Saab 9-3 Diesel

Dead and Gone · 10 Oct 2011 at 20:26

Saab 9-3 Diesel Advice

Wonder if anyone can advise

I've looking for a reliable diesel car for general use and I've been looking at the Saab 9-3 Vectra Sport TDi and just wondered if anyone has any feedback on them? Reliable? Any known problems? Or should I avoid all together and get a VW Passat

Any advice welcome!

#Chri5# · 10 Oct 2011 at 21:05

It might have GM roots but it's a Vector Sport

Which tractor engine? 1.9 TiD 150bhp?

MarkDavis · 10 Oct 2011 at 21:46

Avoid the 2.2 as its am old GM diesel that's slow noisy and not very econonibble. 1.9 is Alfa 120 and 150. Much better but cambelt are frequent and can be pricey. Have a look at the Alfa forums.

Dead and Gone · 10 Oct 2011 at 22:26

Ye its the tdi 150 version and i thought that alfa might be good but saab hás the better engine ?

And yes sorry ment the vector Sport lol

#Chri5# · 13 Oct 2011 at 21:58

I've been meaning to reply since Tuesday...

I've got a 9-3 TiD 150 Vector Sport which I've done over 100,000 miles in.

Two breakdowns - one was the alternator which was fixed under warranty around 50k miles. Second was the water pump siezing at 64k (ish) but thankfully the engine didn't get lunched like some folks have found (the pump is driven off the cambelt so it can get very messy). Bill would have been £600 but Saab UK paid for 50% (without me even having to ask which is good customer care in my book).

As the same engine can be found in Vauxhalls, Fiats and others, it's a reasonably common thing if you hit Google. I'm thinking I'll get the pump and belts done at the 110k service just-in-case.

Other than consumables, only other problem was the heated seat base going on the drivers seat which cost me £100 to sort (worth every penny in winter). It's a great mile-muncher - a trundle down to Chertsey and back yesterday average 53/54mpg according to the trip computer (with the cruise set at 70).

OpenToSuggestions · 13 Oct 2011 at 22:45

Heard a stories of DMF's failing on them and costing a lot to fix.

All I have done is heard stories though, I haven't owned one.

Disco Boy · 13 Oct 2011 at 23:18

My Dad has a Vestor Sport (150) that has just turned 104k miles and the clutch and flywheel (dual mass) just needed to be replaced. At not inconsiderable expense (I forget the exact figure, but ~£800)

And the ride is crap.

Dead and Gone · 15 Oct 2011 at 12:00

ok thanks for the comments guys... I take it if you had the choice over a Saab or VW Passat most would choose a passat?

MarkDavis · 15 Oct 2011 at 18:11

#Chri5# said:
Two breakdowns - one was the alternator which was fixed under warranty around 50k miles. Second was the water pump siezing at 64k (ish) but thankfully the engine didn't get lunched like some folks have found (the pump is driven off the cambelt so it can get very messy). Bill would have been £600 but Saab UK paid for 50% (without me even having to ask which is good customer care in my book). thinking I'll get the pump and belts done at the 110k service just-in-case.

Water pump should be changed at the same time as the cambelt in my view. From memory, the water pump is powered off the cambelt or some way linked so if the water pump fails it could potentially engine damage.

MarkDavis · 15 Oct 2011 at 18:12

Dead and Gone said:
ok thanks for the comments guys... I take it if you had the choice over a Saab or VW Passat most would choose a passat?

Depends on the engine which you're choosing and the budget which you have. Passats are ultra boring to drive, but they do a job and have relatively well proven reliability. Personally, I can't see your typically Saab driver going for Passat or vice versa.

233 · 15 Oct 2011 at 18:15

got the same 1.9 150 mapped to 190 bhp in a vectra with north of 200k on the clock

clutch and flywheel needed replaced at 140k and it got an inlet manifold around 160k

other than that its been bullet proof takes all the abuse i can throw at it day in day out and i wouldnt hesitate to recommend the engine to anyone.

Dead and Gone · 15 Oct 2011 at 19:58

Well I used to have a Golf TDi and used to love it... was a company car, but I am looking to spend about 6 - 7k on a car that can get me to and from work and some places nice at the weekend should the mood take me

TB1968 · 16 Oct 2011 at 01:03

Its a fiat 1.9 td engine, as said fitted to GM/Vauxhall, alfa romea, fiat and saab.
its a pretty good engine, you need to replace the water pump at 50k intervals (same as the cambelt) as its a cheap and nasty part, but its not expensive.
DMF can be an issue but that goes for all modern diesels, they all suffer from dmf issues.
otherwise its a good engine, only had one problem and that was the boost solenoid (over 40k's worth of driving), but like any oil burner it will use a little oil, just keep on top of it, it wont be excessive, think I put in about a ltr every 10k miles.

Tony

Dogbreath · 16 Oct 2011 at 13:07

Disco Boy said:
My Dad has a Vestor Sport (150) that has just turned 104k miles and the clutch and flywheel (dual mass) just needed to be replaced. At not inconsiderable expense (I forget the exact figure, but ~£800)

DMF's fail and cost lots to replace on pretty much all modern diesels, the Saab/Alfa engine is no different in this respect. It's simply part of the running costs of a modern diesel as the mileage racks up.