Saab 9-3 Newbie - thinking of buying

[amsie]

Hi all,

Been looking around for a new car, and came across a Saab. i've always liked the look of them, but never seen inside one before, and I thought it looked fantastic, full leather, nice layout etc, and some really good prices around.

Were looking at a 1.9 TID (TDI?) around 55 plate upwards. Are these good cars to purchase and is there anything to look out for?

Also, does anyone have any info regarding the MPG?

Finally, being a noob to Saab, what is the difference between the various model versions?

Id like as much loaded stuff that i will hardly ever use as possible :-)

Thanks

Paul

[DCLane]

The Aero model's got the 'stuff' - cruise control, leather, multi-function steering wheel (that I didn't think I'd use and do).

Not sure about mpg though - mine's a petrol.

UKSaabs is the best place to ask, although most on there have older Saabs.

[craggers]

Currently driving 55 reg 1.9 TiD Vector Sport (150bhp version)

Average miles on between fill up is about 500 to 600 miles (approx £55 to fill it up) Mine is vector sport which got everything like Aero model (full leather interior, got cruise control, multi function button on steering wheel etc)

I like it very much.

Linear model is pretty much basic model, best goes for Vector.

Edited by craggers on Wednesday 22 July 09:44

[amsie]

Thanks guys. I was comming to the conclusion of going for a Vector sport. 2 more questions if you don't mind, I got into a Linear the other day to show the wife the interior etc and noticed that the display was all in KM and L/KM. Can this be changed to Mpg & miles etc?

Also, the sound system in the linear was comparable to that of a cortina from the 80's, very tinny. Is the sound system better in the vectors? Im not after amps in the boot shattering all the windows and waking up the street, just something normal with a bit of bass.

Thanks

Paul

[craggers]

amsie said:

Thanks guys. I was comming to the conclusion of going for a Vector sport. 2 more questions if you don't mind, I got into a Linear the other day to show the wife the interior etc and noticed that the display was all in KM and L/KM. Can this be changed to Mpg & miles etc?

Also, the sound system in the linear was comparable to that of a cortina from the 80's, very tinny. Is the sound system better in the vectors? Im not after amps in the boot shattering all the windows and waking up the street, just something normal with a bit of bass.

Thanks

Paul

Mine shown in miles and mpg as it should.

Can't help you with sound system

[macp]

I used to have a 2006 9-3 Vector Sport TiD 150bhp.Decent car and I would say the sound system in mine was standard equipment but I was impressed with it.

Make sure you get the 1.9 TiD 150bhp 16v and not the 120bhp 8v as there is a big difference in the performance.

[amsie]

Thanks for all the help guys. Can't wait to test one of them and hopefully buy. Still trying to talk the missus round, can you believe she wants a Focus?????? wtf? We currently have an ST220 fully loaded leather seats etc, and she wants the same interior, but with the focus she wants, it would be back to cloth. Her decision is based soley on what it looks like outside, not how it drives, feels inside etc, so I need to find a black one with half/full leather and get her inside, lol.

1 more question though, not sure what were gonna get for our money mileage wise, we havent brought anything less than 30k for the past 10 years, but were not as flush as we used to be (kids, one wage etc), so it might be a 50-60k car. Do I need to check whether the cam belt has been changed on these, and if not, would I have to do that around 60K? Im looking at the 150bhp version as suggested.

Cheers

Paul

[macp]

amsie said:

Thanks for all the help guys. Can't wait to test one of them and hopefully buy. Still trying to talk the missus round, can you believe she wants a Focus?????? wtf? We currently have an ST220 fully loaded leather seats etc, and she wants the same interior, but with the focus she wants, it would be back to cloth. Her decision is based soley on what it looks like outside, not how it drives, feels inside etc, so I need to find a black one with half/full leather and get her inside, lol.

1 more question though, not sure what were gonna get for our money mileage wise, we havent brought anything less than 30k for the past 10 years, but were not as flush as we used to be (kids, one wage etc), so it might be a 50-60k car. Do I need to check whether the cam belt has been changed on these, and if not, would I have to do that around 60K? Im looking at the 150bhp version as suggested.

Cheers

Paul

Well if she gets to see the interior on a 9-3 with full leather she should be impressed.Mine was metallic Black Sportwagon with full leather in cream parchment and charcoal the carpets contrasted nicely in Black and the trim was also matched in Black.They are well enough built,not Audi or BMW quality but still pretty good.Mine had about 110k on it when I sold it and it still looked and drove really well.The cambelt is due at about 72k (see below)

http://www.saabscene.com/forum/index.php?showtopic...

http://www.saabscene.com/forum/index.php?showtopic...

Let me know if I can help further.

[John D9395]

Re km / mile display.

If you push the 'customise' button on the dash to the left of the steering wheel, using the rotary knob above this you can then scroll down to 'system settings, push the knob, you can then scroll down to 'units', push the knob and you can select metric, imperial, or US.

Using the 'customise' button plus rotary knob you can change quite a few settings for other things as well like auto wipper sensitivity, alarm settings etc

Re the stereo. I have an 05 Aero rag top, and the stereo is pants! Didn't pay much attention to it when I bought the car, thinking I was buying the top of the range model, I assumed it had a top of the range stereo, Wrong! I also run an S Type Jag, and before that a 95 Vector Estate, both these stereo's make the 93 sound like a portable radio running on flat batteries! Keep thinking about changing the speakers to see if it improves the bass responce.

[Cootehall]

I bought a 56 plate ('07 model) 1.9TDi Vector Sport estate in January. Having considered the obvious German options, I picked up one from a main dealer with 16k miles on the clock for £10k. The equivalent models from audi/bmw were older, dearer (c.£13k) on 50k miles and above. Whilst I had reservations on build quality and rumours of reliability issues ringing in my ears, I have to say that after 10,000 miles it's been a good buy so far. Not perfect - brakes are spongy, its rolls a lot and gearbox isn't a true delight but, to eat motorway miles and lug stuff about in comfort, it offers really good value for money. Real world MPG is around 42.

My wife uses our BMW 335D which, I reckon, is the ultimate car in ever aspect and acts as a good if extreme comparison against the Saab. Obviously in every way (bar boot space) the Beemer is the car of choice, but it cost £44k and so I'd expect it to be. Knocking around in the Saab isn't proving too far a fall.

One tip, if you can stretch the budget, find a 56 plate with the 07 interior. Much improved and less creaky.

[Munkeyfeet]

If you go for a saab make sure they have the right power - I had a courtesy car which was a diesel and it did 28mpg with me being very gentle with it!

I have the 9-3 aero with Hirsch - the Hirsch upgrade is a must - more power, more torque, better MPG. They can upgrade the suspension, brakes etc. All Saab approved and done at the main dealers.

[Kuroblack350]

amsie said:

Thanks guys. I was comming to the conclusion of going for a Vector sport. 2 more questions if you don't mind, I got into a Linear the other day to show the wife the interior etc and noticed that the display was all in KM and L/KM. Can this be changed to Mpg & miles etc?

Also, the sound system in the linear was comparable to that of a cortina from the 80's, very tinny. Is the sound system better in the vectors? Im not after amps in the boot shattering all the windows and waking up the street, just something normal with a bit of bass.

Thanks

Paul

The sound system on my 07 Vector Sport is the ES7 I believe, which is the 7 speaker 150w version. It's no Harmon Kardon, but it blows away my previous Nissan and Subaru efforts. (wouldn't be hard )

[NST]

Hi,

some differences you will notice going from the ST220 to the 9-3.

ST220 is the better car, it might not look like it has the best materials in the car but it is well made. the leather is better, the seats are more comfortable, and the whole driving experience is nicer (steering/gearbox/ride etc) also the rear space in the mondeo is alot better. the sony stereo is imho better than the 7 speaker system in the saab.

The saab is a smaller car (better for parking), nice ergonomics, driving position is slightly better, and more cubby holes to put junk and nicer colour combinations than the usual black in the mondeo. I have the silver / leather steering wheel which i really like.

the diesel 9-3 will of course be more frugal than the ST220! even though i have the V6 engine in the 9-3 i find it much better on fuel than the my old ST220 6sp and a hell of alot faster. i regularly get mid-high 30s on the motorway runs.

if you can avoid the 18in alloys with sport suspension on the 9-3, it ruins the ride. its ok on the motorway but crashy around town. watch out for sleeping policemen and kerbs, the front spoiler on the 9-3 is low..

both are good cars.

PS don't get a diesel auto, the mpg is terrible.

hope that helps

NST

Edited by NST on Friday 31st July 10:36

[amsie]

Thanks for all the replies and thanks NST for the comparisons.

I got into a Vector TDi today and noticed again that the radio sounded tinny again. Looking in the boot space, I noticed that there was a couple of speakers the dia size of a cup. Im guessing this didnt have the 7 speaker upgrade.

Didnt bother test driving it as it was an Auto, but with my car sold now, i'll be test driving a manual 150 version shortly.

However, I am now torn whether to go for a ST TDCI or switch to Saab. God, decisions decisions.

We definately need to be getting 40-50mpg though from our next car, this is the whole reason for selling the ST.

Regards

Paul

[Kuroblack350]

amsie said:

Thanks for all the replies and thanks NST for the comparisons.

I got into a Vector TDi today and noticed again that the radio sounded tinny again. Looking in the boot space, I noticed that there was a couple of speakers the dia size of a cup. Im guessing this didnt have the 7 speaker upgrade.

Didnt bother test driving it as it was an Auto, but with my car sold now, i'll be test driving a manual 150 version shortly.

However, I am now torn whether to go for a ST TDCI or switch to Saab. God, decisions decisions.

We definately need to be getting 40-50mpg though from our next car, this is the whole reason for selling the ST.

Regards

Paul

The ST TD used to be our fleet car of choice, so I racked up a significant number of miles over the past couple of years, mostly in five doors, but also the estate version. I agree with a lot of the previous comments; it was fast(ish) but did run out of puff pretty quickly. The audio was miles better than the Saab, even the 7 speaker system, which is good. Oddly, the Sony unit never packed a great deal of punch, which speakes volumes for Ford's ability to place speakers and box correctly

They are pretty well built, look decent enough and drive well, but for me it had just two drawbacks;

1. Still just a Mondeo at heart, even with the fancy trim, nicer seats etc. On the M'way, every fifth car looked 95% the same as what I was driving
2. TD unit was incredibly loud, more so than the VAG 1.9 or 2.0 unit, and decibels ahead of the GM/Alfajet in the 93. It also wasn't half as 'revvy' as the GM unit either.

My summary comment would be that for me, the Saab always felt that little bit better, so much more comfortable, a nicer place to be I suppose - even if you do look like an architect