SAAB VS. SCEPTICISM

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High Mile Club

I have to admit, that I’m not always great at keeping up with the High Mile Club, endless entries arrive in my inbox and I just don’t seem to have the time to edit them all, request photos and generally keep it bang up to date. Apologies to those Saab folk who might have tried recently but not seen their pride and joy appear on the website, however, I’m having a surge of proactiveness and trying to backdate a number of requests.

It’s always amazing to see the shear variety of wonderful high miles Saabs out there, some range from the entry level 125,000 miles, most around the mid 100,000’s, but then some come in at more weighty mileage, 8 - 900,000 miles. What I love most about running this page, are the Saab stories you share with me.

Annely, from Denver, kindly sent this little story to me recently, someone who continues to believe in Saab, but also sees the changes that have happened over the years and the maintenance issues we can all face:

“ I had this vehicle for 28 years and reached 306,000 miles, it was in pristine condition both inside and out, I had all the service records and the original manual and brochures. When it needed a new clutch (manual) and a new head gasket, I decided to donate it to our local high school thinking that the mechanic shop class would do the work and sell it. Unfortunately, the school sold it to a student before doing the work and ultimately as I followed the VIN, it ended up within a year in the car graveyard. I am sick to think that such a great vehicle had such a sad ending, and wish that I had had the work done (clutch and head gasket) and kept it. It was a tank and I loved it! I did purchase a 2008 SAAB 9-3 Aero XWD sight unseen from a different state. Even after that purchase I couldn't part with the old 1986 but finally did. I really enjoy this car but it is not even close in "solidness" to my 1986 SAAB. My new car is a hotrod and handles superbly. I will keep this one but still pine for my old SAAB.”

Join the club here