After 6 love-and-sometimes-hate years of ownership, I'm passing on the joy and pain to another owner-to-be-named-later.
I bought a Saab 9-5 SE on Saturday, and the J goes in the paper for sale tomorrow.
I would have loved to have purchased another Infiniti vehicle, but the sole dealership in my area is so poor and incompetent, it precludes even considering giving them my future business.
I still love the looks, ride quality, and luxury of the J, but the upkeep was getting to be too much for me. Not so much the cost as the time investment bringing it in for service work more and more often.
I know I'm going to miss it when its gone, but the the decision has been made.
Not sure what to ask for it yet. 116,000 miles on the odometer.
Good luck to all the NICO posters and your great cars. Anyone know a decent Saab forum?
end of the road for me and my '93 J30t
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Mayhem_J30
- Posts: 2643
- Joined: Tue Apr 30, 2002 2:00 am
- Car: Ummm...My Car
- Location: Louisville, KY
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Mayhem_J30
- Posts: 2643
- Joined: Tue Apr 30, 2002 2:00 am
- Car: Ummm...My Car
- Location: Louisville, KY
Well, if you have to leave, the SAAB is an EXCELLENT choice IMO. What year is it and is it a v6 or turbo 4? Depending on what year it is, the SE 9-5's came with a 4 or a 6. I would think that it is more than likely a 6 since that is what you have been used to, and most 9-5 SE's are 6's.
What color did you get?
What color did you get?
It's a 1999 9-5 SE sedan with the turbo V6 engine. Silver color. There is a Sport mode for the transmission, and the performance is strong. A lot of usable torque down low.
It's front wheel drive, which isn't my preference, but living in the Northeast, and giving consideration that the Mrs. and I are working on having little one's, I can live with the added winter traction and security. I always felt the J was a little skittish in the slop, even with Blizzaks. It has active traction control and a winter shift mode (starts in 3rd gear), which is nice.
The car at the URL here is exactly what it looks like...
http://www.saabnet.com/tsn/models/1999/50.html
I think the J30 is better looking, but I like the 9-5's looks well enough.
Again, I wish my local Infiniti dealer was better, because I'd likely be looking at an I35, but what can you do. The Saab dealer so far has been tremendous, and I have a coworker that has dealt with them for years, and he just gushes on and on about their service and customer treatment. That meant a LOT to me.
As far as the stuff that has been failing on the J30, its nothing that wouldn't be expected for a car with 116,000 miles. I guess I just don't want to bother with repairs anymore with it. Hopefully I can find someone willing to take on the "burden" of owning a great car that needs a little more TLC than most. I owned the car 2 1/2 years after finishing paying for it and having the warranty expire, the longest I've ever gone for a car I've owned. Speaks volumes for how much I liked the car. I usually get rid of my cars as soon as the warranty runs out.
It's front wheel drive, which isn't my preference, but living in the Northeast, and giving consideration that the Mrs. and I are working on having little one's, I can live with the added winter traction and security. I always felt the J was a little skittish in the slop, even with Blizzaks. It has active traction control and a winter shift mode (starts in 3rd gear), which is nice.
The car at the URL here is exactly what it looks like...
http://www.saabnet.com/tsn/models/1999/50.html
I think the J30 is better looking, but I like the 9-5's looks well enough.
Again, I wish my local Infiniti dealer was better, because I'd likely be looking at an I35, but what can you do. The Saab dealer so far has been tremendous, and I have a coworker that has dealt with them for years, and he just gushes on and on about their service and customer treatment. That meant a LOT to me.
As far as the stuff that has been failing on the J30, its nothing that wouldn't be expected for a car with 116,000 miles. I guess I just don't want to bother with repairs anymore with it. Hopefully I can find someone willing to take on the "burden" of owning a great car that needs a little more TLC than most. I owned the car 2 1/2 years after finishing paying for it and having the warranty expire, the longest I've ever gone for a car I've owned. Speaks volumes for how much I liked the car. I usually get rid of my cars as soon as the warranty runs out.
General drivablility malaise is the best way I can put it Vimy.
You ever own a car that you really really like, and then one day you notice that it just isn't driving/handling as well as you remember? And then every day you kind of notice little things that seem to occur more and more frequently (a hesitation here, and misfire there, a creak in the suspension never heard before, etc.). You start going to get each little thing looked at and fixed as they occur, but eventually you get to the point where its more frustration than its worth. That's where I was with the J.
The final straw was my dealings with my local Infiniti dealership recently (outlined in previous posts). Just soured me on Infiniti in general. Dealer satisfaction is extremely important to me, almost as important as the car itself. The local dealer tried to treat me like any other dumb sucker they can rake over the cash register, and I REALLY did not like it. Maybe thats how all dealerships are, or need to be to pay the bills, I don't know. All I know is they have killed any chance of me ever getting another Infiniti so long as they are the only dealer in town.
I've had the car over 6 years, and I guess if it was new to me, I wouldn't be bothered with the upkeep requirements, but the urge for something newer just kind of snuck on me. Everyone has their own tolerance level for keeping a car maintained properly. Mine used to be very high with the J, but over the past couple months is dropped precipitously.
Whoever buys it from me is going to get a great car that I'm sure they will love as I did 6 years ago. Hopefully they will maintain it and get another 100K out of it. I just don't have the desire to keep up with it any more. I'll be sure to tell them to find a competent independent mechanic, and stay away from the dealer, and I'll point them to this board as well.
You ever own a car that you really really like, and then one day you notice that it just isn't driving/handling as well as you remember? And then every day you kind of notice little things that seem to occur more and more frequently (a hesitation here, and misfire there, a creak in the suspension never heard before, etc.). You start going to get each little thing looked at and fixed as they occur, but eventually you get to the point where its more frustration than its worth. That's where I was with the J.
The final straw was my dealings with my local Infiniti dealership recently (outlined in previous posts). Just soured me on Infiniti in general. Dealer satisfaction is extremely important to me, almost as important as the car itself. The local dealer tried to treat me like any other dumb sucker they can rake over the cash register, and I REALLY did not like it. Maybe thats how all dealerships are, or need to be to pay the bills, I don't know. All I know is they have killed any chance of me ever getting another Infiniti so long as they are the only dealer in town.
I've had the car over 6 years, and I guess if it was new to me, I wouldn't be bothered with the upkeep requirements, but the urge for something newer just kind of snuck on me. Everyone has their own tolerance level for keeping a car maintained properly. Mine used to be very high with the J, but over the past couple months is dropped precipitously.
Whoever buys it from me is going to get a great car that I'm sure they will love as I did 6 years ago. Hopefully they will maintain it and get another 100K out of it. I just don't have the desire to keep up with it any more. I'll be sure to tell them to find a competent independent mechanic, and stay away from the dealer, and I'll point them to this board as well.
pitaq wrote:General drivablility malaise is the best way I can put it Vimy.
Yeah, I hear you. There just comes a time when it's time to move on. When the nickles and dimes start flowing out and the frustration of repair out weighs the benefits of the repair then suddenly a decision is made for you. Good luck with your new ride.
I get new car urge whenever I had a car for more than a year.
I usually act on it too.Had this car since January...
But will keep it longer its just running to well.Minor annoyances, such as harsh ride, non working clock, non wokring auto trunk lid release (due to heavy spoiler on trunk) disappear when I realize just how much cheaper this car is than say a 2003 G35 or even 2003 M45.My car is a roomy /comfratable as both and with my soon to be (i hope) 4.08 diff as quick as either.Yet a fraction of the cost.
Fred...
I usually act on it too.Had this car since January...
But will keep it longer its just running to well.Minor annoyances, such as harsh ride, non working clock, non wokring auto trunk lid release (due to heavy spoiler on trunk) disappear when I realize just how much cheaper this car is than say a 2003 G35 or even 2003 M45.My car is a roomy /comfratable as both and with my soon to be (i hope) 4.08 diff as quick as either.Yet a fraction of the cost.
Fred...
