2008 Saab 93 1.8 t Automatic

from_atozinc

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Saab/9-3/1.8T-BIO/201348220075096/advert?channel=CARS

Hello,

any opinions on the above car. Ive read that older petrol Saabs before 2006 were not very reliable. but after 2006, the petrol Saabs seems to be ok.

Any thoughts on the 2008 1.8 t petrol engine coupled with the auto gearbox. Is it reliable ?

bear1

Seems expensive to me, a quick look on DD for the car gives me this:

http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/saab-93-1-8t-linear-biopower-175bhp-new/6101238

from_atozinc

thanks, bar the cost though, are they a decent car ?

bear1

I can't comment on the petrol 93, but I know a guy that has the TTID (diesel) 93 and he absolutely loves it.
Hasn't put a thing wrong other than normal wear and tear. Said parts aren't very expensive either.
What sort of mileage do you do per year?
I always liked Saab, gentlemens car so to speak. Was on the look out for a 2004 2.2 tid a while back as they can be picked up quite cheaply

from_atozinc

bear1 wrote: »

I can't comment on the petrol 93, but I know a guy that has the TTID (diesel) 93 and he absolutely loves it.
Hasn't put a thing wrong other than normal wear and tear. Said parts aren't very expensive either.
What sort of mileage do you do per year?
I always liked Saab, gentlemens car so to speak. Was on the look out for a 2004 2.2 tid a while back as they can be picked up quite cheaply

Good to hear.
I do roughly 8000 miles year, a lot of city driving in there.

Scortho

bear1 wrote: »

I can't comment on the petrol 93, but I know a guy that has the TTID (diesel) 93 and he absolutely loves it.
Hasn't put a thing wrong other than normal wear and tear. Said parts aren't very expensive either.
What sort of mileage do you do per year?
I always liked Saab, gentlemens car so to speak. Was on the look out for a 2004 2.2 tid a while back as they can be picked up quite cheaply

Same engine as the jtd engine isn't it?
Which you've only great things to say about!:)

bear1

Ah then diesel is pointless - I'd say check them both out and drive them, both are private sellers so I'd probably point more towards the 93 thats over 2k less and with a longer NCT

bear1

Scortho wrote: »

Same engine as the jtd engine isn't it?
Which you've only great things to say about!:)

More or less the same, Opel used them as well in some shape or form.
Very popular engine
Suzuki also I believe
The JTD was first used in the 156 back in the 90s, 105bhp version and it was the first common rail diesel engine in the world

from_atozinc

but getting back to the 2008 Saab 9-3 1.8 T auto PETROL, any more comments on this specific engine

bazz26

The Biopower version runs on bioethanol as well as regular unleaded. Bioethanol is no longer sold here though and Biopower engines are thirsty enough. Also if it is similar to Ford and Volvo's Flexfuel engines then it will need a service every 10k miles afaik.

from_atozinc

bazz26 wrote: »

The Biopower version runs on bioethanol as well as regular unleaded. Bioethanol is no longer sold here though and Biopower engines are thirsty enough. Also if it is similar to Ford and Volvo's Flexfuel engines then it will need a service every 10k miles afaik.

Thanks, does this thing with dual fuels etc make it more complicated and prone to issues.

Service every 10k miles is fine, thats every year and a half for me so fine with that.

are they generally reliable ?

bazz26

No idea to be honest.

bear1

Google will be your best bet

from_atozinc

Any more comments ?

PADRAIC.M

I have found the 1.8t ((actually 2000cc) so tax pre July is high because it's a 2L, ) but the engine is pretty much bullet proof along with the gearbox as long it's serviced right...

from_atozinc

PADRAIC.M wrote: »

I have found the 1.8t ((actually 2000cc) so tax pre July is high because it's a 2L, ) but the engine is pretty much bullet proof along with the gearbox as long it's serviced right...

Thanks for the feedback Padraic.

Anyone else ?

from_atozinc

Any other comments, good or bad, greatly welcomed

Bigus

Can't comment specifically on the Saab bio power, but I know the C max flexifuel and volvo dual fuel all are alcoholics on petrol, I never looked into whether it's to do with bigger injectors or whatever engineering reason but the common thing is flexifuel, bio power , dual fuel, they drink juice , for some fundamental reason, and suffer accordingly on resale.

from_atozinc

Bigus wrote: »

Can't comment specifically on the Saab bio power, but I know the C max flexifuel and volvo dual fuel all are alcoholics on petrol, I never looked into whether it's to do with bigger injectors or whatever engineering reason but the common thing is flexifuel, bio power , dual fuel, they drink juice , for some fundamental reason, and suffer accordingly on resale.

Right, get ya.

Thanks.

ferg01

I've been driving a 1.8t manual for the past year or so - done just over 14k km. So far no problems whatsoever with engine or gearbox. They're no slouch either. I do mostly city driving and my trip computer says i get 11litres per 100km - as far as i know, the auto will be a little bit thirstier. The only problem I have is that the stereo is absolutely cr*p. Poor quality speakers aside, it's pretty quick and reliable but maybe a but too thirsty. I would suggest trying a very lowball number with the seller? A thirsty auto that's expensive to tax could be advatageous to the buyer?

road_high

bazz26 wrote: »

The Biopower version runs on bioethanol as well as regular unleaded. Bioethanol is no longer sold here though and Biopower engines are thirsty enough. Also if it is similar to Ford and Volvo's Flexfuel engines then it will need a service every 10k miles afaik.

There's no real point to these engines in an Irish context so. It's a shame you can't buy the fuel here anymore, Maxol did it didn't they? I remember a big thing about it? Mustn't have paid.

from_atozinc

ferg01 wrote: »

I've been driving a 1.8t manual for the past year or so - done just over 14k km. So far no problems whatsoever with engine or gearbox. They're no slouch either. I do mostly city driving and my trip computer says i get 11litres per 100km - as far as i know, the auto will be a little bit thirstier. The only problem I have is that the stereo is absolutely cr*p. Poor quality speakers aside, it's pretty quick and reliable but maybe a but too thirsty. I would suggest trying a very lowball number with the seller? A thirsty auto that's expensive to tax could be advatageous to the buyer?

Thanks ferg.
good to hear that the car is going well for you. Thats weird the way the stereo is so crap.
yeah, il try a low number figure with the seller.

bazz26

road_high wrote: »

There's no real point to these engines in an Irish context so. It's a shame you can't buy the fuel here anymore, Maxol did it didn't they? I remember a big thing about it? Mustn't have paid.

The Government took away the incentive to buy these cars a number of years ago so people stopped buying them. In turn fuel companies stopped supplying bioethanol because nobody was buying it. A litre of bioethanol cost a fraction of the price of a litre of unleaded which made up for the thirstiness of these motors at the time. These days you would want to be buying these cars for next to nothing to absorb the poor fuel consumption.

from_atozinc

bazz26 wrote: »

The Government took away the incentive to buy these cars a number of years ago so people stopped buying them. In turn fuel companies stopped supplying bioethanol because nobody was buying it. A litre of bioethanol cost a fraction of the price of a litre of unleaded which made up for the thirstiness of these motors at the time. These days you would want to be buying these cars for next to nothing to absorb the poor fuel consumption.

But are they (dual fuel engines ) going to be significantly thirstier than any other standard 2 litre petrol engine from around 2008 ?

bazz26

from_atozinc wrote: »

But are they (dual fuel engines ) going to be significantly thirstier than any other standard 2 litre petrol engine from around 2008 ?

According to most reviews they are thirsty. This wasn't a real issue when cheap bioethanol was available.

Dermo123

My landlord had been using his 2008 manual 1.8t until October and was putting 80 - 100 euro per week into it. 50 mile round trip commute per day with pottering around at the weekend. He parked it up and bought a 2007 Punto diesel and his fuel costs are now €25 per week. That is about €3K per year saving in fuel alone. They are thirsty even for a 2.0litre.

Wheelio

I recently purchased a 2007 9 5 2.0lpt auto (but not the biofuel version), average since purhased is 9.3l/100km.
My research pointed towards this engine being very reliable this late in its life and the auto box being reliable and easy to access for ATF changes.
Thirst is the one downside.

from_atozinc

Wheelio wrote: »

I recently purchased a 2007 9 5 2.0lpt auto (but not the biofuel version), average since purhased is 9.3l/100km.
My research pointed towards this engine being very reliable this late in its life and the auto box being reliable and easy to access for ATF changes.
Thirst is the one downside.

Thanks for that. I do about 8000 miles a year, so I shouldn't really be crucified on fuel

from_atozinc

Wheelio wrote: »

I recently purchased a 2007 9 5 2.0lpt auto (but not the biofuel version), average since purhased is 9.3l/100km.
My research pointed towards this engine being very reliable this late in its life and the auto box being reliable and easy to access for ATF changes.
Thirst is the one downside.

Did the bio power thing in Saab's only come in in 2008 ?

Wheelio

Not sure on 9-3's but on the 9-5's think twas an option a bit earlier than that, have seen some 2007 ones about.

road_high

bazz26 wrote: »

The Government took away the incentive to buy these cars a number of years ago so people stopped buying them. In turn fuel companies stopped supplying bioethanol because nobody was buying it. A litre of bioethanol cost a fraction of the price of a litre of unleaded which made up for the thirstiness of these motors at the time. These days you would want to be buying these cars for next to nothing to absorb the poor fuel consumption.

Such a shame initiaves like this get shafted. The cynic in me would say the Oil industry lobby are for this as it's clearly in their interests fuel prices stay high. Even if they put on a facade of support for things like this, surely effective lobbying on their parts would have kept some incentive to go bio-eth.
Far as I remember wasn't some of this being produced in Ireladn from a dairy plant in west Cork (Carberry Milk products)?

podger456

The wife has the 9-5 biopower. No problems in the years she's had it. Never thought it particularly heavy on juice, about 12L/100k in the city, and I squeeze about 8/100 on a long spin. I've always driven petrol 2L to 2.5L so that's what I'm used to. The 9-3 should be a bit better I suppose.

from_atozinc

podger456 wrote: »

The wife has the 9-5 biopower. No problems in the years she's had it. Never thought it particularly heavy on juice, about 12L/100k in the city, and I squeeze about 8/100 on a long spin. I've always driven petrol 2L to 2.5L so that's what I'm used to. The 9-3 should be a bit better I suppose.

Thanks. Them figures are not too bad like and as you allude to, the saab 9-5 is a bigger car so one would think the 9-3 would be a bit better on consumption.

Is it manual or automatic that she has ?

bazz26

Have you looked at the Volvo S40 FFV? Similar technology to the Saab and slightly better selection of post 2007 examples about:


http://www.driving.ie/used-cars/Volvo/S40/***-FULL/37813836701887370/

from_atozinc

bazz26 wrote: »

Have you looked at the Volvo S40 FFV? Similar technology to the Saab and slightly better selection of post 2007 examples about:


http://www.driving.ie/used-cars/Volvo/S40/***-FULL/37813836701887370/

I have yeah. But prefer the Saab 93. Plus I'm looking for an automatic.

podger456

from_atozinc wrote: »

Thanks. Them figures are not too bad like and as you allude to, the saab 9-5 is a bigger car so one would think the 9-3 would be a bit better on consumption.

Is it manual or automatic that she has ?

It's the manual.

Bit off topic, but anyone know if it's possible to do an E85 euro holiday these days? Will be there for a few weeks this summer and might bring the Saab if E85 is still available. Websites on the issue seem to be a bit out of date.

from_atozinc

can anybody tell me if the Saab 9-3's have the flip open boot. i.e you pull a lever / press a button inside the car and the boot just flips up

ferg01

from_atozinc wrote: »

can anybody tell me if the Saab 9-3's have the flip open boot. i.e you pull a lever / press a button inside the car and the boot just flips up

Before actually going to my car to check - I thought "of course there's a lever inside the car"...I was wrong. There is no lever specific to the boot lock but it can be locked / unlocked using the door lock button.

So if you're in the car and the doors aren't locked, the boot is also unlocked and can be opened by using the handle just above the number plate. If you lock the doors when you get into the car - the boot will also lock and you can't open it from the outside until you unlock the doors.

Never even noticed before you mentioned this that I was missing a specific lever.

Finally, the key fob has an open boot button that will open the boot but it won't open the whole way.

from_atozinc

ferg01 wrote: »

Before actually going to my car to check - I thought "of course there's a lever inside the car"...I was wrong. There is no lever specific to the boot lock but it can be locked / unlocked using the door lock button.

So if you're in the car and the doors aren't locked, the boot is also unlocked and can be opened by using the handle just above the number plate. If you lock the doors when you get into the car - the boot will also lock and you can't open it from the outside until you unlock the doors.

Never even noticed before you mentioned this that I was missing a specific lever.

Finally, the key fob has an open boot button that will open the boot but it won't open the whole way.

ok I was more so on about your ,last sentence, where you press a button etc and the boot opens the WHOLE way

ferg01

no - the boot doesn't open up the whole way (on my car at least).

from_atozinc

ferg01 wrote: »

no - the boot doesn't open up the whole way (on my car at least).

Thanks again.

from_atozinc

bear1 wrote: »

Seems expensive to me, a quick look on DD for the car gives me this:

http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/saab-93-1-8t-linear-biopower-175bhp-new/6101238

Do people think the mileage on this car is very high ? For a petrol car

ffocused

from_atozinc wrote: »

Do people think the mileage on this car is very high ? For a petrol car

I would not be too concerned if the car checks out. It is probably a uk import with motorway miles. Brogan Motors seem to specialize in Saabs, so may be worth a visit to see what else they have.
The tax on it will be 1200 a year though. (unless its an Irish car already on the old cc system)

from_atozinc

podger456 wrote: »

The wife has the 9-5 biopower. No problems in the years she's had it. Never thought it particularly heavy on juice, about 12L/100k in the city, and I squeeze about 8/100 on a long spin. I've always driven petrol 2L to 2.5L so that's what I'm used to. The 9-3 should be a bit better I suppose.

How does your wife/ yourself find the ride of the Saab 95, is it stiff / harsh ?
I think the tyres on the Saab 95s are fairly low profile which could make it a bumpy ride.

podger456

from_atozinc wrote: »

How does your wife/ yourself find the ride of the Saab 95, is it stiff / harsh ?
I think the tyres on the Saab 95s are fairly low profile which could make it a bumpy ride.

Never had an issue, always found it quite comfortable.

from_atozinc

Thoughts on this car :

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Saab/9-5/2.0-LPT-/36613685256184050/advert?channel=CARS