Want a Saab....Need Advice !!!

Giggsy75

I'm thinking of getting a Saab 9-3 1.8 petrol linear sport/Arc either '05 or '06 don't want to spend a fortune. I have a '07 Astra sport at the moment and I want a car thats comfortable and one I can hold onto for a few years. Will the Saab just gobble up my money (are they prone to gas guzzling and breakdowns, servicing costing an arm and a leg etc :eek:) or will it be the joy to own that I hope it would be? Any and all opinions welcomed.

galwaytt

Seeing as the Saab is the same family as your Astra - it's a GM car - no reason to assume it'll be any better/worse than what you have.

Tragedy

Will the 9-3 have any more room/comfort than your astra in the front?

superjosh9

How many threads have there been recently regarding someone wanting to buy a Saab? I still include myself in this - so I think it's great to see. Someday I'll buy one...

Hi OP. Try to get the 9-3 with the newer 06 onwards dash redesign. IMO, it's much nicer.

As I'm sure you suspect, servicing will be more expensive, but as stated, Opel running gear in the petrols... The autos have an Aisin Warner box which is what Volvo/Lexus etc use, so no reason to assume it to be worse than others.

HAve driven a new 08 car and, while it's not the most exciting, it's an easy car to drive with a light enough steering and a good turning circle for example. And it's comfortable, with active head-restraints and a good Euro-Ncap, which is always nice to know. I don't know how that would compare with what you have, but I'd suspect it to be a little more comfortable alright.

In a few years though, that resale might come into play, I don't know how much money you'd get back. Diesel option might be better in that respect.

Bluefoam

Tragedy wrote: »

Will the 9-3 have any more room/comfort than your astra in the front?

A friend of mine has the 93, he says it guzzles fuel and is small in the back... (his opinion only, I like them)

I'd go for the Alfa 159.

superjosh9

Bluefoam wrote: »

small in the back...

I'd go for the Alfa 159.

It's not great in the back - the seats are quite low and visibility is limited by the high front seats. It's not a very big car either though..

159 was developed by Saab, apparently.

Would be very difficult to say buy one though.

Frankie Lee

If your intent on buying an unreliable car, buy an Alfa 159 instead, far better looking, better to drive and supposedly far more reliable than you'd expect from an alfa.

Car-dealer

Hi,

I specialise a bit in Saab and my advice would be diesel, diesel, diesel - better miles per gallon (saving you money and trips to the petrol station) and also resale value, a petrol version of any Saab is at least €1-2,000 less than any diesel Saab in my experience, but in terms of selling, diesels sell better.

I would go for anything like a Vector or Aero Sport - if you want the look, with full leather and sports pack, phone bluetooth the works.

shawnee

I like the Saab myself, they are a bit different, but am a bit scared of them. Drove a 2004 diesel recently, very firm car and very responsive and felt very safe in it. However I did find the engine a good bit noisier than my focus tdci on starting. While I am tempted to buy one, like many I am not convinced about reliability and also wonder about servicing costs. They appear great value at the present as they seem to depreciate massively in the first 5 years.;) If I do buy I will buy a colour that I like and go for top spec with leather if possible. I would probably buy diesel also.

galwaytt

shawnee wrote: »

I like the Saab myself, they are a bit different, but am a bit scared of them. Drove a 2004 diesel recently, very firm car and very responsive and felt very safe in it. However I did find the engine a good bit noisier than my focus tdci on starting. While I am tempted to buy one, like many I am not convinced about reliability and also wonder about servicing costs. They appear great value at the present as they seem to depreciate massively in the first 5 years.;) If I do buy I will buy a colour that I like and go for top spec with leather if possible. I would probably buy diesel also.

well, I bought my first Saab in March of this year - an 06 150bhp diesel, estate, with the leather, etc.

I personally don't see the issue of reliability as being anything to worry about. Already it's more reliable than our (new) 07 Galaxy 1.8Tdci was, and in general........it's a GM. So no reason I can see for big parts bills, either. Ford parts are, I admit, very keenly priced, but GM's aren't far off, either.....not that I'm planning to need any.

I do like the 'solid' feel of the car, and, tbh, I think the 9-3 is a better drive than a 9-5 (which my brother has). Whether it's because it's a smaller car, or what, I don't know, but it's definately a Nice Place To Be, driver-wise.......and that 150bhp engine is a peach.

As for people saying 'its' small'.......gosh, compared to what ? It's the same as a Vectra, bigger than an A4, C-Class, Jetta, in the back. And there's enough adjustments on the seats to fit........well, anybody, I reckon, so I don't understand that comment.

Mind you, I will admit, the 159 looks 'prettier', so I do want to try one of those, next.

As for depreciation, yep, no doubt about it. But do bear in mind you're not paying VW (aka, mad badge money), for them, either. Even new, they seem to be much better value than the usual German fare. Inevitably, that is still true in the used market, although, like Volvo, a lot of Swedish cars seem to be higher spec'd than the german equivalents. This makes used ones, attractive, imho.

Running costs? Well, most of my driving is 3-5 miles. School, work, home. On that (short, I know) commute, it's returning 38mpg. On a run (e.g. to Cork, which I do the odd time), I get about 45mpg. I'm happy enough with that, as it's what our old 02 2.0d Mazda was doing............(before the engine went 'pop'... )

bazz26

galwaytt wrote: »

I do like the 'solid' feel of the car, and, tbh, I think the 9-3 is a better drive than a 9-5 (which my brother has). Whether it's because it's a smaller car, or what, I don't know, but it's definately a Nice Place To Be, driver-wise.......and that 150bhp engine is a peach.

The 9-5 is actually based on the 1995 to 2002 Vectra where as the 9-3 uses the newer and better 2002 to 2008 Vectra underpinings.

galwaytt

bazz26 wrote: »

The 9-5 is actually based on the 1995 to 2002 Vectra where as the 9-3 uses the newer and better 2002 to 2008 Vectra underpinings.

Aha, that might explain a few things.......the newer chassis is definately better alright.

Biro

superjosh9 wrote: »

159 was developed by Saab, apparently.

Don't think it was.

superjosh9

Biro wrote: »

Don't think it was.

http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/12/poor-sales-mean-alfa-159-replacement-coming-soon-with-u-s-in-si/

2nd paragraph.

alias no.9

Biro wrote: »

159 was developed by Saab, apparently.

Not true. The platform on which the 159 is based was initially developed jointly by Alfa and Saab and was expected to be used by Saab on the next generation 9-5 and possibly 9-3. Saab dropped out of the project and have returned to their Vectra soulmate, but their input left the 159 utterly compromised, it's just too bloody heavy, which is a direct result of the platform being designed to accomodate the larger 9-5.

superjosh9

alias no.9 wrote: »

Not true. The platform on which the 159 is based was initially developed jointly by Alfa and Saab and was expected to be used by Saab on the next generation 9-5 and possibly 9-3. Saab dropped out of the project and have returned to their Vectra soulmate, but their input left the 159 utterly compromised, it's just too bloody heavy, which is a direct result of the platform being designed to accomodate the larger 9-5.

So therefore....

Biro

alias no.9 wrote: »

Not true. The platform on which the 159 is based was initially developed jointly by Alfa and Saab and was expected to be used by Saab on the next generation 9-5 and possibly 9-3. Saab dropped out of the project and have returned to their Vectra soulmate, but their input left the 159 utterly compromised, it's just too bloody heavy, which is a direct result of the platform being designed to accomodate the larger 9-5.

I was mis-quoted there, but anyhoo...
Alfa modified the chassis this year so it's stronger and lighter now.

Biro

superjosh9 wrote: »

So therefore....

Developed by Saab is different to co-developed by Alfa and Saab!

alias no.9

superjosh9 wrote: »

So therefore....

Co-development of a platform, and not even finishing the job, is a long way from Saab developing the 159.

Giggsy75

Thanks for all the replies folks, much appreciated. I haven't seen too many diesel 9-3's around I guess people are holding on to them but loads of petrol one's. I'll have to keep looking. Comfort is going to be a big factor for me 'coz the Astra is not designed for crap roads you can feel every little bump :mad: I had a 96 Astra Olympic that was more comfortable!!! Anyway, I still have a bit more research to do yet(financially).
"Unreliable" is a word I wasn't expecting to see in relation to Saab!! Could someone please elaborate further on that? I know a great no nonsense mechanic so hopefully servicing won't be a huge problem. Thanx again

alias no.9

If you're looking for a 9-3 diesel, there's good value and much better choice to be had by sourcing one from the UK.

sk8board

alias no.9 wrote: »

If you're looking for a 9-3 diesel, there's good value and much better choice to be had by sourcing one from the UK.

and, as someone above said, get the Vector spec, and the 150bhp diesel, not the 120bhp, and especially not the older 2.2L D.
job's a good'un.

dark_prince

I've the 2.0 petrol 210bhp Aero - fuel economy on country runs with use of the cruise control on reasonable stretches of motorways is circa 35/36mpg. My daily commute through Dublin traffic and some lighter traffic in the evenings normally gives me mid 20-s mpg.

As for servicing costs, there's savings to be had in shopping around the Saab dealers. I called a few garages before purchasing to get prices on a basic service (best prices were very reasonable - I too was concerned with large servicing costs pre-purchase, has not been the case for me) and best price for me for my last service considering time/distance I was willing to travel to save money was from Drogheda.

I've heard great things about the diesel engine too although never driven one yet.

http://www.saab.ie/main/IE/en/dealers.shtml

Frankie Lee

Giggsy75 wrote: »

"Unreliable" is a word I wasn't expecting to see in relation to Saab!! Could someone please elaborate further on that?

I know lads who work in a Toyota & Saab dealership who do nothing but give out about the hardship Saab's in general give

In top gears reliability survey the 9-3 rates 101st out of 152 cars and I believe its somewhere similar on most other surveys done.

If reliability is a major concern I'd recommend a Honda Accord which is 16th or maybe a Subaru Legacy which is 17th.

Sorry if I'm being a buzz killer.

Saab Man Info

Giggsy75 wrote: »

I'm thinking of getting a Saab 9-3 1.8 petrol linear sport/Arc either '05 or '06 don't want to spend a fortune. I have a '07 Astra sport at the moment and I want a car thats comfortable and one I can hold onto for a few years. Will the Saab just gobble up my money (are they prone to gas guzzling and breakdowns, servicing costing an arm and a leg etc :eek:) or will it be the joy to own that I hope it would be? Any and all opinions welcomed.

Hi, if you’re going to go for this car they have got there problems as do any other car make. If it’s a 1.8i it’s the opel engine and a little soft and prone to water pumps & timing belt being replace frequently. As for the 1.8t check if the timing belt guide & chain have ever been replaced as this is prone to this engine. There are many other problems to look out for, see if you still interested and come back to me and ill fill you in.


Regards

Saab Man Info.

mumblin deaf ro

I think the recent interest in Saabs comes partly from the drop in second hand prices because of the uncertainty surrounding the company. I have always felt that Saabs were a bit on the expensive side for their market. A 9-3 priced just under €30K (subaru legacy territory) could sell well. I know that there have been some discounts to put them there, but it's been a bit too late.

bazman

If you do decide to buy a Saab, would highly recommend this garage: www.chsc.ie

Current Saab listing:
1. Saab 9-3 1.8i 2009 €33,235
2. Saab 9-3 1.8t Vector Cabrio (Bio Power) 2008 €47,500
3. Saab 9-3 1.8t Vector Cabrio 2008 €45,000
4. Saab 9-3 1.8t Linear Sport 2006 €15,000
5. Saab 9-5 2.0t Bio Linear Sport 2007 €25,000
6. Saab 9-5 2.0t Linear 2005 €15,000

Oh, before people think this is just advertising - I'm not affiliated with this garage. Just got my car there and they provide a super service and I find them one of the cheapest around.