Saab 9-3 aero or Tt coupe 3.2

[Matttracker]

I'm just about to advertise my 320d I miss the 330 I had before. But for insurance reasons I had to go down an engine size as I lost my no claims due to a fire.

I'm sick of the mundane!
Ive narrowed it down to a saab 9-3 convertible 2.0 aero about 2005/6 or a 2004 Audi TT 3.2
I've always liked the TT, and now they area little less popular I like them more. I've never had a convertible and quite fancy one
I've got around 5k to play with. I need 4 seats I use them all daily dropping the kids off. but that's all really. I've dropped my commute hugely by getting the train a lot.
Any help in decision making would be appreciated, otherwise it's going down to a coin flip!

[Axionknight]

The rear seats in a TT are really small, I hope your kids aren't teenagers, they'll be pretty grumpy if you shoe horn them into the back seats for a trip!

[fathomfive]

A4 Convertible with the 3 litre V6?

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

[ZX10R NIN]

If you need 4 seats then I'd look at these if you want an Audi & convertible (they have more space than a Coupe TT) as good as the Saab is I have to say the A4 is the better convertible

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

[aeropilot]

Yup, as has been said, if 4 seats are necessary, you should look elsewhere than a TT or the Saab. The rear seats in a TT are virtually useless, and even those in the back of the Saab aren't much good, especially if the front seats are set for anyone over about 5'6" tall

[anonymous-user]

The V6 is the 1st gen TT is a bit pointless IMHO. It doesn't sound great for a 6, the weight does the already inert feel of the car no good, it makes barely any more power than the 1.8T and can't be easily tuned for more and it uses loads more fuel. I think it only existed so they could offer an automatic version of the car.

As mentioned if you actually want usable rear seats you're very limited in your options. I found the rear seats in the 2006 onwards Volvo C70 to be the most usable by a surprising margin, although I do know someone who made his poor teenage sons go everywhere in the back of a 9-3 convertible so it can be done. Getting people in and out of the back of a 3 door coupe or convertible is fiddly and irritating though and it's pretty claustrophobic in most of them, particularly with a fabric roof because of the small rear window and massive area of cloth where the C pillar would be.

Also if you're buying any 4 seat convertible I wouldn't bother getting one with any foolish pretense at sportyness. They are always heavy and floppy so can never be made particularly sharp to drive, and by trying to make it "marketing department" sporty with stiffer suspension and suchlike you just make it worse at the sort of mincing around enjoying the sunshine that the car actually can be good at. Even the 3-series cabrio is pretty leaden to drive compared to a proper car, but that's the compromise you accept.

Edited by dme123 on Thursday 28th May 13:39

[Matttracker]

Thanks these are all good food for thought, we've got a cmax for general child friendly and long trip purposes.
I've always had the big estate and she's had the small run around. Now she's got the Cmax I can get something a bit more exciting.
I understand the compromise, the kids are 8 & 6 so not big yet!
I can't decide whether the less sporty but convertible would be great for the 10 days a year of sun!
Or I just want the sound of a 3l.
The a4 cab is a strange one, for some reason i just don't click with it, it icks most of the boxes though so I'll jnvestogate it a bit more!

[aka_kerrly]

dme123 said:

The V6 is the 1st gen TT is a bit pointless IMHO. It doesn't sound great for a 6, the weight does the already inert feel of the car no good, it makes barely any more power than the 1.8T and can't be easily tuned for more and it uses loads more fuel. I think it only existed so they could offer an automatic version of the car[/footnote]

Completely disagree, the vr6 sounds utterly wonderful even more so with a played with intake system. The 20vt in standard format is utterly lacking in sound or character.

Yes you can start waffling about remapping a 20vt but tune a vr6 to.

Or as suggested a A4 3.0 which is a more traditional wider angle V6 with less power than the Vr6

[Matttracker]

That's exactly my thinking. I had a quick look even on some Mumsnet threads (shoot me ;() the TT will fit two smallish kids no worries. We had a test in the saab and they fit better in there tbh, but doable either way.

But the sound of the v6 is so sweet. Esp with a miltek added!
My neighbour had an old S8 (I know completely different car but the sound was immense.) I also fancy poncing around with the roof down. I would be tempted by a 2.8 saab but I can't find any pre 55 cheape tax ones.

[TameRacingDriver]

Having driven a TT V6, I think I'd rather go for a Mk4 Golf R32 instead.

[griffin dai]

Matttracker said:

I would be tempted by a 2.8 saab but I can't find any pre 55 cheape tax ones.

Better off with the 07 onwards facelift or late 06 shape with the revised dash & just stump up the extra rfl.

The stereo on the 03-06 cars is dreadful and very difficult to upgrade as its a fibre optic system (loadsa hassle!!!!) The 07 onwards cars (and late 06 cars which have the 07 style dash....but higher tax) have a much easier headunit to upgrade with double din.

[nomad63]

aka_kerrly said:

dme123 said:

The V6 is the 1st gen TT is a bit pointless IMHO. It doesn't sound great for a 6, the weight does the already inert feel of the car no good, it makes barely any more power than the 1.8T and can't be easily tuned for more and it uses loads more fuel. I think it only existed so they could offer an automatic version of the car[/footnote]

Completely disagree, the vr6 sounds utterly wonderful even more so with a played with intake system. The 20vt in standard format is utterly lacking in sound or character.

Yes you can start waffling about remapping a 20vt but tune a vr6 to.

Or as suggested a A4 3.0 which is a more traditional wider angle V6 with less power than the Vr6

Completely agree with you, aka_kerrly ! The soundtrack in the V6 is absolutely fantastic, and a far better sound than the straight six in the E46 M3 I owned, or the V6 in the Alfa GT that I also owned (not to mention the MkV R32 I owned ).

Seriously, it really is good, and the car itself`s not half-bad either, but I`m aware they`re less than popular on here, so I`ll say no more about that....

[ZX10R NIN]

Have a listen to this A4 Convertible 3.0 V6 with an exhaust

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKhsRfzjN_A
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRKO-VEumLk

[Baryonyx]

dme123 said:

The V6 is the 1st gen TT is a bit pointless IMHO. It doesn't sound great for a 6, the weight does the already inert feel of the car no good, it makes barely any more power than the 1.8T and can't be easily tuned for more and it uses loads more fuel. I think it only existed so they could offer an automatic version of the car.

Edited by dme123 on Thursday 28th May 13:39

That's a somewhat harsh assessment of the V6 TT.

The noise, for a start, is sublime for a six cylinder. The right exhaust choice is crucial, as you want to capture the rasp and crackle it can produce rather than a bassy Miltek-esque boom. It certainly sounds good.

IIRC, the V6 was dropped into the TT for the American market, who didn't think a 'premium coupe' with a blown four cylinder was quite right. Indeed, more fool them as the 1.8 engine suits the car better. You're right in that the 1.8 handles better and is lighter in the nose. The furl consumption is much reduced and the manual shift is great. The DSG V6 misses that, and it's party trick shifts are cool but they mean that the car can be hustled very quickly with very little driver input. Give me the manual shifter any day.

[jamesb2001]

I've had a Saab 93 Aero convertible for 18 months as a station car; my situation is the same as yours with a big family wagon used by Mrs B. Whilst the rear seats take full car seats, my kids (8&5) find the rear legroom too tight as they can't bend their knees because the car seat shortens the available space. So it ends up being used as a two seater most of the time.

The Saab is good value though- mines a 2001 and has only been towed once (broken clutch on the way to the garage to get it replaced) and is comfy and fast on an A road. If you want a car that handles then buy something else as they don't go round bends with much enthusiasm.

[pbarlow0032]

I've had a 1.8t TT coupe, a v6 dsg roadster, a 3.0v6 a4 cab and 2x 1.8t a4 cabs so I think I can reasonably comment on this. The back seats in the a4 can are bigger than the TT coupe, although either would be ok for young kids. Boot on the a4 is reasonably practical, TT more so, plus the back seats fold on the TT but not the a4 (might not be an issue).
I think the inside of a TT is more special, and the spec is likely to be better (heated seats, xenons as standard).
The 3.0v6 in the a4 is not vastly quicker, heavier, and much thirstier. It's not a car for driving quickly, so I would just get a 1.8t sport if you go for the a4. The SLine suspension makes it too crashy, go Sport instead.
The sound of the v6 in the TT is vastly better than the 1.8t, the grunt is accessible with the dsg, and it wasn't too bad on fuel (averaged ~30 with mainly short runs), compared to 33 ish in my current 1.8t a4 cab.

My next car will probably be a v6 dsg coupe. I need a bit more practicality (bike in with back seats down) and the v6 and dsg make it feel like a mini GT