Saabs - Love them or Hate them? What are they like to own?

ahillsy

The Skoda Octavia vRS is very, very nice....and with current deals making them just over the 15k mark new (200BHP, latest facelift version, newer TSI engine, touchscreen MP3/6CD multichanger) they are excellent value for money, especially compared to equivalent Seat/VW/Audi....or any other make.

A lot of badge snobbery still exists - I used to be one of those who thought I couldn't bring myself to buy a Skoda. But now, I'm so far past that. There's a reason they're a popular choice as undercover police cars.

Gerrard_8_lfc

VW GT TDI golf the car I couldnt have because im young and insurance said no).

Super car very solid and super fast ?

Plus 50 mpg

Indout96

With Saab it feals like walking into a ford dealership (no offence) even though its supposed to be a "premium" brand there is no customer waiting/viewing area just a couple of desks! maybe I expect to much?

Think thats down to the dealership, Nidd Vale Saab in Harrogate bring a courtesy car to our door (we live in Bradford) and take the car away for its service then bring it back, if you want to take it in yourself you get free access to the local private health centre.
We use a local guy due to cost but Nidd Vale's service was superb, the sales guy even came in early on the Sunday morning so we could pick the car up at a time suitable to us.

Lemonade_Pockets

Indout96 wrote: »

Think thats down to the dealership, Nidd Vale Saab in Harrogate bring a courtesy car to our door (we live in Bradford) and take the car away for its service then bring it back, if you want to take it in yourself you get free access to the local private health centre.
We use a local guy due to cost but Nidd Vale's service was superb, the sales guy even came in early on the Sunday morning so we could pick the car up at a time suitable to us.

They do have !!!!!! all else to do tho. Although i agree my dad used to have a saab and used the same garage pricey but good service.

However in my Opinion the biggest problem with saab is that it is likely to disapear in the very near future. Maybe not such a probelm for used. But if buying New this will have implications on warranty, spares, depreciation etc etc.

kazmeister

Ok we love our Saabs, best cars we have ever had.


We have owned

• M reg 9000 cracking car went to 180,000 miles before dying
• P reg 900 convertible sold as part exchange on a Goldwing :rolleyes:
• current car 51 plate 95 Hot Aero (wolf in sheeps clothing )

If you look after your Saabs they will look after you.
Servicing is expensive if done by main dealers but is only every 12,000 miles. We are lucky enough to have a 1 man band Saab specialist locally who does our work at a fraction of the price of the main dealers.

They are cheap to pick up in comparison to some of the other makes and are usually loaded with extras. Our current car was 6 years old when we bought it for £5400, it was £33k new!

They are incredibly comfortable for long journeys, ours have all had leather seats so easy to clean and very spacious. Even the 900 convertible had lots of space in the back.

Our current one I do mostly 15 miles a day to work and back and some running round the town and average 28mpg (2.3 HOT engine)

It is also very good for towing our heavy caravan.

They are built for winter motoring as well!

They have very good NCAP ratings. I can vouch for the sturdiness of the car as I hit a dear doing 50 - 60 in the convertible. I heard the massive crunch and when I got out and looked there was 1 small scratch on the bumper .

I agree with others that the GM models are not perhaps so good but for sale you will see either new cars less than 3 years or VERY old Saabs. Usually if people have one, they hang on to them as they are so reliable. Look around, how many are up for sale that should give you a clue.

I do not work for and have never worked for Saab so this is a completely independant owners view and I hope it helps.

C_Mababejive

Hang on..i too thought that the sabb aero and similar were vectra based and isnt the vectra the workhorse of middle management? Surely they should be reliable and bits cheap are they are such a common vehicle or is it the case that becuase the Saab badge is a bit different and has slightly more prestige,then the same part in Saab packaging instead of GM,suddenly goes up in price?

BikerEd

Maybe they have changed in the past 10 years but the last one I owned was a 1996 900 convertible, which was second only to my PT Cruiser as the most unreliable car I ever owned. Always breaking down, and in the end it needed a new gearbox and clutch at just 2 years old. When the lease ended on that car I didn't shed a tear! Prior to that (about 15 years ago) I had a Saab 9000 turbo and (about 20 years ago) an original shape Saab 900 convertible, both from new and both were faultless.

michaelro

mrcow wrote: »

Thanks - there's no way in hell's chance we'd be buying a Skoda - no matter how many people try and say it's a cheap Audi I'm not even after a cheap Audi - if we wanted an Audi, we could a real one lol.

I'm glad they're are people like you with what I'll call 'Skodaitus'
Makes the marque more exclusive and cheaper than those with a 'Trendier' badge.

Skoda's regulary come towards the top of Reliability and Owner Satisfaction survey's.
Have a look for Saab, or the 'Proper' Audi for that matter....

http://www.whatcar.com/NonCar/75881243591.jpg

http://www.whatcar.com/car-news/jd-power-owner-satisfaction-2009/the-winners/240819

mrcow wrote: »

Told you I know nothing about cars.

Really?

thescouselander

ahillsy wrote: »

The Skoda Octavia vRS is very, very nice....and with current deals making them just over the 15k mark new (200BHP, latest facelift version, newer TSI engine, touchscreen MP3/6CD multichanger) they are excellent value for money, especially compared to equivalent Seat/VW/Audi....or any other make.

A lot of badge snobbery still exists - I used to be one of those who thought I couldn't bring myself to buy a Skoda. But now, I'm so far past that. There's a reason they're a popular choice as undercover police cars.

I had a skoda Octavia as a hire car provided to me through work - I thought it was pretty poor to be honest. I thought the interior was of poor quality and it rattled a lot. The drive wasn't that great either. As far as I'm aware Skodas are based on the VW/Audi designes 1 or 2 generations ago, it certainly seemed like that to drive anyway.

I'd go for the Saab.

harveybobbles

kazmeister wrote: »

Ok we love our Saabs, best cars we have ever had.



We have owned

• M reg 9000 cracking car went to 180,000 miles before dying
• P reg 900 convertible sold as part exchange on a Goldwing :rolleyes:
• current car 51 plate 95 Hot Aero (wolf in sheeps clothing )

If you look after your Saabs they will look after you.
Servicing is expensive if done by main dealers but is only every 12,000 miles. We are lucky enough to have a 1 man band Saab specialist locally who does our work at a fraction of the price of the main dealers.

They are cheap to pick up in comparison to some of the other makes and are usually loaded with extras. Our current car was 6 years old when we bought it for £5400, it was £33k new!

/QUOTE]

You haven't owned the wonderful Saab's from 2004 onwards have you...? Stick to your 95 HOT...!!