RE: Shed of the Week: Saab 9-3 Aero

[Alex_225]

I really loved my old Saab 9-3 albeit a diesel rather than a petrol. Cost me more than this shed (£1200) but sold it with 140k on the clock and was a really great car.



Interior was actually really nice, had some quirky touches and was extremely well thought out as well.



Only sold it as wanted an auto plus had a bit more budget to spend.

[bbqforce10]

I've got a 2.0t Sportwagon with a remap and its great.
Goes like an absolute rocket. Plenty of turbo lag, but good fun
Really comfortable seats.
Ok, handling isn't great, but it's a family estate.
Does like petrol stations though.
Had to have a new clutch, other than that its been very reliable (touches wood).

Love it.

[exgtt]

edward1 said:

The mid range pull is good (we have a stage 1 noob tune) but it doesn't seem to like revving much, the 1.8t I have driven as a loan vehicle was much more free revving.

Maybe speak to Carl about this, there not screamers but it should pull confidently to the red line, especially as it's had the map. Boost leak? The 1.8t has a smaller Turbo so should be less eager to rev than your Aero...

[TwyRob]

I have one and love it. I'm also the registrar for this model at the Saab Owners Club and write in the magazine. This will have me marked out as a biased Saab geek, I know.

When well maintained they are great, if not they can be troublesome. Much like any car. The sludge does not affect these models, the earlier engines were the problem with their breathing issues. All solved for the totally different b207 engine. Electrics can be an issue on some examples but nothing is expensive really. As for the SAI, that was MY2003 only so 53 plate onwards is clear of it.

£750 for this one is good, a few days with a polisher and some reading on UK saabs to solve the few niggles it will have and it'll be really good. Just don't forget to declare the mods to the insurers!

[Sa Calobra]

Must admit when people slag off a car it makes me wonder how well they maintained the car in their ownership and how well it's been maintained before they owned it.


Many VW's smash out massive bills but the plush dash seems to keep them from complaining

[Beefy59]

I have a 1.9 TiD Sport with just 120bhp, now closing in on 170k, but apart from routine servicing it's been nearly perfect. There's a small buzz at certain revs down near the gear lever, but no other vibration, and the CD player packed up but it has an Aux socket, so... Had brakes, clutch (expensive!), 2 x timing belts, battery, aircon condenser and fairly frequent windscreen wipers and headlight bulbs, but still on the original 2007 exhaust and that's over nearly 120,000 miles. Gets 54 mpg in the UK and 44 in Germany, where she routinely sits at around 120 mph in the unrestricted bits. Rear legroom limited but overall takes a huge amount of luggage. Even the handling is good! (How different the "Sport" suspension is/was from the "normal" cars is perhaps the answer). Servicing around every 20k miles / annually, and the last service cost 80 pounds. Annual tax (was) 120 pounds... I think the shape is just about the best small/mid-size exec car I've ever seen, and I love the blue colour. I don't love it like my old Alfas - it's probably just too efficient / Scandinavian aloof ! - but I am deeply and extremely pushed to think what to replace it with...