Saab 93 1.9TiD Conv - If Saab go, will I still get parts?
Discussion
Looking fairly seriously at a Saab 9-3 1.9TiD Convertible (diesel automatic) because I need a quiet economical 4 seater, want a soft top, and they're about 2/3 the price of a same year/mileage Audi A4.
The only thing that's worrying me is, if Saab go under, am I still going to be able to get it fixed/ get the parts for it? Presumably the dealers would disappear as they did for Rover, but specialists would still exist, but that's no good if they can't get bits to fix it.
Appreciate you can still get Rovers fixed, but they're a much less complex vehicle. This Saab with its electric soft top, climite, sat nav, auto box etc etc has a lot of potential for specialist parts I'd imagine...
Appreciate any words of wisdom on this, and on the car in general if anyone has any thoughts. Did a search but doesn't seem to be a lot of info, guess it's a slightly oddball choice (although that's another reason I quite like it to be honest).
The only thing that's worrying me is, if Saab go under, am I still going to be able to get it fixed/ get the parts for it? Presumably the dealers would disappear as they did for Rover, but specialists would still exist, but that's no good if they can't get bits to fix it.
Appreciate you can still get Rovers fixed, but they're a much less complex vehicle. This Saab with its electric soft top, climite, sat nav, auto box etc etc has a lot of potential for specialist parts I'd imagine...
Appreciate any words of wisdom on this, and on the car in general if anyone has any thoughts. Did a search but doesn't seem to be a lot of info, guess it's a slightly oddball choice (although that's another reason I quite like it to be honest).
POORCARDEALER said:
I wouldnt....the engine is appalling, egr valve, turbo problems, partical filters, dual mass flywheels....
I did see that in the Honest John reviews. However a Warranty Direct warranty that just covered the drive train (engine. gearbox, axles etc) is only £266 so figured that might give some piece of mind. Oh dear, really? I think it is the Fiat engine, yes.
The car in question is an 07 with 38,000 miles on and a full service history which I think I can get for under £11K, plus it has all the bits I want, heated leather, cruise control, 17 inch alloys, decent stereo. The same thing as an Audi A4 Cab seems to be £15K plus. Also I've been warned off the Audi automatic gearbox.
Then again there's no point saving £5K and then spending half that on bills to end up with a car still worth £5K less (although I did think putting the warranty on it might be the answer).
The car in question is an 07 with 38,000 miles on and a full service history which I think I can get for under £11K, plus it has all the bits I want, heated leather, cruise control, 17 inch alloys, decent stereo. The same thing as an Audi A4 Cab seems to be £15K plus. Also I've been warned off the Audi automatic gearbox.
Then again there's no point saving £5K and then spending half that on bills to end up with a car still worth £5K less (although I did think putting the warranty on it might be the answer).
Isn't it the 1.9 TiD GM engine used in the Signum? It's awesome. At that age it's a Vectra C in a dress anyway.
Saab are now owned by Spyker, so the dealership network is still functioning. Vauxhall dealerships will quite happily work on Saabs, the part numbers have been intermingled for years.
Saab are now owned by Spyker, so the dealership network is still functioning. Vauxhall dealerships will quite happily work on Saabs, the part numbers have been intermingled for years.
Edited by Astra Dan on Saturday 1st January 10:54
Considered the C70? I like them and they offer pretty decent value with a much nicer interior than the Saab?
http://www.autoquake.com/used-volvo-c70/d5-se-2dr-... just from a 3 second look at autoquake.
http://www.autoquake.com/used-volvo-c70/d5-se-2dr-... just from a 3 second look at autoquake.
I had a 2006 1.9Tid 9-3 for 3 years. Sold it with 40000 miles on the clock, no engine problems at all. The engine was pretty quiet compared to VW PD diesel I drive now. 50+ Mpg very easy to achieve.
My wife owns a 2004 9-3 Convertible, 2.0 petrol, every extra fitted. 55000 miles, no problems (touch wood). The one thing I do regularly is spray WD40 onto the front wishbones, this prevents the dreaded SAAB suspension creak on cold days.
Pretty decent cars, awful stereo (worse than 1980's Ford). Also stereo is probably impossible to upgrade (if it is the pointlessly complicated fibre optic debacle).
Plenty of independents & parts companies out there, I cant see getting spares as ever being an issue.
Saabscene.com is a good UK website devoted to this.
My wife owns a 2004 9-3 Convertible, 2.0 petrol, every extra fitted. 55000 miles, no problems (touch wood). The one thing I do regularly is spray WD40 onto the front wishbones, this prevents the dreaded SAAB suspension creak on cold days.
Pretty decent cars, awful stereo (worse than 1980's Ford). Also stereo is probably impossible to upgrade (if it is the pointlessly complicated fibre optic debacle).
Plenty of independents & parts companies out there, I cant see getting spares as ever being an issue.
Saabscene.com is a good UK website devoted to this.
Edited by anonymous-user on Saturday 1st January 11:01
W00DY said:
Considered the C70? I like them and they offer pretty decent value with a much nicer interior than the Saab?
http://www.autoquake.com/used-volvo-c70/d5-se-2dr-... just from a 3 second look at autoquake.
I like that! Roof scares me though, imagine if that went wrong..?http://www.autoquake.com/used-volvo-c70/d5-se-2dr-... just from a 3 second look at autoquake.
Seats look a bit stained too, and needs the alloys refurbed or replaced.
Do like it though, it's got diesel auto, heated seats and cruise.
Edited by Ari on Saturday 1st January 11:08
Jimboka said:
I had a 2006 1.9Tid 9-3 for 3 years. Sold it with 40000 miles on the clock, no engine problems at all. The engine was pretty quiet compared to VW PD diesel I drive now. 50+ Mpg very easy to achieve.
My wife owns a 2004 9-3 Convertible, 2.0 petrol, every extra fitted. 55000 miles, no problems (touch wood). The one thing I do regularly is spray WD40 onto the front wishbones, this prevents the dreaded SAAB suspension creak on cold days.
Pretty decent cars, awful stereo (worse than 1980's Ford). Also stereo is probably impossible to upgrade (if it is the pointlessly complicated fibre optic debacle).
Plenty of independents & parts companies out there, I cant see getting spares as ever being an issue.
Saabscene.com is a good UK website devoted to this.
That's interesting, thank you. My wife owns a 2004 9-3 Convertible, 2.0 petrol, every extra fitted. 55000 miles, no problems (touch wood). The one thing I do regularly is spray WD40 onto the front wishbones, this prevents the dreaded SAAB suspension creak on cold days.
Pretty decent cars, awful stereo (worse than 1980's Ford). Also stereo is probably impossible to upgrade (if it is the pointlessly complicated fibre optic debacle).
Plenty of independents & parts companies out there, I cant see getting spares as ever being an issue.
Saabscene.com is a good UK website devoted to this.
Edited by Jimboka on Saturday 1st January 11:01
This Saab I'm looking at has the DVD sat nav. Nav disc is all scratched and not working but not too bothered about that as use a Tom Tom anyway (better than most factory sat navs). But it means it's got quite a nice touch screen stereo and it sounds rather good I thought. The car is the Vector which does have a stereo upgrade over the standard car anyway I believe, so maybe that's why.
Stereos in cars are quite important to me so it's a particularly relevant point, thank you.
POORCARDEALER said:
I wouldnt....the engine is appalling, egr valve, turbo problems, partical filters, dual mass flywheels....
Hmm. Everything you could apply to EVERY modern diesel. I don't get the obsession with EGR valves BTW - they aren't a reliability issue as the car runs fine even if the EGR is crying wolf with an error, and all they need is a good cleanout and some proper gaskets fitted to solve the problem permanently....I'm pretty sure that the touchscreen stereo came after they dumped the fibre optic job, which is good news... 2007 was about the time this changed, if it has the later dashboard, with the silver edging, then it should be the later non-fibre optic type
Edited by anonymous-user on Saturday 1st January 11:21
Edited by anonymous-user on Saturday 1st January 11:22
I'm not sure to be honest, but probably. Basically I'm changing jobs and my company car is going back and so I need to change my MX5 to something more practical but still with a soft top.
Head office is a 200 mile round trip away though, and I could be there most weeks so I'm thinking diesel makes sense. And to be fair, I've driven the car and it does drive very nicely. Not a sports car like the Mazda obviously, but then neither would the petrol version be.
Head office is a 200 mile round trip away though, and I could be there most weeks so I'm thinking diesel makes sense. And to be fair, I've driven the car and it does drive very nicely. Not a sports car like the Mazda obviously, but then neither would the petrol version be.
Ari said:
I'm not sure to be honest, but probably. Basically I'm changing jobs and my company car is going back and so I need to change my MX5 to something more practical but still with a soft top.
Head office is a 200 mile round trip away though, and I could be there most weeks so I'm thinking diesel makes sense. And to be fair, I've driven the car and it does drive very nicely. Not a sports car like the Mazda obviously, but then neither would the petrol version be.
In that case then yes, with the possibility of reasonably high mileage, the Tid would likely be the better bet. They're OK, I've driven a load of 1.9Tid's (incl a rag top Tid auto) as loaner's from my Saab dealer over the years.... convertibles arn't my thing though, so felt very conspicuous in it Head office is a 200 mile round trip away though, and I could be there most weeks so I'm thinking diesel makes sense. And to be fair, I've driven the car and it does drive very nicely. Not a sports car like the Mazda obviously, but then neither would the petrol version be.
I have to say the TTid engine version was very good, but likely out of your budget.
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