SAAB 93 1.9 TTID Aero 2008?

[Ankh87]

I'm still looking for a good motorway and B road car for my work commute. I do 35-40 miles each way mostly motorway and dual carriageway but sometimes I have to take the B roads half way beside the motorway as the traffic can be horrid.

I've seen a 2008 93 1.9 TTID Aero not too far away from me and just wanting some feedback about the car in general. Will this car get over 45MPG on these sort of runs? Been a newer SAAB what are parts like nowadays, are they just as reliable as the older ones?

I like the fact that the SAAB is very exclusive. In fact I hardly see any one the roads at all. I don't know if that's good or bad haha.

My other alternatives are 2007 Volvo S40 (140bhp) 2.0d , 2006 Audi A4 S-Line (140bhp) pd2.0 TDI and 2007 Skoda Octavia VRS (170bhp) pd2.0 TDI. Has anyone driven any of these to compare as it would be a good insight.

[bluezedd]

Ankh87 said:

I'm still looking for a good motorway and B road car for my work commute. I do 35-40 miles each way mostly motorway and dual carriageway but sometimes I have to take the B roads half way beside the motorway as the traffic can be horrid.

I've seen a 2008 93 1.9 TTID Aero not too far away from me and just wanting some feedback about the car in general. Will this car get over 45MPG on these sort of runs? Been a newer SAAB what are parts like nowadays, are they just as reliable as the older ones?

I like the fact that the SAAB is very exclusive. In fact I hardly see any one the roads at all. I don't know if that's good or bad haha.

My other alternatives are 2007 Volvo S40 (140bhp) 2.0d , 2006 Audi A4 S-Line (140bhp) pd2.0 TDI and 2007 Skoda Octavia VRS (170bhp) pd2.0 TDI. Has anyone driven any of these to compare as it would be a good insight.

Hi Ankh87,

I have a 1.9TiD vector, and a 1.9TTiD aero that needs the rockers replaced. Parts availability has been good for the 3 years I've owned my TiD, but part of that has been due to the high number of z19dth engined cars there are. Parts seem more expensive for the TTiD and harder to find (but you can still find them). By harder to find, I mean you're more likely to find a TiD or vectra C in a scrappy, and more likely to find second hand exhaust manifold/turbos etc.

Interior quality is not going to be of the level that you would get with the A4, and my TiD has a lot of rattles, and some cheapness to it. I think that's the GM touch tbh. I've driven other 9-3s and a 9-5 new gen and these were better, but also lower miles.

A lot of parts are likely to be cheaper than the volvo and audi. I'm not aware of skoda parts costs, but maybe pricey if its VAG.

I probably wouldn't describe them as exclusive, and wouldn't hold them in high regard as the germans.

For me, the reason they make sense is their low purchase price and running costs. I probably wouldn't be happy spending any more than £2000 on one nowadays.

Tbh mine definitely feels like a vectra with a fancier interior.

I hear the pre-GM Saabs are a different beast, and would love to try a 900 turbo or a 9000.

MPG on the TiD is 38mpg roughly for short trips and town driving, but would say 47 is achievable for a motorway commute. The SID will show higher than 47mpg if you reset it before a trip, but I think it's optimistic to expect much higher. Not sure of mpg of the ttid as mine isn't running.

A lot of my parts are from euro car parts. Some specifics can be had from neobros etc.

Edited by bluezedd on Sunday 2nd June 17:50

[Ankh87]

Thanks for the reply.

I found a TTID Aero localish and hopefully picking it up at the weekend. Car seemed spot on for what I need. Handling wise it definitely isn't a B road car and you could feel it leaning. Maybe I'm use to my little go kart and my old Impreza so it's probably not as bad as I'm making out.

Overall it seemed great and can't wait to pick it up.

I like the fact that there's not many on the roads and how refined it is compare to my jap car.
Comparing to my friends Audi you can tell the difference but I don't think there's much in it. For the money I'm paying I would be getting a rough Audi and poverty spec so to me it's a no brainer.

I'll be posting a thread up about it once I've bought it and do a review once I get to know the car better. Touch wood for many happy years of motoring.

[bluezedd]

Ankh87 said:

Thanks for the reply.

I found a TTID Aero localish and hopefully picking it up at the weekend. Car seemed spot on for what I need. Handling wise it definitely isn't a B road car and you could feel it leaning. Maybe I'm use to my little go kart and my old Impreza so it's probably not as bad as I'm making out.

Overall it seemed great and can't wait to pick it up.

I like the fact that there's not many on the roads and how refined it is compare to my jap car.
Comparing to my friends Audi you can tell the difference but I don't think there's much in it. For the money I'm paying I would be getting a rough Audi and poverty spec so to me it's a no brainer.

I'll be posting a thread up about it once I've bought it and do a review once I get to know the car better. Touch wood for many happy years of motoring.

No problem Ankh87. That's great you've tested the car and you are happy with it for your needs. A lot of it comes down to tyres, suspension components etc too, so like you said there can be not a lot in it between the Saabs and the audis and bmws especially when you consider the difference in running costs and initial purchase price. Ah, if you're comparing it to a stereotypical japanese car then I can understand the difference you mean.

Yeah, I get quite a bit of body roll on mine too even though it has the sports option for the suspension. This is pretty normal for any 9-3 I've driven. Some have issues with the front drop links, or the rear anti-roll bar bushes, but both are super cheap, and it has a fair bit of body roll even when they are replaced anyway.

If there was one thing to warn you about though, it would be the timing belt and water pump. I'd find out when these were done last on the car you are buying, and replace both if it's been a fair few years. The water pump is known for failing and taking the timing belt out with it, which often results in broken rockers. I'd never not replace the water pump whenever you do a timing belt job, even if you think it's good. I'd be conservative about following manufacturer recommendations.

The timing belt issue is the reason I have ended up with a second 9-3 for scrap value. The head will come off out of curiousity, and I'll consider fixing it, but it might just end up as a parts car for my other 9-3.

Good luck, and I hope you enjoy your new car

[bluezedd]

bluezedd said:

No problem Ankh87. That's great you've tested the car and you are happy with it for your needs. A lot of it comes down to tyres, suspension components etc too, so like you said there can be not a lot in it between the Saabs and the audis and bmws especially when you consider the difference in running costs and initial purchase price. Ah, if you're comparing it to a stereotypical japanese car then I can understand the difference you mean.

Yeah, I get quite a bit of body roll on mine too even though it has the sports option for the suspension. This is pretty normal for any 9-3 I've driven. Some have issues with the front drop links, or the rear anti-roll bar bushes, but both are super cheap, and it has a fair bit of body roll even when they are replaced anyway.

If there was one thing to warn you about though, it would be the timing belt and water pump. I'd find out when these were done last on the car you are buying, and replace both if it's been a fair few years. The water pump is known for failing and taking the timing belt out with it, which often results in broken rockers. I'd never not replace the water pump whenever you do a timing belt job, even if you think it's good. I'd be conservative about following manufacturer recommendations.

The timing belt issue is the reason I have ended up with a second 9-3 for scrap value. A friend had done most maintenance jobs, except the timing belt and water pump, and it decided to end itself. The head will come off out of curiousity, and I'll consider fixing it, but it might just end up as a parts car for my other 9-3.

Good luck, and I hope you enjoy your new car

[Ankh87]

Thanks a lot.

Yeah the belt and water pump have been done. Also had new turbos and clutch recently. The guy who had/has it seems to have looked after it really well, I'm hoping I won't need to do much work apart from maintenance.