V6 - Talk to me.............

[MrB.]

I took the unplanned plunge into the SAAB world last year by not buying the Audi A4 Cab I had set out to buy, but placing a 93 2.0T Aero Cabriolet on the drive instead. It's a bright red '54' plate, 5 speed manual which has now covered 75k. It had 70k on it when I bought it. It has been a very surprising car, hugely comfortable (it replaced a Seat Leon Cupra R, which had in turn replaced my Porsche 968 Sport, so you can see why I love the comfort now!), quick enough (I actually wonder if it has a Hirsch remap as it has lots of Hirsch bits on it), and it has been good on fuel. I've always had a soft spot for SAAB as I quite like the "left-field" choice, but after a year of ownership, I'm now a complete convert.

And herein lies the problem........

I have changed my job, and after 12 years of driving a nice open road, I'm now driving into West London everyday from the leafy suburbia that is Surrey. I want an auto, and as much as my last 2 cars have been 4 cylinders, and the Seat and SAAB turbocharged, I love a 6 cylinder engine. I ran BMW roadsters with the straight six prior to the Porsche, and so I just have an affinity with that engine.

Ultimately, I covet a 93 Turbo X or Carlsson, but I have to be sensible on budget as it's the second car in the house with the first being a nice big expensive one. My leaning has now been pushed towards a 93 Aero V6 Auto saloon, but my other half says I'd miss the convertible (roof is down a lot), and I'm conscious of running costs, not to mention the £500 road tax per annum!!!

So, talk to me about the V6 with an auto box. Is it a good combination? I'm 40 now, and drive some reasonably quick cars through my job, so performance isn't my first criteria, but remember I like the torque of a V6. Is fuel consumption sensible for spending 2 hours a day driving the 35 miles to and from work in stop-start traffic? Is the 2007 facelift a better built car? Is it a quicker, more refined car than the 2.0T?

My only gripe about the convertible has been its a bit "rattly" and the front suspension feels like it's going to need overhauling very soon. I liek the look of the facelift car on the saloon, not so much on the cab.

I've seen a couple of nice saloons around the £5,500 - £6,000 mark that tick the boxes, but need to get a sensible price for mine. Does £3,500 sound ok for a private sale?

Answers please..........

Edited by MrB. on Wednesday 2nd July 09:06

[STEVE STIBBS]

I have never ran a Saab V6 aero auto saloon, but my wife run various Saab aero V6 auto convertibles for numerous years and they are very thirsty around town 19 mpg, I had a Vectra VXR (same engine) manual and again 19 mpg around town. Not once did either car cause any problems other than the cost of general serving etc. The GM 2.8 V6 engine is known for suffering Timing chain stretch this is a major expense (£2k plus)show you need to check carefully for any rough running of tapping noise.

Hope this helps.

Steve.

[Trickie Dickie]

I have just bought a 2006 2.8 V6 Convertible but manual

Previously I ran an S type Jag 2.5 V6 auto

So far I have found the engine really good and very smooth
and obviously much more power with the turbo than the 200bhp Jag

I thought I would miss the auto (as much of my driving is in traffic)
but have only really noticed once or twice pulling up at lights and forgetting to put the clutch down!!!

So far I have managed about 25mpg as an average and got 33mpg on a recent run out
so it isn't far off what the Jag did

I was loath to change from the Jag as it was such a good and comfy car
but so far the Saab has surprised and pleased me with ever day I do in it

I even managed 130mph plus on a 2km runway last week

Cheers
Trickie

[STEVE STIBBS]

The engines are really lovely miss mine a lot a mapped one is immensely powerfull.
The only down side for me is the cost fuel and Tax. Me and my wife both struggled to get decent MPG out of our cars doing the school run etc. But on a decent run I could get high 20s out of my Vectra VXR (MANUAL).

[MrB.]

Thanks chaps, really helpful. I did consider a Jag S-Type 4.2 that came in through my work, but it was an SE, not an R or even a Sport, so it ruled it out. It was a thirsty bugger mind you!

I may look further into this 2.8 business, although the roof was down today and I was loving it!

[griffin dai]

Higher tax band came in 23rd March 2006 so anything registered before that will have the cheaper RFL....but also the stty stereo system!

2006 cars might also come with the updated dash/stereo but 2003/2006 body. 07 onwards will be the face lift.

100% need to be remapped as they're not that quick standard imo, as your looking an an Auto I'd definitely think about going the JZW route as there's no clutch to upgrade

3" DP & Mid pipe
Ebay Evo intercooler
Stage 3+ remap

= animal

Take a look on UKSaabs for more info, quite am few v6 owners on there now running different maps (JZW, Vtuner,Maptun, Hirsch etc) all at different power levels with their own thoughts on what's good/not so good, so worth siting down for an hour with a cuppa having a trawl through the forum....or just ask! Were a friendly bunch and happy to help (sometimes!!)

[RedLeicester]

MrB. said:

Ultimately, I covet a 93 Turbo X or Carlsson, but I have to be sensible on budget....

......I've seen a couple of nice saloons around the £5,500 - £6,000 mark that tick the boxes

Turbo X saloons kick off around £7k, so not all that far adrift.

I run a T-X auto sportwagon. On a run 30mpg is easily possible, around town and crawling it's 22-24. Totally different animal to the regular V6s though.

[kitsell]

Hi Bryan,

I've got a 2.8 V6 turbo auto saloon, 2006 with the updated interior. Ticked all the boxes for me as a comfy and safe car for carting the kids about but also enough power to be fun when you're on your own. With a mix of town/motorway driving you're looking at around 20ish mpg I reckon. If you'd like to take a look around it and see what they're like to drive then let me know, I'm on gardening leave at the moment so have some spare time...

Cheers, Iain

[rscott]

I've got a 2006 facelifted interior 2.8 Sportwagon (with Hirsch ECU update). I get between 24 & 26 mpg on my daily 7 mile (each way) commute over mainly rural roads. Longer runs and it's nearer 30.
Even though the tax is higher on the later models, it's worth it - much better sound system and controls in my opinion.

It's incredibly understated in terms of power delivery - even after 4 years, I find myself travelling far faster than I expect ... (although not for much longer - it's up for sale as I've replaced it with an MX-5)

[RedLeicester]

Depending on spec and colour, there's someone on Uksaabs hunting for a V6, may be worth advertising on there.

[griffin dai]

I think one of the guys on UKS is after a nice red v6 manual sw.

[soupytwist]

rscott said:

I've got a 2006 facelifted interior 2.8 Sportwagon (with Hirsch ECU update). I get between 24 & 26 mpg on my daily 7 mile (each way) commute over mainly rural roads. Longer runs and it's nearer 30.
Even though the tax is higher on the later models, it's worth it - much better sound system and controls in my opinion.

It's incredibly understated in terms of power delivery - even after 4 years, I find myself travelling far faster than I expect ... (although not for much longer - it's up for sale as I've replaced it with an MX-5)

Presumably, that's the blue one currently advertised on uksaabs? It looks good. I've looked at the ad a few times as I will need to replace my current car in December and it's local to me. Ideally, I'd prefer a 9-5 because they're bigger but a 9-3 might be OK. Just need to convince my employer that they can still give me the car allowance even if I have a car that's older than stipulated.

Edited by soupytwist on Sunday 3rd August 19:50

[rscott]

soupytwist said:

rscott said:

I've got a 2006 facelifted interior 2.8 Sportwagon (with Hirsch ECU update). I get between 24 & 26 mpg on my daily 7 mile (each way) commute over mainly rural roads. Longer runs and it's nearer 30.
Even though the tax is higher on the later models, it's worth it - much better sound system and controls in my opinion.

It's incredibly understated in terms of power delivery - even after 4 years, I find myself travelling far faster than I expect ... (although not for much longer - it's up for sale as I've replaced it with an MX-5)

Presumably, that's the blue one currently advertised on uksaabs? It looks good. I've looked at the ad a few times as I will need to replace my current car in December and it's local to me. Ideally, I'd prefer a 9-5 because they're bigger but a 9-3 might be OK. Just need to convince my employer that they can still give me the car allowance even if I have a car that's older than stipulated.

Edited by soupytwist on Sunday 3rd August 19:50

Yep - that's the one. If you want to have a closer look at it, just drop me a PM on here or UKS. I'm near Manningtree.

[MrB.]

Apologies all for the radio silence, and currently sunning myself in the South of France (with the practical XC60, I must add, not in the Aero Cab!), however thank you to everyone for the kind responses. A quick update:

I have decided to retain the Aero Cab for another year, and have just spent a few pennies bringing it back up to a higher standard. Cracking service from the guys at Ian Allen SAAB in Virginia Water, having serviced the car and replaced the front drop links, a colleague at my work who is quite handy with the cleaning products has just clayed the car for me and treated the roof (all for the princely sum of two nice bottles of red!) and she is now looking, and driving, very fine indeed. So, future plans?

My thoughts are to stick some winter tyres on it over the coming months, and keep adding the pennies to the car fund jar with the thought of moving away from the Cab, and replacing it with either a Turbo X, or a Carlsson next year. Auto is a must, and the added benefits of the XWD is a tempting prospect as I am planning a Spring trip to the Western Isles of Scotland next year, and possibly skiing (the BIL will be borrowing the XC60 for that trip, as his 330D Touring and M3 will be inadequate!)

Anyway, thanks to all, for the advice/replies, and looking forward to a few more miles in the Aero for now!