Since I made that post two days ago, I've just been informed that the a/c evaporator is gone on my 1997 850 Turbo wagon and Im looking at the pretty much standard $1300.00 repair from a very reputable shop. This is on top of the $600.00 I recently spent for other a/c work and they haven't got to the compressor yet. Ive owned the car 6 mos, have spent $2100.00 and have done a lot of work myself. The previous owner had just spent $2600.00 on turbo leaks, engine mounts chains etc.

Im truly beginning to believe the only reliable thing out of Sweden is Anita Ekberg and pancakes. I sold imports for many years and believe me, old Saabs, volvo 164s and all the others cannot be construed as long-lived. If GM hadn't bought Saab, they'd have been gone along time ago. We bought a new 98 Volvo GLT and it had more electrical and oil consumption issues than anything I ever owned. We got out of it at 55,000 just in time. It lost its rear main in the dealers lot. We walked next door and leased a new 2001 Merc Sable and it was trouble free as well for 57,000 miles. When the lease was up, we bought a used 2000 Lexus RX300 with 55,000 miles and Im putting the first set of brakes on at 100K.

Our 94 Mercedes E320 with 145,000 has had over $11,600.00 in scheduled and non-scheduled maintaince and that does not include a $2250.00 a/c problem on it I wont pay to have done. With the Lexus, other than oil changes, air filters and one brake fluid flush and a timing belt and a washer pump, we've spent absolutely NOTHING. No squeaky plastic, no MAF going out, NOT A SQUEAK, no probs Zip Zero, Zilch. You're on the right track. Or, the 2006 Impala is fantastic as well.