Saab 93

jezzer

I am looking at buying a saab 93, look like a nice solid car, anyone any experience with them? are they a good reliable car?

Jesus.

Lovely looking car IMO. One of the nicest smallish Saloons out there.

Never had one personally but the next door neighbour had and he was plagued with trouble from it and eventually got rid.

They have a bad record reliability wise but hopefully the one you're looking at is one of the good 'uns.

Wossack

lot of issues with the 1.9 diesel

the 4pot petrol can suffer from sump sludging. Oil needs to be changed from sump plug (not siphoned) every 5k miles - so seller would want to know, fairly meticulously, its last oil change. Ideally, would have a mechanic drop the sump, and take a look

jezzer

wow, aviod maybe the best option here by the sounds of it...

renofan

Unless you know the history avoid. I know someone who bought a 1.9 tdi '05 one cheap. Turned out it had the dreaded oil sludge/blocked oil pickup problem. Car is now in Africa (going by the fella he sold it as scrap to!)

Was a lovely, comfy car to drive though.

galwaytt

jezzer wrote: »

I am looking at buying a saab 93, look like a nice solid car, anyone any experience with them? are they a good reliable car?

Yes they are: like all cars, with proper servicing it is no worse than anything else, and a lot cheaper than the usual german fare.

Jesus. wrote: »

Lovely looking car IMO. One of the nicest smallish Saloons out there.

Never had one personally but the next door neighbour had and he was plagued with trouble from it and eventually got rid.

They have a bad record reliability wise but hopefully the one you're looking at is one of the good 'uns.

The engine has a better reliability record than the usual Passat/A4 2.0Tdi and 3-series diesels. I did 100k in 4 years in one with zero repairs bar drop links and cleaing the EGR once.

Wossack wrote: »

lot of issues with the 1.9 diesel

the 4pot petrol can suffer from sump sludging. Oil needs to be changed from sump plug (not siphoned) every 5k miles - so seller would want to know, fairly meticulously, its last oil change. Ideally, would have a mechanic drop the sump, and take a look

Sump sludging applies more commonly to petrols that have had poor service/maintenance. My brother has had multiple petrol turbo ones and with regular oil changes has never replaced a turbo or had one consume oil.

I've never heard of the 1.9 diesel having sludgin issues.

jezzer wrote: »

wow, aviod maybe the best option here by the sounds of it...

That would be unfortunate: talk to people who actually own/have owned one.

renofan wrote: »

Unless you know the history avoid. I know someone who bought a 1.9 tdi '05 one cheap. Turned out it had the dreaded oil sludge/blocked oil pickup problem. Car is now in Africa (going by the fella he sold it as scrap to!)

Was a lovely, comfy car to drive though.

If it made it to Africa there must have been s.f.a. wrong with it.

The common thing here is servicing: change oil regularly and there is no reason why it won't do big mileage reliably.

Dinging

Good thread on the 93's here http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=88201660

jimgoose

Beautiful bit of kit. AFAIR the sludging thing is with the turbocharged petrol models, not so much the diesels. Service religiously, with good-quality oil of the correct grade, and they're a fine machine.

Wossack

yep, just to clarify, sludging issues are just the 4 pot petrol saab engines

dont get me wrong btw, Im a big fan of them - just do your research, and nab a good un

pyramuid man

I bought a 05 1.9tid last October. I have put 50,000Km on it and it hasnt missed a beat. Great car and very economical. I average 50mpg (5.7l/100km) with a spirited drive. The cream interior is difficult enough to keep clean though.

Only thing that irks me slightly is that the coating of the buttons for climate control / radio rubs off quite easily leaving white plastic exposed.

jimgoose

pyramuid man wrote: »

...Only thing that irks me slightly is that the coating of the buttons for climate control / radio rubs off quite easily leaving white plastic exposed.

That reminds me - the ignition switch on a lot of the older ones is down by the gearshift, and is designed such that the key only comes out when the car is in reverse. A lot of people miss this and end up doing damage. Just so people know.

Wossack

Wossack wrote: »

yep, just to clarify, sludging issues are just the 4 pot petrol saab engines

Type B205 and B235, early ones with black rocker cover. Last used in original 9-3 -2002 and 9-5 models until around 2003. If you're looking for the 9-3 2003-> model your engine will be B207 (GM engine) which is totally unrelated to B205 (SAAB ecopower).

renofan

galwaytt wrote: »

If it made it to Africa there must have been s.f.a. wrong with it.

Engine was seized. He obviously bought one that didn't see too many oil changes in it's life. Mechanic told him to get rid which he did. To some fella (foreign) who said he ships cars he buys to Africa. My friend wasn't too worried about the details....

landmarkjohn

I know a guy who has 2 of these, a 2003 and a 2005 and he just replaced 2003 with a 2009. He loves them, all diesels 2.2 I think and he never had any big issues. I had a petrol 2008 or so for a couple of weeks, nice red colour and alloys but personally I am not sure about the ride quality...and the stock sound system was poor, but they can come with upgrade Bose systems.

In good nick with the right colour and wheels they can look the part.

The Pontiac

jezzer wrote: »

I am looking at buying a saab 93, look like a nice solid car, anyone any experience with them? are they a good reliable car?

They are anything but solid.

Take one for a drive in a typical Irish B road (with the radio off) and hear for yourself.

bazz26

What year are you looking at OP?

From launch in 2002 the diesel was the old 2.2 litre GM unit which was old and unrefined. In mid 2004 this was replaced by two Fiat made 1.9 diesel engines, a 120bhp 8v and a 150bhp 16v. 120bhp is reckoned to be the more reliable unit.

In early 2007 the 9-3 got a revised interior with more up to date switchgear and centre console. The suspension was also revised. In late 2007 the exterior got a facelift and in 2008 there was a twin turbo 180bhp version of the 1.9 diesel added to the range. In late 2009 diesel engines were revised again to 130bhp and 160bhp afaik.

jezzer

pyramuid man wrote: »

I bought a 05 1.9tid last October. I have put 50,000Km on it and it hasnt missed a beat. Great car and very economical. I average 50mpg (5.7l/100km) with a spirited drive. The cream interior is difficult enough to keep clean though.

Only thing that irks me slightly is that the coating of the buttons for climate control / radio rubs off quite easily leaving white plastic exposed.

sounds like a good runner for you, do you mind me asking did you purchase from a garage and what did you pay?

jezzer

bazz26 wrote: »

What year are you looking at OP?

From launch in 2002 the diesel was the old 2.2 litre GM unit which was old and unrefined. In mid 2004 this was replaced by two Fiat made 1.9 diesel engines, a 120bhp 8v and a 150bhp 16v. 120bhp is reckoned to be the more reliable unit.

In early 2007 the 9-3 got a revised interior with more up to date switchgear and centre console. The suspension was also revised. In late 2007 the exterior got a facelift and in 2008 there was a twin turbo 180bhp version of the 1.9 diesel added to the range. In late 2009 diesel engines were revised again to 130bhp and 160bhp afaik.

I would be looking at an 05

jezzer

The Pontiac wrote: »

They are anything but solid.

Take one for a drive in a typical Irish B road (with the radio off) and hear for yourself.

Really? that doesnt sound good

The Pontiac

jezzer wrote: »

Really? that doesnt sound good

The worst built saloon on the road. Build quality is a joke really.

I had one for a year (sold it exactly 12 months ago) and it did my head in. Rattles everywhere!

The 1.9tid 150bhp is a nice engine, but any high mileage will probably need the DMF done (so look for proof/receipt). It will cost €1k

jezzer

that seems to be a problem, the rattles in the car

jezzer

Guys any views on this?

http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/saab-93-disel-quick-sale/7436969

bazz26

That old 2.2 litre GM engine is as rough as Mary Harney's face. Seller also has numerous other cars for sale and appears to deal in damage/repairables.

jezzer

that bad eh? may not be worth looking at....the seller could be a bit dodgy as well by the looks of it

irishgrover

from my own experience: I bough a 2008 english import 1.9tdi (120bhp) estate in early 2012 (70k miles on the clock). I'm put 45k miles on it since and have had no unscheduled issues with it. My commute is 40 miles each way, 10 miles on **** roads 30 on motorway.
I find it to be extremely comfortable and reliable. The seats the the most comfortable I have even used. fuel efficiency is ~45 mph when driving non efficiently (130kph). When driving economically 110 kph I will get very high 40s mph.
For me the car has been great, reliable and comfortable. The interior is a little dated and boring but overall very happy with it.
Of course I said that same about my wifes car (not a saab) until it imploded a couple of weeks ago, so all opinion is context based I guess :-)

bazz26

jezzer wrote: »

that bad eh? may not be worth looking at....the seller could be a bit dodgy as well by the looks of it

I'm not saying the seller or car are dodgy, just saying what you may take in to account when looking at a cheap car from a establishment dealing in damage/repairable vehicles.

jezzer

thanks bazz i appreciate that also thanks irishgrover