1992 SAAB 9000 CSE 2.3 from Netherlands
Summary:
Much better looks and comfort than a BMW/Mercedes/Volvo of the same age for a much better price
Faults:
In the half year that I have owned this car, only the switch for the central locking on the driver's door has been removed. The indicator on the dashboard indicated that the door was open although it was not. And the central locking didn't work for the first eight times I would try to lock the doors. Now the indicator doesn't work for the driver's door (so what), but the central locking is in perfect order again.
General Comments:
A fast, reliable and very comfortable car.
The car had originally no leather but a blue interior. Not a very nice combination with the Scarab Green exterior so I had it fitted with a second hand black leather set and black door panels for about US$ 600.
The engine is very quiet at high speeds.
The handling could be a bit better, but for not too much money it can be improved by lowering the chassis and fitting 16 or 17" wheels which will be done in the near future.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 7th August, 2001
11th Apr 2001, 15:30
I bought a 1992 Saab 9000 with 95.5k about a month ago. So far, I'm on the replacement rampage... The big checkpoint is the 95000 mile major maintenance check.
All of the following has died before 97k... which makes me think the used car dealer I bought it from was a weasel, and just fixed everything enough so that it wouldn't break until 2 weeks after I bought it... but besides that between 96k and 97k miles (within the last month) -- I have replaced:
(prices include parts & labor ($60/hr) )
1) left and right ball joints - $200
2) central exhaust pipe - $300
3) * driver side lock cylinder - $45
4) * fog lights & wires - $50
5) * flushed/refilled coolant - $25
6) * changed oil - $15
7) * flushed & bled brake system - $10
8) * flushed & bled hydraulic sys - $10
9) Seals leaking oil, replaced - $80
10) Clutch replaced - $900
11) Traction Control Sys replaced - $650
12) * TCS Control Valve - $35
13) * NGK Spark Plugs - $10.
Grand Total: $2330...
I paid $7300 for the car and it blue booked at about $9300. I've now spent my limit on it. Hopefully it holds for a while.
The body of the car is in good shape, with rust on the bottom of the doors (inside)... Along the tops of the doors (outside), around the back license plate and in the front of the hood. I've been looking for a little plastic guard for the front of the hood, to keep the chips/rust from coming back, once I get the rust removed (another weekend project)...
So far the car has been a money pit, but it's an amazingly smooth ride. I would recommend 92 octane fuel... I have been using Texaco and getting about 26mpg in heavy city driving (54mi/day commute).
Please please please, remember to bleed/flush your brake fluid every 20k-25k miles / 2 years... This car never had the hydraulic system flushed and therefore, when it was flushed the gunk that was holding the clutch slave cylinder seals together gave and caused the clutch to start leaking... not good... result; new clutch. If the system was maintained properly (... dealers don't flush the system, because they're lazy... if they don't flush the system every 20k+ miles, then when the maintenance book wants it flushed at 95k, the clutch gives out... hence, the problem I experienced occurs. Whenever I would have flushed the system, I would have needed to buy a new clutch... at least that's what the mechanic said... he said he's seen this before in cars he's bled...) then this problem wouldn't have occurred.
If people have questions or comments, please feel free to email them to me at ryan@nospam.sinn.org --- remove the "nospam." from the address.
Ryan.