Saab? I seem to remember them. Nice cars until General Motors got hold of them and turned them into Vauxhalls with new clothes.

I always wanted one of these back in the eighties
http://classics.honestjohn.co.uk/imagecache/file/fit/730×700/media/5650505/Saab%20900%20Turbo%20(3).jpg

Didn’t mind the General motors involvement initially, because Saab needed new models, but when some loony tunes so called engineer decided that Cavalier brake discs were adequate for stopping the Saab 900 hpt, the salesman knew that those discs weren’t up to the job never mind engineers, our fears were soon realised, warped front brake discs became an occupational hazard for a while.

Other than that the Saab SAABS, ran and ran, bodily as tough as old boots with safety features built into the car before other manufacturers (Volvo excluded) had even thought about it.

Jim ref your post 32

From your description every one of those cars should have been exchanged without the need for getting legal eagles involved.

Must say with your record buying a Fix It Again Tomorrow is leading with your chin a little, the other two should certainly have been dumped back on the manufacturer pretty quick.

The only similar instance I can think of, a 1 month old Saab 95 suddenly dumped it’s engine oil, now at this time Saab were doing initial PDI before delivery to the dealer and we were only supposed to inspect visually and clean before hand over to customer.

We recovered the vehicle got our customer into a courtesy car, then inspected the problem, we found that the sump plug had gone walkies, attempting to put in a new plug soon showed the threads in the sump were stripped, only possible reason plug put in cross threaded at build. Car needs a new sump, but no-one happy about the fact that the car had been travelling on the motorway when everything went belly up. Contacted Saab, they accepted our findings told us to organise a replacement car for customer, Saab would cover any extra costs involved regarding swapping insurance plus tax and registering new vehicle, it was easy to ring this customer and tell him he was getting a new car plus a cheque from Saab for inconvenience.

Just imagine the difference in this customer’s reaction to us and to the manufacturer, compared with your experience.

Matt, Now you mention it, yes, your right about the Starlings also being short in numbers. I havn’t seen the thousands swirling in unison, as they prepare to roost. Somethings wrong somewhere, I wonder what?.I would hate to think that many of our varieties of birds are dying, never to be seen again.
Jim.
Lincoln .7

No shortage of birds here, the comment regarding magpies very relevant, these birds are responsible for a lot of other birds vanishing, for the last two years the number of nests I’ve seen raided by these sods is quite frightening.

Laying the blame on cats is short sighted. even during Country File, the conclusion was that cats are not the main or even a major reason for the decline in small bird populations, loss of habitat being the main problem, which has also driven many woodland birds into our gardens, some flourish in gardens, some clearly do not.

Jim

I am aware there are cowboys in every trade or business, I can only say what was drummed into me when I started as a salesman, “remember, whether the customer buys new or used a top or an economy model they bought the car from you and expect to be treated fairly and honestly”.

I only once worked for a company which I very quickly realised weren’t not exactly as straight as they could be and just as quickly told the boss to stick his job were the sun don’t shine.

I can also honestly say that I have met more dishonest customers than car salesmen, but apart from the one mistake I worked for reputable dealers or dealer groups.

I think you will also find that there are rules regarding all cars which every dealer is obliged to abide by, the axiom being that problems are resolved to the satisfaction of both parties, recourse to threats of disclosure and/or legal action is best as a last resort, but by the same token make crystal clear what you expect from your new car and don’t be fobbed off by anyone.

Good luck.

Brakes and steering are most definately, I.M.H.O. top of any motorists “Get it done NOW” list, when spotted.
Jim.
Lincoln .7

I won’t argue with that, but any failure item which is safety related should be/ must be rectified, then of course comes the next list, advisories, these simply say that an item is considered safe at the moment, but early attention is advised as deterioration has been spotted.

I would find it difficult to select which has a higher priority when it comes to advisories having come across cars, (particularly in days gone when a car either passed or failed the MOT and many motorists didn’t look again at their car until the next MOT was due,) with current MOTs but not safe enough to be driven across the yard never mind the road and the reasons where many and varied not neccessarily restricted to brakes or steering.

The safe way is obviously to get any advisories dealt with at the earliest whatever they are.

An very true comment. As one who has spent a fair part of his life dealing with customers’ problems it is astonishing how much more receptive you are to help those who are polite and courteous than those who are aggressive and insist, almost before they start, on their rights. That sort can find another supplier.

That is the truest comment on here, I’m now retired after the odd decade or four in the motor trade and most dealers and indeed sale staff, will normally do whatever they can to look after THEIR customer, you want these people on your side particularly with a new car because generally speaking the dealer will raise the problem with the manufacturer and will expect the solution and the cost to be covered by the manufacturer.

Put the old Mondy in the garage and it failed it’s MOT for some rust on one of the sills.
However on the advisory it states “rusty front brake pipe”.
I would have thought the brake pipe to be more serious than the sills?

Simple enough, the rust on the sills is severe enough to compromise the structure of the car, the advisory on the brake pipes is just to let you know that the dreaded tin worm has taken up residence and while not a problem yet, will soon become one if not evicted.

Side tracking possibly, but I often wonder just how much “lost” knowledge and science there has been, the Piri Reis maps are another of these conundrums, we know that these maps were drawn up from much earlier maps, but who drew the originals? which in the main are amazingly accurate showing land and coastline supposedly undiscovered and of course showing the coastline of Antartica which is now and has been for a long, long time completely covered with ice.

The computer is totally fascinating, more power to the BBC for producing programmes of this type.