I am after a new banger as the current runner is going in a couple of weeks.

Ive found a 120bhp 1.9TID with a 120k on the clock. full history for 1200quid

anything to be aware of whilst I am motortrade and handy on the spanners the last saabs I had to do with were early 93s and 9000s 900s etc.

any pointers its a linear spec so cloth trim.

Can we not just post pics of cool Saabs?

things to check:
turbo
front top mounts
drop links
suspension bushes
if all good then happy days

Can we not just post pics of cool Saabs?

This was mine a few years ago 🙂 Much better than the diesel that came after!

900S followed by 900S. Last one still going, apparently, after 20 odd years but no longer mine. Too much work. Petrol.

I think the 9-3 TID were prone to some major problems but but check Honest John for run down. Price seems – OK – not bargain basement but if you’re prepared to walk away (was steering linkages plus brake lines that did mine) then no reason why not..

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/Saab-9-3-1-9TiD-120bhp-2006MY-Linear/172080794116?hlpht=true&ops=true&viphx=1&_trksid=p5197.c100068.m2280&_trkparms=ao%3D1%26asc%3D20140211130857%26meid%3De599a1038576453ebba6913e3e813efb%26pid%3D100068%26clkid%3D3251179498363771341&_qi=RTM2063723

need a new daily, im doing mileage so thought cheap diesel. thought older owners more guardian reader with a jacket with elbow patches so will have been serviced and not run on shoe string unlike some bm, audi vdub thats financed up to the hilt with no cash for service or repair

Actually my 2005 diesel was pretty good until the random limp home mode enabling began. Couldn’t be solved without chucking loads of cash at it.
Would put me off going for one of those.

blimey that looks in impressive exterior nick for 120k!!
ours finally gave up the ghost at around that level but no way was it immaculate.
The rear LHS wheel arch (or our Mk II (900S) seemed to be a particular issue, I suspect it collected salty water a lot.

Just saying.

1.9 GM engine is limited to 150k by inlet swirlflap wear in whichever make it is installed Fiat/Saab/GM .
2.2 lasts longer if the fuel pump does not fail.

Look for a Saab 9-5 it will be cheaper and will not suffer the common 93 electrical problems – its a much stronger long lived car + the saloon ones can be found with diesel and low mileage for serious value.

ediy – example http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2006-Saab-9-5-1-9-TiD-Linear-4dr-/322004520801?hash=item4af8f70f61:g:5oYAAOSwYHxWFkkd

I’m for matt_outandaabout’s suggestion. Partly because I have nothing else to add, and partly just because.

the 120 is the fiat 8v engine

no piss flaps

I have a 2007 93 estate, its the 150bhp Vector Sport model and its very nice. Mine was immaculate, 115k miles and FSH, I paid about £3750 from a reputable dealer in Bristol about 15 months ago. Happily cruises along the motorway at 75mph giving just under 50 mpg and being a Vauxhall of sorts, is fairly cheap to run and maintain. Around town, short journeys etc though and you will be lucky to get 35mpg.

Things to look for, the EGR valve will most likely need cleaning as the engine isnt the most refined. Its not a massive job but will need doing. Getting fault codes cleared is a bit of a chore, even Saab specialists dont always have the right diagnositics kits. The gearbox is a weak link too and the auto box isnt the best, its just a standard slushbox and will often be confused as to what gear it wants to be in, its always in 3rd when you’d be in 4th etc.

I like it though and I’m glad I bought it over the poverty spec 3 series BMWs

Just picked up a 2004 3l tdi 9-5 estate for a grand. Few electrical gremlins and nneded a new fan belt but overall a nice motor for bike and dog carrying.

You get a lot of Saab for your cash it appears..

Cracked bulkhead by the steering rack mount. Abbot sell a mount to prevent this.

I had a 1984 900, the last of the ****’ huge bumper variety. I still miss it. It was a 3-door hatchback but huge; longer than the Citroen BX estate that preceeded it. Fold down the backseats and you had a kingsize, perfectly flat bed. Happy days.

found another possible:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/07-Saab-9-3-1-9TiD-120bhp-Vector-Sport-/371529760004?hash=item5680e63d04:g:gT8AAOSwGotWk60T

ooh choices!

Whilst we’re reminiscing… I miss my ’84 900 8v turbo. Fast enough to get to Glastonbury in under 3 hours and big enough to sleep in.

And then it developed an unsolvable fuel air problem. Ended up donating it to my mate who was a Saab mechanic. Even be couldn’t fix it.

He had an old 9000 that would do 140+mph. It was stock as far as they could tell. No-one could figure out how it went so fast!

The old ones were good but idiosyncratic. Much like their owners.

I spent a couple of summers driving one of the bosses Saab 96’s – they had a matching pair and a Lada Niva. The rest of the staff always went for the ‘new’ Lada, I much preferred the Saab’s.

Always had a hankering for a quick old Saab…

Had a 2007 120bhp Vector Sport from just over a year old. Did 100k miles in just over 2 years.

3 EGR valves and a broken suspension spring. Other than that no problems.

When I checked recently on the VOSA site it was still going with over 160k miles.

Try to get the full leather trim and not the half leather, it’s far nicer.

Had 3 Saabs
88 900T16s Aero in Red
86 900 T16s Aero in Silver
90 9000 2.3T full blown

The 9000 was fastest, we fiddled the wastegate creep device that keeps the wastegate shut till 3/4 boost is reached, then opens it. on 98 octane petrol it was bonkers fast. Even Molgrps could have overtaken in it. Problem was , after overtaking say Molgrips and another 2 cars and a tractor you wwould be doing 90 + then have to really stomp on the brakes to get back to real world road speed

To add to the Saab love,

I’m still driving my 2005 9-5 Aero (Hot) 2.3 litre petrol estate. It’s not been the most reliable car in the world but for some reason I really like it.

Bad things:
It’s 4.8m long and doesn’t fit in most parking bays or garages.
It doesn’t go round corners.
It only gets 25 mpg round town.

Good thing:
The boot is huge.
The seats are the most comfortable seats I have used.
It’s great for driving to the Alps.
It gets 39 mpg at a steady 70mph.
The long flat roof is great for carting my longboard down to the SW.
When you have a collision the other car is wrecked and the Saab is scratched.
It does well in snow, albeit with snow tyres.
Oh and it’s fast enough in Sport mode to drop most of the rear bumper bellends on the road, at motorway speeds at least.

That’s why I’m still driving it at 179,000 miles and have no intention of selling it.

What’s with the weird bottoms on SAABS.?

Guy round the corner from me is selling a 95 saloon on an X plate for £750.

Edit: might be a bit far from Bolton as its in Reading.

What’s with the weird bottoms on SAABS.?

Aircraft technology. You wouldn’t understand.

I recently sold a 58 plate 93 TTiD vector sport. Was generally pretty reliable but the alternator failed twice in 4 years. I was never particularly in love with it as I found it very front heavy and the suspension very wallowy. Really liked the interior though.

@mrsfry

Bottoms? Long but pert, if done correctly..

Cool Saab you say?

:applause:

Haven’t owned a Saab for a number of years (so no comment on a modern-ish 93), but had three in succession a while ago. This was my favourite, and it counts ‘cos it’s got bike racks. 95 petrol estate with low pressure turbo and automatic gearbox

[/url]Saab by paulcheshirecat, on Flickr[/img]

@ jackthedog

Aircraft technology. You wouldn’t understand.

Get you misses 🙄

@ matt_outandabout

Bottoms? Long but pert, if done correctly..

Thank you for making me cry 🙁

Much Saab love.
We’ve had 3

9-3 light pressure turbo in 1999 kept it for 125,000 trouble free driving, had 140 out of it on an Autobahn once.

9-5 light pressure turbo in 2005
As above, just replaced the turbo once at 120,000 and sold it with 155,000 on the clock.

Now Mrs Coolhandluke is zooming around in an 05 plate 9-3 convertible Aero,
210bhp petrol, goes like a scalded cat.

I used to work at a Saab garage about 15 years ago and drove everything from a old 2.0 900 to a 9-3 Viggan

They were great as I was only driving a crappy Escort at the time. My boss gave my 9000 CSE 2.0 lpt to use as a company car. Used to get 45 mpg out if it on a run.

Also had a 9000 Aero upto 147mph on a “private” section of the M5…….

Simmy . Mine did about the same , albeit on a closed section of the M25 .

Saw an old couple ( I guess not so much older than me 😕 ) in a 900 convertible the other day hood down with them well wrapped up. It just looked very right.

I had a 93 for a while

Ooooh – Saabs 🙂

I had a 9-3 HOT for a while, it was hilarious. Torque steer was “entertaining” but by heck it was rapid!

No idea on the diesels.

So far had a 2000 9-5 2.0t – took that upto 180k miles before we sold it on because we had got a 2004 9-5 Aero (bought with 135k miles) ran it for 3 years when we sold for scrap this Christmas to the local saab indy in Edenfield as it had got to 234k miles and the engine had reach the end of its life (wouldn’t rev comfortably over 4k)

Now have a 2002 9-5 Aero, with relatively low miles for us: 110k.

Bought that black one. Give 1100 quid for it. The blue one was a dog

Just sold mine. Had a 55plate 93 estate. 2.8 v6 turbo. Was the last year of the cheaper road tax. Mental quick overtaking was effortless. A few trim rattle noises. Make sure you don’t get one with basic stereo it’s awful. Mine only did 30mpg on a run. Not that big inside

It’s got the base stereo. Looking at swapping it for a better one

If it is the Alfa/Fiat/GM engine one they have swirl flap issues, bar that controls them falls off and it is a hugely expensive job to fix

Easy fix – turn the flaps open and liquid steal them shut.

Don’t be worried if it starts spitting sparks out the exhaust during a drive, that will just the DPF regenerating.