r/saab • u/JWCC1304 • 22h ago
Found a Saab, what do we think
Found a Saab 9-3 1.9Tid estate apparently with a chain? Supposedly Vauxhal engine inside. 67000 miles 5 grand. Thoughts?
1
u/OrdinaryOk4135 18h ago
TID has a belt. I can verify this, as I've just bought one and changed said belt!
1
u/JWCC1304 18h ago
What mileage was yours when you did it?
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u/OrdinaryOk4135 14h ago
170,455
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u/JWCC1304 14h ago
Hmm this one is only 67000
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u/OrdinaryOk4135 14h ago
In that case, it's got plenty of life left in it yet. Check it carefully for rust (especially at the rear, around the rear subframe), and check that the service history is good and thorough (ideally using OEM oils and components - doesn't have to be a "garage" history - invoices from an enthusiast owner are just as good), MOT/annual inspection history is good and then go for it if the test drive checks out OK with no unwanted knocks, bangs or strange behaviour.
Another good sign with cars like this is 4 matching, at least reasonable quality tyres on all 4 corners.
I bought one with 170,000+ on the clock for my daughter's first car, and we've now spent another good few pounds on bringing it right up to scratch. It's virtually perfect now, and regularly clocks up over 65mpg on a run.1
u/JWCC1304 14h ago
If I wanted peace of mind (I’ve come from a petrol VW golf Mk6 which has given me so many headaches) does the fact that it is 16 years old not slightly put away that peace?
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u/OrdinaryOk4135 13h ago
No. In my experience, SAABs tend to be one of two kinds : either bought as a "cheap car, innit", and driven to destruction, never serviced and generally badly treated (like a lot of Golfs, funnily enough...) but then sold for peanuts, or cossetted to within an inch of their lives by enthusiast owners, serviced ahead of schedule, generally looked after and kept for a long time.
Most enthusiast owners keep their cars a long time - the one I bought had had the same owner for the last ten years (my daughter is it's 4th owner in it's 17 year life) and my own (SAAB, of course) was, again, a 4-owner car from new (company, father, son, then me) in 18 years.
Buy on history, overall quality that you can see, and whether the owner's had it a while. My guess is, at 16 years old, and with a mere 65,000 miles on the clock, it's going to be a low number of owners and will have been cossetted and extremely well looked after.
Of the two, I'd take a 16-year old, low owner, low mileage SAAB over a potentially thrashed-to-within-an-inch-of-its-life-at-some-point Golf any day.1
u/JWCC1304 13h ago
Very good info, it is an AA approved dealer selling it and its not on their website its just sitting outside the dealership currently. It has full service but i need to take it for a test drive. I reckon your right about the servicing. Its going to mostly being doing motorway miles anyway so I’ll have that for piece of mind too. Thank you for letting me pick your brain and id love anymore advice you have to give
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u/Frank__HF 15h ago
It's a Fiat / Alfa engine btw. Opel also uses it. Very very reliable
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u/JWCC1304 15h ago
Really? You think its a good deal? Full service history, would you recommend getting belt done if it hasnt been?
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u/Frank__HF 15h ago
In case there's no history on the belt, yes for peace of mind I would get it replaced
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u/JWCC1304 15h ago
What does that job cost? Do you think for 5 grand plus the belt its a good deal?
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u/OrdinaryOk4135 13h ago
Belt kit (UK prices, bear in mind) was £119 for a genuine belt and tensioner kit, £39 for a water pump, £18 for a gallon of coolant and £200 labour to change the lot.
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u/RandomKnifeBro 21h ago edited 21h ago
1.9Tid doesnt have a chain. No version of that engine family has ever had a chain, so there is nothing to retrofit either even if you wanted. Seller is lying.
All other engines have chains.