It’s definitely time to swap the Chav mobile and have been looking at various options. For 10k you can get a lovely 9-3 180 brake diesel estate with all the bells and whistles. However Saab are obviously no longer, will I struggle to get it services etc.
It ticks all the right boxes with being diesel, still reasonably quick and plenty of space for all the camping gear and bikes etc.

will I struggle to get it services etc.

Nahh. Any independant garage can do it. They’re just Vauxhall running gear anyway. 🙂

Mine was a good car, until it started to go wrong. No problem with finding a dealer, they just couldn’t accurately diagnose the fault – “You could try changing this, might not fix it..” (Engine mngmnt light kept randomly coming on).
Bills started adding up, so got rid.

No problem with parts – the parts company did not go bankrupt and is still around.

That’s for a 2 1/2 to 3 yr old one, the German motors are all two yrs older for that money!

Yes, but then we have 2.

Saab Parts are still operating (the only bit of the business that ever made any money) there are still planty of authorised service agents around, and alot of the old dealers are independants.

A lot of car for your money but not a particularly refined drive. Neither is the cabin as intuitive to “use” as others. Performance is sound as is MPG for the manuals.

Overall am happy with our’s but in terms of “driving” it’s not as nice as my A4 (or previous German motors).

Parts support should be pretty much as good as any other manuf IMO.

My only experience of Saab was like Vauxhall but with more intersting design and lower build quality.

Neither is the cabin as intuitive to “use” as others

It is if you’re used to Saabs. Then everything else seems odd 🙂

the only bit of the business that ever made any money

Oh teh ironings

I’d have another tomorrow, but IIRC the 9-3 estate wasn’t a very good motor. The 9-5 estate on the other hand..

geoffj – Member

the only bit of the business that ever made any money

Oh teh ironings

Quite common in the motor industry……

The 9-5 estate on the other hand..

Mine’s great….

I’d buy one of these 🙂

I run a 1999 Saab 9-3. I think they are the best bangers around and brilliant value for money, Mine has just gone through it’s MOT for £300. So another cheap year (hopefully) of motoring for me.

But I would not pay proper money for one now. I also did a few jobs on my brothers newish 9-3 Aero and had some problems getting hold of parts ( a lot of them do differ from the equivalent Vauxhall parts), the ride was also not as good as an equivalent BMW or Audi.

to sum up around £2000 go for it. Over £2000 look elsewhere.

We have an 07 9-3 Sportswagon with all the bells and whistles which is on it’s way out (car fine, we’re just replacing it). We got it from new with a reasonable reduction due to it being a pre registered/demo car. However, coming round to selling it now and it’s not really worth that much at all.

Great car, it’s been brilliant for us. Would get another, but wouldn’t get another new car.

DezB

That’s just a Scooby Impreza that GM had Saab rebadge as the 9-2 for the US market

(Er, I know.)

or one of these

OK soz! 😉

I chose an 07 Saab 93 estate as my company car and ran it for 3 years and 60000 miles with no problems at all. It was the 150 TID engine.

I really enjoyed owning the car, but was removed from the company car list when I came to replace, so opted for a c class estate.

The Saab was bigger inside (can get a mountain bike in the boot with the seats down without removing the wheels)and the seats were much more comfy, however the c class is a nicer place to sit and it quieter and handles a bit better.

As for not being intuitive to “use”, the only differance is the key being behind the gear level, everything else is like an other car.

The night panel was great (it turns all of the dials off apart from the speedo) but the dash quality was fine, but nowhere near German standards.

We liked ours that much when Saab went bang we took advantage of the lower prices and traded my wifes car in for an 05 convertible. Again we have had this for a year and no problems.

If I came out of the company car I would consider the ttid as the power and emissions are brilliant.

Chris

Excellent motors and they’re nothing like Vauxhalls. Thank god.

SAAB are operating again and will be bringing out a new 93 in the near future. Possibly with the BMW diesel engine and a new electric model.

For 10k you can get a lovely 9-3 180 brake diesel estate with all the bells and whistles.

If i was going to be a Saab thats the one id buy, the TTID engine is fantastic, just get it checked over throuoghly though as that engine can eat clutches and that wouldnt be covered under a warranty either. If its an auto no need to worry but i dont think the drive is as good as the manual. Beware of those who tell you its a Vauxhall in drag, true there are some shared components but most of the car is exclusive and certain parts such as lamp units / trim / electric motors cost a fortune. Besides if the warranty on the car is to be honoured they will insist on genuine parts being fitted to the car during service.

My 9-5 was the most comfortable and nicest to be in car I’ve owned, huge too. Very good family transport.

We are in the market for a large family estate. The mrs is having none of my ‘let’s get a 9-5’ suggestions 🙁

Or I did look at xtype jags, slightly more but still cheaper than the German models. Any thoughts on those?

I recently picked up a 2004 9-5 aero estate and I’m very impressed with it so far. There doesn’t seem to be anything else that offers the same space and performance for the price. The seats are also amazingly comfortable. Chatting to a local independent specialist I was told it’s only awkward to get parts for the very late model cars.

One thing worth noting is that sometimes they can develop a bit of oil sludge in the sump and so it is important to buy one that has been well serviced and had regular oil changes. If you do they are good for pretty big mileages and most of the running gear is GM off the shelf so actually quite cheap. Also worth noting the Aero versions are a bit thirsty and have a slightly harsher ride than the deisels and 2.3 petrols but go like a scalded cat.

Would you buy a Saab?

No.

I had a 9-5 Aero Saloon and then a 9-5 Aero Estate. The latter was 260bhp and drank fuel. Back last summer it was costing over £95 to fill it, and lasting for about 350 miles.

The 9-5’s were the last of the real SAAB’s, the 9-3 was very much Vectra running gear. That said the 9-3s were rather nice, and had a few decent diesel options.

I’d say the 9-5 is getting a little dated now. As others have mentioned, the Aero versions can be very thirsty and very nippy. Nice when you get some chav right up yer rear on a dual carriageway, to drop it down a gear and upset him. (Staying within the confines of the law of course!)

Have had several over the years & currently run a 9-3 Aero TTID Sportswagen. Never had any issues & have put at least 80,000 miles on each (current is at 62k after 2.5 years). From 06 onwards the Aero & Vector Sport were quite different from the other models & actually built by the Swedes rather than in a GM plant – this sorted the chassis stiffness & build quality.

Compared to the Audi/VW/Ford/Vauxhall/Renault/Citroen/Mazda equivalents I tested before buying this one it drives fantastically well. The only negative I found with it is the slightly odd tyre size which made replacements quite expensive – this has changed a bit recently with a few more manufacturers making them.

It’s a lot of car for the money these days.

the 9-3 was very much Vectra running gear

I think the press coverage & even the Top Gear ‘homage’ to Saab dismissed that as a myth. It was GM’s intention but Saab ignored them on all but the basic models hence the lack of profitability. Unfortunately, they were being bolted together by GM employees who didn’t give a ****.

I would, but wouldn’t pay £10k – have you seen how cheap MG/Rover’s went?

Or I did look at xtype jags, slightly more but still cheaper than the German models. Any thoughts on those?

I’ve a 3.0i X-Type, great car and bought for buttons – apart from fuel, cheap to run too.

xtype jags. Any thoughts on those?

Mondeo with a differnt suit and badge on. Not saying that’s bad btw.

9-3 Aero 1.9 TTiD estate is still on my list of next cars. Not driven an Aero but the thought of a rare, cheapish, quickish, economical, superb looking estate thats not Mondeo/Passat/aircraft carrier sized is a huge pull!

X-Type? I think the estates (some models) look ok from the outside. Its just the interior and the dash particular makes a little bit of sick enter my mouth when I see them…

Thinking about it we seem to go through tyres like no business on the Saab, a set every 6-8 months usually. No idea why, the OH drives the Saab mainly and is quite a careful driver.

I’ve gone 2 years on my car and then only the fronts needed changing. My car before that the tyres lasted even longer. We do similar amounts of mileage in both our cars.

9-3 Aero 1.9 TTiD estate is still on my list of next cars. Not driven an Aero but the thought of a rare, cheapish, quickish, economical, superb looking estate thats not Mondeo/Passat/aircraft carrier sized is a huge pull!

Chap living near me has one of these, i’m quite smitten, lovely car. Looks quite small for an estate though.

Father in Law has a diesel 9-3. Build quality as you’d expect. Performance and ride aren’t anything special but it’s a nice place to sit. It had it’s share of problems that no car is immune from such EGR valve, bonus most parts are Vauxhall so no dramas. Other parts can be unique to Saab and be more of a problem. He lost his keys whilst on holiday in the south. Had the spare key driven down to to him to find it didn’t work, AA couldn’t sort it either so car was recovered. Ended up requiring new keys at £120 each ordering which normally isn’t a problem but it took nearly 3 weeks to arrive from Sweden in which time he couldn’t use the car.
He still loves the car though so just something you have to live with.

Fiat developed engine, the 1.9 TD .
Avoid the early 2.2 TD’s as this was a vauxhall engine and not so good.
I like them , not had a newer model but dont think you would go too far wrong with an 05/55 or newer 93 or 95.
Good value for money , comfortable and safe.

The 1.9 is the same engine as the Vectra/Zafira/Astra etc. It was developed as a joint venture with Fiat.

On second petrol 9-5 estate , yes I would buy a 3rd, as long as you have a decent specialist near you.
9-3 far more troublesome than the 9-5 , the 1.9 diesel is great – but life limited to around 150k by
swirl flap issues , 2.2 lasts longer but is much more of a tractor engine with less power,
The newer the 9-3 the better older ones get some nasty electrical gremlins (I am refereing to the newer 9-3 saloon type looking cars) 9-5 is best bet IMHO

I like them , not had a newer model but dont think you would go too far wrong with an 05/55 or newer 93 or 95.

I did go very far wrong with my 55 plate 1.9. The list of repairs & failures is painfully expensive – usual diesel stuff like EGR, DMF (on its 3rd) plus Vauxhall hassles like broken springs and leaky hydraulics. At 80k it feels less solid than any similar aged car I’ve had before.

I was shopping further down the price range but as much as I liked the 9-5, it just didn’t seem to be a better deal than the equivalent Mondeo- which are better nailed together, by a company that still exists.