Shed Of The Week: Saab 9-3 Aero
If Saab owners are as honest as Shed reckons, this week's pick could be a winner
No, Shed hasn't either. But in the long lonely hours and indeed days that he's spent in the outhouse wondering when it might be safe to go back into the main residence, he has often thought that a few new time names might come in handy. You know, something to express how long it takes for certain commonly-experienced events to happen.
Mmm, Aero
What with his many visits to the marriage guidance counsellor, and the even more regular ones to the STD dept of his local hospital (which as a result of Government improvements is now 240 miles away), Shed doesn't have much time or patience when it comes to selling his own cars. The other day he got shot of a Golf through webuyanyjalopy.com and found it to be a surprisingly hassle-free process. Redundant asset gone, along with its newly-Government-improved tax burden. Result.
Only reason for rambling on about this is that the ad for this Saab 9-3 Aero has been on PH for a little while. That seems more than a bit surprising when you dig down past the cosmetic challenges - a smear of tinworm on the arch and some cracks on the plastic underbits that manufacturers cleverly design to scrape along the ground - to the car beneath.
Shed knows of no issue with the PH Classifieds, having happily dipped in there himself in the last month to pick up an as-described and immaculate Japanese sports car. So what can be holding back the potential buyers of this handsome high-speed Swede with 210hp, 220lb ft and a full 12 months of MoT?
Where's that Night Panel button?
On this car, the MIL engine warning light came on in 2015 but that doesn't seem to have been a problem since. Nor does much else, judging by the MO=oT history. This is an Aero, so it has all the best Saab attributes: ultra comfy leather/cloth seats with pump lumbar adjustment, nice clear instrumentation with the excellent but for some reason as yet uncopied Night Panel function that de-illuminates all non-essential displays, a comprehensive SID readout under a dashtop cowl, and even a Bluetooth button on the steering wheel - which only works with a Saab phone, ahem. Good luck finding one of them.
The plastics aren't quite as premium as some, but they're hard wearing, as is the car itself if you hit something hard and unyielding, such as Mrs Shed's nose: it has an NCAP 5-star crash test score. The Saab, that is. Needless to say this beastie will shift along rather nicely, even with the auto 'box.
You'll find a lot of useful and honest info in the ad. That's the thing with Saab owners. It's impossible to generalise, of course, but most of them do seem to be straight shooters. Sadly, as Shed has found to his cost on more than one occasion, that's also one of Mrs Shed's talents.
12 MONTHS MOT.
Black with parchment (cream) 1/2 leather interior. The bodywork is nice and straight and in pretty good condition for a 13 year old car with a few stone chips around the front and one small patch of rust on the drivers rear wheelarch which has been treated and painted in hammerite as a temperary fix which i never got round to getting repaired properly and is aroud 30mmx20mm. the front lip also has a couple of cracks in common with most aeros of this age as it is quite low. the interior is also in good condition, there is a little wear on the drivers seat bolster but this is minimal and there is no damage, it could just do with a little re-colouring however its not that noticable and never bothered me. the cream carpet could use a good clean but apart from that all of the trim is good
Mechanically the car is sound and shouldn't need a service for a while at least Despite having 158000 on the clock the engine and auto gearbox are still strong and the car drive great and still pulls like a train especially in manual using the steering wheel buttons.
the car has just gone through its MOT and the only work needed was wiper blades and a new windscreen washer pump'
The exhaust, tyres and brakes all have plenty of life left in them and should last a good while.
As far as i know the only real problem with the car is noisy wheel bearings, which can be bought for around £40 a corner. the service history book isn't fully stamped but I have loads of paperwork and receipts for you if my little boy wiil tell me where he has put them. the only other issue is the heater has a mind of its own and doesnt always come on when you ask it however it usually comes on in its own time.
What you are getting here is a good solid car that will give you at least 12 months cheap motoring and if you want to spend a few quid on it should last a good few thousand miles in the years to come. Please bear in mind that this is a 13 year old car and should not be seen as new in any way. If you have any questions give me a call and i will be glad to help.
Also be aware that this car is sold as seen and no guarantee is given or implied in any way.
Mark
07923025373
Make me an offer
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I don't like the old 'I've lost the service book but might probably never find it'. Wheel bearings can be changed as one hub enclosed unit (quite easy). The iffy heater could either be a PITA to fix, ot it might just be as simple as an electrical plug that needs re-seating.
And no - they're not 'just a Vauxhall Vectra'. Same platform of course, and many parts will have a GM stamp - but the drive and interior finish are night and day.
Effective if not engaging, very planted but a bit unyielding, Saab trying to do Germanic and failing, amazing brakes (earlier ones had better stopper like this one), parts were fairly cheap, engine tough as they come, gearbox notchy and unhelpful, stereo was woeful and cd's skipped all the time, dash creaked, great seats.
Good shed, just be ready to get your hands dirty.
The good:
Driving Position
Seats (really are brilliant)
Looks handsome
Cupholders (aircraft-grade)
Economy's OK for what it is
Heater/ Air-con
Big boot
Interior ergonomics
Nightpanel (it's much, much better than the Picassos et al. that have been mentioned)
The bad:
The ride (appalling - far too stiff)
The steering (dead, no feel at all. Too easily affected by imperfections in the road)
The handling (it's a Vauxhall underneath)
The gearbox (not the worst aspect, but diesel-esque gear ratios and a Vauxhall 'feel' to the shift)
The engine (in terms of character)
The rear legroom (in terms of space)
The ride again (it really was that bad)
I did actually like the car, but more out of sympathy for the engineers. They were talented guys, and aside from the ride (which they royally cocked up), you just know they could have made a great car if the starting point wasn't a Vectra. I also think the Aeros are truly handsome looking things.
I replaced mine for some different springs, it improved it a bit.
Interesting shed
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