DanB wrote:

"SteveH" wrote in message
...
DanB wrote:

I assume you mean the Saab?

Indeed.


You're a bit of a Vx man iirc? What are your thoughts on the Vectra VXR?

Hmmm, you've pointed out that you think the Vectra VXR is 'better' than
the 9-5 HOT, however, several reviews disagree.

Most criticism is centered around poor ride and handling and ****
interior......

At least with the 9-5 you get decent ride quality, handling is still
****, but the interior, despite being a tad dated, is well built.


Faberoo.

I still think the Vectra is better :-) You've always done nothing but mock
Saab for all their "stupid gimmicks they throw at cars loading them up with
kit so people buy them, like the night instrument panel thing, the funny key
placement" - obviously that's not an exact quote, but I'm so not googling to
find quotes heh, I'll leave that to the stalkers.

This was of course, until a week ago when you realised they were good value
heh, which to be fair, is something I would do. I hated the Mk3 Clio and
the 197 when they came out, but they grew on me and I did a U-turn - nothing
wrong with that, just don't try and hide it by saying you still think
they're ****! That just makes you look weird, as what kinda dude buys a car
they think is **** heh :-)

The dash is odd, and despite the Vectra derived torque steering
handling, they're a very comfortable place to sit. Don't forget that
we're talking about a 3 year old car, with a 30k list price, for £8k....
I can forgive a fair bit for that kind of VFM.

But Saabs aside, you love your Passats! You loved the 1.8T and you've had
nothing but praise for this one, especially when compared to a Saab. It's
just baffling to me that you're not buying something you actually like, seen
as though you're using you own cash this time, and you get to keep it at the
end.

Mostly because I can get a lot more for my money elsewhere. I've looked
at Passats - I could pick up a low-ish mileage Passat 2.0TDI SE with DSG
for £13k - but ultimately, they're a bit pikey spec. compared with what
else you can get for similar money.

Although at the end of the day, I'd just take the Beemer, it's a nice spec,
there's no hassle, no worries, no unexpected costs - it's just the easy way
:-) Sure it should cost you a few more quid, but what if say, the turbo
goes on the Saab? That's a big repair, and what if they don't have a
courtesy car for you as well? Carnage could quickly ensue... I cerntainly
think having a turbo'd petrol motor for your company car, if you're buying
it, is a bit of a bad idea as from the experience of people I know, they do
seem to have proportionally more problems than the NA ones... That might be
just coincidence or something.

3 year, unlimited miles warranty - £600. Spare car on the drive. Job
done.

Random new thought, have you considered a new type Honda Accord? I got
taken in one of them from a half-upmarket pre-book taxi place, it was
organised by the hospital, and it was very, very nice. I sat in the front
and it was so comfy, and there appeared to be toys galore, and it was almost
like a spaceship! All very solid and well made, and you know it's a Honda,
so it'll be fine.

New Accords are *way* above budget and I've heard some really bad stuff
about the reliability of the last shape diesels.

I know this kinda discussion is banned so I'll just add, the Accord can take
20" wheels easily.


--
SteveH 'You're not a real petrolhead unless you've owned an Alfa Romeo'
www.italiancar.co.uk - Ducati 750SS - Hongdou GY200
Alfa 75 TSpark - Alfa 156 TSpark - B6 Passat 2.0TDI SE

"SteveH" wrote in message
k...

fair points - I'm still not convinced, but it's not my car heh

3 year, unlimited miles warranty - £600. Spare car on the drive. Job
done.

Are you sure? That sounds amazingly good value... What are the exclusions
like?

Random new thought, have you considered a new type Honda Accord? I got
taken in one of them from a half-upmarket pre-book taxi place, it was
organised by the hospital, and it was very, very nice. I sat in the
front
and it was so comfy, and there appeared to be toys galore, and it was
almost
like a spaceship! All very solid and well made, and you know it's a
Honda,
so it'll be fine.

New Accords are *way* above budget and I've heard some really bad stuff
about the reliability of the last shape diesels.


What about the 2.4 Petrol? That engine is mean to be as smooth as double
cream isn't it? Haven't even glanced at the prices recently, but I remember
looking once for my parents when they were shopping, before they bought the
Mondeo, and thinking they held their value like nothing else in the market.

--
Dan
Clio R27 F1 #65

DanB wrote:

"SteveH" wrote in message
k...

fair points - I'm still not convinced, but it's not my car heh

3 year, unlimited miles warranty - £600. Spare car on the drive. Job
done.

Are you sure? That sounds amazingly good value... What are the exclusions
like?

Haven't looked in particular - main one is a £1k limit per claim. But
that should take care of most stuff at £30 / hour with my local man.

Random new thought, have you considered a new type Honda Accord? I got
taken in one of them from a half-upmarket pre-book taxi place, it was
organised by the hospital, and it was very, very nice. I sat in the
front
and it was so comfy, and there appeared to be toys galore, and it was
almost
like a spaceship! All very solid and well made, and you know it's a
Honda,
so it'll be fine.

New Accords are *way* above budget and I've heard some really bad stuff
about the reliability of the last shape diesels.


What about the 2.4 Petrol? That engine is mean to be as smooth as double
cream isn't it? Haven't even glanced at the prices recently, but I remember
looking once for my parents when they were shopping, before they bought the
Mondeo, and thinking they held their value like nothing else in the market.

Even the 2.4 needs revving, in typical Honda style, to make it go
properly.

For me, it has to be a turbo, either diesel or petrol.
--
SteveH 'You're not a real petrolhead unless you've owned an Alfa Romeo'
www.italiancar.co.uk - Ducati 750SS - Hongdou GY200
Alfa 75 TSpark - Alfa 156 TSpark - B6 Passat 2.0TDI SE

"SteveH" wrote in message
k...
DanB wrote:

"SteveH" wrote in message
k...

fair points - I'm still not convinced, but it's not my car heh

3 year, unlimited miles warranty - £600. Spare car on the drive. Job
done.

Are you sure? That sounds amazingly good value... What are the
exclusions
like?

Haven't looked in particular - main one is a £1k limit per claim. But
that should take care of most stuff at £30 / hour with my local man.


Surely, if it's a Saab approved warranty, you have to have the work done at
a Saab dealer...?

--
Dan
Clio R27 F1 #65

DanB wrote:

"SteveH" wrote in message
k...
DanB wrote:

"SteveH" wrote in message
k...

fair points - I'm still not convinced, but it's not my car heh

3 year, unlimited miles warranty - £600. Spare car on the drive. Job
done.

Are you sure? That sounds amazingly good value... What are the
exclusions
like?

Haven't looked in particular - main one is a £1k limit per claim. But
that should take care of most stuff at £30 / hour with my local man.


Surely, if it's a Saab approved warranty, you have to have the work done at
a Saab dealer...?

Nah, this is a 3rd party, well, AA, warranty.

I'm looking at possibly buying from a main dealer, taking their approved
used warranty for a year, maybe getting a 2nd year as part of the deal,
though. However, if I buy outside of the main dealer network, then 3rd
party warranties are reasonably priced and my local man deals directly
with most of the big warranty companies.

--
SteveH 'You're not a real petrolhead unless you've owned an Alfa Romeo'
www.italiancar.co.uk - Ducati 750SS - Hongdou GY200
Alfa 75 TSpark - Alfa 156 TSpark - B6 Passat 2.0TDI SE

In article ,
says...
Saab dealers now fit Gods?

They required about 150k and 15 years to keep them going Mine didn't
get the god option, so I might need to look for an aftermarket Thor.
--
Carl Robson
Get cashback on your purchases
Topcashback http://www.TopCashBack.co.uk/skraggy_uk/ref/index.htm
Greasypalm http://www.greasypalm.co.uk/r/?l=1006553

"DanB" wrote in message
...
"DervMan" wrote in message
...
"DanB" wrote in message
...
"Douglas Payne" wrote in message
...
wrote of Saabs:

Aside from them being a bit ****e and likely to depreciate like
buggery, any company that tries to market their cars as 'Eco
Power' (IIRC), when they're just as ****e on fuel as anything else,
sucks.

Yeah, I mean 'Ecotec' was a much cleverer marketing ploy, wasn't it?


Yea but there was never really an advertising campaign saying "We have
Ecotec engines, they're well economical!" like Saab are doing with these
Ecopower things. You know, the advert with the guy that over takes a
truck and it's banging out about big engine power, from a smalll engine
with small engine costs.


The one where you have bigger engine power for overtaking and smaller
engines for economy? You've added a slight twist on words though...


shrug Probably true, who concentrates hard at Saab adverts?

...don't answer that Dervy, you'll make me weep for you.


Not I, it was on just before I typed it...

--
The DervMan
www.dervman.com