I'm looking at used Audis, Saabs, and bimmers, and wanted to get an idea of
how costly repairs &
maintenance would be. Most of the cars I'm looking at are in the '97-'99
50k+miles $12,000 range. I hear BMW costs the most. But what about the
others? Considering the car has been well cared for, what is life like
after 100k miles?


---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.657 / Virus Database: 422 - Release Date: 4/13/2004

 

On Fri, 7 May 2004 20:39:40 -0700, speakeasy <cant@email.me> wrote:
> I'm looking at used Audis, Saabs, and bimmers, and wanted to get an idea of
> how costly repairs &
> maintenance would be. Most of the cars I'm looking at are in the '97-'99
> 50k+miles $12,000 range. I hear BMW costs the most. But what about the
> others? Considering the car has been well cared for, what is life like
> after 100k miles?

A Saab with 300,000 miles isn't all that remarkable; it's more about
years than miles. The others are well designed also, so they're probably
comparable. As far as repair parts, there's a site called eeuroparts.com
(note two e's at the beginning) which sell for Saab, BMW, and Volvo;
you can compare relative prices of Saab and BMW there for like items.

All 3 are designed well. Depending on your weather conditions, you
might find that the front wheel drive of the Saab is important;
I prefer it myself, living in Wisconsin and all. For an anecdotal data
point, I have a 1999 Saab 9-5, which has been in exactly twice for
other than "normal wear items" (tires, spark plugs, belts), and those
two times were the 30,000 and 60,000 mile checkups. It's at 80,000
now and drives like new. I'd buy one again, and in fact this replaced
a 1988 Saab that I had 247,000 miles on when I traded it in.

Of course, people feel strongly that the make they own is the best,
which is why they bought it. I freely admit a bias, but I am not
unhappy at parts costs, since I've needed to buy so few repair parts
and they're not so bad.

Dave Hinz

 

speakeasy wrote:

> I'm looking at used Audis, Saabs, and bimmers, and wanted to get an idea of
> how costly repairs &
> maintenance would be. Most of the cars I'm looking at are in the '97-'99
> 50k+miles $12,000 range. I hear BMW costs the most. But what about the
> others? Considering the car has been well cared for, what is life like
> after 100k miles?
>
>
> ---
> Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
> Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
> Version: 6.0.657 / Virus Database: 422 - Release Date: 4/13/2004


Do NOT buy a SAAB. Do NOT buy a BMW.

Buy an Audi.

 

Dave wrote:
>
> speakeasy wrote:
>
> > I'm looking at used Audis, Saabs, and bimmers, and wanted to get an idea of
> > how costly repairs &
> > maintenance would be. Most of the cars I'm looking at are in the '97-'99
> > 50k+miles $12,000 range. I hear BMW costs the most. But what about the
> > others? Considering the car has been well cared for, what is life like
> > after 100k miles?
> >
> >
> > ---
> > Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
> > Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
> > Version: 6.0.657 / Virus Database: 422 - Release Date: 4/13/2004
>
> Do NOT buy a SAAB. Do NOT buy a BMW.
>
> Buy an Audi.

I think they're all very nice cars. When buying secondhand it is important
to check for past 'issues', sometimes fixed for free by the manufacturers.
Some BMW had engines that were dissolved by the petrol and the digital
odometer can be changed. It is all a matter of personal preferences. BMWs
are very common and their drivers are often ill behaved on the road. The
new 1-series BMW looks horrible, like mangled metal. Older Audis look bland,
like a piece of soap with wheels. New A4 is nicer. New BMW-5 is interesting,
slicing a hole in the air by that little roof fin. BMW Z4? What were they
thinking? Again looks like mangled metal. And finally Saabs; the pleasure
of proper petrol turbo engineering.

 

speakeasy wrote:
> I'm looking at used Audis, Saabs, and bimmers, and wanted to get an idea of
> how costly repairs &
> maintenance would be. Most of the cars I'm looking at are in the '97-'99
> 50k+miles $12,000 range. I hear BMW costs the most. But what about the
> others? Considering the car has been well cared for, what is life like
> after 100k miles?

I think you'll find it's more the luck of the draw combined with past
owner care/driving style that decide how reliable it will be. It also
depends on what you want. If you want sprited driving pleasure, it's the
BMW (Audi will be close though, depending on model). If you drive in the
snow, quattro is unbeatable, and the Saab FWD is better that the BMW RWD
(at least for getting moving, once you're moving it's another story).
Personally, I'd stay away from any brand associated with GM (Saab), but
that's me. Parts and repair prices for all three will be more that your
typical american or mainstream import.

 

Jim wrote:

> speakeasy wrote:
>
>> I'm looking at used Audis, Saabs, and bimmers, and wanted to get an
>> idea of
>> how costly repairs &
>> maintenance would be. Most of the cars I'm looking at are in the '97-'99
>> 50k+miles $12,000 range. I hear BMW costs the most. But what about the
>> others? Considering the car has been well cared for, what is life like
>> after 100k miles?
>
>
> I think you'll find it's more the luck of the draw combined with past
> owner care/driving style that decide how reliable it will be. It also
> depends on what you want. If you want sprited driving pleasure, it's the
> BMW (Audi will be close though, depending on model). If you drive in the
> snow, quattro is unbeatable, and the Saab FWD is better that the BMW RWD
> (at least for getting moving, once you're moving it's another story).
> Personally, I'd stay away from any brand associated with GM (Saab), but
> that's me. Parts and repair prices for all three will be more that your
> typical american or mainstream import.


Jim must be new to Saabs - Saabs weren't always owned by GM. The Saabs
often quoted as running after 300,000 miles were pre-GM. I currently
own two Classic and strongly considering a third. My wife lets me
collect cars

 

On Sat, 08 May 2004 09:31:10 -0400, ma_twain <ma_twain@yahoo.com>
wrote:


>Jim must be new to Saabs - Saabs weren't always owned by GM. The Saabs
>often quoted as running after 300,000 miles were pre-GM. I currently
>own two Classic and strongly considering a third. My wife lets me
>collect cars

He's talking a '97 so that's a "partially GM" Saab.

I think it might be relevant to know which country he's posting
from too. Also, is he a DIY guy (parts cost only) or is he paying
for labor too ?

 

Jim wrote:
>
[...]
> Personally, I'd stay away from any brand associated with GM (Saab), but
> that's me.

Remains to be seen if this is has any drawbacks. In fact it is GM that has
been associated with Saab; learning turbo technology and using a 175 bhp
Saab turbo engine as an option for GM Vauxhall Vectra. Modern saabs use
GM platforms, but they have been heavily modified by the clever Swedish
engineers. Saab 9000 (to 199 and early Saab 900 have no connection with GM.

For me, BMW are too common on the roads. They are not particularly fuel
efficient (petrol), although they do have some fine diesels, probably the
best. But then if you don't like diesels, you're stuck. And the BMW servicing
indicator must be a nuisance if you do your own servicing? I always have an
image of BMW drivers being very pushy: "get out of my way" sort of thing.

 

"speakeasy" <cant@email.me> wrote
> I'm looking at used Audis, Saabs, and bimmers, and wanted to get an idea
of
> how costly repairs &
> maintenance would be. Most of the cars I'm looking at are in the '97-'99
> 50k+miles $12,000 range. I hear BMW costs the most. But what about the
> others? Considering the car has been well cared for, what is life like
> after 100k miles?

We had a recent discussion in alt.autos.bmw.
google for: "Re: How much maintenance?"

Sounds like you're looking for 3-series, for that $. In this set of cars,
I doubt that you will find significantly different maintenance costs.
Might look at Lexus IS300 if you want Toyota reliability.

Floyd

 

On Sat, 8 May 2004 07:29:02 -0700, "fbloogyudsr"
<fbloogyudsr@nwlink.com> wrote:

>Might look at Lexus IS300 if you want Toyota reliability.

But pay similar prices (at least in the USA) if you do need
repairs.