Whats the sweet spot for convertibles

[DSLiverpool]

Been humming and hahing for a while but know nothing about them and looked at a 2002 but it was too bendy. 2011 at £13k couldnt justify it as nice 2007 for £6k its just a 3rd car for nice days.
So on the basis it has to be petrol (pref most BHP) and auto what year / spec is regarding as the pinnacle - the sweet spot of its development please

[DSLiverpool]

This is in the box seats so far http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

[j4ckos mate]

We got a 1.8t one. Try and get the one with the later radio if you can it'll be around 06/56
Although I've just posted about a small oil leak just nipped up to alderley edge for a quick spin with my lad , and it's great when the sun is out
We got mine from here
http://www.good-motors.co.uk/used-cars/search-resu...

[DSLiverpool]

Ta - 1.8 is still a 2.0 isnt it just lower power - 150 BHP ? In 1983 I had a XR4i flying machine that had 150 BHP from its 2.8

[griffin dai]

2.8 v6 Turbo (same engine as the Vectra VXR)
250hp & similar torque.....these REALLY need a remap.....

£450 JZW stage 1 map takes it to 320hp & 400+ ft/lbs torque. Add a 3" DP & bigger intercooler, and remap again to stage 3+ (Free) and your at 350-360hp & 450ft/lbs. Plus being an auto there's no uprated clutch to worry about so £2k saved there

Goes like stink

[anonymous-user]

griffin dai said:

2.8 v6 Turbo (same engine as the Vectra VXR)
250hp & similar torque.....these REALLY need a remap.....

£450 JZW stage 1 map takes it to 320hp & 400+ ft/lbs torque. Add a 3" DP & bigger intercooler, and remap again to stage 3+ (Free) and your at 350-360hp & 450ft/lbs. Plus being an auto there's no uprated clutch to worry about so £2k saved there

Goes like stink

I think you answered a different question...

[griffin dai]

Jimboka said:

I think you answered a different question...

Ok

Sweet spot for the 9-3....definitely the 2.8 v6t The 2.0 are fine engines and can be made very rapid, but if it's performance he's after then the 2.8 is the way to go. But as said they really do need a remap as they're not that quick standard. Remap and it transforms it.

Hirsch, Maptun are good but as he's after the Auto Id look into the U.S. tuners instead like JZW (mine) or Vtuner as you get a LOT more torque with these.

Check the car tax bracket as they changed in 2006 (on the saloon anyway but double check the verts)

2003-2006 cars have the poor fibre optics system, 07 onwards (facelift) have the better double din systems fitted with new dash design....but some late 06 cars have the new dash but also get hit with higher tax.

[j4ckos mate]

This bloke seems well regarded
http://www.noobtune.co.uk

[DSLiverpool]

Thanks for that, so a 2007 aero with a 2.8 or 2.0 is the sweet spot for price, reliability and spec - I thought as much but wanted to confirm.
As we're sharing it the memory seats are handy and the large screen make it look more modern.
They all seem under wheeled in that it's arse is huge and the wheels look small but that's no big deal

[Master Bean]

Buy a 1.8t, noobtune remap, cheap car with better performance that a 2T Aero.

[PAUL RUN]

The 2007 has the nicer dash...but you pay higher tax...
my 2006 aero 210hp costs me £285/year. cars worth in the region of £2500-3000 with 48,000 miles and FSH

[DSLiverpool]

Thank Paul - Do your lads fit in the back ok ? I have 2 five year olds and this would be our family car for the summer for long distance.

[PAUL RUN]

I have a 8 and 12 year old, (had the car 3 years in Oct) so my boys would have been the same age as yours when i first bought it...
.
my boys love it...
the wind blows them about in the back seats. (but not so much us in the front) and they put there hands in the air...
its like being on a roller coaster...to use there line...haha...and you can hear the turbo...haha
.
you also have rear airvents/ heater..which they also like...ie aircon or heater...
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roof up...
its quieter than our "practical car"...wifes quote....for the 2004 Volvo V40 1.8 SPORT..
The SAAB roof is very thick and does a great job at limiting the wind noise at motorway speeds you can still have conversations without raising your voice....oh you can also raise/drop the roof up to about 20mph...
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i tell the boys that the cd player has a fault in which the volume of dads songs only go up when the roof is down!!...."the boys are back in town"....
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they love the dash (loads of buttons)...and the "night button"
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the previous owner of my car bought it from Oxford SAAB and tried the A4 and 3 series but found rear leg room and boot space better on the saab. when the roof is up you still get a decent boot. (had a single matress in it last week for a dump run...)
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i currently get 30.8mpg from mine, and pay £285 insurance and the same in road tax (limited milage policy) service costs are cheap as most parts as GM ie airfilter and pollen filter are about £12.
brake parts are also cheap.
.
Paul...
yep i like mine...haha..oh...
check your childrens child seats before you buy, the rear seats are like bucket seats in the saab, so you don't want your childrens safety seats sliding around, ok all basic parenting stuff but worth checking out before you buy...
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issues, the fuel tank is only 58 litres so you won't get 500 miles on a tank.
and you won't get the boys bikes in the boot, but even my wife loves it.

Edited by PAUL RUN on Tuesday 24th March 12:56

[j4ckos mate]

my daughter is 17, as you can imagine she loves the roof down,
my lad is 13 and liked it at first but then said its gay, i pulled him back by getting to do a few jobs i needed doing on it, now he likes it again


they fit in the back fine with no problem,
don't forget though there only four seats in total and not five,

but thats been quite good for us, because it means were not lugging other kids about for the day.