So I just bought a Saab Ttid sportwagon 1hr ago - stupid?

[HannsG]

Won on ebay. With haggling got it for 6.5k. 2008 reg, 78k on clock in Titan Grey

Full Aero spec, new tyres all round. Full SAAB service history. Needed a car asap for baby duties...

Told a few people and they keep saying goodluck sourcing parts!

Spoke to a few mechanics who stated parts are easy to come by....

Any advice?

[Benrad]

Parts won't be a problem, It's basically a vectra in a posh frock isn't it?

Congrats on the new car I fancied one of them but was told by the gf that she wanted a C4 instead

[twink]

Parts aren't that hard to get. It's a fairly reliable engine too, just tends to be the bits connected to it that fail. EGR valves etc.

If you remap it (which they respond to VERY well), hold the torque at 370ft/lbs. That really is the limit for the standard clutch. My Vectra (same 1.9 engine pretty much but just with the single turbo) is limited to about 360ft/lbs and if I try quite hard it will slip ever so slightly, it is not a new clutch though.

[J4CKO]

Nah, decent enough car so you arent a Ttit.

The Aero suspension on mine used to jar a bit though.

[Bear Phils]

Why does everyone worry when they buy Saabs? They went out of business because they over engineered their cars and couldn't get enough of a profit margin from their sales to make a good business. Surely this can only be a good thing.

Also, to answer your parts question. Very few people use genuine company parts for any car. They are mostly pattern copies. Those companies are still running so you shouldn't have a problem with sourcing parts, any more than any other car.

[pimpchez]

After my dads problem i feel compelled to give some input.

ok so my dad has a 1.8t 9-3 05 convertible .The oil cooler decided to give up the ghost ,luckily no blown engine ,but the road was covered.

so he then asks me to source one, i think the same its a vectra engine.No its not apparently.Euro carparts and GSF dont sell them at all , ebay had none unless it came from california .

I found one at a breakers in hertfordshire for 96 delievered ,but my dad didnt want second hand.

He refused to believe that you cant get new ,so i left him too it.Got a ring a few days later saying his "mate" at the garage has ordered it 120 delivered .Me and the guy in te office are amazed because after 4-5 hours of Googling + ringing we couldnt find one.


So i thought it was sorted , he rang me a week later .Said it didnt turn up as they cant source it new ,can i txt the number for the breakers in hertfordshire.

Oil cooler came the next working day and he was back up and running quickly ,but he is now thinking of flogging in fear of being unable to source even second hand parts .

[aka_kerrly]

Not a bad choice at all.

There are loads of Saab parts specialists, German Sweedish & French (GSF), Euro Car Parts, Elk Parts, Parts For Saabs to name a few plus it is worth checking part numbers at Vauxhall dealers.

[HannsG]

Thanks guys...

Yeah I gather it shares some of the same parts with the Vectra. Hopefuly it should do what i intend it to do etc. Be reliable, economical etc..and cart all the ste than comes with having a kid.

Only thing id the cambelt and water pump aint been changed. But I gather it neeeds doing at 90k anyway.

First thing to do is remove EGR, DPF and get a remap to bypass etc. The car will no doubt do some short journeys...

Never had an estate.

It will be replacing a MK1 Fabia VRS. Great car...sad to see it go, but the boot is too small..

[rscott]

aka_kerrly said:

Not a bad choice at all.

There are loads of Saab parts specialists, German Sweedish & French (GSF), Euro Car Parts, Elk Parts, Parts For Saabs to name a few plus it is worth checking part numbers at Vauxhall dealers.

Elkparts closed down back in 2011.

There are still issues with parts availability at the moment. Had real problems getting new front springs for my Sportwagon Aero. (It's the 2.8 so uses different springs to all the other models). Finally got some from a dealer way up north - the other option would have been to change all four for the Neo Brothers kit.

The more worrying issue is keys - at the moment, the local Saab Service Centre advise that they simply can't get any. Lights have also been an issue in the past - the Sportwagon's rear lights are LED and so aren't supposed to fail. When they do, good luck!

[S10GTA]

HannsG said:

It will be replacing a MK1 Fabia VRS. Great car...sad to see it go, but the boot is too small..

Really?

We have a little one, I have a C4 Coupe and can fit child and paraphernalia in it. She has a civic and can fit child, child paraphernalia and 2 dogs in it. No need for an estate (although I really like the Saab sportwagons)

[themanwithnoname]

pimpchez said:

After my dads problem i feel compelled to give some input.

ok so my dad has a 1.8t 9-3 05 convertible .The oil cooler decided to give up the ghost ,luckily no blown engine ,but the road was covered.

so he then asks me to source one, i think the same its a vectra engine.No its not apparently.Euro carparts and GSF dont sell them at all , ebay had none unless it came from california .

I found one at a breakers in hertfordshire for 96 delievered ,but my dad didnt want second hand.

He refused to believe that you cant get new ,so i left him too it.Got a ring a few days later saying his "mate" at the garage has ordered it 120 delivered .Me and the guy in te office are amazed because after 4-5 hours of Googling + ringing we couldnt find one.


So i thought it was sorted , he rang me a week later .Said it didnt turn up as they cant source it new ,can i txt the number for the breakers in hertfordshire.

Oil cooler came the next working day and he was back up and running quickly ,but he is now thinking of flogging in fear of being unable to source even second hand parts .

I'd have gone for an aftermarket one of same or better quality. Mocal have pretty much every shape and size you could possibly want for reasonable money.

OP as a many many Saabs owner (well, up until a year ago anyway)partsforsaabs are good, gsf are good eurocarparts are ok

the guys on saabcentral, saabscene, uksaabs etc are all really friendly and helpful.

its been said before, and I'll say it this time. What those guys don't know isn't worth knowing, and they will always be able to point you in the right direction for parts.

Remember that the engine is, if I recall, a Fiat unit, which is also shared by Vauxhall. The platform actually has very little in common with any Vauxhall (much to GMs shagrin I might add ) but there are some crossover part numbers if you know where to look.

Good luck and enjoy the car. They are rather nice, might even see if I can find myself a TTiD SportCombi if prices are coming down now...

[mini1380cc]

HannsG said:

Won on ebay. With haggling got it for 6.5k.

Since you "won" it, I assume it was an auction. Therefore how did you haggle? Your not one of these types that bids high then tries to haggle down after winning are you?

[0a]

I went in one yesterday, perfectly fine. The driver said he averages 32mpg though!

[emicen]

mini1380cc said:

HannsG said:

Won on ebay. With haggling got it for 6.5k.

Since you "won" it, I assume it was an auction. Therefore how did you haggle? Your not one of these types that bids high then tries to haggle down after winning are you?

You familiar with the concept of "Buy It Now or Best Offer"?

[HannsG]

mini1380cc said:

Since you "won" it, I assume it was an auction. Therefore how did you haggle? Your not one of these types that bids high then tries to haggle down after winning are you?

Put a counter offer in. Then commincated via phone and came to an agreement.

was really as easy as that..

[mini1380cc]

emicen said:

You familiar with the concept of "Buy It Now or Best Offer"?

Yes in both situations it would simply be "bought", "won" is usually used when winning IE an auction. I "buy it now" quiet a lot in Tesco's but i never say "i won some bread".

[mini1380cc]

HannsG said:

Put a counter offer in. Then commincated via phone and came to an agreement.

was really as easy as that..

Ah i see, fair play. An agreement was made outwith the auction, fair enough.

[vx220]

I'm watching a charity zumbathon

Won some bread cracked me up!!!