Discussion
I revived an old thread about the 9-3/9-5 in the Saab forum, but it must be quiet over there, so I'm asking again here.
A 9-3 Aero of 2003-2005 vintage ticks all my current boxes, on paper. 4 proper seats, 4 doors, decent luggage space with helpful split fold rear seat, reasonable performance, possibility of upgrades/remapping, 30+ mixed use mpg, a bit odd/unusual, and at the moment, to be had from £1-2k which is cheap enough to make residuals after 25k/2 years a non issue, and the cheapest can be effectively thrown away in the event of a major bork for little loss.
What are the major bork factors on these? Turbo? Timing chain/belt? head gasket? I'd appreciate if anyone could provide estimates of likely big costs. I can home spanner the basics (oil, plugs, brakes, suspension, straightforward on/off stuff). Are parts readily available? I know there are lots of breakers and much of the stuff under the skin is from the GM parts bin, but are there any parts that aren't available?
Summary question I think is: What will kill it? What can possibly go wrong?
A 9-3 Aero of 2003-2005 vintage ticks all my current boxes, on paper. 4 proper seats, 4 doors, decent luggage space with helpful split fold rear seat, reasonable performance, possibility of upgrades/remapping, 30+ mixed use mpg, a bit odd/unusual, and at the moment, to be had from £1-2k which is cheap enough to make residuals after 25k/2 years a non issue, and the cheapest can be effectively thrown away in the event of a major bork for little loss.
What are the major bork factors on these? Turbo? Timing chain/belt? head gasket? I'd appreciate if anyone could provide estimates of likely big costs. I can home spanner the basics (oil, plugs, brakes, suspension, straightforward on/off stuff). Are parts readily available? I know there are lots of breakers and much of the stuff under the skin is from the GM parts bin, but are there any parts that aren't available?
Summary question I think is: What will kill it? What can possibly go wrong?
Some really helpful replies there, cheers
Yes, I'm mainly looking at 9-3 simply because the mrs wants it small, but reality may change that in due course.
I've done some searching around the various forums and I'm aware of the need for fully synth oil and short changes, this isn't a problem. I've also noted comments about the breather system and some sort of upgarde for it, but I haven't yet delved deeper into what's needed.
T7 vs T8 engine... can you enlighten me about the difference and what model year had what? As you can guess I'm new to Saabs, so not up to speed with the jargon yet!
Doing it is virtually certain, the window shopping is already very much on. Only stumbling block I can find so far is the amount of greyscale cars, it's like a BMW or Audi colour chart...
Yes, I'm mainly looking at 9-3 simply because the mrs wants it small, but reality may change that in due course.
I've done some searching around the various forums and I'm aware of the need for fully synth oil and short changes, this isn't a problem. I've also noted comments about the breather system and some sort of upgarde for it, but I haven't yet delved deeper into what's needed.
T7 vs T8 engine... can you enlighten me about the difference and what model year had what? As you can guess I'm new to Saabs, so not up to speed with the jargon yet!
Doing it is virtually certain, the window shopping is already very much on. Only stumbling block I can find so far is the amount of greyscale cars, it's like a BMW or Audi colour chart...
Cheers again. The objective of this purchase isn't giant slaying performance, it's supposed to be a cost effective family bus and commuter with some PH appeal. I asked about the remap out of interest because my experience with the TT was much improved power/torque at better mpg, for my driving style and use, so I'd be interested again. But at the end of the day it's not the be all and end all, an upcoming house move and a couple of years refilling the kitty will see the Cerbera. Unless values launch ...
It looks like a 2004 on Aero with as few miles on it and preferably with the sump drop job done, if possible.
It looks like a 2004 on Aero with as few miles on it and preferably with the sump drop job done, if possible.
Jimboka said:
20-25 mpg, certainly not 30+!
Really? If that's the case it might be something with 6 cylinders in it instead. Alfa 156 V6 perhaps, or E36 323/328i.I've seen a lot of comments from other owners saying low 30s are easily achievable, closer to 40 on long motorway runs. I get 30-32 from the TT commuting, and 38 on long runs at 65-70. That's a 1.8T at 260 bhp, so 30ish from the 2.0T at 210 sounded about right.
So what's the difference(s) between the Saab 2.0T and GM 2.0T engines? Is there a preference for either? I don't have much love for Astras, Vectras etc although my objection arises from a part time job with a rental firm in 2002 which used almost exclusively Vauxhall models, which at the time were hateful plasticky tombs of despair inside. Petrol engines seemed OK, dag dags, less so.
aeropilot said:
I think you're going off track slightly here.
The Saab engine is only fitted in the 9-5 and previous generation (up to 2003) 9-3, NOT in the post 2003 9-3 (or 9-3SS as it used to be referred to when it first came out) which you were initially asking about and which only have the later GM sourced (Saab modified) engine.
The 9-5 is a much bigger car, and older generation of design, so the engine differences would be the least of your concerns when comparing the two)
OK thanks. I'm going to make some new mates on uksaabs!The Saab engine is only fitted in the 9-5 and previous generation (up to 2003) 9-3, NOT in the post 2003 9-3 (or 9-3SS as it used to be referred to when it first came out) which you were initially asking about and which only have the later GM sourced (Saab modified) engine.
The 9-5 is a much bigger car, and older generation of design, so the engine differences would be the least of your concerns when comparing the two)
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