Bright idea to buy a Saab?
Discussion
I like mine - it's not Germanic on the inside, but it's nice enough, and it's not Germanic in the oily bits either, which is a real bonus. My timing chain is still intact for example. Nice steering and good road holding, comfy, and pretty nippy. Also pretty good on fuel. It's not a 'fast' car by modern standards, but 200 horse is plenty to get around with, and I think is perfectly adequate.
Gear change can go stiff - apparently this is the turret, and after that, just the normal stuff - suspension (easy to work on) brakes etc. All parts so far have been easy to get to, and pretty easy to get hold of.
Gear change can go stiff - apparently this is the turret, and after that, just the normal stuff - suspension (easy to work on) brakes etc. All parts so far have been easy to get to, and pretty easy to get hold of.
I have owned my Saab 9-3 Aero 15 months. Paid £500 for it.
I have put 28k miles on it and rising, I commute 140 miles a day. I only got mine as a stop gap but of all the cars I have ever driven seat wise I find these the most comfortable. Did Newquay to London in one go last year, got out feeling surprisingly fresh.
Parts are quite cheap really, only major cost I have had is a clutch which was £800, parts were £300 the rest labour as it’s a big job.
Uksaabs website is good for advice and find someone that has tech 2. I had an ABS problem that took a garage 1 hr to find out which wheel sensor it was. With tech 2 takes 10 seconds and would have solved it.
P.s to add handling is ok, not amazing but cruising on the motorway is what they are designed for. 9-3 aero is 210bhp which for £100 can be tuned to 250. Even in 210 it keeps up with new GTIs in a straight line.
I have put 28k miles on it and rising, I commute 140 miles a day. I only got mine as a stop gap but of all the cars I have ever driven seat wise I find these the most comfortable. Did Newquay to London in one go last year, got out feeling surprisingly fresh.
Parts are quite cheap really, only major cost I have had is a clutch which was £800, parts were £300 the rest labour as it’s a big job.
Uksaabs website is good for advice and find someone that has tech 2. I had an ABS problem that took a garage 1 hr to find out which wheel sensor it was. With tech 2 takes 10 seconds and would have solved it.
P.s to add handling is ok, not amazing but cruising on the motorway is what they are designed for. 9-3 aero is 210bhp which for £100 can be tuned to 250. Even in 210 it keeps up with new GTIs in a straight line.
Edited by Aiminghigh123 on Sunday 31st March 21:46
Thesprucegoose said:
They aren't trying, a golf GTi is 250 kilos lighter and much faster.
Much faster!!! LolOff the line yes Saab restricts power in 1st and 2nd gear so Golf should be quicker after that it’s full beans and trust me the guy was trying. Probably about 100kg in it but we were side by side from 50 up to .......
As has been said Saab’s are shed money now for the power you get they are pretty good.
Edited by Aiminghigh123 on Monday 1st April 10:19
Aiminghigh123 said:
Much faster!!! Lol
Off the line yes Saab restricts power in 1st and 2nd gear so Golf should be quicker after that it’s full beans and trust me the guy was trying. Probably about 100kg in it but we were side by side from 50 up to .......
As has been said Saab’s are shed money now for the power you get they are pretty good.
Indeed. An Aero with a remap is good for almost 300hp and a shed load of torque, all of which is available from about 1800rpm. This gives them fantastic mid range for thumping the VAG brigade in their leasemobiles. And you can play cassettes tapes which the hipsters will love.Off the line yes Saab restricts power in 1st and 2nd gear so Golf should be quicker after that it’s full beans and trust me the guy was trying. Probably about 100kg in it but we were side by side from 50 up to .......
As has been said Saab’s are shed money now for the power you get they are pretty good.
Edited by Aiminghigh123 on Monday 1st April 10:19
wormus said:
Indeed. An Aero with a remap is good for almost 300hp and a shed load of torque, all of which is available from about 1800rpm. This gives them fantastic mid range for thumping the VAG brigade in their leasemobiles. And you can play cassettes tapes which the hipsters will love.
Noobtune list an 9-3 aero remap at 250bhp.A Golf GTI now puts out 250bhp stock when tested on a dyno (more for performance pack/TCR/R etc), is 150kg lighter, usually has 6 or 7 speed DSG and unlike the Saab has a chassis that isn't a floppy blancmange.
The Saab offers decent poverty performance, but let's not get carried away.
Olivera said:
Noobtune list an 9-3 aero remap at 250bhp.
A Golf GTI now puts out 250bhp stock when tested on a dyno (more for performance pack/TCR/R etc), is 150kg lighter, usually has 6 or 7 speed DSG and unlike the Saab has a chassis that isn't a floppy blancmange.
The Saab offers decent poverty performance, but let's not get carried away.
I’m talking 9-5 not 9-3. Different engines.A Golf GTI now puts out 250bhp stock when tested on a dyno (more for performance pack/TCR/R etc), is 150kg lighter, usually has 6 or 7 speed DSG and unlike the Saab has a chassis that isn't a floppy blancmange.
The Saab offers decent poverty performance, but let's not get carried away.
wormus said:
Indeed. An Aero with a remap is good for almost 300hp and a shed load of torque, all of which is available from about 1800rpm. This gives them fantastic mid range for thumping the VAG brigade in their leasemobiles. And you can play cassettes tapes which the hipsters will love.
My v6 Aero wasn’t that quick standard tbh, had a decent pace and went well enough, power delivery was very linear and pulled ok but wouldn’t set your pants on fire (probably a tad quicker than my old stage 1 og9-3) but with a remap it could really shift, pinned me into my seat, and with the stage 5 tune it was crazy fast but it didn’t last. https://youtu.be/5K_XumdrkYQ
Great value things now. Love my 9-3 Aero; cheap, pretty quick, 'interesting' handling to keep it fun, the best heated seats. Everyone should own a Saab once in their life and they're so cheap there's never been a better time. Parts are cheap and readily available and a great support network full of proper mechanics.
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