Are you an automotive masochist? : culture|garage

Are you an automotive masochist?

April 9, 2008

Posted by Chris

Tags: opinion

I have a bizarre Saab fetish (as you can probably guess by the slight Swedish slant that this site sometimes takes). I don’t really know why, it’s just a “different” car, it doesn’t blend in, it’s “quirky,” it’s like the sexy-quiet-nerdy girl from high school.

But I will be damned, they are not the most reliable vehicle. I just took my car into the shop for the second time in as many days, this time because the outside temp is reading 144 degrees (it’s 40) and turning the AC on. This is something that I just paid for a few months ago. It burns more light bulbs then gas. I have gone through three stereos (and no you can replace it with after market thanks to fiber optic wiring–seriously, who the hell uses fiber optics?).

I always put up with the pain in the ass it provides. And I don’t know why. I don’t like FWD. I miss having the hatch (I have a 9-3ss). It’s not fast. It doesn’t have the potential to be fast. It depreciates like a lead brick. Any every time I speak to my family they ask, are you still driving Saabs? Why?

It’s just “different” and that’s why I like it. So, what about you?

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10 Responses to “Are you an automotive masochist?”

Carl Says:
April 9th, 2008 at 10:43 am

I think it has become a force of habit for me by now… I just bought a 9-3SS like you’ve got and it’s by far the quirkiest and most random Saab car I’ve had in over 10 years of owning them. I feel your pain with the fiber optics, but you’re not the one making the iPod adapter for the thing either
blix Says:
April 9th, 2008 at 10:52 am

what i’ve always pictured a car should look like, is what my saab looks like. it’s like having a hot boyfriend, i always find myself gazing at it o.O
Jameson Says:
April 9th, 2008 at 11:12 am

I have love for the brand while still admitting its faults. Thats what makes a good “car guy”, passion for what you have and love, but not being blinded by it. The simple fact is, Saabs present an amazing value. That fast depreciation and damn you GM rebates wind up making for an alternative to many other cars. I can go right now and buy a demo 9-3 with a $31k sticker for $19k. That is less than a loaded Civic. Its the proverbial “steak on hamburger budget” cliche. Buying the Saab means I eat steak….steak that rattles and veers off my plate with understeer.
JK Says:
April 9th, 2008 at 11:21 am

320hp - 370lb.ft - 37 highway mpg - 227,000 miles

That’s why I like my car

Nobody expects the Swedish Inquisi…
flameJello Says:
April 10th, 2008 at 11:09 pm

saab 9-2x. i know it doesn’t count as it’s way more reliable than a real saab, but it’s an awkward car to find myself driving as:

a) I get 30mpg normally with AWD, but I live in TX
b) I love how it looks, but am constant fear of dealing with getting in an accident since only little more than 10,000 were made. I wouldn’t have gotten this car if it wasn’t for the nice-looking exterior. The toyota matrix looked too pudgy, and I see tons of them every day.

it seems any low-production niche model car lends itself to automotive masochism. Time to buy that studebaker avanti I saw on the used car lot…
flameJello Says:
April 10th, 2008 at 11:10 pm

JK, you drive an 9-3 aero SS, I assume? 37mpg highway on a V6 turbo?
Chris Says:
April 10th, 2008 at 11:14 pm

JK has a very modified 9000 Aero. 2.3l Turbo
JK Says:
April 11th, 2008 at 11:02 am

Not “very modified.” Just enough to make me happy and not break stuff every 1000 miles!

Interestingly it gets much better milage than it did when it was 100% stock.
Matt Says:
April 11th, 2008 at 6:40 pm

Sadly, my ‘87 SPG doesn’t see the daily duty like it used to, my Protege5 has taken over that post. Doesn’t see much duty at all these days. I need to sell it to a more deserving owner. If you’re in Seattle and interested in owning an SPG, let me know.

But I totally feel you on the SAAB thing (though my SPG has been stone cold reliable)… there’s just something irresistable about them, especially older SAABs for me. The shape, colors, smell, sounds, I dunno… it all adds up to what are, for me, the coolest cars around. Sure, there are faster cars and cars I want more, but SAAABs are just straight up awesome.
BT Says:
May 17th, 2008 at 1:37 am

I’m right there with ya. I’m up to 4 Saabs now, 3 9000 turbos and 1 (NG) 900 SE. The 9000’s haven’t been too bad once I sorted them out from the ‘previous owner blues’, but the 900 seems to have to go into the shop every 24 months for a $900 therapy session with my indy mechanic. Now, granted one of those times was for a new oil pan when the wife went curb-hopping, but the car ain’t the cheapest to maintain.

Still, I’d have a hard time driving anything else. I recently used my ‘94 Aero to pick up an ambulance stretcher that a friend was going to use in a shot for his movie. The guy who had the gurney commented I had a nice ‘1 ton Saab pickup’. And yes, the gurney fit in the back with the seats folded down.

I dunno what it is. There are faster cars. There are cars with a more ‘european’ feel. There are cars with greater utility and more style. But, I still like these the best.

Cheers!
Ben

‘94 9000 Aero (2.3 turbo / 5spd)
‘97 900 SE (2.0 turbo / auto)
‘92 9000 turbo (2.3 turbo w/ group 6 ECU good for an extra 40 hp/ 5spd) - just sold
‘86 9000 turbo (2.0 turbo / 5spd) - sold long ago