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A pending change in career for my partner means that her current Zafira’s 7 seats are no longer required so she can have anything she wants
Current top of the list is a Saab convertible. My logic is you don’t often see them blinged up on council estates in the same way that similar 3 series and a4’s are so the chances of finding a well maintained example are surely better. They are all getting on tho
Any experience welcome and as this is STW, feel free to recommend interesting alternatives
c70 would be an obvious alternate. Saab is GM (vectra) bits underneath the volvo is a focus (depending on era) so neither are too horrific to run. I'd be checking for rust, just based on age/era. Pistonheads did a SOTW on them https://www.pistonheads.com/news/ph-features-sheds/shed-of-the-week--saab-9-3-aero-cabriolet/40541
Is two seats enough? Mx5? Check for rust though
I had a 9-3 SW for a while. Convertible must be the same (ish) under the fancy bodyshell. One thing to look out for, they were known to crack in the engine bulkhead around the steering column so make sure you look for that. Also, check the timing belt history, it’s an engine out job when it’s due, can’t remember if it was at 60k or 72k.
We had a 54 plate convertible for 5 years, about 5 years ago. If getting one the 1.8t (actually detuned 2.0) works hard as it is a heavy car. Sweet spot is 2.0 aero, well equipped.
Don’t worry about bulkheads that was the old model and petrols are chains, no cam belt to worry about. Ours never let us down or required anything outside of servicing.
Chris
Love a saab
Had a 93 Tid lovely motor.
Do it.
Had a 93 Aero saloon and loved it. Always fancied the ragtop, would go for the slightly gaerish lime green one if it was me. I suspect you may struggle to find a nice one now though..
The more powerful ones have some 'interesting' handling traits on damp roads. The ability to change lane by giving it a bootful of revs and setting off in a spirited fashion are both things to be avoided. Driven accordingly they are a nice place to be especially if you have one with a leather interior and full climate control. Depending on age they are either Cavalier or Vectra floor pans with a lot of costly Swedish engineering on top.
They (petrol) like a drink though so around town and short trips will be ruinously expensive on fuel. The Aero above mentioned may well have a fuel gauge that you can see move while queueing (once it is off full).
We use my 20 year old hatchback for long trips in preference to the newer Nissan on the drive.
Good cars but wll need maintenance.
Saab went bust but Swedish gov bought the spare parts franchise to ensure continuity.
Ran a few older and post gm models.
One thing that annoyed the hell out of me was torq bolt fasteners everywhere.
My 95 required little work but every time a socket was bought especially, and i have 4 full socket sets already
It went as it was slower and less economical than a v70 d5. I had the 2.2td. Beware the 1.9 bosch multijet engine with swirl flaps, they fall in the imlet tract or something horrible and its a nightmare
V70 GT or merc convertible might be worth looking at. Pretty sure v70 is not a focus platform, thats the v50.
My good mate recently sold his mint 2008 TTID Convertible with 62500 on the clock, sold it for £5k
It was a perfect example, and if I had the cash I would have had it myself.
Pretty sure v70 is not a focus platform, thats the v50.
The older C70 is based on the pre ford 850 chassis, the latter one is focus based. The V70 is either the 850 chassis, the later Volvo chassis or the mondeo, depending on which era you get.
Maybe worth tracking down a 9-3 Viggen...
If you're anywhere nr Chesham there is one sat in church Street that needs a new owner by the looks of things - flat tyre & not been moved in a while 😕
I think Edd China and Mike Brewer did one up on Wheeler Dealers... Might be worth it to look that episode up?