Consider an early 9-3 convertible - Am I made??
Discussion
I have a grand for the budget and I see there are a few S & T reg example around for this money.
I'm guessing the standard things apply when checking a car over that going for a bag of sand.
Are the cracked bulk heads really that common. I'm hoping to pick a decent example up and undertake a little restro on it over the next few years here and there
I'm guessing the standard things apply when checking a car over that going for a bag of sand.
Are the cracked bulk heads really that common. I'm hoping to pick a decent example up and undertake a little restro on it over the next few years here and there
The 9-3 cabriolet does look like a lot of car for the money but beware of bulkhead cracks and remember its only a vectra cabriolet at the end of the day.
If it was my money I would go for a slightly older audi 80 cabriolet that way you will never have trouble with the rust bug.
But I've got to admit it looks a lot of car for the money.
If it was my money I would go for a slightly older audi 80 cabriolet that way you will never have trouble with the rust bug.
But I've got to admit it looks a lot of car for the money.
I've just picked up a 2000 model 9-3 turbo (185bhp) for £410! Everything works and it passed its mot without a single advisory. Clutch bearing is making a weird noise and the handling is erm soft, but the bulkhead crack was rectified two years ago so I am happy!
Definitely check out any sludge issues and make sure it has been run on synthetic oil with 5000 mile changes
Definitely check out any sludge issues and make sure it has been run on synthetic oil with 5000 mile changes
I sold mine last week 
They get a lot of bad press as there's a lot of GM influence in them, but they're not a bad car at all! The handling's not that great so they really do need the following mods as a minimum to cut down on scuttle shake:
Steering rack clamp & brace
http://www.partsforsaabs.com/product_info.php?prod...
Subframe brace (2, 4 or 6 point) I had the ebay 6 point on mine but be aware the delivery times are long! Really long!!!
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SAAB-BRACE-9-3-900-6-Poi...
Another cheap mod is just piggy back the rear arb with another standard brace or buy a 22mm bar if you can find one.
The bulkhead split is common but not the end of the world, a Saab indi should be able to weld it for sub £400.
The sludging problem is for T7 engined cars (2000 onwards) although I had a late T5 engined car also 2000. Easiest way to check is open the bonnet and if the oil cap is dead center its T5, oil cap to the left and its T7.
ECU re-maps are dead cheap for these! If you get a lpt (no boost gauge in dash) then the jump in power goes from a very sluggish 154bhp to brisk 220ish.....well worth it, and also get the T7 mod done same time as the T5 valves tend to fail more than the t7 valves plus the t7 valves are cheaper. It also makes it nicer to drive with the boost coming in a lot smoother (who ever maps it should be able to do this for you as the ECU will need modifying)
Take a look on UKSaabs for remapping as a few of the guys can do it for not a lot of cash.
They get a lot of bad press as there's a lot of GM influence in them, but they're not a bad car at all! The handling's not that great so they really do need the following mods as a minimum to cut down on scuttle shake:
Steering rack clamp & brace
http://www.partsforsaabs.com/product_info.php?prod...
Subframe brace (2, 4 or 6 point) I had the ebay 6 point on mine but be aware the delivery times are long! Really long!!!
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SAAB-BRACE-9-3-900-6-Poi...
Another cheap mod is just piggy back the rear arb with another standard brace or buy a 22mm bar if you can find one.
The bulkhead split is common but not the end of the world, a Saab indi should be able to weld it for sub £400.
The sludging problem is for T7 engined cars (2000 onwards) although I had a late T5 engined car also 2000. Easiest way to check is open the bonnet and if the oil cap is dead center its T5, oil cap to the left and its T7.
ECU re-maps are dead cheap for these! If you get a lpt (no boost gauge in dash) then the jump in power goes from a very sluggish 154bhp to brisk 220ish.....well worth it, and also get the T7 mod done same time as the T5 valves tend to fail more than the t7 valves plus the t7 valves are cheaper. It also makes it nicer to drive with the boost coming in a lot smoother (who ever maps it should be able to do this for you as the ECU will need modifying)
Take a look on UKSaabs for remapping as a few of the guys can do it for not a lot of cash.
Jimboka said:
Vince70 said:
The 9-3 cabriolet does look like a lot of car for the money but beware of bulkhead cracks and remember its only a vectra cabriolet at the end of the day.
Quite a bit of duff information there...Many Saab drivers like the understated sophistication of these models, and most cars are usually well cared for, making them a potential good used buy.
But, there's more to its appeal than that. For a start, this is a convertible that can happily take four adults, provides a decent boot and protects its passengers from wind when the top is down.
However, the loss of the roof does nothing to help the handling. And, because the chassis flexes so much, the 9-3 doesn’t cope with poor quality road surfaces very well.
Saab has a proud history of turbocharged engines and the convertible is proof of that. However, the diesel engines available in the 9-3 hatchback didn’t make it into the soft-top.
Trade view
Still looks good in the right colour and holds value well. Aero and Viggen models sought after
Martin Keighley
Valuations expert,
What Car? Used Car Price Guide
Which one should I get?
Where's the misinformation and type Saab bulkhead crack in google and see what comes up, I'm not saying their bad for the money as you get one with a years ticket and tax now for around £700.
You can drive one for the summer and if anything major does go wrong at least you can weigh it in and you've not lost too much money.
Every car has its faults
I had a 9-3 Convertible and loved it.
I also had a 9-3 5 door, that got a cracked bulkhead. The ex Saab mobile mechanic I use, had never seen one before, so while it is all over google, as a percentage, they are quite rare.
My 5 door was a diesel, and that adds about £300 to the bulkhead fix, due to removal & replacement of the soundproofing. This was caused by some diesel on the road, and the suspension getting a hell of a clout on a kerb.
I am currently thinking about getting another convertible, as they are so cheap.
Go for it, they make a great cruiser (as has been said, avoid rough roads, and chucking it about too much
)
Sparks
I also had a 9-3 5 door, that got a cracked bulkhead. The ex Saab mobile mechanic I use, had never seen one before, so while it is all over google, as a percentage, they are quite rare.
My 5 door was a diesel, and that adds about £300 to the bulkhead fix, due to removal & replacement of the soundproofing. This was caused by some diesel on the road, and the suspension getting a hell of a clout on a kerb.
I am currently thinking about getting another convertible, as they are so cheap.
Go for it, they make a great cruiser (as has been said, avoid rough roads, and chucking it about too much
)Sparks
Vince70 said:
It might look just like the 900 model that preceded it, but beneath the familiar shape of the 9-3 Convertible lies a heavily revised design. In fact, it shares its underpinnings with the contemporary Vauxhall Vectra.
Many Saab drivers like the understated sophistication of these models, and most cars are usually well cared for, making them a potential good used buy.
But, there's more to its appeal than that. For a start, this is a convertible that can happily take four adults, provides a decent boot and protects its passengers from wind when the top is down.
However, the loss of the roof does nothing to help the handling. And, because the chassis flexes so much, the 9-3 doesn’t cope with poor quality road surfaces very well.
Saab has a proud history of turbocharged engines and the convertible is proof of that. However, the diesel engines available in the 9-3 hatchback didn’t make it into the soft-top.
Trade view
Still looks good in the right colour and holds value well. Aero and Viggen models sought after
Martin Keighley
Valuations expert,
What Car? Used Car Price Guide
Which one should I get?
Where's the misinformation and type Saab bulkhead crack in google and see what comes up, I'm not saying their bad for the money as you get one with a years ticket and tax now for around £700.
You can drive one for the summer and if anything major does go wrong at least you can weigh it in and you've not lost too much money.
Every car has its faults
Cavalier actually...Still good carsMany Saab drivers like the understated sophistication of these models, and most cars are usually well cared for, making them a potential good used buy.
But, there's more to its appeal than that. For a start, this is a convertible that can happily take four adults, provides a decent boot and protects its passengers from wind when the top is down.
However, the loss of the roof does nothing to help the handling. And, because the chassis flexes so much, the 9-3 doesn’t cope with poor quality road surfaces very well.
Saab has a proud history of turbocharged engines and the convertible is proof of that. However, the diesel engines available in the 9-3 hatchback didn’t make it into the soft-top.
Trade view
Still looks good in the right colour and holds value well. Aero and Viggen models sought after
Martin Keighley
Valuations expert,
What Car? Used Car Price Guide
Which one should I get?
Where's the misinformation and type Saab bulkhead crack in google and see what comes up, I'm not saying their bad for the money as you get one with a years ticket and tax now for around £700.
You can drive one for the summer and if anything major does go wrong at least you can weigh it in and you've not lost too much money.
Every car has its faults
We ran a '98 9-3 cab. for 60k miles. It was flawed, but did so many things well we forgave it.
I had understood that the various bracing measures you can undertake just transfer the load so that you get a failure somewhere else in the bulkhead.
Ours had nearly 100k on it by the time we parted, some of them quite hard cross country miles and there were no bulkhead cracks. An oil leak requiring the engine to come out, its low value and imminent arrival of small child meant we parted ways
It also did a GPS verified 129mph (2.3 automatic, no turbo) 2 up with fuel and luggage, the speedo was wound off the clock past 150mph, a slight slope may have afflicted that stretch of autobahn
edit to add, I am sure the fact that it only had 16" rims helped the ride, the flexibility and longevity of the bulkhead
I had understood that the various bracing measures you can undertake just transfer the load so that you get a failure somewhere else in the bulkhead.
Ours had nearly 100k on it by the time we parted, some of them quite hard cross country miles and there were no bulkhead cracks. An oil leak requiring the engine to come out, its low value and imminent arrival of small child meant we parted ways
It also did a GPS verified 129mph (2.3 automatic, no turbo) 2 up with fuel and luggage, the speedo was wound off the clock past 150mph, a slight slope may have afflicted that stretch of autobahn
edit to add, I am sure the fact that it only had 16" rims helped the ride, the flexibility and longevity of the bulkhead
Edited by BobTurner on Wednesday 17th July 12:58
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