Not sure how many DDNr's may know, but SAAB went into Chapter 13 (Liquidation) a few days before the holidays. It pretty much appears that there is no turning back from bankrupsy for the company this time.

My question is, if any of you own SAAB's, what are you hearing about future parts availability and authorized places to get reparis done? In its latest re-org, SAAB cut the numbers of dealers drastically, so not as many places to go now for repairs to begin with. Cars are no longer being produced and SAAB will no longer honor warrenties, it has said.

I have two 9-5 wagons ('00, and '07 - one w/ exceptionally low milage) both of which I love. However, I am wondering if I should dump them v. hang onto them

Any SAAB owning DDNr's out there?

This is sort of a SAAB story. In the USA, there is a law that any car sold here has to be provided for in parts for ten years beyond it's demise. As SAAB was a part of General Motors, GM is, in theory, on the hook to provide repair and parts support for SAABs, just as they are for Saturns, Pontiacs and Oldsmobiles. I would imagine that Chevy dealers will have to provide the support. I wouldn't buy one that is left over though myself.

Jon

Maybe you can check out what these cars would make if you sold them, especially the one with the low mileage. It's not a bad brand, but if they're really going down the drain, then maybe you should look into another brand and get the best price for these cars that you can, preferably before the actual bankruptcy is there. Is the 07 one the low mileage one? Because that could mean a very good price.

John: Thanks for the info. I did not know there was a law that required automobile mnfr's to provide parts for up to 10 years.
However, GM is only on the hook for any time (10 yrs from what you say) back from Feb 10, 2010, the date that Saab was officially purchased by Fisker Autocars Gmgh, LTD. GM has said it will only honor warrenties up till Feb 10, 2010. And Fisker is now declining to honor any warrenties. No real problem for me aSaab design s I have a '00 and "07 and both are off warrenty anyway. My main concern right now is about the future of parts availability and service factory technical support (e.g: the tech bullitians that my dealer used to get from Saab directly).

Funny you mention about not buying a leftover. This past May the Saab dealer was trying to get me into a 2012 SUVish crossover Saab had just come out with. It was a totally fully new all Sweedish Saab design. I test drove it and I liked it, and in the back of my mind I was considering it, but I was not going to purchase this year anyway. I doubt many copies of this vehicle were ever made, and I am sure that will become a collectable Saab vehicle in the years to come.


Rosalide: Thnaks also. Yes, I am going to be checking vehicle values now. You are correct my '07 is the low mileage one. The actual bankrupsy has already happened. Their factory in Trollhatten Sweeden has been shuttered since May. The company is in full licquidation proceedings now.

Historically, the collectability of "orphaned" cars e.g. the manufacturer went out of business has been pretty suspect. I did a little research and found this link, from a former Chicago SAAB dealer.

blogs.cars.com . . .

The dealers are trying to sell 2011's and the few 2012 with NO warrantee whatsever. Yeah, no way I'd jump for that. SAAB's already have a reputation for being hard and expensive to maintain.

With the exception of a very few cult cars e.g. the 1950's era "Tucker" only 50 were built and the 49 survivors are essentially "museum" pieces... most old, discontinued label cars are just that, old and discontinued. Maybe 40 years down the pike a few survivors may be of interest IF they are rare enough but generally speaking no.

We had a friend who bought a SAAB when it was still a more or less viable make about 10 years ago. Her nearby dealer went out of business. I live in an area (Washington/Baltimore) with a population between the two metro area of 8-10 million people, yet in the middle of the last decade there was only one place that sold SAABs and it was over 50 miles from where our friend lived. It was a nice but greatly overpriced car. She got rid of it (actually she took a 'bath' on it when she traded it) when even routine maintenance proved to be nearly impossible.

When a brand dies, values plunge. Pontiacs, Olds, and Saturns, all GM products, saw their trade and resale values plunge, even though Chevy dealers provide parts and whatever warranty support remains. You can't give a Daiwoo away. Even the Delorean, which was something of a cult car does not command "cult" prices. You aren't likely old enough to know the sad history of the Edsel.

The guy's on "Car Talk" discussed this phenomenon. To create a "cult" collectable car, there has to be so few of them remaining that a collector has to go to extraordinary lengths to find parts to restore them to better than new condition. They no longer become practical transportation, but are indeed museum pieces or vehicles which are used only for the enthusiasts who go to weekend auto shows. Or, there had to be so many of them as in the case of the '57 Chevy that an ordinary enthusiast can realistically find one and enough parts around to restore one at a fairly reasonable cost. An extreme rarity, such as a certified original aluminum engine block Corvette from the late 60's (probably less than a 100 were made) might truly be valuable. The restored cars enthusiasts bring to weekend ad hoc auto shows, while now pristine, probably cost more for the hobbyist to restore than they actually might get in an auction. Car enthusiast are hard to gauge what may interest them. The '57 Chevy has become a highly desireable car, but the '58 Chevy, almost the same car except for a redesigned tail section promotes almost no interest at all.

Jon

Yesterday I received a letter from my Saab dealer telling me (e.g forwarning me) that Saab parts availability may very well start become an issue with them in the future. I am going to have to really think now about getting rid of both cars, something I will hate to do. My newer one is just paid off at the end of this month!