Buying an old Saab. Any pointers?

Old Passat TDi

Personally, if you could find a pre PD TDI saloon that HASNT been taxi’d = Jobs a good un.

There must be Passat TDI saloons out there (untrendy an as such lower priced) with one or two owners.

Shit in the bends but comfy on motorways. Job done.

Or if you can find a low-count-owner Rover – same again. Only issue can be occassional head gaskets. Car mechanics magazine raves about them as cheap throw away reliable snotters.

the fiat chroma was an unreliable piece of crap i agree as are all fiat’s but saab never used their running gear and was built to withstand swedish winters and as such did not suffer with the problems of the fiat, the saab 9000 series predates the vauxhall era by a number of years and as such cannot be considered just another vauxhall if you want an old saab buy an old saab not a vauxhall in disguise.

My recommendation would be any VAG Group car.

then i wouldnt trust your oppinion of saabs :p i couldnt think of anything worse than a VAG group car. 😆

love my 9-5.

Ours suffered initally from poor maintainance by the previous owner – we had all the relaited oil sludge problems – blown turbo, and other odds and sods.

But we replaced the turbo ourselves – £350 for a pattern part new turbo. took me a few weekends to do, but that was more due to my lack of knowhow, and tools to get to do some of thing things i needed to do.

the only thing the 9-5 shares with Opel/VX is the epsilon floor pan… and even then that is modified (lengthened) to suit the 9-5 size.

The only thing we are suffering from ATM is the rubber pipes are perishing – something i would expect on any 9 year old car with 165k miles on it (we have put 70k miles on the car over the last 4years)

If your around Manchester then T K Autos is the best saab indy around, based north of manchester: if Trevor hasnt got it, then it aint on a saab.

ours is the 2.0 low pressure turbo, SE. manual. we are seeing an easy 450-500miles out of a 65litre fill up on the daily commute. have had nearly 650miles to a tank on a long run over through belgium, cruise control all the way.

SAAB 9-5 High Output Turbo – Incidental Welsh countryside others 🙂

[/url]PB080006[/url] by sastrugi1977[/url], on Flickr

The 9000’s were based on a Fiat Chroma which was a piece of unreliable crxp!

Yes, but the suspension, engines and running gear were unique to Saab. Even the floorpan pressings were beefed up with different spec steel.

The Saab 9000 basic design was shared with the Fiat Croma, Lancia Thema and Alfa 164, but the Italian cars had their own standard of steel supplier. The Italian cars had their own engines and suspension platforms, Saab’s were unique.

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2nd-ed.

Saab 900 turbo convertible, one of the most beautiful cars ever made.
I think you need your eyes testing – it’s gopping!

Completely. Minging cars. It looks like a deformed mouse.

For the money, I’d say find a nice looking mondeo or focus. You’d be lucky to find a VAG car for that sort of money but don’t discount them entirely.

Clio. I’ve seen a few higher-milers on Autotrader including one 5yr old at 190k.

If you are only transporting yourself why not?

Samuri, I really love the shape and sound of a convertible 900 turbo. The new cars are better, granted, but I love the old ‘uns. And the 900 tops them all IMHO.
Focus? FFS It’s one of the most boring cars ever. I had a displeasure of driving one for some 8 months, never again. Mondeo isn’t any prettier, at least it’s larger.

almost completly disagree with spongebob.

there are some good vag cars, but someone else mentioned saab spares hidously expensive? I’ve owned in the past few years 2x 95’s (proper ones, not the 9-5), 1x 900 16vT aero (original not GM) and 2x GM 9-3 hot aeros
reason? they depreciate like hell, not quite as bad as high specced alfa’s, so you can immaculatly maintained very high spec cars for less than the equivilent aged 1.2L vauxhal corsa. spares prices? the only thing I’ve though ‘FUNK’ shes pricey was a new air condiitionig compressor. £470 for anew saab part from GM dealer. however, a relative has a 2006 golf GTi, also needed a compressor, £625 or 630 just for the part (albiet tehy live in western scotland). suspension componants, electricla componants all same as you would pay for any other. and pattern parts are freely available.

forgot the name of the project but the alfa 164, croma and 9k were all the same design basis, with each manufacter splurging on the combined R&D cost of developing the body, putting it ahead of its competitors at the time. the croma got a bad name because fiats back then still used cheap import russian steel (part of the 131 blueprint deal I think), appaurling UK dealer network and they tried to put too much tech into the car, result, lots of niggling electrical things with dealers that couldn’t give a monkeys = huge pile of mega pissed off customers.

the original 99 morphed into the 900. something a healthy 10years ahead of its day when launched (1982/4?), i’m keenly looking for another. in high spec varients they are very pleasent to drive, still extremely quick, safe (enough), easy to work on, cheap & freely available parts (and plenty of well reputed independenat workshops about the UK) and if you get a clean one, something that will appreciate in value almost continously.

but for what the OP’s after, a 1999-2002 passat pd tdi, or 9-5 2.2tiD, or mundano wagon would probably be the most ideal choices. If you want a non-mini cabbed wagon, head north (no not manchester, proper north), we’re still using horseNkarts up here, haven’t worked out what cars are for yet 😉

I’ve met binners. Hes a Man U fan and needs a propa motor. A wifebeater (Vauxhall).

He could then lean out of the window and harangue other motorists etc 😀

Re: Hora’s post.
You need a Cavalier then.

A Focus may be dull but it handles way way better than any vaguely modern Saab.

Agree with Surf-Mat plus binners knows the Focus- he had a Jewish racing Green 1.8 before his current VRS.

Surf-Mat, aren’t your requirements different to those of majority? At times, judging from old posts, you seem very Clarkson-like. Anybody asking for a Saab leans towards May instead.

Oh my word. I just agreed with surf-Mat. 😯

If it must be an old Saab go for one of the last original Saab Aero 900’s, not the GM ones. The T16 was one of the best cars I’ve ever owned. Got rid at 235,000 miles to someone who was willing to restore it. The window pillars started to rust. Engine and interior bullet proof. The 9000’s are great value and very well built as well. Good Luck.

Binners. You are starting a new job and need to have consistency/punctuality and make a good impression for the first few months at least. We are approaching winter and your first requirement should be annual evidence of a full service history with the services carried out to the manufacturers specifications.
Not indie stamps every two years etc. My car came with detailed £500+ annual service print outs. Most people take their car down to the local garage and have the oil changed and thats it.

Get someone else to have paid for the car to be pampered up to this point. Focus on this first before ‘what turbo petrol car’.

I’d look for something Japanes and staid/plain with a one or two owner and full history. Say a Toyota Corrola, Yaris or Avensis or Honda Civic, Accord 1.4 or 1.6 etc thats been owned for 10yrs by one person who was royally fleeced by Toyota at service time.

Who cares if its boring? Its a tool.

Motorway miles?

Comfy seats?

Get a Volvo 660 – they’re cheap to buy, and last very well. The 2.4 diesel is surprisingly nippy, but there are all manner of petrol turbos as well. They’re usually very well maintained, will go a long way between services.

You’ll get a well-specced 2003-2004 2.4D for around £3k.

High mileage is not a problem – 200k is not at all uncommon.

Surf-Mat – Member
A Focus may be dull but it handles way way better than any vaguely modern Saab.

Oh yes, totally. But I’ve had both and I know which one I’d have again!
Would it be the nippy handling, tin can, weedy engined, with a hideous interior, so much road noise you can’t get a loud enough stereo to drown it out, so common you see when one on every road, and the lesser boot space?

Or would it be the powerful, tough feeling, well made, huge booted, safest car I’ve ever sat in, motorway mile muncher?

hmm. Just can’t decide!

[edit] Oh yeah – forgot the seat comfort!

Thanks for all the advice folks. You’ve come up trumps a usual. With a suprisingly retrained level of bickering.

Plenty for me to chew on there. Thanks again

I’ll throw in another “don’t” for an old 9-5.

I’ve been running a 2000 aero for the last 3 years, and every year something major has gone wrong. This year the turbo, rear suspension, aircon and the ‘brain’ died. bye bye car. this was also a car with a FSH, so was well maintained.

bad investment!

BTW – I’ve got an 06 Saab now and my ’99 9-3 was much better! Get the full turbo if you’re getting one.
Had it for 6 years (from 65K miles) and only 2 things went wrong – bearings in the drive pully, and the ignition rail. Ignition rail was a bit of a nightmare cos it left me stranded! Apart from that, lovely car.

Why do I get labelled a Clarkson wannabee for liking good handling?

The Focus brought a very decent chassis to the masses – even a 1.6 is fu to chuck around.

I have no idea whether JC likes them or not – I don’t care. I also hate modern Alfas – he loves them.

Or would it be the powerful, tough feeling, well made, huge booted, safest car I’ve ever sat in, motorway mile muncher?

Compare NCAP crash tests for both, consider than a Focus can have anything from a 1.4 petrol to a 300bhp unit (more than any Saab), tough feeling? Well that’s just a “feeling”, huge booted? The Focus comes in an estate version – more room than a 9-3 estate. Well made? Ermm – check JD Power and other reliability ratings. Saabs USED to be solid, a bit quirky, a bit different. Now they are simply a GM anycar with a badge – rip the body off, bin the interior and you have a car very very very similar to a Vauxhall Astra/Vectra and using many of the same engines.

I’d choose Vauxhall over Saab because at least they’re honest.

As for the OP – I’d still look at other marques.

You’ve owned both too then?
Forgive for not getting quite as carried away as you in defending my opinion, but I don’t care that much. I just know that the Saab was a much much nicer car than the Focus, for me.

As for this GM stuff. So what? It had a Saab interior. That’s where I sat, so it was a Saab.

I’m sure there are better cars (for the money?), but the 9-3 did the job (and I really disliked the Focus!).

I’ve just bought the car you’re interested in (I think), a ’98 9-3 SE Coupe full turbo. It’s done 130k and has FSH. Leather etc.

I think it’s lovely – super comfortable, quick when you need to overtake, big storage, plenty of room for kids, safe etc.

Handling is “interesting” but I’m thinking of it as a scandinavian muscle car – cruise the corners and hoof it down the straights! Fuel economy is nothing like as good as above but it’s 1/2 country rd and 1/2 city so to be expected.

(will be upgrading some of the suspension to improve the cornering – but not expecting anything amazing!)

Like this:

Nice, jim. I miss mine!

Dez – they are perfectly decent cars; not many modern cars are true duffers. But I feel they are priced at a premium over Vauxhall equivalents without much justification.

A comparison – wife’s uncle is now on his 2nd 9-3 1.9TiD (150bhp) saloon. We had an Astra Estate 1.9CDTi 150 – the same engine. He bought both his Saabs new, we bought the Astra new.

The Astra was quicker (lighter and slightly more torque), handled more tidily, had TONNES more room (cheating though as it was an estate), came with more kit as standard, cost less to insure and cost about 20% or more LESS to buy.

Yes the Saab interior is nicer – the Astra one was actually pretty grotty despite half leather and other stuff – but apart from that, it was more or less the same car.

As for the Focus – it’s a car I recommend time and time again and many mates have bought them on my recommendation and love them. Amazing VFM, great chassis, cheap to run, well equipped. Might not please the eye as much to some but a high spec Focus is a nice place to sit in.

But the OP is talking about older Saabs and IMO some of them are pretty good.

And in some cases, very pretty too.

btw, my choices of top smoker motors were:

nissan primera gt – couldn’t find with decent history & they suffer from barryboyitis

skoda octavia vrs or elegance – just over my price range, shame really as I’d have liked one

saab 9-3 (as above)

it’s a shame the mondeo or vectra didn’t come in a 4 cyl turbo (or i couldn’t find one) as the 6 cyl hotter versions are more pricey to service and potentially even worse on fuel

Had it for 6 years (from 65K miles) and only 2 things went wrong – bearings in the drive pully, and the ignition rail.

Two major problem in 65k miles is pretty terrible for a modern car mate!

I’ve had my Prius 5 years and 72k miles and nothing at all’s gone wrong with it, and so it shouldn’t!

Two major problem in 65k miles is pretty terrible for a modern car mate

No, read it again: From 65K miles… and the bearings is far from a major problem.

I’ve driven my Dad’s brand new Prius (120 miles to Surrey and back) and aside from the fuel (lack of) economy, I’d rather have my old Saab..

And Surf-Mat, I’m sorry but I bought both my Saabs because they were cheap!

We had a Saab 9-3 99 reg turbo and it was great. Had it for seven years it started life as first car and then became second car.

It was very reliable, cheap and very easy to service (big engine bay and easy to access parts). Air con packed in climate so not proper ventilation. Decided to exchange it a couple of years ago for a 17000 mile focus. I have spent over £1000 on major problems, fuel economy is about 1 mpg better and air con is currently packed in (it has 35000 miles on the clock now) Saab had 140000 miles on the clock and no major probs. Ford handles a damn site better but it is not as comfy.

Can I have my Saab back please.

Dez – fair enough and once again, shows the different priorities we all have!

the fuel (lack of) economy

If you’re not getting at least 65mpg from a new Prius then you’re doing it wrong.

Although if it’s brand new – they do take 20-30k miles to bed in properly.

Yep. I’ll give you the handling though. The Saab could be bloody scary on winding back roads. The bloke who sold me it did warn me that the turbo was too much for the GM suspension. And not to get a Hot Turbo.

Father in law crashed his Saab turbo (in the early 90s) into a field thanks to some comedy torque steer and a wet road.

Oops.

Nissan Almera – boringly reliable, timing chain so one less big service to worry about. No cachet at all, so cheap secondhand. Current one is on 125K and has only had a new clutch (which are cheaper on older cars) and about 3 oil and filter changes in its whole life.

It has broken down twice – once a vacuum tube fell off, fixed at th eroad side. Second time the clutch failed – on the way to getting it changed 😳

If you’re buying cheap to get to work I would just forget great handling or interiors and just get something that works rain or shine.

I find it also makes me cycle in more 😉

the fuel (lack of) economy of the Saab!!

If you’re buying cheap to get to work I would just forget great handling or interiors and just get something that works rain or shine

Plus diesel if it’s a long way.

Gotta get one of these!