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Date: Tue, 06 Feb 2007 17:09:01 GMT From: "Mark A" <mallwoodnospamorld.com> Subject: Re: Buying a SAAB
"DervMan" <thedervmannospaml.com> wrote in message news:45c79efc$0$27098$db0fefd9nospam.zen.co.uk... > "Oscar79" <mdking1979nospamo.co.uk> wrote in message > news:4858542c1d9628319aa394d193791110nospamlhost.talkaboutautos.com... >> Hi...I am thinking of buying a SAAB 9-3 around the 98/99 model. > > Goodo! Other people have detailed the background. > >> I am from >> the UK and would like to know any bad points about them ie cost of parts, > > This can be expensive. > >> fuel consumption, > > In UK terms, the petrol models are all pretty similar for consumption. > Their official book figures are typically ~19 for the urban cycle and ~40 > for the extra urban cycle with combined cycle figures of around 30 to the > gallon. The diesel, well, you're looking at ~32, ~61, ~46 respectively. > > The sweet spot of the range is either the 2.0t (150 / 154 bhp, 2.0, low > pressure turbo) or the 2.2 TiD (but I like diesels so I'm biased). SE > specification gets lots of toys but optional heated leather interior. > > I particularily like the 2.0t because it produces decent thump lower down > in the rev range, Saab have given it reasonably tall gearing so it's quiet > on the motorway but picks up nicely when you give it a boot. It doesn't > need revs for decent acceleration (unlike the non-turbo 2.0), which > probably helps keep consumption down in real world terms. The 2.2 diesel > isn't all that quiet at idle but on the move it has a lovely* diesel thrum > about it, its multivalve 2.2 engine is keen to rev beyond the red line and > it's also not too bad on fuel. It is no economy champion but mine returns > ~50 mpg with my driving. That's why I run the diesel, I'm tight. > > I'd avoid the 2.0 non-turbo. It's just as thirsty as the other machines, > it feels slower than the diesel on the road (despite being more powerful) > and whilst it doesn't have quite the same traction issues as the turbos, > it's just, well, erm... not as nice as the 2.0t. > > The 2.0T has 185 or 205 bhp, feels perky in the upper gears. The 2.3 > non-turbo is smooth but not especially rapid, it has ~150 bhp as I > remember. The 2.3 Viggen is viciously quick... it feels silly. 230 bhp or > so, front wheel drive, what feels like short gearing... Lovely. And no > thirstier than the boggo non-turbo 2.0 either. :-) > > ...but all 9-3s of this generation are limited by their traction. They > wheelspin. Lots. Even the 115 bhp diesel without it being chipped. It's > a Saab thing... > >> resale value etc etc. > > Of this age, they're cheap. They will get cheaper. > >> Can you please offer any advice, >> good or bad to help my decision. Much appreciated. Thanks > > First off, find out if there's a decent Saab specialist nearby. I live in > York, I use a specialist in Boroughbridge, Griffin Autotechniks; they're > materially cheaper than a Saab main dealer but they know their stuff. > > Secondly, get yourself down to the Saab forums and read up on the common > 9-3 issues, such as the SID screens not working, the diesel's duff mass > air meter and importantly the bulkhead seperation issue type thing. These > are not to put you off but to help you spot it... I bought my 2000 TiD > with a duff mass air meter. It's a £250 part from Saab, I knocked off > £400 from the price and found a nearly new but used spare for £60... :) > > Things to note about the 9-3 include the fact that the interior should be > rattle free, the heater and air conditioning should be powerful, the car, > well, solid to drive if uninspiring in the ordinary models. Don't get me > wrong, I like the way my 9-3 TiD drives, but it isn't exactly sporty > feeling. > > -- > The DervMan > www.dervman.com > I bought a 2003 93 in May and although I realise it's a later model I found out everything I wanted to know..and some things I didn't !! at www.nospam.com
