Conference terri::cars_uk

    I haven't driven one yet.
    
    The engine is from SAAB.
    
    Yes, a 3-door hatchback is available.  The turbo model is due out this
    spring.
    
    --PSW

    - Not driven one, nor do I own one or are ever likely to.
    
    - Both. the base 4-cil and the Turbo are Saab, the 6 is GM.
      The test reports on the 6 were not all that jubilant and the
      comparison between it and the 4-Turbo from "old" led the testers to
      prefer Saab's own product.
      
    - Yes, though not in all combo's.
    
    Peter

The new 900 got good reviews in both ROAD & TRACK and CAR and Driver here in the 
US. It appears to be a competitive offering in its price bracket here (~$29k). It 
appears about the same time that the folks from Volvo have produced a real sports 
sedan in the new 850. My only take on Saabs is that most of the folks I know 
who've owned them have had lots of reliability problems. The Volvos, on the other 
hand, seem to be more reliable, but are still costly to maintain.

Paul

    RE -1.  Reliability?
    
    My wife drives old 900 3 door hatchback(1980 900/EMS 140,000km).
    
    We call it as our PROJECT CAR.  It's old, things go wrong all the time
    and it's quite costly to keep it on the road but I still like it very much.
    
    We found very good SAAB specialist in town (I call him SAAB doctor) and
    not too worried about problems.
    
    So I would say my SAAB is not reliable at all.
    
    MN
    

SAAB unreliable?! I'd say no more so than any other car in it's class.

Dave (who'd love another SAAB 900 Turbo....)

    RE: -1.
    
    >SAAB unreliable?! I'd say no more so than any other car in it's class.
    
    I said "So I would say my SAAB is not reliable at all."
                           ^^
    
    >Dave (who'd love another SAAB 900 Turbo....)
    
    I am actually looking for another SAAB, that's why I posted this
    note.
    
    MN
    

    My wife and I went to the local launch of the 900. I signed up for a
    test drive of the 2l as it was nearest to the Vauxhall's I've had in
    the past.
    
    It seemed to lack in the performance area, though I confess not to
    remember the figures. It was very competently built, no rattles etc.
    Had it's fair share of Saab quirks, eg lock gear lever into reverse. I
    couldn't find a fault with it, nor could I get excited about it, so I
    suppose it was a good 2l saloon car.
    
    Would it tempt me away from GM - no. But mostly because Saabs are
    wickedly expensive on the UK car scheme. 
    
    It was also not a patch on my wife's 9000 CS turbo - but then it
    shouldn't be!

Re: reliability, I've no direct experience of the 900 but I'm on my 
second 9000 and have only ever experienced one problem.  The kickdown on 
the auto gearbox failed after 50,000 miles necessitating (so the dealer 
said) a replacement gearbox - a 2,000 pound job!.  

Having said that, the dealer agreed that the gearbox should certainly 
last more than 50,000 miles and was somewhat embarrassed about the 
failure - to the extent that the work was carried out free of charge, 
even though the car was outside the 12 month warranty.

Mike

My uncle has had a 9000 from new - bought it 9 years ago. He's done 140,000
miles, and replaced NOTHING - not even the clutch. He uses this car to tow his
hill-climber all over the UK, and occasionally onto the continent - so it has
definitely earned its keep. His only regret is not buying the turbo - it needs
a bit more power.

Cheers

-Steve