Car appreciation... the aesthetics, the engineering, etc

I do. It’s a 9-5 TiD. Only had it for about 9 months, but so far so good

Think they’re generally decent cars, they have pretty good rep in Sweden. You see plenty of old ones around which suggests that they last for a while

For an estate it doesn’t load much though, but we had a w124 before which is a barge.

That said, we’re fine with two kids as long as we leave the buggy at home

I haven't anymore but did until recently (-07 95 estate, 2.0 biopower engine). Good cheap workhorse. Nothing major until 200000 kms when the turbo popped. Lots of minor stuff went before that obviously. Make sure it's had the oil changed regularly, particularly if it's an earlier model as they were prone to sludging apparently.

Edit: also have two kids, never felt it was too small. The Volvo V70 we have now has a much bigger boot though.

Coming from an ancient but super reliable Volvo. Looking for something big and reliable, that doesn't look like all the other cars on the street. And is cheap!
I don't really like the look of 95s but they seem to fit the bill.

The inside is way nicer than the outside. Before buying I sat in a v70, superb and an A6, the Saab was best of them all. I can even fit a rear facing child behind me when I drive, and I’m 6”2

Our inherited Mondeo estate has just had a service to the tune of £400 and have been told need a new clutch for around £700. It's 12 years old and has done around 150k.

My wife uses it for work about 300 miles a week.

Fix or use an excuse to get the Mini Clubman I've been hankering after?

Thanks. Do you prefer the V70 though?

Sounds good. We only ever do long drives really, 2hrs+, so comfort for a tall person is good.

I would fix if there's nothing else obv. wrong with it.

That is seeming like the sensible choice. Gives me more time to save up providing it doesn't go more wrong until then.

Yeah I prefer the v70 but it was three times as expensive, has leather seats and lots of gadgets and is sort of new by my standards (2012). So not really a fair comparison. OTOH as I wrote earlier in this thread, the clutch broke at 135000 kms whereas the saab never had any 'real' mechanical issues. Cam chain that won't need changing etc.

It really has a nice cheap plasticky DDR vibe about it interiorly. Seats are good though. The 2007 we had felt almost identical to the 1987 one my parents had when I was a kid. I grew up in Trollhättan where they made the things and the company was always in some sort of economic crisis. Amazed it took so long for them to finally fold.

I'd love an 80's saab, that's when they felt like flying a plane rather than driving a car

Night panel is still there though. I'm surprised not more cars has it

I do occasionally use the night panel....

Got a 9-3 anniversary model 150hp diesel on a 57 plate. Only had it 5 months but I think the anti roll bushes are now worn...but apart from that all good. Got 65 to the gallon recently but it's not a slouch when you need to get somewhere

65mpg? Really?

I've got the same engine and I struggle to get it below 50. I'm usually doing 80mph on the motorway though, if I kept it at 60 I could prob get closer to those numbers

Yeh really. Left Peterborough stuck the cruise control on at 60 ish and rolled back into Sawston at 65mpg.....drove like a granny mind. On the way up I thrashed it in 4th for 20 miles to the dpf to temp and do a regeneration. You on uksaabs.co.uk?

Went to leeds and got 60 at about a steady 70.

Mines an auto, which won't help my case

not on uksaabs.com. Is it good, or like most other car forums?

Enjoying the #stancelyfe

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£400 to service a mondeo...

What model and what fuel.

someone in work has just scrapped one of those, rotten suspension legs!

Sounds about right. Would be interested to know how many Mk1's in the UK are roadworthy.

think the leather interior and alloys are prob worth something though.

Many.

95 was an old dog by the time it finished. Curr have one of the last full aero 95 Dame Edna jobs, 265hp as standard but drinks like it. Overall very ergonomic, everything works.
Weaknesses are..
The 2.2tid is very very old, low power and low economy but easy to fix and taxi like in reliability.
The 1.9tid (fiat engine) is the best for economy and power in tye reap world. Has issues like any modern diesel, but if servicing kept up and egr kept clean they are good for well over 200k
2.0 and low pressure 2.3 turbos are saabs bread and butter, by mid 2000 they were a very well evolved motor. Only weakness is absolute requirement for regular good oil change and sump dropped evry 50-70k to be raked out, they sludge. And the ignition pack om top of engine, only get genuine saab or misfires will plague you.

Honestly th E 9-3 estate is barely any different space wise and a more modern car in evry way than the 9-5. We had the old 93(gm) with the 2.0 full aero with mods bringing it to 265hp also, was utterly reliable, very drivable workhorse that could do as much as 47mpg which you will not get out of any other saab petrol engine in any other body style.