Buying a SAAB

Hi...I am thinking of buying a SAAB 9-3 around the 98/99 model. I am from the UK and would like to know any bad points about them ie cost of parts, fuel consumption, resale value etc etc. Can you please offer any advice, good or bad to help my decision. Much appreciated. Thanks

Reply to
Oscar79
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My advice is to use google (groups). I'm pretty sure this one has been covered eleventy billion times before.

Reply to
Fred W

Way to welcome the newcomer there... in theory, nearly every topic here has been discussed. So maybe we sholdn't ask anything any more?

Reply to
Dave Hinz

Perhaps you are right. Nothing new here, move along...

Actually, if it had been a specfic question it may have been worth the time to answer. A general question such as that would require writing a book.

BTW - I noticed that you didn't answer his question either, Dave. ;-)

Reply to
Fred W

Or a clarifying question.

My experience with 9-3's is zero. Hardly the same as chasing the guy away.

Reply to
Dave Hinz

Model info -

A'98 is the last year of the (new generation) 900, popularly known as the NG900. The NG900 was introduced in '94 and most of the bugs had been well worked out by 1998. In 1999, Saab introduced the 9~3, which was really just a revision of the NG900 (to the point that about 90% of the parts still exchanged directly).

Either model is well refined. I don't know of any "big changes to the model" differences that would cause me to stay clear of the '99. The one major difference in 1999 was that they went back to a hydraulic clutch instead of a mechanical clutch as in the NG900. The manual clutch gets a bad rap but the only real issue is that the $50usd ($125 installed) cable wears out every 50K miles. Otherwise, the mechanics of the cars are so similar as to lack distinction. If you are looking at a convertible, I believe the top went hydraulic also in 1999 but I may be off - it might have been 2000 for that.

Each year was a fairly well worked out model with all of the TSB's from the preceding years incorporated. I would not have any year specific concerns about either. If you would like, I can list a few "things to look for" for either model. It would help if I had some idea of the number of miles (range) you are looking at.

Mileage will depend on which motor you get and how much you like to feel the turbo push, but all of these models tend to get 22-25 city,

27-32 highway. There were some non-turbo models which do about the same. Most of us average around 25-27 mpg depending on our driving mix, ambient temperatures, and style.

Parts are as reasonable as any car these days. Labor is more in the US than more common cars - mostly because th dealers charge more so the indy's think it's OK to stay just a few bucks below dealer prices.

Resales tends to be lower for Saabs - or looking at it another way - they tend to lose value after the initial dealer sale. The reason is that any car of a particular quality and refinement costs a certain amount to produce. So, Saabs sell for prices similar to any other comparable car when new. However, Saabs tend to be a bit "cultish" in the used market- so there's less demand, That means they seel for lower prices used - which is good for a smart guy like you who is buying used. After the initial depreciation off the lot and through the first couple years, they depreciate fairly normally.

Bob

Reply to
- Bob -

Goodo! Other people have detailed the background.

This can be expensive.

In UK terms, the petrol models are all pretty similar for consumption. Their official book figures are typically ~19 for the urban cycle and ~40 for the extra urban cycle with combined cycle figures of around 30 to the gallon. The diesel, well, you're looking at ~32, ~61, ~46 respectively.

The sweet spot of the range is either the 2.0t (150 / 154 bhp, 2.0, low pressure turbo) or the 2.2 TiD (but I like diesels so I'm biased). SE specification gets lots of toys but optional heated leather interior.

I particularily like the 2.0t because it produces decent thump lower down in the rev range, Saab have given it reasonably tall gearing so it's quiet on the motorway but picks up nicely when you give it a boot. It doesn't need revs for decent acceleration (unlike the non-turbo 2.0), which probably helps keep consumption down in real world terms. The 2.2 diesel isn't all that quiet at idle but on the move it has a lovely* diesel thrum about it, its multivalve 2.2 engine is keen to rev beyond the red line and it's also not too bad on fuel. It is no economy champion but mine returns ~50 mpg with my driving. That's why I run the diesel, I'm tight.

I'd avoid the 2.0 non-turbo. It's just as thirsty as the other machines, it feels slower than the diesel on the road (despite being more powerful) and whilst it doesn't have quite the same traction issues as the turbos, it's just, well, erm... not as nice as the 2.0t.

The 2.0T has 185 or 205 bhp, feels perky in the upper gears. The 2.3 non-turbo is smooth but not especially rapid, it has ~150 bhp as I remember. The 2.3 Viggen is viciously quick... it feels silly. 230 bhp or so, front wheel drive, what feels like short gearing... Lovely. And no thirstier than the boggo non-turbo 2.0 either. :-)

...but all 9-3s of this generation are limited by their traction. They wheelspin. Lots. Even the 115 bhp diesel without it being chipped. It's a Saab thing...

Of this age, they're cheap. They will get cheaper.

First off, find out if there's a decent Saab specialist nearby. I live in York, I use a specialist in Boroughbridge, Griffin Autotechniks; they're materially cheaper than a Saab main dealer but they know their stuff.

Secondly, get yourself down to the Saab forums and read up on the common 9-3 issues, such as the SID screens not working, the diesel's duff mass air meter and importantly the bulkhead seperation issue type thing. These are not to put you off but to help you spot it... I bought my 2000 TiD with a duff mass air meter. It's a £250 part from Saab, I knocked off £400 from the price and found a nearly new but used spare for £60... :)

Things to note about the 9-3 include the fact that the interior should be rattle free, the heater and air conditioning should be powerful, the car, well, solid to drive if uninspiring in the ordinary models. Don't get me wrong, I like the way my 9-3 TiD drives, but it isn't exactly sporty feeling.

Reply to
DervMan

How about a summary of all the top tips ?

Graham

Reply to
Eeyore

I bought a 2003 93 in May and although I realise it's a later model I found out everything I wanted to know..and some things I didn't !! at

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Reply to
Mark A

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