,471
Points:3,098,545
Joined:Apr 2003
Message Posted: Sep 23, 2005 10:12:46 PM

I have a 2002 9-5 wagon and its a great car
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geezer
Champion Author Albany

Posts:21,471
Points:3,098,545
Joined:Apr 2003
Message Posted: Aug 30, 2005 8:54:20 PM

I just bought a 9-5 on Sunday... so far so good!
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FocusSVT
Champion Author Toronto

Posts:4,285
Points:1,372,870
Joined:Apr 2004
Message Posted: Jul 24, 2005 11:13:47 AM

Just got a 9-2X which I can't wait to take delivery - with the present GM employee program, GM bonus certificate, GM Visa [ $1500 ] and graduate rebate, it worked out over $11,000 off MSRP - can't see it getting any cheaper after present program ends
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FuelHearty
Champion Author Massachusetts

Posts:2,543
Points:164,210
Joined:May 2004
Message Posted: Jun 30, 2005 10:01:10 PM

Just got a Saabaru 92x
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not2creative
All-Star Author Virginia

Posts:601
Points:262,740
Joined:Apr 2005
Message Posted: Jun 20, 2005 9:25:14 PM

I love my 9-5
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