Date: 11 Jun 2002 19:30:51 -0700 From: jpkanenopsamw.com (Joe Kane) Subject: Re: Buying a used Convertible: Which Engine is to prefer ?
FWIW, I recently had a similar decision to make. I test drove an older style 900 ('94, non-turbo 4 cyl), several '96-98 900's and one '99 9-3 (all 4 cyl turbos - the V6s are rarer in the US and from what I've read, have many more problems). The 9-3 was a hands-down winner. Bought it about a month ago and I'm still honeymooning <G>. The biggest improvements I noticed in the 9-3 over the(newer)900 were (1) predictability and smoothness of the turbo - less turbo lag and torque steer, (2) handling through curves - less noticeable body roll, and (3) larger rear window for better visibility with the top up. OTOH, the (newer)900's had a few creature comforts the 9-3 lacked, such as power seats, burled wood (plastic, but nicely done) dash, and automatic climate control. These would be nice to have, but IMO are not nearly as important as the driveability improvements. BTW, the older 900 was underpowered and had some other problems (AC broken, power side mirror didn't work, etc.), which may or may not reflect the build quality of older Saabs (I've heard it both ways). It also uses space less efficiently than the newer models. Finally, my wife and I really didn't like its looks, though I'm sure there are many die-hard Saab freaks here who will tell you that the new ones don't look Saabish enough <G>. Test drive them all and make the choice that best suits you - enjoy! Christian Westphalen <chwestnopsamline.de> wrote in message news:<3D04EF82.7060101nopsamline.de>... > Hi, > > I¥m planning to buy a used convertible 900 or 9-3 from 1996 to 2001. Are > there any "don¥t"s in choice of motorization ? > Is the torque of the 131 PS ok ? Are the 154 and 186 PS reliable ? I¥ve > read about two persons, that had to replace the engine before 120.00 KM. > Any hints about fuel consumption? > > thanks for any help, > > Christian Westphalen
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