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From: jackh@zehntel.UUCP (jack hagerty)
Newsgroups: net.auto
Subject: Re: any hard data on saab/volvo reliability/low maintenance cost?
Message-ID: <1761@zehntel.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 7-Feb-85 12:53:07 EST
Article-I.D.: zehntel.1761
Posted: Thu Feb  7 12:53:07 1985
Date-Received: Tue, 12-Feb-85 05:39:40 EST
References: <671@whuxlm.UUCP>
Distribution: net
Organization: Zehntel Automation Systems Inc, Walnut Creek CA
Lines: 33

> Saab owners seem fanatical about the 'quality' of their cars. but can
> anyone point to some hard data on relative reliability maintenance cost
> of these compared to other makes?  I would sure like to see something
> 'real' before I plunk down so much cash for a car.
> 

Two references:

Every April, Consumer Reports' annual auto issue rates Saab as a "best
buy" (or whatever) indicated by printing the name in color. They admit,
however, to not having tested one since 1982. I don't know if they've
tested one since last April; I don't subscribe to CR but sneek peeks
at my parents' copies whenever I need to buy something.

In the middle of last year (May? June? July?) Road & Track published an
Owners' Survey for the Saab 900 and Turbo (making the distinction between 
the two types of Saab buyers). The consensus was that the owners were very
pleased overall but found that the day-to-day reliability was not as good
as, say, Toyota or other Japaneese brands. On the other hand longevity was
much better with the cars still running well long after your basic Nipponese
product had been recycled into Kelvinators.

One surprising result was that the Turbo models seemd to have somewhat
better reliability than the basic 900 dispite being driven harder. Better
assembly at the factory? Better quality components? Or are the base 900
owners just pickier? I side with the latter.

-- 
                    Jack Hagerty, Zehntel Automation Systems
                          ...!ihnp4!zehntel!jackh