Saab 9-3 97-00

mcirl2

Hi,

My car died last week so been looking around for a a replacement. I want to get soemthing nice (was driving an escort!!!) and have come across a good few saab 9-3s for between €1500 and €3000. (the 1997-2000 model) .

I know they are 2 litre petrol but I dont do massive milage + also I dont mind paying a bit more if its a nice car.

Thing is, I don't have a clue how reliable these cars are. Has anyone here had one?

Also, I think I would get 25mpg urban and 35mpg motorway driving. Would I be totally off the mark with this.

In this market I think that if a garage was selling one of these cars for 3000 they might let it go for 2200 or something. Would you guys agree? (Will be paying cash of course!)

Any advice would be great!!

Thanks,

Mike

peasant

mcirl2 wrote: »

Hi,

Also, I think I would get 25mpg urban and 35mpg motorway driving. Would I be totally off the mark with this.

No you wouldn't. Keep your eye on the computer and resist the temptation to use the turbo to its full potential at every opportunity and you might even do better. Driven cleverly, this engines are quite frugal.

Saab engines are fairly reliable and can live to a right old age. Service history with regular oil changes is key though.

Barr

I had a 9-3 for a while . Great car very comfortable with loads of power on tap from the 2.0 LPT engine . The only trouble I has was the LCD screen - you couldnt fully see the display . I think this is a common fault .

With regard to fuel consuption I'd say I was averaging about 30mpg .

This is a good time to be in the market for one so bargain hard . Prices seem v reasonable at the moment like this example

http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=Car&carID=903791&message=You%20searched%20for%3A%20Saab%20900%2C%20Year%3A%202000%2E%20Your%20search%20returned%20one%20vehicle%2C%20which%20is%20shown%20below%2E&CFID=9915104&CFTOKEN=73073328

mcirl2

yeah, the prices are good and thats before you bargain!!

Hopefully my 2k in cash might get me something nice : )

Thanks for the advice guys!!

Cicero

25/26/27 is what you would typically get in heavy morning traffic around town- saying that, if your commute is only 4/5 miles each way, then you won't feel too bad at the petrol pumps.
You'll get a small bit over 30mpg on longer journeys- the turbo, speed in general and the air con/ climate control, will always take 4 or 5 mpg away from you, so technically, you could get 36ish on a longer journey.

Servicing is key for Saabs- dealers charge a lot for very little- things that can go wrong are -climate control- (up to 1200 eur to get fixed), the SID computer display (400eur) - saying that, brilliant car to drive, very comfortable - try and get all the trimmings- leather seats, climate control and alloys- even if it means an extra few hundred ---finally, get a quote first with your insurance company- they may not like the turbo aspect- this can come as an unplanned for surprise.

Best of luck

peasant

May I suggest that you forgo the "year snobbery" and consider a late Saab 9000.

http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?adv_form_submit=1&fuseaction=search&MakeID=26&xMakeID=26&ColourID=&xColourID=&ModelID=236&xModelID=236&Doors=&BodyID=&Mileage_Max=&Mileage_Max_integer=Max+mileage+entered+was+not+an+integer.&Engine_Min=&Year_Min=&Engine_Max=&Year_Max=&Price_Min=&Price_Min_integer=Minimum+price+entered+was+not+an+integer.&CountyID=&xCountyID=&Price_Max=4000&Price_Max_integer=Maximum+price+entered+was+not+an+integer.&BusinessID=&xBusinessID=&IsPrivateSale=&AutomaticOnly=&FuelID=&searchtext=&SortBy=priceAsc&MaxRows=100&InsertPeriod=&ResultFormat=extended&submit=Find+Cars

They are a fantasic car with very good spec (leather and all), very roomy, very practical, veeeery comfy and no slower or thirstier than a 900.

At least take on for a test drive and compare with the 900

Cicero

Peasant,
While we're on the subject of Saabs, could you recommend a good Saab mechanic- the official dealer prices are really getting to me - Dublin or surround area.

mcirl2

V good idea.

There's loadsa bargains if you go back a bit!

Do all 9-3s / 900s have turbos so?

thanks

peasant

Cicero wrote: »

Peasant,
While we're on the subject of Saabs, could you recommend a good Saab mechanic- the official dealer prices are really getting to me - Dublin or surround area.

No, unfortunately not. Im on the other side of the country and haven't had a Saab in quite while.

mcirl2 wrote: »

V good idea.

Do all 9-3s / 900s have turbos so?

thanks

On old 900 and 9000's there was a "i" model as well, that didn't have a turbo. Not too many of them about.

Most of the 2 Liter Saabs had the eco-turbo with 150 bhp, butthere were some models (900 Aero afaik) that 175.
The 2.3 liter had between 170 and 225 hp.

The 2 liter eco turbo is a fine engine though. Nice grunt from down low (like a modern TDI), but doesn't run out of puff as quickly as a diesel.
Overtaking "power" between 80 - 120 km/h is very good, much better than the 150 bhp suggest.

DaMonk

Thinkin of a 2001 saab95 2.0t. Was wonderimg about reliability, fuel costs and power. Are they nippy enough? currently driving a VAG 115hp mapped to 150hp so wondering onn the comparisons!

Barr

peasant wrote: »

May I suggest that you forgo the "year snobbery" and consider a late Saab 9000.

http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?adv_form_submit=1&fuseaction=search&MakeID=26&xMakeID=26&ColourID=&xColourID=&ModelID=236&xModelID=236&Doors=&BodyID=&Mileage_Max=&Mileage_Max_integer=Max+mileage+entered+was+not+an+integer.&Engine_Min=&Year_Min=&Engine_Max=&Year_Max=&Price_Min=&Price_Min_integer=Minimum+price+entered+was+not+an+integer.&CountyID=&xCountyID=&Price_Max=4000&Price_Max_integer=Maximum+price+entered+was+not+an+integer.&BusinessID=&xBusinessID=&IsPrivateSale=&AutomaticOnly=&FuelID=&searchtext=&SortBy=priceAsc&MaxRows=100&InsertPeriod=&ResultFormat=extended&submit=Find+Cars

They are a fantasic car with very good spec (leather and all), very roomy, very practical, veeeery comfy and no slower or thirstier than a 900.

At least take on for a test drive and compare with the 900

I've owned one of these as well , nice machine. I think they look completly dated compared to the 900 model by todays standards