New daily...SAAB 9-3
Author
Discussion

RadoVR6

Original Poster:

1,210 posts

234 months

Monday 8th November 2010
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After selling the Corrado a few months ago I needed a new daily.

Picked this up on saturday for my daily 50 mile commute.

It's a 2001 2.0 Hot Aero which has 210bhp. All in very good condition with full SAAB service history and covered 91000 miles.

It is really comfortable but does tend to follow the road a bit. Not a patch to drive compared to the Corrado but its a more sensible car to commute in. Well that's the plan. I am hoping it is good on the old jungle juice.








adam85

1,264 posts

219 months

Monday 8th November 2010
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Really nice looking car that, handsome beasts especially in that colour. Best of luck with it smile

Taffer

2,339 posts

225 months

Monday 8th November 2010
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Nice - the Evo 6-spoke alloys look great. Is the dash a dark wood or carbon effect? Either way, a nice change from the brown wood that most 9-3s have. Shame they ditched the hatch, as the shape was distinctive and better looking than the newer saloon.

I'm thinking of getting a 9-3 as a winter shed and runabout, as at present prices they seem a lot of car for the money - any idea how the HOT compares to the LPT and NA versions for insurance?

EDIT - just seen the ad in Autotrader. Bit pricier than my budget, but still good value if you managed to haggle down a bit.

Edited by Taffer on Monday 8th November 18:05

soad

34,549 posts

204 months

Monday 8th November 2010
quotequote all
210bhp? Must be a turbo then.
Looks pretty good, are these cheap now?

RadoVR6

Original Poster:

1,210 posts

234 months

Monday 8th November 2010
quotequote all
Its a fully blown turbo yes.

I dont know how the insurance compares to a LPT version as it was a bit of an impulse purchase.

I was looking at volvo C70's and a mate suggested I look at these. Saw this one and decided to go for it.

It has the carbon effect dash and the seats are nice and supportive as well. They are electric but for some reason not heated which I thought was strange.

petrolveins

1,783 posts

201 months

Monday 8th November 2010
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Lovely car, big fan of these, also really like the interiors on all Saabs of this age. These are on my "to own" list once the insurance is affordable.

dufusmuppet

937 posts

208 months

Monday 8th November 2010
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very nice....suspension needs work if you want to stop the wobbly ride and cam sensor is a often failing part but other than that they can rack up some very high miles.Had mine 7 years and has been very reliable,though mine has been abused...

RadoVR6

Original Poster:

1,210 posts

234 months

Monday 8th November 2010
quotequote all
dufusmuppet said:
very nice....suspension needs work if you want to stop the wobbly ride and cam sensor is a often failing part but other than that they can rack up some very high miles.Had mine 7 years and has been very reliable,though mine has been abused...
Did yours tramline as well?

150bhp

908 posts

200 months

Monday 8th November 2010
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Great looking Saab, really nice colour aswell.

dufusmuppet

937 posts

208 months

Monday 8th November 2010
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certainly used to torque steer....

A M G

1,249 posts

269 months

Monday 8th November 2010
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I have a 5 door auto in the same colour, and it tramlines like you wouldn't believe! Torque steer actually not too bad...

RadoVR6

Original Poster:

1,210 posts

234 months

Monday 8th November 2010
quotequote all
A M G said:
I have a 5 door auto in the same colour, and it tramlines like you wouldn't believe! Torque steer actually not too bad...
Glad it isnt just mine that tramlines then. I havnt noticed much torque steer either.

Max M4X WW

5,026 posts

210 months

Tuesday 9th November 2010
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LOVE IT!

Sorry but I really like these, I'm 23 and my other half and mates have no idea! I used to own a black aero coupe, but pre viggen kit.

Nice cars but didn't have mine long due to various wobbles I couldn't sort and then the aircon went pop.

Loads of toys and comfy for the cash. They don't handles very well though, everything just seems all over the place most of the time!


Keep it in a straight line and confuse a few people!

Beefmeister

16,482 posts

258 months

Tuesday 9th November 2010
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It's still on Auto Trader! biggrin

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2010...

Very good value...

RadoVR6

Original Poster:

1,210 posts

234 months

Wednesday 10th November 2010
quotequote all
Beefmeister said:
It's still on Auto Trader! biggrin

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2010...

Very good value...
Yep thats it. I habded over a bit less for it though. I was the first to view it and 'apparently' his phone had never stopped ring.

Slight update:

Engine warning light came on last night....ooops!

f1nn

2,694 posts

220 months

Wednesday 10th November 2010
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I ran one of these in 2008 for about 6 months.

Mine was identical in spec but cosmos/cosmic blue.

The engine light need not be a problem, these engine are strong but when used for town driving they can sludge up around the breathers.

Oil change, run it on premium fuel for a few tanks and an Italian tune up will sort it.

Nice comfy cars. Mine was on 116k when I had it.

Dreadful handling and traction. If it was damp, mine would wheel spin in 1,2 and 3rd, it was properly wet then 4th also. This was a fun novelty for the first few days, but got embarrasing when you needed two lanes of a slip road to keep it on course when accelerating onto a motorway.

Fuel consumption was around 30mpg overall, so not the end of the world.

Dash displays for the OBC and climate lose pixels and is a common fault, but there is no shortage of companies who will sort this cheaply.

I only paid a grand for mine back in 2008, one of the only cars I've made a profit on.


RadoVR6

Original Poster:

1,210 posts

234 months

Wednesday 10th November 2010
quotequote all
f1nn said:
I ran one of these in 2008 for about 6 months.


The engine light need not be a problem, these engine are strong but when used for town driving they can sludge up around the breathers.

Oil change, run it on premium fuel for a few tanks and an Italian tune up will sort it.
Just had it out again and the turbo is only half boosting and the blow off valve is chattering like mad on let off. No smoke from the back though.

I have it booked into a specialist on Friday.

Fingers crossed!!!

Max M4X WW

5,026 posts

210 months

Wednesday 10th November 2010
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Check ALL of the small bore vac pipes between manifolds, dump valve and the valve on the bulkhead!

Just a thought, had a couple of mine pop off and things go mad, They go brittle and need replacing with silicone items.

RadoVR6

Original Poster:

1,210 posts

234 months

Wednesday 10th November 2010
quotequote all
Max M4X WW said:
Check ALL of the small bore vac pipes between manifolds, dump valve and the valve on the bulkhead!

Just a thought, had a couple of mine pop off and things go mad, They go brittle and need replacing with silicone items.
will have a look at that. Somebody suggested a split pin on the actuator can rust and snap?

toast boy

1,242 posts

254 months

Wednesday 10th November 2010
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Nice car, I've got the non turbo version and for a daily drive you can't fault it, well made and if looked after they go forever.