Saab 9-3 1.8 petrol

Martin Joe

Has anyone experience with the Saab 9-3. Seems Saabs don't have a good name for reliability. Buying a vector model, 2005, 1.8 petrol with 70k miles. Should I steer clear or not? Given it looks to be in a fair condition, what would be a reasonable price?

obezyana

The girlfriends sister has one and she said it loves visiting the petrol station.

Martin Joe

Don’t do much of a commute so if it goes ok I can cope with the petrol cost. Really just worried about huge maintenance cost to keep it on the road.

obezyana

I just spent last night and today trying to repair a problem with its lights, really frustrating ........ i most definitely wouldnt buy one.

colm_mcm

If its a Vector model then its probably a 1.8t which is actually a 2.0 engine.

from_atozinc

Martin Joe wrote: »

Has anyone experience with the Saab 9-3. Seems Saabs don't have a good name for reliability. Buying a vector model, 2005, 1.8 petrol with 70k miles. Should I steer clear or not? Given it looks to be in a fair condition, what would be a reasonable price?

From what I'm reading, the petrol 9-3's seem to be ok......but mainly from 2007 onwards it seems.

Jesus.

My neighbour had one and it caused him endless problems. Having said that, you could buy this one and it mightn't give you a moments bother.

Its a pity they seem to have been built poorly because I think they're one of the best looking motors out there.

from_atozinc

Jesus. wrote: »

My neighbour had one and it caused him endless problems. Having said that, you could buy this one and it mightn't give you a moments bother.

Its a pity they seem to have been built poorly because I think they're one of the best looking motors out there.

Did your neighbour have a petrol car ?
What year ?

Jesus.

from_atozinc wrote: »

Did your neighbour have a petrol car ?
What year ?

Now there's a question. Sh*t, he got rid of it about two years ago so I'm trying to remember. I think it was an 06 or 07 but I'm not 100% sure. It was a petrol alright.

Dinging

I have a Saab Vector, 1.8i (the wrong version, belt not chain as the 1.8t has). Bought it in 2008, cost me 14.5k, it had 22K km on it when I got it, has 73K km now. So it has covered just over 50K with me in the last 5 years. Issues I have had to date have been minor. I have had to front headlight bulbs go in quick succession but a new fuse solved that problem. I has a passenger front suspension spring go, this is common in the Saab of this model/year, cost me 100 for replace including fitting. Build quality it's just OK. Some wear on the air con console, the rubber coating has come off and is fairly common from what I have seen. Radio/CD is crap,volume does not work properly in the cold. I had had to replace all 4 tyres but nothing expensive, running Hankook and they are wearing fine with no issues. Car has cost me very little over the past 5 years, still runs smooth enough on a motorway but its not great cornering. Boot is a great size. It is heavy enough on fuel if you push it over 3K revs, I get about 650 km to a full tank. Overall I like it, it spacious, smooth and so far I have had no major outlay. Best of luck whatever you decide to buy.

Jesus.

Dinging wrote: »

I get about 60 km to a full tank..

You're only getting 2.5 mpg there mate.

Christ, and I thought the bloke getting 18 from his Passat was in trouble :eek:

from_atozinc

Dinging wrote: »

I have a Saab Vector, 1.8i (the wrong version, belt not chain as the 1.8t has). Bought it in 2008, cost me 14.5k, it had 22K km on it when I got it, has 73K km now. So it has covered just over 50K with me in the last 5 years. Issues I have had to date have been minor. I have had to front headlight bulbs go in quick succession but a new fuse solved that problem. I has a passenger front suspension spring go, this is common in the Saab of this model/year, cost me 100 for replace including fitting. Build quality it's just OK. Some wear on the air con console, the rubber coating has come off and is fairly common from what I have seen. Radio/CD is crap,volume does not work properly in the cold. I had had to replace all 4 tyres but nothing expensive, running Hankook and they are wearing fine with no issues. Car has cost me very little over the past 5 years, still runs smooth enough on a motorway but its not great cornering. Boot is a great size. It is heavy enough on fuel if you push it over 3K revs, I get about 650 km to a full tank. Overall I like it, it spacious, smooth and so far I have had no major outlay. Best of luck whatever you decide to buy.

Good input there.

So you had the 1.8i, I, like the OP am looking at the 1.8t -- if a car is the 1.8 t, does it mean that its a totally new engine and body and build ( I heard something about 2000 changes made in a change but don't know if this applies to to the 1.8i > 1.8t )

bazz26

The 1.8i is a 1.8 litre, the 1.8t is a 2.0 litre engine with a turbo. These are GM made engines from the Opel/Vauxhall Vectra primarily.

from_atozinc

bazz26 wrote: »

The 1.8i is a 1.8 litre, the 1.8t is a 2.0 litre engine with a turbo. These are GM made engines from the Opel/Vauxhall Vectra primarily.

So the 1.8 t is a totally new engine.

Would this car with the new engine also have a facelift I.e. Was there a facelift to the Saab 93 around 2008 ?

bazz26

1.8t was new from GM when it was introduced in the 9-3 back in 2002. It's one of their ECOTEC engines. The 1.8i is an older generation GM engine and a dog imo.

9-3 got a facelift in 2007 where there were changes made mostly to the interior and suspension. Exterior got a facelift in 2008.

from_atozinc

bazz26 wrote: »

1.8t was new from GM when it was introduced in the 9-3 back in 2002. It's one of their ECOTEC engines. The 1.8i is an older generation GM engine and a dog imo.

9-3 got a facelift in 2007 where there were changes made mostly to the interior and suspension. Exterior got a facelift in 2008.

Thanks. Anybody know if there is any way to easily identify a car with this 2008 exterior facelift ?

bazz26

Pre facelift:



Facelift:

ba_barabus

2007 MY 9-3's got a facelift interior and some other specs but the old exterior.

Its a bit confusing.

from_atozinc

Would a 2008 1.8 t Saab 93 petrol automatic with 100,000 miles be a bad buy ?

Or is 100,000 miles on a 4 cylinder petrol a bit too much ?

toastedpickles

Bit much for that year if you ask me, but if it checks out go for it! Just make sure the oil sump has been dropped and cleaned, although that problem is more for later years, but ask anyways just to be safe, if they haven't done it well, it's not that hard to do anyways, loadsa info on it

from_atozinc

toastedpickles wrote: »

Bit much for that year if you ask me, but if it checks out go for it! Just make sure the oil sump has been dropped and cleaned, although that problem is more for later years, but ask anyways just to be safe, if they haven't done it well, it's not that hard to do anyways, loadsa info on it

Thanks toasted. Yeah I think that oil sumo thing is on older saab 93's.

toastedpickles

from_atozinc wrote: »

Thanks toasted. Yeah I think that oil sumo thing is on older saab 93's.

I picked up a 95 estate today but yeah apparently the sump was dropped, but I plan on doing it for my own sanity more than anything, but yeah, go have a look at the car, drive it and see what you think, get it meticulously looked over by someone who knows what they're doing and if its all good, go for it!

from_atozinc

toastedpickles wrote: »

I picked up a 95 estate today but yeah apparently the sump was dropped, but I plan on doing it for my own sanity more than anything, but yeah, go have a look at the car, drive it and see what you think, get it meticulously looked over by someone who knows what they're doing and if its all good, go for it!

Oh very good. Well wear !!

What year / engine / transmission ?

Who did you get to give your car the once over ?

toastedpickles

from_atozinc wrote: »

Oh very good. Well wear !!

What year / engine / transmission ?

Who did you get to give your car the once over ?

Thanks!

00 2.3t and 2000

I got a mechanic I know in dublin to look over it, He hates them, but he does a good inspection, diagnostics, oil, coolant, any strange noises, check the tires, suspension set up, bodywork, literally everything you can think of, he spent a good half hour looking over mine today

from_atozinc

toastedpickles wrote: »

Thanks!

00 2.3t and 2000

I got a mechanic I know in dublin to look over it, He hates them, but he does a good inspection, diagnostics, oil, coolant, any strange noises, check the tires, suspension set up, bodywork, literally everything you can think of, he spent a good half hour looking over mine today

Nice. Is it manual or automatic ?

Jays, he sounds like a right lad. Does he do this for people willing to pay or only for friends ?

Why does he hate Saabs ? !

toastedpickles

from_atozinc wrote: »

Nice. Is it manual or automatic ?

Jays, he sounds like a right lad. Does he do this for people willing to pay or only for friends ?

Why does he hate Saabs ? !

Manual the right gear type :pac:

Oh no he'l do it for around €80, depends on the car really I can pm his number to you if you like?

He hates saabs because "they're lovely to look at, lovely spec, but the electrics are as useful as rain, and you'd need to sell your first born for parts"

To which i replied, good thing i like rain and hate kids so! :pac: But yeah other than that, he's very professional about it all

from_atozinc

toastedpickles wrote: »

Manual the right gear type :pac:

Oh no he'l do it for around €80, depends on the car really I can pm his number to you if you like?

He hates saabs because "they're lovely to look at, lovely spec, but the electrics are as useful as rain, and you'd need to sell your first born for parts"

To which i replied, good thing i like rain and hate kids so! :pac: But yeah other than that, he's very professional about it all

Yeah. Pm me so please ; )

His comment about the electrics and parts is worrying - wonder does he think this of older Saabs only, or does he think it of the more modern Saabs - like 2008 onwards.

toastedpickles

from_atozinc wrote: »

Yeah. Pm me so please.

His comment about the electrics and parts is worrying - wonder dies he think this of older Saabs, or does he think it if the more modern Saabs like 2008 onwards.

He thinks I'm insane for even clicking on the ad in the first place, but if it's good, he won't say no don't get it because of parts and electrics, he'l just tell you it's good and it's your choice Pm sent!

from_atozinc

Anybody know if the Saab 05 got a facelift in 2007 ?

bazz26

The 9-5 got a facelift in 2006:

Pre 2006 9-5:


2006 facelift 9-5:


Note that the 9-5 was launched back in 1995 and didn't really change that much till it was replaced in 2010 by an all new model.

from_atozinc

Thanks again Bazz