Saab 93 sport ground to halt 43k miles!
03 August 2004, 08:49 PM
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Saab 93 sport ground to halt 43k miles!
Just been out with the old man, he tells me one of the other directors in his company decided to get a Saab 93 Sport for his company car, while everyone else opted for German executive tanks given the high milleage they all have to do, visiting sites all over the country.
Anyway, this particular fella actually gets lifts most of the time, so has got quite a low mileage compared to everyone else, but the other day it ground to a hault! Just over three years old, so out of warranty, with about 45k miles on the clock (in my book just run in
).
According to him (if he has got this right) the cam ‘chain’ snapped, this caused catastrophic problems within the car, pistons smashing into valves and all sorts, by the time the Saab chaps looked under the bonnet, they basically crossed it off. New or refurbished engine.
I think it’s utterly outrageous a car can have such a major failure and such a low mileage especially at that price tag, considering you still see Mrk2 Golf GTI’s from the late 80’s having the **** ragged out of them after they’ve been around the clock twice or so!
The worst was yet to come, because it was out of the warranty, the dealer basically shrugged his shoulders! WTF, it’s got 45k on the clock, they’ve been servicing it, and how can they possibly think that is acceptable? So now he is having to go to Saab UK to get them to deal with the matter.
I really think this kind of thing is outrageous, I’d be right on the phone to watch dog, top gear, you name it, name and shame I say.
Thing is even if they do replace the engine, he is still going to loose out, as having a re-con or even new engine fitted is bound to make it depreciate more, that is the sort of thing that puts of potential buyers big time, sends all the wrong signals, when a relatively new car has had to have a completely new engine fitted.
Leave car making to the Germans, Japanense, and small British motorsports companies I say
Anyway, this particular fella actually gets lifts most of the time, so has got quite a low mileage compared to everyone else, but the other day it ground to a hault! Just over three years old, so out of warranty, with about 45k miles on the clock (in my book just run in
).According to him (if he has got this right) the cam ‘chain’ snapped, this caused catastrophic problems within the car, pistons smashing into valves and all sorts, by the time the Saab chaps looked under the bonnet, they basically crossed it off. New or refurbished engine.
I think it’s utterly outrageous a car can have such a major failure and such a low mileage especially at that price tag, considering you still see Mrk2 Golf GTI’s from the late 80’s having the **** ragged out of them after they’ve been around the clock twice or so!
The worst was yet to come, because it was out of the warranty, the dealer basically shrugged his shoulders! WTF, it’s got 45k on the clock, they’ve been servicing it, and how can they possibly think that is acceptable? So now he is having to go to Saab UK to get them to deal with the matter.
I really think this kind of thing is outrageous, I’d be right on the phone to watch dog, top gear, you name it, name and shame I say.
Thing is even if they do replace the engine, he is still going to loose out, as having a re-con or even new engine fitted is bound to make it depreciate more, that is the sort of thing that puts of potential buyers big time, sends all the wrong signals, when a relatively new car has had to have a completely new engine fitted.
Leave car making to the Germans, Japanense, and small British motorsports companies I say
03 August 2004, 09:00 PM
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This must have happened with a car from every manufacturer in the world.
Personally I rag the **** out of twice round the clock saabs with no problems and never had an engine (or gearbox) explode.
Personally I rag the **** out of twice round the clock saabs with no problems and never had an engine (or gearbox) explode.
03 August 2004, 09:19 PM
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lol.
Director at my place used to have an alfa 166, which ****wit in procurement let him have that! (Oh yeah, he is the director of procurement and IT)
Paid god knows what for it new, on a V plate. Sold it last mont for 5k. Think it lost approx 20k!
Director at my place used to have an alfa 166, which ****wit in procurement let him have that! (Oh yeah, he is the director of procurement and IT)
Paid god knows what for it new, on a V plate. Sold it last mont for 5k. Think it lost approx 20k!
03 August 2004, 09:29 PM
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Tell him to go to the very top at saab uk,my missus had a small amount of trouble with ford,(less said the better!!) Couldn't get anywere with the dealers,went onto fords website did a bit of research,got in touch with a big man at the top,within a few days.......problem sorted.
03 August 2004, 09:38 PM
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I've had 3 Saab 9000's with mileages between 140,000 to 160,000 miles - I think they were all on their original timing chains (though my last one was on it's 3rd gearbox 
- all under warranty though).
Not sure on the 9-3ss, but on older Saabs like the 9000, the timing chain usually wouldn't need attention until after 100,000 miles. Even then, it would rattle and make a general tappety racket for thousands, maybe tens of thousands of miles, before needing attention.
Catostrophic failures like this one are rare - hence why they use chains and not belts. Having said that, I have heard a lot of teething problems with the first 9-3 sport saloons. Maybe GM were too keen to get the cars to market.
I've heard of people pursuing problems on their Saabs out of warranty - usually, if it's been serviced on the dot at the same dealer, they're more likely to help you out. If not, it would be onto Saab GB to see what they say (as he's already doing).
Good luck!
PS. Hope you don't mind - I've this posted on Saabscene to see if they can offer any advice!
http://www.saabscene.co.uk/cgi-bin/u...ic/21/417.html
- all under warranty though).Not sure on the 9-3ss, but on older Saabs like the 9000, the timing chain usually wouldn't need attention until after 100,000 miles. Even then, it would rattle and make a general tappety racket for thousands, maybe tens of thousands of miles, before needing attention.
Catostrophic failures like this one are rare - hence why they use chains and not belts. Having said that, I have heard a lot of teething problems with the first 9-3 sport saloons. Maybe GM were too keen to get the cars to market.
I've heard of people pursuing problems on their Saabs out of warranty - usually, if it's been serviced on the dot at the same dealer, they're more likely to help you out. If not, it would be onto Saab GB to see what they say (as he's already doing).
Good luck!
PS. Hope you don't mind - I've this posted on Saabscene to see if they can offer any advice!
http://www.saabscene.co.uk/cgi-bin/u...ic/21/417.html
03 August 2004, 09:45 PM
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Hi MN
Sorry to hear about the saab trouble. I have heard of nightmare stories before about the newer GM saabs. On the 93 is there actually a scheduled timing chain replacement?
I have only ever had the older 9000, 900 and 99 saabs. all turbo of course and all of them have had massive mileages.
my previous 9000 only had its timing chain,tensioners etc replaced at 130,000 miles and that was only because it was about to be chipped! the car then went on with 260bhp with some spirtied driving for another 70,000miles before i sold it.
The worse thing about saab ownership is definately the main dealers attitude to their customers. They charge jaguaresque (if you know what i mean) hourly rates and you get treated like dirt. lots of saab specialists about. dont know where your dads friend is based but a place ive used a lot is www.parts-asap.co.uk (very friendly and swift service)
They recently put a replacement engine in a mates 900 (GM) convertible for about half the price of the main dealer.
i wish you dads mate good luck dealing with saab....he will need it
Oh just another point....when i asked my local saab dealer about scheduled timing chain replacement he looked at me like i had just shat in his bed! he simply told me that they advice to change it when it gets rattly. With 43k a timing chain snapping is very very bad luck especially as it was just outside its warranty.
cheers
brett
oops, sorry, similar comments to that of Kevin Mc. he beat me to it
Sorry to hear about the saab trouble. I have heard of nightmare stories before about the newer GM saabs. On the 93 is there actually a scheduled timing chain replacement?
I have only ever had the older 9000, 900 and 99 saabs. all turbo of course and all of them have had massive mileages.
my previous 9000 only had its timing chain,tensioners etc replaced at 130,000 miles and that was only because it was about to be chipped! the car then went on with 260bhp with some spirtied driving for another 70,000miles before i sold it.
The worse thing about saab ownership is definately the main dealers attitude to their customers. They charge jaguaresque (if you know what i mean) hourly rates and you get treated like dirt. lots of saab specialists about. dont know where your dads friend is based but a place ive used a lot is www.parts-asap.co.uk (very friendly and swift service)
They recently put a replacement engine in a mates 900 (GM) convertible for about half the price of the main dealer.
i wish you dads mate good luck dealing with saab....he will need it
Oh just another point....when i asked my local saab dealer about scheduled timing chain replacement he looked at me like i had just shat in his bed! he simply told me that they advice to change it when it gets rattly. With 43k a timing chain snapping is very very bad luck especially as it was just outside its warranty.
cheers
brett
oops, sorry, similar comments to that of Kevin Mc. he beat me to it
Last edited by BrettC; 03 August 2004 at 09:50 PM.
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03 August 2004, 10:04 PM
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116k on my 1990 saab 9000 no problemo
I did 79K I think on my 1999 9-3 Turbo SE without any major defects.. possibly the later GM 9-3 sport is worse..
???
I did 79K I think on my 1999 9-3 Turbo SE without any major defects.. possibly the later GM 9-3 sport is worse..
???
03 August 2004, 10:05 PM
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If it's out of warrenty, desprite the low milage, it's still out of warrenty. Going to Saab GB may help, but I think you'll be lucky if you get them to cough up. As for Saab's reliabilty and customer service, we've never had a problem with either. My dad had 7 Saab 9000's in a row and didn't have a problem with any of them. His last one was brought by somebody else at work and is still going strong with something like 160,000miles. The customer service was also top notch. Maybe it's just our local dealer. Or it could be because we've brought a fair few cars from them and they know us well. Where are you based? If your local to me I could see what my local dealer can do to help you.
03 August 2004, 10:39 PM
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I would think that you stand a reasonable chance of a 'good will' gesture under the circumstances. Saab pride themselves in the longevity and robustness of their vehicles, and this story isn't very good PR for them. I reckon if you have a word in the right ear they should get it sorted for you, as this really isn't typical Saab reliability.
hope you get on ok,
simon
hope you get on ok,
simon
03 August 2004, 11:52 PM
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extremely rare ...
story I heard ...
Saab dealership got changed to an Alfa one
in 15 Saab years they had 3 engine failures
in the first 6 months of alfa they had 14 engines lined up to go back....
my two high mileage saabs
one is on 170 k on the origonal chain (getting changed real soon !)
second is on its second chain but its done 220k and is pushing out over 400 hp....
the early engines are bulletproof
the later ones were engineered down to a price imho but this would be one of the last 9-3's of the old type and has a well proven engine
Also saab dealers can be patchy and I have experienced all of the above ...
I use a specialist now...
story I heard ...
Saab dealership got changed to an Alfa one
in 15 Saab years they had 3 engine failures
in the first 6 months of alfa they had 14 engines lined up to go back....
my two high mileage saabs
one is on 170 k on the origonal chain (getting changed real soon !)
second is on its second chain but its done 220k and is pushing out over 400 hp....
the early engines are bulletproof
the later ones were engineered down to a price imho but this would be one of the last 9-3's of the old type and has a well proven engine
Also saab dealers can be patchy and I have experienced all of the above ...
I use a specialist now...
04 August 2004, 01:53 AM
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Originally Posted by mynickers
Just been out with the old man, he tells me one of the other directors in his company decided to get a Saab 93 Sport for his company car, while everyone else opted for German executive tanks given the high milleage they all have to do, visiting sites all over the country.
Anyway, this particular fella actually gets lifts most of the time, so has got quite a low mileage compared to everyone else, but the other day it ground to a hault! Just over three years old, so out of warranty, with about 45k miles on the clock (in my book just run in).
According to him (if he has got this right) the cam ‘chain’ snapped, this caused catastrophic problems within the car, pistons smashing into valves and all sorts, by the time the Saab chaps looked under the bonnet, they basically crossed it off. New or refurbished engine.
I think it’s utterly outrageous a car can have such a major failure and such a low mileage especially at that price tag, considering you still see Mrk2 Golf GTI’s from the late 80’s having the **** ragged out of them after they’ve been around the clock twice or so!
The worst was yet to come, because it was out of the warranty, the dealer basically shrugged his shoulders! WTF, it’s got 45k on the clock, they’ve been servicing it, and how can they possibly think that is acceptable? So now he is having to go to Saab UK to get them to deal with the matter.
I really think this kind of thing is outrageous, I’d be right on the phone to watch dog, top gear, you name it, name and shame I say.
Thing is even if they do replace the engine, he is still going to loose out, as having a re-con or even new engine fitted is bound to make it depreciate more, that is the sort of thing that puts of potential buyers big time, sends all the wrong signals, when a relatively new car has had to have a completely new engine fitted.
Leave car making to the Germans, Japanense, and small British motorsports companies I say
Anyway, this particular fella actually gets lifts most of the time, so has got quite a low mileage compared to everyone else, but the other day it ground to a hault! Just over three years old, so out of warranty, with about 45k miles on the clock (in my book just run in
).According to him (if he has got this right) the cam ‘chain’ snapped, this caused catastrophic problems within the car, pistons smashing into valves and all sorts, by the time the Saab chaps looked under the bonnet, they basically crossed it off. New or refurbished engine.
I think it’s utterly outrageous a car can have such a major failure and such a low mileage especially at that price tag, considering you still see Mrk2 Golf GTI’s from the late 80’s having the **** ragged out of them after they’ve been around the clock twice or so!
The worst was yet to come, because it was out of the warranty, the dealer basically shrugged his shoulders! WTF, it’s got 45k on the clock, they’ve been servicing it, and how can they possibly think that is acceptable? So now he is having to go to Saab UK to get them to deal with the matter.
I really think this kind of thing is outrageous, I’d be right on the phone to watch dog, top gear, you name it, name and shame I say.
Thing is even if they do replace the engine, he is still going to loose out, as having a re-con or even new engine fitted is bound to make it depreciate more, that is the sort of thing that puts of potential buyers big time, sends all the wrong signals, when a relatively new car has had to have a completely new engine fitted.
Leave car making to the Germans, Japanense, and small British motorsports companies I say
Cal
04 August 2004, 01:56 AM
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Originally Posted by BrettC
Hi MN
Sorry to hear about the saab trouble. I have heard of nightmare stories before about the newer GM saabs. On the 93 is there actually a scheduled timing chain replacement?
I have only ever had the older 9000, 900 and 99 saabs. all turbo of course and all of them have had massive mileages.
my previous 9000 only had its timing chain,tensioners etc replaced at 130,000 miles and that was only because it was about to be chipped! the car then went on with 260bhp with some spirtied driving for another 70,000miles before i sold it.
The worse thing about saab ownership is definately the main dealers attitude to their customers. They charge jaguaresque (if you know what i mean) hourly rates and you get treated like dirt. lots of saab specialists about. dont know where your dads friend is based but a place ive used a lot is www.parts-asap.co.uk (very friendly and swift service)
They recently put a replacement engine in a mates 900 (GM) convertible for about half the price of the main dealer.
i wish you dads mate good luck dealing with saab....he will need it
Oh just another point....when i asked my local saab dealer about scheduled timing chain replacement he looked at me like i had just shat in his bed! he simply told me that they advice to change it when it gets rattly. With 43k a timing chain snapping is very very bad luck especially as it was just outside its warranty.
cheers
brett
oops, sorry, similar comments to that of Kevin Mc. he beat me to it
Sorry to hear about the saab trouble. I have heard of nightmare stories before about the newer GM saabs. On the 93 is there actually a scheduled timing chain replacement?
I have only ever had the older 9000, 900 and 99 saabs. all turbo of course and all of them have had massive mileages.
my previous 9000 only had its timing chain,tensioners etc replaced at 130,000 miles and that was only because it was about to be chipped! the car then went on with 260bhp with some spirtied driving for another 70,000miles before i sold it.
The worse thing about saab ownership is definately the main dealers attitude to their customers. They charge jaguaresque (if you know what i mean) hourly rates and you get treated like dirt. lots of saab specialists about. dont know where your dads friend is based but a place ive used a lot is www.parts-asap.co.uk (very friendly and swift service)
They recently put a replacement engine in a mates 900 (GM) convertible for about half the price of the main dealer.
i wish you dads mate good luck dealing with saab....he will need it
Oh just another point....when i asked my local saab dealer about scheduled timing chain replacement he looked at me like i had just shat in his bed! he simply told me that they advice to change it when it gets rattly. With 43k a timing chain snapping is very very bad luck especially as it was just outside its warranty.
cheers
brett
oops, sorry, similar comments to that of Kevin Mc. he beat me to it
04 August 2004, 12:45 PM
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I don't know the in's and out's, exact model, my dad was pretty convinced it was a 93 sport though. I don't think you could say Saab have become unrealiabhle wrecks over night, it could be a million and one things, slight hair-line fracture in part of the chain, a design flaw, a build quality issue on this unit, it's very hard to tell.
The point I was making is, that surely no manufacturer of a fairly high marque car would put their name and pride next to a car that has a life span of three years and 45k miles. Especially when it's been looked after and regularly serviced by main dealers.
If I was in his position I wouldn't sleep until they sorted it out, what ever it took. Will foward on this thread to gentleman in question, some interesting feedback, sure he'll appreciate it.
Cheers
The point I was making is, that surely no manufacturer of a fairly high marque car would put their name and pride next to a car that has a life span of three years and 45k miles. Especially when it's been looked after and regularly serviced by main dealers.
If I was in his position I wouldn't sleep until they sorted it out, what ever it took. Will foward on this thread to gentleman in question, some interesting feedback, sure he'll appreciate it.
Cheers
05 August 2004, 03:08 PM
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He should go for a goodwill payment from Saab UK. I suspect this is an isolated incident but if they're concerned about their reputation, they should contribute something to the repairs or replacement engine.
Cheers
Kav
Cheers
Kav
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