Event Gen me up, MUTHAFLIPPAZ: Saab 93 petrols.

[Cavcraft]

Anything to look for on a 2001 Saab 93 2.0 turbo petrol, manual? I'm pretty sure they have the same shitty slave-cylinder-in-gearbox as the Vectra, but owt else to worry about? Thank you in advance, etc.

[Sloth in a bowl]

Famous for being fussy on oil quality, drop the sump and check how clean/clogged the pickup is.

 

My brother had a 9-3 petrol turbo and it was a very good car, but the inside didn't wear as well as I would have expected it to.

My V40 showed less marks with double the mileage 

[saucedoctor]

• Bet/broken heater control cable

Cold air blows out from the airbag module on to the driver's knees (I shit you not!)

Electric windows groan - there was a modded roller kit-thing.

Wiper arms work loose

Wheelarch liners crack

Door latches are shit

The link rod that operates the tailgate lock falls out of its place

Shitty coil packs

Evap can causes rough running

Hazard lights go barmy - some sort of new module is required for the instrument panel to fix this

GM SHIT.

[dome]

Is the fabled subframe cracking issue a real thing? I had a late GM shape 9-3 and the fucker never went in a straight line, even after getting the geo done numerous times. Couldn't see anything obvious so I swapped it for an e34 M5. Best deal I ever did...

[hairnet]

only an event (bad) if you buy one

 

900 all the way

[HillmanImp]

Don't these suffer from HGF a fair bit? Sure someone once told me that but not sure on which engine.

[Ian_Fearn]

Didn't Car Mechanics magazine run one of these a few years back and reported problems with timing chain failures (possibly something to do with tensioner failure?)? 

 

I've been tempted by these a few times but i'm more impressed with my crappy Omega.

[320touring]

I had a 2001 2.0t.

 

ride was crap, 150bhp was slower than a week in jail.

 

 

In general

rusty arches, cracked bulkheads (often where the steering column passes through)

Woeful handling -take a friend to help you tack;)

T7 lump prone to ignition cassette failure. It's a one piece unit, expensive to replace

Shot dash info screen

 

Not to mention the decking 'must be in reverse to get the key out' Bollocks.

 

Mine did 40mpg commuting, then shat its headgasket 9k into my ownership. I don't miss it.

 

Buy a 9000 with a t5 version of the 2.0.

[Guest Breadvan72]

The main thing to look out for on these is that they drive like total arse.  Other than that, no snags.

[Paul Dupart]

Absolutely no feedback felt through the steering wheel as to what the front wheels are doing.

 

Direct ignition cassettes die without warning (carry a spare).  Tailgate heavy so struts fail (carry a broom handle).

 

Pixels go in radio/warning display

 

On the plus side, huge boot and really supportive seats

 

WCPGW?

[sutty2006]

I had a 93 convertible, felt horrible to drive, with or without the roof down.

 

Check for faulty PCV valve. Check engine breathers are not clogged with mucus. Infact, any sign of blue smoke at all on road test, walk the f**k away. Its not worth the hassle.

[Guest Breadvan72]

Abbott Racing near Hatfield do a steering/suspension mod that changes the steering and handling from utterly shit to just not all that good.  Bonus!

[Jim Bell]

Get a 9000.

 

And everyone lived happily ever after.

[ruffgeezer]

Yeah I had the privilege of servicing a 900 for a number of years, easily one of the dullest cars I have ever driven.

[cms206]

I was recently offered a Y-reg, 180k mile 2.2 diesel 9-3 for FIVE THOUSAND POUNDS.

I've gone off them a bit since then. It wasn't a bad drive in the same way that the Vectra B isn't a dull car.

[Cavcraft]

I thankyou. It's an LPT convertible at a car dealers with a full test on it, so (unless it's a bent certificate of course) I would assume there shouldn't be any structural problems. I've not driven it yet, that'll be tomorrow now, but he's offered me a very good price on the A3 against it.

[CortinaDave]

I had A LOT of problems with mine. I still think they are great looking cars, and the interior is brilliant.

 

The drive is pretty poor, and if you buy it take it straight home and get the sump off to check for sludging. Mine was FSH and one owner and it sludged and died 40 miles into my ownership despite having no apparent problems.

 

The clutch is a swine of a job and that went on mine too, they also eat suspension arms and engine mounts, which caused mine to snap its manifold studs in the head.

[320touring]

fair point re the sludging-i'd forgotten all about that..

 

rubbish!

[Cavcraft]

This is the one by the way...

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Saab-9-3-2-0t-SE-Convertible-/281308215308?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item417f46b80c

 

 

...the plate comes with it but it's only good as a sales gimmick imho, by which I mean I can just say 'reg no worth £XXXX' when I come to offload it.

[Station]

They're great - if it's a turbo. They don't rust (from experience), and the build quality is excellent.

If it's cheap I'd buy it, and then inevitably sell it in two weeks (or less) . Bizarre mpg - about 25mpg around town, and about 50 mpg on motorway. ?

[Jim Bell]

This is the one by the way...

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Saab-9-3-2-0t-SE-Convertible-/281308215308?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item417f46b80c

 

 

...the plate comes with it but it's only good as a sales gimmick imho, by which I mean I can just say 'reg no worth £XXXX' when I come to offload it.

 

That does look impressive.

[Cavcraft]

Aye, nice enough looking thing and he'll lob 6 months tax on it too. He's nitpicked on a couple of things on the A3 and offered me the deal, so the plan is to test drive the SAAB, nitpick a  few things on it then try and chip the price down a little. We noticed one broken bit of trim and a couple of scratches, but nothing too major.

[wuvvum]

I actually don't think they're too bad of a thing to trundle around in if you're not expecting it to drive in any way like a sports car.  I've had over 30 Saabs, and the only ones that gave any real feedback through the steering were the old 96s and the 9000 Carlsson.  That's just how they are.

 

Other than that, all the major issues have already been mentioned - although the convertibles are even more prone to bulkhead problems than hatchbacks due to the comedy scuttle shake that all floppytop Saabs suffer from, so keep a close eye on that - it's an arsehole of a job to weld up if it goes.  2.0 LPT won't be fast, but will be able to get out of its own way at least - the non-turbo versions can struggle a bit sometimes.

[CortinaDave]

I found my 2.0 lpt to be reasonably rapid, but it drank petrol with the foot down. Was pretty decent on juice otherwise.

 

I forgot that the cat clogged up on mine as well.. I had it less than a year and it gave me all kinds of woe.

 

The abbot racing steering brace makes a big difference for not much cash. There was a wheeler dealers about these too which is worth a watch... I really wanted mine to come good and just work as I really liked the package, I just couldn't afford to keep throwing money at it so reluctantly bailed out. It had clearly been cosseted all it's days so why it kept breaking I've no idea.

 

The SID display will probably be borked, but it's an easy enough DIY repair so a bargaining point, failing that £30 will buy you a replacement with good pixels.

 

The only thing about the actual car I disliked as opposed to the constant repair bills was the never ending bongs every time I got in.

 

BONG service due

BONG screen wash low (when you still have plenty)

 

BONG seatbelt

BONG Fuel low

BONG I'm not happy about my bulbs

BONG ... You get the idea

[DSdriver]

There was a crowd of blokes standing around the open bonnet of one sucking through their teeth in B&Qs car park this morn.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Cannot really see any appealing features on these, they just seem half-arsed in all possible ways. Quitr like the thin silver line round the outside of the facia panel, thats about it TBH. Oh and I have seen a 'Rover Streetwise'-styled estate one occasionally which has certainly got shite appeal.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Soz I'm thinking of the next generation of Saab 9-3

[Cavcraft]

Well, a decent test ride, a bit of bargaining* and job jobbed. Quite impressed with the car, felt pretty sturdy and a decent drive and didn't hang about either.

 

 

 

 

 

 

*You won't get it any cheaper, that's our best price.'

 

Ok, I might give you a ring in the morning then. 

 

'Why, what's the sticking point?'

 

Price.

 

'Oh, how much were you thinking'

 

£100 less.

 

He won't have that, I'll tell you now.

 

Ok, starts walking to car.

 

Hang on, I'll ring him.

 

Two minutes later deposit left, hand shake done.

[Shep Shepherd]

Almost bought a 52-plate 5-door 2.0t hatchback 9-3 a few weeks back*, but I bought The Wentworth instead...

 

 

 

*I will be very likely to consider one as my next car.

[Station]

I didn't know they were worth so much - my 2000 SE model was only £450 with FSH, but it did stink inside.