I have a 1991 Toyota Celica with 264k miles. Looking for a newer car & came across a 2005 saab 93 with 117k. Reading lots of reviews makes me wonder if I’ll be able to find parts and if it’s as reliable as it is cute (yes I said that). Do these last like my toyota or should istick with toyotas and hondas? Thanks
No, they last nothing like a Toyota. If reliability is a priority (and it sure sounds like it is) avoid all European cars, stick to Toyota and Honda.
The Consumer Reports reliability chart for that year and model shows lots of black and not very much red. If you want reliability, this isn’t the car for you.
And then there’ll be the problem finding parts…
Stick to Toyota or Honda.
Saabs typically had wonderful driving dynamics, but that is all in the past.
So…essentially, the question is…Should you buy a 10 year old car that was made by a company that subsequently went belly-up, or should you look elsewhere?
The demise of Saab as a company means that there is no longer any corporate technical support in regard to recalls, TSBs, and ongoing issues with their cars, and there is no ongoing availability of OEM parts. Does that sound like a promising way to start your ownership with a car?
If I was looking for a used car, I would avoid vehicles made by Saab, Suzuki, and Isuzu-all of which have already left the US marketplace–and I would also avoid anything made by Mitsubishi, as they will be the next ones to go belly-up in The US.
If you want a somewhat comparable situation, many years ago there was a marque sold in The US by the name of Sterling. The good news is that their engines and their transmissions were made by Honda. The bad news is that the electronics, the body, and everything else was made by Brits with a terrible reputation for reliability.
Once Sterling went belly-up in The US, their used cars were sold for bargain prices. That was the good news. The bad news is that those cars rusted and suffered electrical problems at astronomical rates, and the owners of those bombs had no recourse. After Sterling left the US marketplace, their cars essentially became ghetto cars, purchased by people who had no clue about the marque’s history. Don’t fall into the same trap as the folks who bought Sterling cars simply because they were…cheap…or cute.
If you own a well-maintained Saab and have a competent mechanic, it might be worthwhile to continue to drive the car. But…to buy a 10 year old Saab at this point?
Nope!
thanks for all the help. Guess I know where to look now. Staying with what I know.
In the interest of full disclosure, I like Saabs and own one. You have to be dedicated to own one, though. Parts are difficult to come by but the internet is your friend. This will likely get better.
The parts arm of Saab still exists and now owns all the tooling for Saab OEM parts. That means that unique Saab parts will be available for some time to come. All that said, a Saab should be a second car, not a primary one because it will take a few days for parts to arrive and places that will service them are few and far between these days.
I test drove a couple of Saabs years ago. The seats were great, but the rest of the car was totally bland. The hardtop drove okay, but the convertible felt wobbly, like someone forgot to reinforce the chassis to compensate for the missing top.
Just one man’s impression is all.
TSM, I gotta agree with you on the convertible!
jiggle jiggle jiggle
What the Brits call “scuttle shake” Not good at all.
Don’t buy a car made by a company that is out of business. Discontinued brands are OK, like Mercury, Oldsmobile, or Pontiac. There are similar Fords, Buicks, and Chevrolets, and you can find parts for them easily. Be very picky. Only buy cars in excellent condition if you can afford it. When you find one that is in great condition, pay $100 or so for a prepurchase inspection. The mechanic might unearth problems that you can’t when you evaluate it.