Used Saabs, a good punt? or what else?

[8potdave]

In the next few months or so I will be requiring a car. At the moment I have a company car but it is likely I will be going into self employment so of course this will be going. I don't have a lot to throw at it (up to £1300ish) and after spending hours on the internet looking at Classifieds it seems that Saabs seem to offer the best value for money.

We are also expecting a new arrival in June so the car has to be practical. We do already have a family car but I at least want 4 seats. It has to return at least 30mpg average and be reasonably cheap to run.

I found the likes of this on ebay and thought it looked like a good buy:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2004-Saab-9-3-Standard-C...

I know it won't be very exciting to drive but that's not the point right now. In comparison to say a Mondeo, Vectra, etc. this looks a nicer place to be. Other suggestions welcome!

[Si_steve]

That's just a 1.8 Vectra


No point in getting one without a turbo if you ask me, Still return decent mpg and enough poke when you press the loud pedal.

[davepoth]

As has been said most of the gubbins are Vectra underneath, so consumables won't be too much of an issue.

I'm planning on a new shape 9-5 as my next purchase. I'm currently driving a Rover 75. Go figure.

[richard300]

Si_steve said:

That's just a 1.8 Vectra


No point in getting one without a turbo if you ask me, Still return decent mpg and enough poke when you press the loud pedal.

Erm.... Wrong!! Firstly the 1.8 is a 2.0turbo (150BHP) the 2.0turbo produces 175BHP and then the 2.0'T'urbo has 210BHP.

I can also tell you that so much development work went into re-engineering of the SAAB 9-3SS that it's far from being a Vectra.... Kind of like me describing you (which i am not) as a frog because you share some DNA.

I will concede that the previous 9-3 (Hatch) really was a Vauxhallesq piece of st.

I have had several SAAB over the years including 2x 9000CDE Carlssons a 9-3 (old shape) Aero Hot Convertible, a facelift 9-5 Aero HOT saloon and my Current 9-3SS 2.0t ARC. And i think that the 9-3SS is the best one of the lot....

Here is mine.....

Edited by richard300 on Sunday 3rd March 11:58

Edited by richard300 on Sunday 3rd March 11:58

[Richie Howard]

Touchy?

[richard300]

Well.... Maybe a little bit

[saaby93]

richard300 said:

I will concede that the previous 9-3 (Hatch) really was a Vauxhallesq piece of st.

richard300 said:

I have had several SAAB over the years including a 9-3 (old shape)

[richard300]

saaby93 said:

richard300 said:

I will concede that the previous 9-3 (Hatch) really was a Vauxhallesq piece of st.

richard300 said:

I have had several SAAB over the years including a 9-3 (old shape)

Ok.... Well the 3 door and 5 door hatchbacks may have been Ok - But the convertible was not nice at all to drive (great to look at)

[philmots]

A mapped 2.8T 9-3 is. Very very fast. As quick as if not quicker than my standard 335d.

[8potdave]

Thanks guys, Richard - your car is very nice! so you would suggest staying away from the previous shape and going for the same as yours? A lot of them have quite high mileage, this doesn't put me off particularly but can the engines, turbo's, etc. cope with it?

[saaby93]

richard300 said:

Ok.... Well the 3 door and 5 door hatchbacks may have been Ok - But the convertible was not nice at all to drive

richard300 said:

(great to look at)

[Lemonyfresh]

8potdave, personally i wouldnt touch that ebay one with a bargepole!
It is the standard,NON TURBO 1.8i model and will be more boring to drive than watching paint dry!

How about: http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2013...

If your budget can stretch a couple of hundred more £ then this one will be a much nicer car overall

[8potdave]

That is a nice example, at the moment I'm more concerned about running costs than performance. Not very PH I know but I'd rather save for something special next year. I've checked the insurance and it's almost the same to go for the turbo version though

[Clamjouster]

I decided to scratch the Saab itch I've been having about 6 months ago and bought an older shape 2001 9-3 se HOT convertible. I made sure I bought the best one I could find with fsh and so far its been really reliable.

The jury was out on it for quite a while as although Parker's says differently its 205bhp and 0-60 time of 6.9 it doesn't feel as quick as my Gen 7 Celica 190, as involving in the corners (was well aware of this before I bought it), as economical or anywhere near as pretty.

As time's gone on though I've come to realise I really like it, I finally understand why Saab had such strong customer loyalty. It's really comfy and is a hoot in a straight line. I see around 37mpg on a run but average around 27mpg.

Mines the poverty spec SE which is missing the electric heated seats, only has 16" alloys and has no spoiler which coupled with the engine in it makes it a bit of a sleeper which was the main reason I was so attracted to it. Unless my journey involves no passengers and lots of NSL B roads I'll choose to drive the Saab over my Celica any day. I do however constantly get ribbed by my mates over owning a "Cavalier convertible" but that's fine as had one of them bought a Saab I'd have been ripping them about the GM connection too. Only thing I don't like about mine is the electric mirrors switch lifted straight out of a Corsa.

[Lemonyfresh]

8potdave said:

I've checked the insurance and it's almost the same to go for the turbo version though

You won't regret it! The mpg with only be very slightly less anyway, hell , even my aero returns 33 overall (80% round town) in the warmer months!(currently 29). On a run ive regularly seen over 40 so they are pretty good on fuel for the mid range punch you get!

[Si_steve]

richard300 said:

Erm.... Wrong!! Firstly the 1.8 is a 2.0turbo (150BHP) the 2.0turbo produces 175BHP and then the 2.0'T'urbo has 210BHP.

I can also tell you that so much development work went into re-engineering of the SAAB 9-3SS that it's far from being a Vectra.... Kind of like me describing you (which i am not) as a frog because you share some DNA.

I will concede that the previous 9-3 (Hatch) really was a Vauxhallesq piece of st.

I have had several SAAB over the years including 2x 9000CDE Carlssons a 9-3 (old shape) Aero Hot Convertible, a facelift 9-5 Aero HOT saloon and my Current 9-3SS 2.0t ARC. And i think that the 9-3SS is the best one of the lot....

Here is mine.....

Edited by richard300 on Sunday 3rd March 11:58

Edited by richard300 on Sunday 3rd March 11:58

Funny that the one in the add is only 122bhp which either means the turbo is broken on the b207/z20net or it has the vauxhall z18xe engine

Not having a dig though. I have a 9000CDE ecopower with all the aero goodies under the bonnet and stage 2 map and have literally just picked up a 9-3 2.0T HOT (B204R). I just couldn't live with a none turbo Saab

[Lemonyfresh]

Si_.Steve said:

I just couldn't live with a non turbo Saab

Pretty much this. Would be like a pizza without the cheese - does the job but feels like its missing something......
("Most random metaphor to describe a car" award goes to....)

[31mph]

I've been contemplating a saab 9-3 lately - they've become dirt cheap since saab went under

[ajb85]

I've always wanted to love Saab but always found them utterly disappointing. Perhaps this was because I used to wrongly perceive them as in some way sporty. Having said that, pick of the bunch has to be the 9-5 Aero, good cars and ten times the car a 9-3 is, in my opinion. Being the barge it is, it's also all the car you'll ever need in a practical sense too.

At this money though, the more PH alternative I would suggest is the Alfa 156. And if you really wanted to be a cool dad, you'd go for the Sport wagon...

[richard300]

Si_steve said:

richard300 said:

Erm.... Wrong!! Firstly the 1.8 is a 2.0turbo (150BHP) the 2.0turbo produces 175BHP and then the 2.0'T'urbo has 210BHP.

I can also tell you that so much development work went into re-engineering of the SAAB 9-3SS that it's far from being a Vectra.... Kind of like me describing you (which i am not) as a frog because you share some DNA.

I will concede that the previous 9-3 (Hatch) really was a Vauxhallesq piece of st.

I have had several SAAB over the years including 2x 9000CDE Carlssons a 9-3 (old shape) Aero Hot Convertible, a facelift 9-5 Aero HOT saloon and my Current 9-3SS 2.0t ARC. And i think that the 9-3SS is the best one of the lot....

Here is mine.....

Edited by richard300 on Sunday 3rd March 11:58

Edited by richard300 on Sunday 3rd March 11:58

Funny that the one in the add is only 122bhp which either means the turbo is broken on the b207/z20net or it has the vauxhall z18xe engine

Not having a dig though. I have a 9000CDE ecopower with all the aero goodies under the bonnet and stage 2 map and have literally just picked up a 9-3 2.0T HOT (B204R). I just couldn't live with a none turbo Saab

I stand corrected, and have learnt something today (which is always nice).
I never knew there was a non turbo version of the 9-3SS - Did they drop the engine option fairly quickly?