Saab 9-3 estate 1.9tid

[arkeye]

Wot do people think of these?

I'm after an estate for about 4k max. I'm looking at mainly the saab but have glanced at the mondeo st.

I like the saab as you get a great spec, low cost and not that old either.

I want the mod cons, leather etc and saab seems to be the one for my budget. Plus the 150bhp is appealing

[philmots]

Terrible engine. Same as the Vectras/Astras etc... Google the horror stories.

[tbc]

what years suffer from the bulk head problems

[KieronGSi]

tbc said:

what years suffer from the bulk head problems

It was on the previous model 9-3, which didn't come in estate version.

[arkeye]

It seems to be the 2.2 to avoid.......

[Seeker UK]

philmots said:

Terrible engine. Same as the Vectras/Astras etc... Google the horror stories.

That's the 2.2 or the 3.0V6.

The 1.9 is the same lump as Alfa Romeo (AIUI). I had a 1.9TDI vector sport for 6 months and although I don't normally go for 4-pot diesels, I found it quite a decent car to have. Don't let the figures fool you, that engine pulls like a train and (a manual) will give you 50+mpg on a run.

The only downside is that the interior looks good but a couple of bits aren't very well screwed together (the gear knob kept coming off on mine) and the side bolsters on the seats don't keep their shape too well.

[anonymous-user]

Good seats, but the interior & dash rattle like a skeleton in a biscuit tin, in my experience...

[arkeye]

Thanks for the advice people. I did notice on my friends TTID the door cards were quite flimsy and it was a bit rattly but I'm not expecting perfection at such a low price but I do think they seem like decent motors for so little price

[E30M3SE]

Seeker UK said:

That's the 2.2 or the 3.0V6.

The 1.9 is the same lump as Alfa Romeo (AIUI). I had a 1.9TDI vector sport for 6 months and although I don't normally go for 4-pot diesels, I found it quite a decent car to have. Don't let the figures fool you, that engine pulls like a train and (a manual) will give you 50+mpg on a run.

The only downside is that the interior looks good but a couple of bits aren't very well screwed together (the gear knob kept coming off on mine) and the side bolsters on the seats don't keep their shape too well.

The 1.9's have issues too, but what diesel doesn't?

Timing belt, waterpump and tensioner at the correct time/mileage interval is vital. EGR valves can play up, new ones are around £90. Inlet manifolds can also need changing around £700 for this.

[arkeye]

Would the inlet manifold change be due to the usual EGR function of clogging them up?

[Meltham Terrier]

Hi,

I have a 2010 60 plate Sportwagon which has been fine or 123,000 miles

Buy the best one you can find, if you can get the twin turbo version even better.

They are good value and well spec'ed and still look modern.

Andy.

[KieronGSi]

arkeye said:

Would the inlet manifold change be due to the usual EGR function of clogging them up?

Normally swirl flap failure, my flaps are stuck open.

[nadger]

I have one, an 06 vector sport 1.9 tdi. Love it! Fantastic place to be, looks good and goes well. Good economy and (so far, touch wood!) nothing serious has gone wrong with the exception of the alternator going (but the dash computer told me it had!)
I'd get one personally. Nothing in the price range will touch it in my opinion.

[E30M3SE]

Forgot to ad DPF's and the 'toffee' alternators.

[Seeker UK]

KieronGSi said:

my flaps are stuck open.

Fnarr fnarr.

[Seeker UK]

E30M3SE said:

Forgot to ad DPF's and the 'toffee' alternators.

Yup, the alternator went on mine but was replaced under warranty - any third party warranty will cover them.

[arkeye]

So would removing swirl flats and egr be a good way forward?