Saab 9-3 HOT - a dangerous buy?
Discussion
I noticed there is another thread about these cars below, I thought I'd punt this one up here as the forum moves slowly and the HOT deserves a good mention, surely?
I've been thinking of getting one as a second car, thinly veiled to the wife as a second car for winter. But really, I just fancy something fast, comfortable and FWD to compliment my MR2 Turbo. I see that the 9-3 HOT's can be had for relatively little cash in what looks like surprisingly good nick. But is now a bad time to buy one? Are they likely to be ticking time bombs? Will replacement parts be readily available in the UK in the future or are these cars sadly just going to be a difficult ownership proposition to be saved for the die hard Saab fans?
I've been thinking of getting one as a second car, thinly veiled to the wife as a second car for winter. But really, I just fancy something fast, comfortable and FWD to compliment my MR2 Turbo. I see that the 9-3 HOT's can be had for relatively little cash in what looks like surprisingly good nick. But is now a bad time to buy one? Are they likely to be ticking time bombs? Will replacement parts be readily available in the UK in the future or are these cars sadly just going to be a difficult ownership proposition to be saved for the die hard Saab fans?
Doesn’t the bulkhead separation issue only affect Convertibles??
I think 9-3 Aero's look really, really good..... I even bought one when the missus fancied a dabble at convertible ownership a couple of summers ago.
Have to say though, I thought the handling was borderline dangerous, how any chassis development department could have 'signed it off' is beyond me!
SWMBO didn’t care at first, but not being able to put any power down in anything other than dry conditions got to her in the end!
BUT.... They do look good and i cant speak for the 3-doors and 5-doors.
Maybe without the VERY wobbly chassis, and monumental scuttle shake, the lack of grip, huge torque steer, naff TCS and tendency to under steer is just about tolerable?
This was our old one.....
I think 9-3 Aero's look really, really good..... I even bought one when the missus fancied a dabble at convertible ownership a couple of summers ago.
Have to say though, I thought the handling was borderline dangerous, how any chassis development department could have 'signed it off' is beyond me!
SWMBO didn’t care at first, but not being able to put any power down in anything other than dry conditions got to her in the end!
BUT.... They do look good and i cant speak for the 3-doors and 5-doors.
Maybe without the VERY wobbly chassis, and monumental scuttle shake, the lack of grip, huge torque steer, naff TCS and tendency to under steer is just about tolerable?
This was our old one.....
Edited by richard300 on Tuesday 27th December 16:04
richard300 said:
Have to say though, I thought the handling was borderline dangerous, how any chassis development department could have 'signed it off' is beyond me!
They did their best - unfortunately starting from a 1988 Vauxhall Cavalier platform that was never meant to handle anything more serious than a 2.0 litre 16 valver...Having said that, a 3 or 5 door with the 150/154 bhp 2.0 low pressure turbo is fine as a motorway/A-road companion, not sporting or precise but less mushy than -for instance- a Mk4 Golf or Audi A3 (and look at how much cheaper and more useful the Saab is at similar year/spec)...
richard300 said:
Have to say though, I thought the handling was borderline dangerous, how any chassis development department could have 'signed it off' is beyond me!
SWMBO didn’t care at first, but not being able to put any power down in anything other than dry conditions got to her in the end!
Wow, are they really that bad? I had heard some press reports that they were quite poor in the handling department (and one reviewer described the torque steer as so bad it could put you on the other side of the road without you having to touch the steering wheel). But really, they struggle to get the power down in the wet? That is jut not acceptable for me. I was looking for a second car to drive on the worst of days when the weather was so poor that I wouldn't be able to get the power down in my MR2 Turbo, so having something that struggles in the wet as a second car isn't really ideal. SWMBO didn’t care at first, but not being able to put any power down in anything other than dry conditions got to her in the end!
Baryonyx said:
Wow, are they really that bad? I had heard some press reports that they were quite poor in the handling department (and one reviewer described the torque steer as so bad it could put you on the other side of the road without you having to touch the steering wheel).
That applies to the 'hot' Viggen version. With the 2.0 litre low pressure turbo there's no torque steer to speak of unless you're really trying to make a point (re. Clarkson with some sort of hot Vauxhall accelerating from rest at WOT with both hands off the wheel).900T-R said:
Baryonyx said:
Wow, are they really that bad? I had heard some press reports that they were quite poor in the handling department (and one reviewer described the torque steer as so bad it could put you on the other side of the road without you having to touch the steering wheel).
That applies to the 'hot' Viggen version. With the 2.0 litre low pressure turbo there's no torque steer to speak of unless you're really trying to make a point (re. Clarkson with some sort of hot Vauxhall accelerating from rest at WOT with both hands off the wheel).Having said that.... As a second car, for the normal schlepping about in, a LPT 3 or 5 door probably isn’t to offensive a drive, the seats are comfortable and the ergonomics good.
900T-R said:
That applies to the 'hot' Viggen version. With the 2.0 litre low pressure turbo there's no torque steer to speak of unless you're really trying to make a point (re. Clarkson with some sort of hot Vauxhall accelerating from rest at WOT with both hands off the wheel).
I can imagine the Viggen suffers quite badly from it's considerable power, after all I'm sure these convertibles don't have the stiffest chassis around!Well yes, the convertible Viggen was even worse...
It has to be said, though, that the aftermarket was quick to react with a fix that all but eliminated the problem (steering rack brace, stiffer bushings to replace the rubber 'donut' separating the lower wishbone halves in cars based on the Cavalier platform (for NVH purposes, resulting in insufficient wheel location when subjected to high torque levels from drivetrain or brakes, and some stiffening of the front subframe). Sadly none of the above was adopted by the manufacturer...
It has to be said, though, that the aftermarket was quick to react with a fix that all but eliminated the problem (steering rack brace, stiffer bushings to replace the rubber 'donut' separating the lower wishbone halves in cars based on the Cavalier platform (for NVH purposes, resulting in insufficient wheel location when subjected to high torque levels from drivetrain or brakes, and some stiffening of the front subframe). Sadly none of the above was adopted by the manufacturer...
K321 said:
bulkhead cracks is an internet scare
i have had 8 saabs and never had the crack nor took crack
Are we confirming thats just an internet scare or not then? Note Vosa have put a note to MOT'ers that its an area specificly checked as part of the MOT for Saab's. i have had 8 saabs and never had the crack nor took crack
I'm guessing MOT time was when the above poster found out?
K321 said:
edit to add
my car has fallen apart...bulkhead crack...then now the engine mount all came off...engine is indesstructible though..
Sorry to hear about your 'vert's bulkhead. Do you think it was down to the extra power from being chipped?my car has fallen apart...bulkhead crack...then now the engine mount all came off...engine is indesstructible though..
As far as I know the bulkhead problem is very real. My 'vert has had replacement front uprights and hood from a bulkhead related scrapped Aero that, luckily for me, was being plundered for parts by my local Saab specialist. Saved me a fortune.
Such lovely weather today, reminded me why I love my Saab, despite the handling and scuttle shake...
I have always had a soft spot for SAABs & last yr bought a 3dr 9-3 Aero. I must agree that the handling in standard spec is dreadful especially with the crap low budget tyres the previous owner had put on the front.
Since then, i have fitted most of the content of the VRK (steering rack brace, 6-point sub frame brace & inner + outer track control arm poly bushes & rear tie bar poly bushes). I also fitted a pair of Conti Sport Contact 3 tyres & the difference is like night & day. Don't get me wrong, the thing don't handle like some FWD cars that i have driven e.g. Integra Type-R or Clio Williams but the 9-3 feels so much more communicative through the steering wheel & can really be hustled through corners. I could even tell a difference before i'd got out of my street with more weight & feeling in the steering.
You can pick 9-3 aeros up so cheap these days that id recommend anyone to do it & spend the money they've saved (not buying something german with equivalent condition & miles) on the upgrades listed above. The chassis feels so much more suited to the straight line speed now :-)
Since then, i have fitted most of the content of the VRK (steering rack brace, 6-point sub frame brace & inner + outer track control arm poly bushes & rear tie bar poly bushes). I also fitted a pair of Conti Sport Contact 3 tyres & the difference is like night & day. Don't get me wrong, the thing don't handle like some FWD cars that i have driven e.g. Integra Type-R or Clio Williams but the 9-3 feels so much more communicative through the steering wheel & can really be hustled through corners. I could even tell a difference before i'd got out of my street with more weight & feeling in the steering.
You can pick 9-3 aeros up so cheap these days that id recommend anyone to do it & spend the money they've saved (not buying something german with equivalent condition & miles) on the upgrades listed above. The chassis feels so much more suited to the straight line speed now :-)
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