Repairing A Saab: Why Saabs Are Great Used Cars
Saab officially closed in 2011, ending a long run of making incredibly stylish and safe cars – but little else. Used Saabs make excellent cars for young drivers and families if you can find a Saab specialist like Garfield Auto to keep it on the road for years to come.
Why Saabs Are Excellent Used Cars
Repairing Saabs is relatively straightforward thanks to decades of well-thought-out engineering. Aftermarket parts are still relatively available for most Saab models, and Garfield Auto is a Saab specialist. Aside from that troublesome and rushed 2011 model, Saab makes reliable cars that last. If you’re looking to buy a used Saab, do your research and watch for these possible issues.
In general, used Saab cars and SUVs are known to have:
· Excellent fuel economy
· Top safety ratings
· Few known or common issues
· Comfortable interiors
Why Did Saab Go Out of Business?
In some ways, what makes Saabs great buys today also led to its demise. General Motors, a long-time minor stakeholder, became the majority shareholder in 2000. As the full owner, GM pushed the Swedish manufacturer to lower costs and make their cars more competitive in more international markets.
GM also asked Saab engineers to actively design elements of other GM brands, including Chevrolet.
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Saab Refuses To Lower Its Standards
Saab had long since earned its reputation as one of the safest vehicles on the road. GM began to meddle with things on the heels of a slew of underperforming Saab models. They asked (and after Saab refused, required) Saab to use design elements of another GM brand, Vauxhall, in Saab models.
GM insisted that everything on this new “Saab” be identical to the Vauxhall Vectra; change nothing but the badges.
Saab changed almost everything in the design, saying they would only be satisfied with the new model if it won top safety marks. This satisfied Saab, but not customers; the 9-3 Saab didn’t sell well, and even models that did sell were so expensive to produce that the model lost the company money.
GM Sells Saab
Not happy with Saab’s insistence on going its own way and facing the impact of the 2008 financial crisis, GM rolled the brand into administration. Saab joined Saturn and Pontiac on the auction block, with Saab eventually changing hands to Dutch manufacturer Spyker. Despite their best efforts, Saab’s 9-5 flopped, and all parties admitted the company couldn’t be saved. The last Saab was produced in 2011.
Who Repairs Saab in Traverse City?
We work on all foreign and domestic manufacturers and have plenty of experience working on Saab. Mechanics at Garfield Auto Service Center are trained to tackle any vehicle, and we aren’t afraid to do any additional research or part sourcing required to get your Saab fixed the right way. We owe that to a brand that would rather go out of business than build anything less than the safest car on the road.
Expert Saab Repair Near Me
For expert automotive repair services or auto restoration, trust Garfield Auto to offer friendly, fast, and fair-priced repairs your family can rely on. We’ve been serving Northern Michigan for more than 40 years and keeping Traverse City on the move. Contact us today to schedule your repair.