Thinking about a Saab

FR85

My own car will be due a timing belt and waterpump, alternator is making a clicking noise and I'm guessing I might have to look at a DMF and clutch in the not too distant future.
Rather then pump the bones of 2k into a 2007 high miler I've been siding with a Saab 9-3, 2011, 1.9 TTID 160 Vector Sport.
Any anyone any info on them, anything to look out for, longterm issues ect.....
From reading most forums online they seem to be fairly solid and a good buy.

Any pointers would be fantastic, I know all brands have their flaws but any complete show stoppers would be cool!

bear1

Ttid are 180.
They aren't a very big car and the boot isn't anything special if you're bringing kids around.
But the ttid would be my choice and in vector guise they look great.
The 150 engine is a fiat engine but it's a pretty good engine.

FR85

bear1 wrote: »

Ttid are 180.
They aren't a very big car and the boot isn't anything special if you're bringing kids around.
But the ttid would be my choice and in vector guise they look great.
The 150 engine is a fiat engine but it's a pretty good engine.

Looked again at the site and its says 160bhp, I'll do a bit more research. There is a 180bhp in the Aero on the same site alright.
Lack of a boot actually suits because in work there is a lob it in the car and bring it with you kind of approach. I was looking at an estate and I said a saloon actually suit's from that stand point!

bazz26

Just be careful with the last of the 9-3s from around 2010 onwards as SaaB were near collapse by then so build quality may have suffered. The 9-3 used a lot of GM parts found in the likes of the Opel Vectra. 1.9 diesel engine is a Fiat sourced engine that was modified by Saab in later years. The same basic lump is found in various Opels, Alfa Romeos, Fiats, etc. The older ones suffered from swirl flap issues and they liked flywheels, not sure about the later modified Saab versions though.

grogi

bear1 wrote: »

Ttid are 180.
They aren't a very big car and the boot isn't anything special if you're bringing kids around.
But the ttid would be my choice and in vector guise they look great.
The 150 engine is a fiat engine but it's a pretty good engine.

Both are in principle, it's just the head and turbo that Saab played with a bit.

bear1

grogi wrote: »

Both are in principle, it's just the head and turbo that Saab played with a bit.

Except The ttid is a twin turbo set up albeit with a small turbo to reduce lag.
If i was going for one it would be the ttid hirsch version which gives 200bhp.

impr0v

I bought a 1.8t petrol new in 2003 and I have a 2007 version of the same model now, with 165k kms on it. It's still solid but a bit rattley and squeaky. It's a C reg and I suspect it did a lot of mileage on rough roads. I also have a problem getting it into first occasionally, which a taxi driver (driving a 9-3) told me was a common problem with them. No real complaints. I like the look of them, and the 2007 was good value after Saab went under - hence the second one.

FR85

I was going to ask about the Twin Turbo set up, are they in theory double trouble or if servicing is kept up to snuff are they solid?
I've 330,000 kms on the current runner and it's still on the original turbo so I'm not a killer, oils done every 10-12k and I'd be keeping up that service plan.

Swirlflaps can be got around once caught early.

Are these prone to DPF issues or does a good run keep them in check?

corks finest

bazz26 wrote: »

Just be careful with the last of the 9-3s from around 2010 onwards as SaaB were near collapse by then so build quality may have suffered. The 9-3 used a lot of GM parts found in the likes of the Opel Vectra. 1.9 diesel engine is a Fiat sourced engine that was modified by Saab in later years. The same basic lump is found in various Opels, Alfa Romeos, Fiats, etc. The older ones suffered from swirl flap issues and they liked flywheels, not sure about the later modified Saab versions though.

Basically a vectra