School me on Saabs

"" (bignslow)
09/05/2014 at 16:13 • Filed to: None

Ok I need you guys to school me on Saabs. I've seen quite a few of them for sale for a very low price compared to other cars belonging to same class. I do see quite a few for sale with blown motors. Is that it, shitty drivetrains? What's the deal?

Here are some examples,

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DISCUSSION (9)

jkm7680 >
09/05/2014 at 16:15

SLuDDGggeEEE.

AM3R >
09/05/2014 at 16:16

Same deal with me. Under $10k gets me a really low mileage 9-3. I'm also curious, they seem like fun.

Nibbles >
09/05/2014 at 16:19

Which Saabs are you thinking about, Pre- or Post-GM?

Also that 9-2x is a Subaru. A very nice Subaru

 > Nibbles
09/05/2014 at 16:24

The newer ones. 2000s.

Nibbles >
09/05/2014 at 16:26

They're lookers but the V6s are sludge prone, and pre-2006 electronics were wonky.

thejustache >
09/05/2014 at 16:28

Well the 9-2x is really just a subaru impreza. That said around here used subarus are all overpriced due to people wanting AWD for the winter, so I got a 9-2x for a fair price to avoid the 'subaru tax' - same car, lower price. Similarly, he 9-7x is really a Chevy Trailblazer I believe. In general Saabs go for less the comparable cars because the company is out of business... all the people that go to the dealer for maintenance are now out of luck. That said you can still get parts (or in the case of the 9-2x just go to subaru), and I think that puts them in the good deal category for people that like to do stuff themselves. My friend picked up a low millage 9-3 Aero recently for $3500. He had to do some stuff with the automatic headlights and the ignition coils, but after a software tune and new clutch he claims to be getting somewhere around 325 hp, and it's fun. I have heard lousy things about the non switchable traction control on their cars, but that doesn't apply to mine thankfully!

Boxer_4 >
09/05/2014 at 16:37

The Saab 9-2X is a second generation Subaru Impreza wagon with some upgrades. They are mostly interior, with better leather and more sound deadening on the 2.5i trim (known as Linear in 2005). The 2005 had the 165 hp EJ253, while the 2006 had the 170 hp EJ253 with variable valve timing.

The Aero trim was an upgraded WRX wagon, and included some other goodies such as an upgraded steering rack with the same steering ratio of the STi. It also got a better interior, seats with adjustable head rests (the WRX head rests were not adjustable), and more sound deadening than the WRX. The 2005 had the 227 hp EJ205, while the 2006 had the 230 hp EJ255.

The 9-2X never really developed a following, and as such, are cheaper than their respective Impreza models. For example, a 2006 9-2X 2.5i 5-speed will go for ~$1,200 less than an 2006 Impreza wagon with the same drivetrain, even though it has fewer features.

ntl0505 >
09/05/2014 at 16:39

Any 03+ 9-3 2.0 is a Ecotech 2.0 with a turbo. They have their very own super complicated super special ecu called "Trionic 8" which is overly complicated and nearly impossible to DIY tune. Pretty much everything mechanical is factory GM engine components, the cams are slightly different though.

There were 2 different versions of the 2.0, a 2.0t and a 2.0T. The "little t" had a smaller turbo that ran lower boost, which came to approx 170-190 crank hp. The "big T" had a larger turbo that came to approx 200-230 crank hp. There may have been some cam/slight internal differences between the engines. I am not for sure on that.

There was another engine, a 2.8L single turbo V6 that came in the 2006+ Aero models. It ranged from ~250-300hp depending on the trim package. This engine is also GM and was used in the early CTSs naturally aspirated, and turbo'd in the 9-4x Aero and the Cadillac SRX.

The trannies are your standard GM stuff. The 03-07 2.0T getting the 5-speed FA 57 auto, I think the 06+ Aero all got the AF 40 6 speed auto. Not a whole lot (if any) failures noted of either tranny, but things like lack of fluid changes can cause shifting issues.

I don't know a whole lot about the manuals, except I believe they were all 6 speed. And, they were plenty strong if an upgraded clutch was used.

There are a few caveats. The 03s had a weird "SAI" valve that caused issues. It was removed on everything 04+. The power steering pump is cam powered and it has a shitty seal in it that causes engine oil to enter into the power steering system when the seal fails. The coils on both 2.0 and 2.8 models can become weak over time and develop misfires. Unfortunately these are "Saab only" coils that do a bunch of fancy shit, so you can't use regular ole GM ones.

Mods are pretty scarce. The best mod is a cheap computer reflash. I had a 06 2.0T Sportcombi wagon flashed to "stage 0" by VTTuner. It ran very good! Other mods are down pipes and full exhausts. Some people upgrade turbos, but its typically not needed unless you want to get crazy.

I probably missed a lot of shit but this is the general gist of post 03 Saab 9-3s.

Eazy-O >
09/05/2014 at 19:58

What vintage you looking at? This really defines the properties of cars.

As for blown stuff and not in the supercharged way...

The Isuzu V6 diesel is trash, those go off prematurely (Also in the Renault Vel Satis, same story. Our government bought some, the media lynched them for it cause they were so bad, getting politicians stuck on the road with huge repair bills. Just avoid this lump. The 1.9 is the best diesel, 2.2 is okay.

Pre-2005 petrol engines can have oil sludge issues if not taken care of properly, resulting in nasty stuff, possibly seizure. I suppose a minor number of blown engines could be people trying to get too much outta them via tuning, possibly doing B204/234 procedures on a B205/235 engine, which features lighter components meant to save fuel and run smoother, but isn't as strong.

Otherwise you should be good for 400WHP on the cheap, maaaybe 500, without opening it: http://www.saablink.net/forum/performa…

Here's a 4chan tread going on at the moment: http://boards.4chan.org/o/thread/11018…

Actually SFW.

I'll close with a pic of mine, ask ahead if you have questions.

Kinja'd!!!

As for why are they cheap... Well, not much of an interest coupled with the fact that it's a dead marque. Bam. Plus, to be honest, most people aren't too hot on the design. I suppose the luxury-wannabe-ness projects high maintenance costs. I guess these days SAAB is just in a kinda weird hole where it's not premium/luxury enough, but too expensive to compete for mainstream. Or something. *shrug*