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There's a debate every now and then on this BB on the V6 car. Reactions sometimes surprise me for their sharpness. I doubt that most of the people on this board have ever driven one.
In direct comparison to a 2.3T I can say it is much different. It just depends on what you want. Saab drivers are turbo drivers and they like the kick of the turbo. (Jeremy Clarckson of BBC's TopGear: 'it's like triggering a landmine'). If you're one of them, don't buy the V6. The terminology 'dog' or whatever other people use does NOT apply, though, because the car is fast in its own smooth fashion (It'd better be with 210bhp). It's just different.
My '95 V6 just passed 200k with no problems, just regular maintenance. Parts is no problem. Anyway you get to the point where even for the 4cyl. part will have to be ordered from Sweden of where ever. Apart from the engine + management the car is similar to any 9k for better or worse. There are no manuals for what I know especially on the V6. Do not get the GM/ Vauxhall stuff as there is some 'Saabification' on the engine done for what I know. I have no details, unfortunately. If you must, get a Saa bshop manual for engine and electric. I also own a Chilton's foreign, which has a lot of useful info and instructions on the V6 in it.
The auto is the same 4hp18 seemingly, but it has a different configuration than the 4-cyl and will stay in low gear much longer if pushed. The point where @ the 4-cyl the trans will ultimately shift to 4 is where the V6 will shift to 3. I didn't check the ultimate 3-4 point, as it's so far beyond the speed limit. It downshifts @ 100 M/h without even engaging kickdown, though. It you need to replace vb springs, be sure to get the right ones.
Most of the V6s have TCS but don't sweat it. The V6 TCS does use a separate set of throttle butterflies, and therefor is NOT drive-by-wire, which is the fundamental problem of the 4-cyl, where the TCS operates the same butterfly as the accelerator. If the system fails, the TCS butterflies will stay in full-open position, effectively disabling it.
Having had my share of 4-cyl TCS problems, that's one worry less.
Good Luck,
Jan Geert
posted by 145.7.20...
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