2011 SAAB 9-3 TTID 180
Discussion
Well after 'umming & arrrring' for a while, I went out and bought myself a late model 2011 SAAB 9-3.
I was after a very specific RFL car (£30) which is bloody brilliant I think for what you get here.
Bit of a marmite car for many?...But, I think they are so underated, and still look pretty smart, they are horrendously good value for money I think aswell.
Many will assume it is a Vectra in a lovely dress (it is a very nice dress mind) but, it is alot more than a Vectra from what I have been reading, and drives nothing like one!
Anyway...here is some pics I took after a clean and polish, love it's little quirks.
Black, 2011 1.9 TTID 180, with the TX spec upgrade, it has just over 100,000 miles on it, full service history and folder of receipts which is a Brucey bonus. Pretty muscular performance, and shoves nicely mid-range, actually caught me off guard how quick this car really is in the real world.
Plan - To run it as a daily stop gap for 3 or so years (20k miles a year), so put some healthy miles on it, see how I get on all being well - using it up and down the motorways in it's cream leather heated seats, should be good at doing this I reckon, it is a lovely place to be.
It is big enough to accommodate my phototographic gear for work aswell, surprised how big the boot was for a saloon.
After reading the reviews about handling, they aren't as bad as I thought, steering is very over assisted but nothing terrible, little play in the steering wheel which I will address, been told it's the universal joint on the steering.
Also, the interior feels very well glued together, again from the reviews I read, this one is holding up well here.
Anyway...oil will be getting dropped every 5k/8k to preserve what's left of these twin-turbos and ease my ocd, will give it a 4 wheel alignment also soon.
I was after a very specific RFL car (£30) which is bloody brilliant I think for what you get here.
Bit of a marmite car for many?...But, I think they are so underated, and still look pretty smart, they are horrendously good value for money I think aswell.
Many will assume it is a Vectra in a lovely dress (it is a very nice dress mind) but, it is alot more than a Vectra from what I have been reading, and drives nothing like one!
Anyway...here is some pics I took after a clean and polish, love it's little quirks.
Black, 2011 1.9 TTID 180, with the TX spec upgrade, it has just over 100,000 miles on it, full service history and folder of receipts which is a Brucey bonus. Pretty muscular performance, and shoves nicely mid-range, actually caught me off guard how quick this car really is in the real world.
Plan - To run it as a daily stop gap for 3 or so years (20k miles a year), so put some healthy miles on it, see how I get on all being well - using it up and down the motorways in it's cream leather heated seats, should be good at doing this I reckon, it is a lovely place to be.
It is big enough to accommodate my phototographic gear for work aswell, surprised how big the boot was for a saloon.
After reading the reviews about handling, they aren't as bad as I thought, steering is very over assisted but nothing terrible, little play in the steering wheel which I will address, been told it's the universal joint on the steering.
Also, the interior feels very well glued together, again from the reviews I read, this one is holding up well here.
Anyway...oil will be getting dropped every 5k/8k to preserve what's left of these twin-turbos and ease my ocd, will give it a 4 wheel alignment also soon.
Edited by DailyHack on Tuesday 31st December 19:31
Think of it as a "Taste the difference" Vectra. That's not a criticism; I was very fond of my (near as dammit identical, but softer springs) diesel Cadillac BLS.
Brilliant cross country long distance car.
Derbyshire to Liverpool, ferry and then Dublin to Cork in a day, stepped out fresh as a daisy.
Miss it a lot.
Brilliant cross country long distance car.
Derbyshire to Liverpool, ferry and then Dublin to Cork in a day, stepped out fresh as a daisy.
Miss it a lot.
blearyeyedboy said:
Think of it as a "Taste the difference" Vectra. That's not a criticism; I was very fond of my (near as dammit identical, but softer springs) diesel Cadillac BLS.
Brilliant cross country long distance car.
Derbyshire to Liverpool, ferry and then Dublin to Cork in a day, stepped out fresh as a daisy.
Miss it a lot.
Ha! Yes I like that idea "taste the difference Vectra" yeah I'm growing to like it alot, it so comfortable, heated seats are a joy aswell, these cars represent such good value I think now, prices have always been low anyway, pick one up for the price of a lease deposit in some cases! Brilliant cross country long distance car.
Derbyshire to Liverpool, ferry and then Dublin to Cork in a day, stepped out fresh as a daisy.
Miss it a lot.
Toaster Pilot said:
Sounds a lot like a Vectra to me and to suggest a run out bankruptcy SAAB drives nothing like one is preposterous. Never understood why people get so hung up on this stuff.
It does however look nice and I’m sure it’s a lovely car - lets concentrate on that?
Having driven 9-3s, a BLS and a couple of Vectras, I think my comment advice covers it. It is like a Vectra, but just a little nicer as an experience.It does however look nice and I’m sure it’s a lovely car - lets concentrate on that?
Like a Margherita pizza, but cooked by Jamie Oliver instead of by me. The basic ingredients are similar but the end result is a little better.
Toaster Pilot said:
Sounds a lot like a Vectra to me and to suggest a run out bankruptcy SAAB drives nothing like one is preposterous. Never understood why people get so hung up on this stuff.
It does however look nice and I’m sure it’s a lovely car - lets concentrate on that?
They did change alot of things on the chassis compared to the Vectra I am sure (the rear geometry set up is different I know that)...It does however look nice and I’m sure it’s a lovely car - lets concentrate on that?
There is a TopGear video knocking about somewhere that shows this, Saab had to tinker with everything, hense the love loss from GM when they found out as they made no money at all after they "enhanced" what GM offered in the Epsilon platform.
But yeah it's a lovely machine to look at, already had people walk over to me in the car park to admire it, usually get this in my 1966 Beetle when it's out (readers thread for this if interested) not a 2011 bankrupt SAAB
The brief to find a car was, £3k budget, safe, modern, reliable, comfortable, cheap to run (fuel and tax). Good on the motorway.
I think you can't go wrong with one of these as a viable option once compared to other cars, tremendous value for money, and little different the mainstream, I still have a E91 3 series touring as my other car, so get my German itch when I want, but the Saab is really growing on me for sure....dam it!
I think you can't go wrong with one of these as a viable option once compared to other cars, tremendous value for money, and little different the mainstream, I still have a E91 3 series touring as my other car, so get my German itch when I want, but the Saab is really growing on me for sure....dam it!
Nice looking SAAB op 
blearyeyedboy said:
I was very fond of my (near as dammit identical, but softer springs) diesel Cadillac BLS.
Sorry to go off topic but how did you find the BLS vs the 9-3? I’m 99% set on getting another v6 Aero but keep looking at the 2.8 v6t BLS, seems a lot of car for the money but worried about spare parts or any issues it might have. It’s got the same v6 engine as my 9-3 but I think the management is different so not sure how things will be come to tuning it (swapping all my performance parts over)BricktopST205 said:
lancer778544 said:
Noobtune doesn't tinker with diesels unfortunately.
I had my 9-5 done earlier in the year and he was working on it. He bought a 9-3 to work on the ECU.These Remap to 210-220 BHP too which is not bad for a daily workhorse.
I think I'm the only person who had 2 awful experiences with Saab and given my company Astra diesel has been quite so unreliable, I've been put off the brand.
This one looks nice though! I just wish they'd put a bit more into the interior quality wise, fantastic design and a brilliant cupholder, loads of storage, big boot, comfortable seats and fantastic spec.
This one looks nice though! I just wish they'd put a bit more into the interior quality wise, fantastic design and a brilliant cupholder, loads of storage, big boot, comfortable seats and fantastic spec.
nipsips said:
This one looks nice though! I just wish they'd put a bit more into the interior quality wise, fantastic design and a brilliant cupholder, loads of storage, big boot, comfortable seats and fantastic spec.
Yeah, tbh I was sceptical about the interior quality, having driven my E91 for 5 years which is rock solid! I was presently surprised really, doesn't sqeak or rattle as i was expecting for a 100k+ motor - Yes it's little low rent but not that bad, economics are really good though your right, everything is just where it should be.It's hush quiet on the motorway - this Fiat derived engine is gruff on cold start, compared to some more modern diesels, but soon settles down, whooosh of the turbos are quite nice to hear
Edited by DailyHack on Wednesday 1st January 14:47
griffin dai said:
Sorry to go off topic but how did you find the BLS vs the 9-3? I’m 99% set on getting another v6 Aero but keep looking at the 2.8 v6t BLS, seems a lot of car for the money but worried about spare parts or any issues it might have. It’s got the same v6 engine as my 9-3 but I think the management is different so not sure how things will be come to tuning it (swapping all my performance parts over)
Mine was a diesel.Mechanically not a problem but I was told the software couldn't be read except by surviving Cadillac dealers. Others have told me differently since so I might have been strung a line by Saab dealers who didn't want to touch it- this was the time of the Saab/GM divorce and there were a lot of hurt tribal loyalties.
Panels, indicator lenses and paint might be your problem. They were bespoke and you won't get spares...
Curiously, windscreens/windows were all identical to the 9-3.
Springs are softer.
Worth a punt but will be annoying if you prang it, even if minor. Admittedly when I sold mine it was the height of the Saab crisis and the supply of oily bits is now secure, but if I were thinking of this route of car again I'd get the 9-3. It really is a matter of the novelty value and purchase price facing weighed up against the hassle.
Edited by blearyeyedboy on Wednesday 1st January 19:37
DailyHack said:
Yeah, tbh I was sceptical about the interior quality, having driven my E91 for 5 years which is rock solid! I was presently surprised really, doesn't sqeak or rattle as i was expecting for a 100k+ motor - Yes it's little low rent but not that bad, economics are really good though your right, everything is just where it should be.
It's hush quiet on the motorway - this Fiat derived engine is gruff on cold start, compared to some more modern diesels, but soon settles down, whooosh of the turbos are quite nice to hear
The only major annoyance on mine that I couldnt cure was the NS A pillar trim rattling like a good'un.It's hush quiet on the motorway - this Fiat derived engine is gruff on cold start, compared to some more modern diesels, but soon settles down, whooosh of the turbos are quite nice to hear
Edited by DailyHack on Wednesday 1st January 14:47
I couldn't ever get used to the key being in the middle either.
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