Saab 9-3 turbo or diesel?

bear1

Guys, bit of a pickle.
I'm thinking of changing the wifes GP sporting diesel as she needs something a bit bigger when travelling around with our baby.
We've a stationwagon already but she prefers something a bit smaller for parking etc.
Did a bit of checking and the Saabs seem to be going for bargain prices.
However, the wife wants a diesel because every month she does one long trip of 360km.
Apart from that the car is used around town.
So from my calculations she does about max 10k km per year which to me is just not enough to justify a diesel.
So I've looked at petrols and cause she likes a bit of power I'm looking at turbo petrols.
In my opinion we are defo in petrol territory with those kms per year whereas I am defo in diesel territory in the statiowagon.
Would the costs of getting a turbo petrol 9-3 be less than potentially a 9-3 Tid? For me they would be.

commited

I've had both and my advice would be to go for the petrol, especially if you can get the 2.0t over the 1.8t.

No idea what your budget is but these 3 looked decent:
https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/saab-9-3/11535997
http://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/saab/9-3/used-2005-saab-9-3-irish-car-2-0-dublin-fpa-201614392363056620
https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/saab-93-2-0-t-vector-sport/11583010

bear1

Thanks for those. Budget would be max 5k and I suppose vector or aero spec would be nice.
Re the 2.0t I've just been reading that it isn't best lump but it wasn't very specific why.
What sort of mpg do you get in it? Spec sheet says 8l/100km which is what 35mpg?

Had a 04 Saab 9-3 1.9 petrol and LOVED it. Not a hint of a problem for 10 years after I bought it second hand in 06. Sadly everything went in last year or so, seatbelt recoil, heating, windows...but engine and handling still perfect. Will cost too much to do up with no guarantee it'd pass NCT, so with great regret I'm looking to change. Seeing all these newer compact execs, Mondeos, Insignias etc. and people saying gearbox problems, engine problems, electronics, clutch...and it makes me even sadder to part with the Saab. Don't think I'll ever have a car I like as much.

commited

The 1.8t and 2.0t are exactly the same engine just the 2.0t is mapped for higher power.

MPG wise, I got between 28-38mpg depending on driving conditions.

bear1

commited wrote: »

The 1.8t and 2.0t are exactly the same engine just the 2.0t is mapped for higher power.

MPG wise, I got between 28-38mpg depending on driving conditions.

38 isn't bad which I bet is motorway driving.
As a family car how would you rate it? I.e. Boot space.
Also the 2.0t is the 175bhp engine right? Sorry for all the questions just need to build up the petrol argument to the wife

punisher5112

Unless its been driven on big journeys diesel will bring a world of pain and become a money pit.

I've had a few 93s and 1 turbo blew at 93k mile. Was expensive fix and obviously previous owner skipped a few oil changes or left too long.

Great car to drive and a lot of fun.

commited

Yup 2.0t is 175bhp. They can be mapped handily enough for 220bhp but I never bothered.

If you're obsessed with MPG then a ~10 year old petrol 2.0 turbo isn't the engine to get but I didn't find it particularly heavy on fuel and I did nearly 10,000 miles in it. It was regularly getting 35mpg on the motorway which is more than respectable.

Boots a great size. My only real gripe with the car was the fact that there were a few rattles around the place and it was a big step down from the 530i I had before it. That said I got a great deal on it and it's still a great looking car today.

I had a nearly new diesel 9-3 in 2008 and it gave massive amounts of problems and was slow. I wouldn't recommend.

bear1

Mpg isn't a massive factor considering the punto would be doing similar mpg due to pootling around and the trip every month.
So id imagine overall they would be the same except over long distances.
Wont bother with a remap as I'm not looking to took around in it or the wife.
Vector is the highest spec or aero?

commited

The Saab will definitely use more fuel than a Punto, that's for sure, unless the Punto is very very broken.

Aero is highest spec but is a 210bhp engine.
Vector sport is technically highest spec.
Arc is also available - it's meant to be the luxury version with full leather and wood rather than sporty bits.

bear1

commited wrote: »

The Saab will definitely use more fuel than a Punto, that's for sure, unless the Punto is very very broken.

Aero is highest spec but is a 210bhp engine.
Vector sport is technically highest spec.
Arc is also available - it's meant to be the luxury version with full leather and wood rather than sporty bits.

Nah the Punto is fine, in fact its brilliant with its 130bhp engine.
But at that time diesel was needed and its the sport version so looked nice.
At this point not enough km are done to justify it.
So its consumption around town is poor because of this. Motorway not bad at all.