Convertibles.

[Alex225]

My daily car is a 1.9ttid Saab 9-3 and to be fair, it's been the best £2,500 I've spent! I'd say in terms of reliability vs performance vs pleasure to drive it's up there with my old E320cdi.

Admittedly, it's not ULEZ or any other LEZ compliant being an older diesel bit 225bhp and 60mpg is a great combination. But I'm a big advocate for Saabs and plenty of turbo petrol models around!

 

[Darrell]

My daily car is a 1.9ttid Saab 9-3 and to be fair, it's been the best £2,500 I've spent! I'd say in terms of reliability vs performance vs pleasure to drive it's up there with my old E320cdi.

Admittedly, it's not ULEZ or any other LEZ compliant being an older diesel bit 225bhp and 60mpg is a great combination. But I'm a big advocate for Saabs and plenty of turbo petrol models around!

I’ve admired this for a while but the non ULEZ is the issue. I had a nose a couple of days ago and it might be my memory but I’m sure they were cheaper 3 years ago.

 

[Mark9999]

I would definitely say an SL, but I really enjoyed my mk1 MX5 until the dreaded tin worm sent it to car heaven.

 

[Darrell]

I would definitely say an SL, but I really enjoyed my mk1 MX5 until the dreaded tin worm sent it to car heaven.

For £3500, ULEZ and insurance friendly for a 20 year old?

 

[Mark9999]

For £3500, ULEZ and insurance friendly for a 20 year old?

For ULEZ you need a classic registered before 1973, insurance shouldn’t be too bad but carry a good tool kit

 

[DesireeE]

My niece has just bought one like this only in a different colour, fabulous fun factor, got the AA out to check it over first, as her mum and dad etc. know nothing about cars and he said it was in very good nick ...

 

[Alex225]

I’ve admired this for a while but the non ULEZ is the issue. I had a nose a couple of days ago and it might be my memory but I’m sure they were cheaper 3 years ago.

Yes, you'd have to stick to a petrol models for ULEZ compliance. I own a V6 Saab too and despite it's eye watering tax bracket, it is ULEZ compliant. You'd be better off with the petrol turbos if you were to consider one.

You would be correct regarding prices. The first Saab I bought was a 2005 9-3 estate in 2013 and it cost me £1,200 with 140k on the clock. To buy the same today they're nearer the £2k mark. The convertibles seem to be the most common body shape though and one with ~100k would set you back £2kish. Obviously some are more ambitiously priced and most likely to be sold within Saab circles as they're not going to present value to a non-Saabist haha.

Great cars though. Even the late 9-3s managed to retain some Saab character despite many mechanical parts being shared with other GM models. If running cost was no option a V6 turbo convertible 9-3 would be perfect.

 

[DesireeE]

My daily car is a 1.9ttid Saab 9-3 and to be fair, it's been the best £2,500 I've spent! I'd say in terms of reliability vs performance vs pleasure to drive it's up there with my old E320cdi.

Admittedly, it's not ULEZ or any other LEZ compliant being an older diesel bit 225bhp and 60mpg is a great combination. But I'm a big advocate for Saabs and plenty of turbo petrol models around!

I always loved the SAAB convertible and thought of it as one of the best designs out there for a fly speckled grin, yours is an absolute beauty.

I was very late to the party in finding out that the marque was finished and that was a very sad day indeed. My brother was a big fan of them and had a few I believe, I remember one time there was an electrical fault and he decided to find it and fix it himself, this meant taking the dash out and doing a re-wire kinda jobby, but I guess if you can rewire a certain kind of helicopter and plane in the RAF, doing it for an a motor would be a doddle

 

[Alex225]

To be fair, as a younger driver I didn't pay much attention to Saab and was only when I was on the lookout for a cheap daily/family car I ended up with a 9-3, a couple of years after they went out production. Only had that car 6 months but it got under my skin and when I was on the hunt again for a cheap daily, I landed on the convertible one. I wasn't even specifically after a convertible but it's won me and the kids over. If I were to replace it, I'd end up looking for another four seater convertible!

This has been very reliable in it's time with me. Steering rack needed doing but will now last the rest of the cars life I'd imagine, engine is solid and I just hop in it an it stops and starts no issue. I think something at the back may need sorting suspension wise come MOT time but otherwise it's been great. And I think it's lovely looking but that's subjective.

 

[NotAnumber]

ULEZ but clasic car insurance, cheap to buy, easy to buy parts for and a hoot to drive= MG TF. Totally and utterly different from my S212 and it's the contrast that keeps me enjoying both.