€4kish to spend on a new car.

Esox Lucias

Hi,

I have about €4k to spend on a new car, I am not overly fussy with power. 35yo male looking for cheap tax. I currently drive a 02 1.9 150bhp GTTDi golf and feel its about time I adulted a bit more.

I have no problem going up north and buying if i can get better value. Durability and comfort would be my main focus as I can travel long distances at time for work along bad roads. If I do buy up north with the 30 day VRTing I can add another 1k to VRT if I must next month. Something to last me 2 years and I would like to trade in again, so resale value would be great too.

I am not a car person, so apologies if all of this is too much for my small budget, but any help would be appreciated.

Cheers, any questions and il reply asap.


Esox

D Trent

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/saab-93/16438995


If you test drive one of these I'm confident you'll fall in love with it.
Just as sporty as a Golf but probably more comfortable.

I have had a '08 Diesel vector sport 93(150break) for the last two years and I love it to bits, has been a great car for me doing high mileage.

Esox Lucias

D Trent wrote: »

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/saab-93/16438995


If you test drive one of these I'm confident you'll fall in love with it.
Just as sporty as a Golf but probably more comfortable.

I have had a '08 Diesel vector sport 93(150break) for the last two years and I love it to bits, has been a great car for me doing high mileage.

That looks really nice and something like I would definitely drive. My girlfriend is saying they don't make Saab cars anymore (she knows way more than I do), would it be hard to get parts for or repair because of this?

Cheers for your reply, it was on the money.

D Trent

Esox Lucias wrote: »

That looks really nice and something like I would definitely drive. My girlfriend is saying they don't make Saab cars anymore (she knows way more than I do), would it be hard to get parts for or repair because of this?

Cheers for your reply, it was on the money.

I've put on 40,000 miles on mine in 2yrs and not needed parts other than timing belt kit, air filter etc, (one wing mirror) I've regularly changed the oil etc.
It is the same engine as Opel/Vauxhall vectra so no issue getting parts.

jimmycrackcorm

Esox Lucias wrote:

That looks really nice and something like I would definitely drive. My girlfriend is saying they don't make Saab cars anymore (she knows way more than I do), would it be hard to get parts for or repair because of this?

I've a Saab 93 for ten years. Once you drive them you love them. It's they don't make then any longer but the downfall of saab was that GM bought them.

However it's an advantage now as basically most parts are the same as Opels.

Test drive one you'll love it.

Esox Lucias

Thanks guys, they look fantastic and I'm going to go look at a few if I can. I shall report back on any progress.

Cheers :D

Reventon93

I definiteley recomend the 93. I have a vector sport (150) as well and it's brilliant. What you get for the kind of money is insane. I've had mine 8 months now and i've been driving it into the ground. Had a solid engine, easily available parts (like has been said above) and it's a stunning looking car. I didn't even have a Saab in my head when I was looking at a new car. A mechanic friend of my dad had one for sale and as soon as I drove it, I needed it. Definitely go see a few and test drive them. I honestly couldn't think of something better for that price range. Good luck with it!

Esox Lucias

Thanks for the info Reventon93, I have a viewing of one tomorrow. I am having mixed reactions from people when I tell them what I'm looking at buying. One lad saying to only buy the 9-5 that the 9-3 are just vectras, but I assume this makes it easier to repair as stated above.

The final question I think I have is mileage. The lower the better, but is there a too high a limit. All that I am seeing have between 120k miles to 150k miles. This an okay amount for a diesel engine?

grogi

Esox Lucias wrote: »

Thanks for the info Reventon93, I have a viewing of one tomorrow. I am having mixed reactions from people when I tell them what I'm looking at buying. One lad saying to only buy the 9-5 that the 9-3 are just vectras, but I assume this makes it easier to repair as stated above.

The final question I think I have is mileage. The lower the better, but is there a too high a limit. All that I am seeing have between 120k miles to 150k miles. This an okay amount for a diesel engine?

95 is Vectra b, 93 is a Vectra c... Latest 95 is almost an Insignia.

The diesels in 93 are... Fiat engines. Very durable once a few issues are taken care of: swirl flaps being the first. They like to clog dpf and egr, and are not kindest to dmf.

Esox Lucias

So I have been to view two Saabs, one was a 180bhp, nice car, just didnt enjoy its interior enough to buy it and abit over budget perhaps. The other had a dodgy fly wheel. I love the look of them but people keep trying to turn me off them.

I'm in no hurry, as I do enjoy driving my golf, but its a scary world of second hand car buying out there.

Any other suggestions while I'm still looking from anyone?

Cheers for all the help so far.

bazz26

Alfa Romeo 159:

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/price-drop-09-alfa-159-executive-150bhp/15181635

Esox Lucias

Right lads,

After a fair amount of searching. I'm going to go and look at one more Saab, I really like them, as stated, the few ive looked at have had some issues. I'm going to view this . After VRT (€930), years tax (€280) and hopefully it passes the NCT first time I am looking to be all in for €3850.

I am not that knowledgeable, does that sound about right for that make and spec of a car? Ive checked other sources, both the UK mainland and ROI and the prices vary so much I don't know if this is a steal or not. My gut instinct says if it is as described I am getting a good deal. At the same time, like most of us, I do not want to get mugged either.

Cheers for any advice or help, and i understand the personal value/taste comes into play when choosing a car.

They are such comfy machines I don't want to be overly bias just for comfort.

Thanks for the feedback from ye all (im such a scardy cat when buying new expensive things)

lawred2

D Trent wrote: »

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/saab-93/16438995


If you test drive one of these I'm confident you'll fall in love with it.
Just as sporty as a Golf but probably more comfortable.

I have had a '08 Diesel vector sport 93(150break) for the last two years and I love it to bits, has been a great car for me doing high mileage.

I had a 1.9 Vector for years. Cracking spec. Loved the turbo whoosh when giving it a bit of a heavy foot.

Broke my heart selling it.

Esox Lucias

lawred2 wrote: »

I had a 1.9 Vector for years. Cracking spec. Loved the turbo whoosh when giving it a bit of a heavy foot.

Broke my heart selling it.

Deadly, did you find it hard to sell?

(sorry, after reading it aloud to myself i realised how nosey i was being)

lawred2

Esox Lucias wrote: »

Deadly, did you find it hard to sell?

(sorry, after reading it aloud to myself i realised how nosey i was being)

dealer took it off me so no not really - no idea what it would have been like to sell privately..

however if you're spending sub 4k on one I would have thought resale was largely irrelevant - it'll pay you back in more ways than just resale.

At those prices I can't see how you'd lose. Someone will always pay something for it.

Sam Kade

D Trent wrote: »

I've put on 40,000 miles on mine in 2yrs and not needed parts other than timing belt kit, air filter etc, (one wing mirror) I've regularly changed the oil etc.
It is the same engine as Opel/Vauxhall vectra so no issue getting parts.

But there's more parts in them other than the engine.

grogi

Sam Kade wrote: »

But there's more parts in them other than the engine.

The 9-3 is effectively a VectraC in disguise. Heaps of mechanical parts are common...

lawred2

grogi wrote: »

The 9-3 is effectively a VectraC in disguise. Heaps of mechanical parts are common...

The engine was heavily modified by Saab wasn't it?

grogi

lawred2 wrote: »

The engine was heavily modified by Saab wasn't it?

Engine was modified. Short block might be shared, but the heads are tweaked. Suspension, gearboxes, brakes - typically not.

lawred2

grogi wrote: »

Engine was modified. Short block might be shared, but the heads are tweaked. Suspension, gearboxes, brakes - typically not.

fairly sure it was all their own turbo kit as well

grogi

lawred2 wrote: »

fairly sure it was all their own turbo kit as well

Turbos are typically made by external parties... Saab going belly did not really influence Honeywell I believe...