Went to look at a saab 9-3 cabby yesterday on 06 with 104k on it, private sale
Its really nice top spec model.

Only issues I could spot were
1. Rear parking sensors throws a fault (not bothered really)
2. Aircon doesn't work (they think regas, I'm not convinced!)

It runs out of MOT and tax next month and needs at least 2 front tyres.
The thing that is worrying me is 10k miles (18months) ago the water pump went and they drove it, don't know how far.
They then spend 1200 sorting it, in the service book it says camshaft kit and they have ticked the cambelt box plus I assume a new waterpump. Its also had a new injector recently

it drives nice but doesn't have the zip of my 150 bhp cupra tdi. I guess I'm worried the engine is a little down on power but it is a bigger heavy car.

So should I negotiate or walk away!
Its really nice in black and the owners seem genuine and are just upgrading to a newer car.

Depends on the asking price

My gut reaction would be to walk away.
Too many questions as to what went on when the water-pump failed.
Also aircon needs a re-gas? If it isn't just that a replacement compressor ain't cheap.
OK they aren't that common but bet your life if you keep looking you'll find one with perfic history.
Also are you sure you want a cabby?
I was lent one by my local SAAB specialist when the 9-5 was in for service and couldn't believe how much scuttle-shake there was (and this is from a closet MX5 owner)!
If you want some pretty un-biased advice U2U me today and I'll give you my SAAB specialists number - he also deals in second-hand spares so knows a thing or two.
HTH.
Cheers, Pewe10

Ok buying this car depends on the price,
104k for a 06 plate convertable but ive always bought a car considering its condition and service history rather than milage,
A car with 104k motorway miles will be in a nicer mechanical condition than a vehicle with half that milage that has been used around town all its life.
Saab engines are known to be strong and over engineered, is it a petrol or diesel???
As far as the waterpump failing has the car overheated? if so was the headgasket done if so was it done correctly, head skim, hot pressure test etc,
as you have history of a cambelt kit im guessing that its been done correctly as far as the water pump job.
When you view the vehicle next check the oil for sludging and congealed gunk, also check the expansion tank for oily deposits.
allow the engine to get up to temp whilst ticking over, is the temp way over the 90 mark? if so walk. is the fan on constantly? if so walk.
Are the heaters in the car working correctly? are they blowing hot? if not it could be a sign of an air cavitation again a sign of cooling problems
The chances are that the a/c pipe work got disturbed during the water pump-head work. i have done this in the past,
accidently de gassing the system, you can buy diy gassing kits for £20, an independant service usually costs £60-£100, something to drop the price down i suppose.
Depending on the wheel size prob 17" your talking £70 per tyre for a mid ranger, again something to drive the price down.

All in all it could be a good buy depending on what you pay for it.

I just noticed that the waterpump let loose 10k ago??
if it hasnt had any problems for 10 thousand miles chances are it ok!!!

its a diesel.
its up for 4250 so its a good price for the spec.
My biggest concern is the engine.
The first owner racked up the miles (so would assume motorway) this owner has only done 20k in 3 years.

They couldnt find the receipt for the water pump work so all I have is what the garage wrote in teh service book, he did give me the garage number but it was nearlly two years ago so the mechanic isn't going to remember it. So don't know if it had head work but they claim it was £1200 to sort it.

There was no sludge in the oil, it needs a service but the oil seemed in pretty good shape about half way up the dip stick.

There was some scuttle shake granted, just fancy something to cheer me and the missus up on a nice weekend to go cruising.

They took it to the coast at the weekend and it racked up 450 miles without problem so I don't think there's any big problems with overheating

I do clock 20k a year though so would plan to keep it for 2 years.

I'd like to know what the worst case is to get the aircon fixed.

I'm tempted to offer 4k if they get it MOT'd

Heres the link
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201304296510170/sort/default/usedcars/fuel-type/diesel/price-to/5000/body-type/convertible/model/9-3/mak e/saab/onesearchad/used/onesearchad/nearlynew/onesearchad/new/page/1/radius/1500/postcode/nn297qd?logcode=p


[Edited on 21/5/13 by mikeb]

[Edited on 21/5/13 by mikeb]

[Edited on 21/5/13 by mikeb]

This is the only other one in my price range
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201302255491965/sort/locasc/usedcars/fuel-type/diesel/price-from/3000/body-type/convertible/price-to/500 0/transmission/manual/maximum-age/up_to_7_years_old/model/9-3/make/saab/onesearchad/used/onesearchad/nearlynew/onesearchad/new/postcode/nn297qd/radius /1500/page/1?logcode=p

its a bit of trek to go see it.

I don't know if 2006 9-3s are the same, but this is often talked about on older 9-3 and 900s :

AirCon Clutch Gap

( did it on my old 9-3 at about 100k miles. Took 5 minutes. )

I think there is also some "Press all the buttons and count to 10" type fix to reset something. I'll have a quick google to see if I can find it.



Tim.

The worst case senario with the aircon is the compressor could be stuffed, price one up and take the figure with you as another potential way of dropping the price down,
There are older 9-3 1.9tid's in the breakers that could provide a compresser if its stuffed, prob for cheap.
When you operate the ac button can you hear the ac unit working? a difference in airflow noise, a click as it comes on line.
If they would put an mot on it the car would definetly be more desirable.
If they refuse are they trying to hide something??

He did say he could put it in for MoT, they weren't car people if that makes sense.
There view on the aircon was if its nice they have the roof down.

So to make an offer or not to make an offer, its too far to go for another look really.
Just found a saab indy specialist just down the road form my village so thats a positive.

My advice also is Walk away no make that run away

Better to find a good one than a bad one at almost the same money .

I can't work out if it is a bad one.
Other than the aircon.

Non working a/c doesnt make it a bad one,

no service history, two cars welded together, pikey owners makes it a bad one!

I always think you should follow your gut feel.
By virtue of the fact you're asking the questions on here you know you have doubts.
BTW IIRC that engine is Alfa sourced.
According to the specialist they're OK if you rag the nuts off them but low mileage, round town running isn't good for them.
Having said that chacqun as son gu Rodders.
My case rests......
Cheers, Pewe10

If it was me I would put in a cheeky-undervalue offer considering it needs a small amount of work, then get it repaired for as cheep as possible and grin ear to ear with owning a bargin car for the summer.
If they dont like your offer, walk and look for another.

If it was me that is.

Chances are the condenser is rotten and leaking rather than any compressor issue . Being diesel there are plenty of big bills ahead as the engine falls to bits so a proper service history is essential . If the condenser is leaking its around £300 to sort

The AC probably isn't working because the pipes got disconnected during the engine work -- which to me indicates that the owner wasn't prepared to pay to look after the vehicle properly.

Go for it. Even if it can't be regassed who needs aircon on a convertible.

Even if a major component such as engine or gearbox goes wrong down the line and there is no indication here that it will, there are always good second hand spares available. In a few years ime people will start to realise how good Saabs really were.

Sounds to me like the main concern is the aircon, and since it's a ragtop I'd probably have it removed if it was more than a regas that needs doing

I ran a '09 9-3 TTdI Cab for a year as a company car.

Loved the seats. Didn't like the laughable plastics quality and the s-c-u-t-t-l-e s-h-a-k-e.

It was a pretty flashy Co car so I was happy with it. Would I spend my own dosh on one with the potential issues you outline?

Nope.

Been a Saab owner since '84.
I wouldn't touch a Vauxhall engine/platformed GM Saab with 'yours'.. Let alone mine.
Cheap tinny and generally substandard is the short explanation.
Have owned a 9-3 convertible. It was Effing hideous to be Blunt.
NO rearward vision top up or down. Top mechanism(motors/sensors etc) had to be replaced.. Twice.. Just as crappy a mechanism as a Mercedes one.
A lot of $$ for nothing.
Also a convertible inna UK?? give yer head a shake. Say what ? 6 days of suitable weather per annum?
Add in a pitiful performance Diesel lump.. Geez!
ONLY thing that's kept me tolerating the ongoing Saab problems decade after decade is the Power of the Turbo 2.3 engine.. tweaked.
Without that engine? buy a Kia fer gawds sake.

[Edited on 21/5/13 by Bare]

I have a 2007 cabrio turbo & love it,it's only done 20k & still drives like new,you get a lot of car for your money.

thanks guys,

as expected a complete mixed back, they seem to get good owners reviews.
Every car I consider buying seems to have more problems than you can shake a stick at if you delve into the internet.

Ok curve ball,
I fancy having a cabby even if its just for the summer or a year, as I said I need to cheer the missus up I only see her every other weekend it would be nice to go away with a bit of style to sea side etc, lifes been a bit stressful so she needs some romance!

So if the SAAB is meant to be such a sack, how about a 318 ci cabby, I don't mind the performance speed wise, I'll have my roadster on the road.

I do rack up the miles though. I've work out the difference in mpg form 45 (my leon cupra) to 36 (318ci) over 15k a year to be about £500, i should find a better one cheaper with hopefully none of the expensive diesel failures.

Views?

[Edited on 21/5/13 by mikeb]

MX5, MX5, MX5..........

that would be a replacement for the roadster not my daily, need 4 seats unfortunately!