How Many Miles Has Your Saab Done?

[Johnny Barnes]

Need to get myself a diesel (and bigger car), and a friend has recommended a Saab or Honda Accord. With my budget being £3k I'm seeing I'll get a lot more value for money with the Saab. But a lot of these have high miles.

Will try to get one with fsh, just curious as to what sort of milage as these good for? For example I've seen plenty of BMW'S, Passats, Golfs, Mondeo's with over 200k+ going for silly money!


Ps - I like look of the 9-3 saloon, and after reading up will want the 150bhp 1.9 one.

[P2BS]

The 1.9 150bhp 16v engine is a lot more unreliable than the 8v 120bhp model - they're different engines to each other, and the 16v ones give a lot of EGR valve problems. Personally, if I were spending the same money on either car, I'd have the 120. Both the 120 & 150 have timing belts that have a 70,000 mile change requirement - make sure it has been done properly.
I did have the older 2.2 TiD in my 2nd 9-5; that's a fairly bulletproof engine, and it has a timing chain - so no changes required. Again though, that's only 120bhp & a bit old tech, so not everyone's cup of tea. Mine did 145,000 miles when I sold it - and it was showing no signs of giving up any time soon.
VW/Audi stuff is overpriced for what it is. The 2.0TDI is supposed to be a hit'n'miss engine reliability-wise - I know a lot of traders who won't touch this engine.

[NiceCupOfTea]

Not strictly relevant to the the subject but:

97R Saab 9000 2.3T - 145k miles
91H Saab 900 T16S - 185k miles

Don't know about these newfangled engines though

[Johnny Barnes]

Thanks, I was thinking the 150 as I want something similar to my old Bora. Don't like the 9-5 shape tbh, so will have a drive of the 9-3 120bhp. Can these be re-mapped, or will that make it more prone to breaking down?

[P2BS]

Maybe I shouldn't have put you off the 150 that much (I re-read what I wrote), but doing short journies is what really cokes the things up; the DPF's need a good run to keep them efficient. The 120 as it stands is a good performer though - not to be overlooked.

[LesKellet]

Currently:
1972 Saab 96V4 - 13,000 miles (THIRTEEN)
2003 Saab 9-3SS Aero - 99100 miles

Daughter:
1995 GM900 2.0 - 287,000 miles

Previously most noteable:
1993 Saab 9000 2.3CSE FBT - 315,000 miles

Co Best Man:
1991 Saab 900i 379,000 miles (when car was sold on)

Edited by LesKellet on Friday 1st February 22:15

[kprm77]

P2BS said:

Maybe I shouldn't have put you off the 150 that much (I re-read what I wrote), but doing short journies is what really cokes the things up; the DPF's need a good run to keep them efficient. The 120 as it stands is a good performer though - not to be overlooked.

I'd say that's the same for any modern diesel, not just Saabs.

My TiD 150 9-5 has been fine. The only problem I ever had with mine was immediately after a remap, so self inflicted really (problems with EGR valve and DPF within 100 miles of remap). Other than that, I've had no problems with the engine - bought mine at 35,000 miles, now at 87,000 miles.

[tog]

NiceCupOfTea said:

Not strictly relevant to the the subject but:

97R Saab 9000 2.3T - 145k miles
91H Saab 900 T16S - 185k miles

Don't know about these newfangled engines though

Snap! (Almost!) I bought my first 9000, a 1990/H 2.3T with about 185k on the clock (all my friends thought I was mad - it was only about 7-8 years old at the time) and it went on to about 250k three or four years later when the gearbox finally gave up. The most recent is a 97R Aero which I have just bought with 147k on the clock

[tonyvid]

Mine is a 2.0 petrol 9-5, just cruised past 201,000

I really could do with a diesel at 20k a year but this one is worth nothing and it will cost me loads to buy something as good.

[IroningMan]

tonyvid said:

Mine is a 2.0 petrol 9-5, just cruised past 201,000

I really could do with a diesel at 20k a year but this one is worth nothing and it will cost me loads to buy something as good.

Mine's the same spec as yours and has just passed 196,000. Could really do with a new turbo - it's using enough oil to pay for one in a year. Trouble is, as you say, it's now essentially free motoring, and replacing it with an A6 or 5 series would cost a mint.

[tonyvid]

Shushhh,I don't even want to think about such things

[Boosted LS1]

NiceCupOfTea said:

Not strictly relevant to the the subject but:

97R Saab 9000 2.3T - 145k miles
91H Saab 900 T16S - 185k miles

Don't know about these newfangled engines though

I had a 'J' plate 9000 which reached almost 400k miles before the bodywork let it down but the engine was smooth as silk. 200k and more doesn't touch these engines if they've been looked after.

[chniba]

My tuned '97 9000 aero is coming up to 180k. Still goes like a train.

[MrMoonyMan]

NiceCupOfTea said:

Not strictly relevant to the the subject but:

97R Saab 9000 2.3T - 145k miles
91H Saab 900 T16S - 185k miles

Don't know about these newfangled engines though

Sort of snap too..

'88 900 t16 - 150,000miles
'97 9000 Aero - 162,000miles

[Prof Beard]

Our 2001 9-5 SE Auto Estate has done 165000 now, had a throttle body about a year back

[LesKellet]

Update - our 9-3SS reached 6 figures over the weekend.

[DennisTheMenace]

My old 9-5 estate had 156k and was in bloody good shape, My current 900 has 88k, so is only just bedded in

[Wolseley]

I bought a s/h 1990 900i 5sp coupe, had it for 8yrs and sold it, still doing 35mpg on trips, at 265000km. Apart from tyres my most expensive item was an upgrade for the stereo. I now have a s/h 2003 9-3 2.0t auto which is currently at 96000km and I hope to have it for a long time, it is a beautiful car.

[MontyC]

1999 saab 93 168K on it and a blown head gasket

[v8will]

122K on my 9-5