Thinking of a late c70 or Saab 9-3 diesel convertible

[jonnyboy]

Gents

At some juncture during the next 12 months or so I will be having a fleet re-hash. For reference Mrs JB has an auto licence.
Currently running:-
2010 Galaxy 2.0T auto which has been superb for 5 years
2006 Saab 9-3 convertible 1.8t auto which now needs a gearbox
2005 Mitsi L200 auto which is my work hack

I am toying with replacing the Galaxy with a long-promised older Land Cruiser which will fulfil the seven seats and 4x4 requirement.Probably a done deal - it's a peach and I have much experience with them. Madam uses any excuse in the world to take the 'vert out over the people carrier unless she really needs the extra seats these days. I would then have a van for work (something like a Peugeot Expert or similar, the mid sized 3 seater, the 'box doesn't matter as she is yet to get in the L200 anyway, after 12 months!!). So the "main" car would/could be a much newer vert of some description.

So can I get some advice/experience of the later verts - ideally a diesel (has to be an auto). I did a quick autotrader look at values and they seem excellent value for money compared to the overpriced german variants - as do the runout diesel C70 convertibles as well.

Who's got one/had one, and how is it? I initially wrote this for my cohorts over at UKsaabs but I am very interested to hear from our esteemed varied members here - including any choices of what I have missed out (bear in mind it can't be smaller than current Saab convertible).


Cheers

 

[Halcyon Days]

I had a 2007 Saab 93 Anniversary Sport 1.9Tdi (manual)
It was torquey and frugal. Nice cabin and comfortable.
But terrible, terrible handling characteristics.. Put me right off modern Saabs and got rid of it after 12 months.
(Had three Saabs before this one) - If it was me, I'd get an older model 9-3 Aero (2002 ish) as it will be better made & handle better (though might be a tad thirsty!)

my 2p!

 

[grober]

Vauxhall Cascada??

 

[Giantvanman]

Have you checked the price of Saab's lately? I don't know if it is area specific but I sold a friend of mine my 9-5 Turbo Edition estate (with all the Aero extras including the Hot Turbo engine) about 18 months ago when it was 3 ½ years old and he was offered nearly twice what I sold it to him for, the trade-in price I was offered!

 

[jonnyboy]

Have you checked the price of Saab's lately? I don't know if it is area specific but I sold a friend of mine my 9-5 Turbo Edition estate (with all the Aero extras including the Hot Turbo engine) about 18 months ago when it was 3 ½ years old and he was offered nearly twice what I sold it to him for, the trade-in price I was offered!

To be fair - the non-specialist trade aren't keen, but there are enthusiasts out there who will pay decent money.

 

[jonnyboy]

I had a 2007 Saab 93 Anniversary Sport 1.9Tdi (manual)
It was torquey and frugal. Nice cabin and comfortable.
But terrible, terrible handling characteristics.. Put me right off modern Saabs and got rid of it after 12 months.
(Had three Saabs before this one) - If it was me, I'd get an older model 9-3 Aero (2002 ish) as it will be better made & handle better (though might be a tad thirsty!)

my 2p!

Me too, actually four.
Done the older thing with their fragile bulkheads etc.
Has to be a "modern" car

 

[Giantvanman]

To be fair - the non-specialist trade aren't keen, but there are enthusiasts out there who will pay decent money.

….the offer was at a Ford dealership.

 

[jonnyboy]

….the offer was at a Ford dealership.

**** me !!
Ford are picking up the Galaxy in an hour for a service.....I might start polishing the 'vert!!

 

[jonnyboy]

Anyone got any experience of the V*lv* ?

 

[Deleted member 37751]

I had a 2011 SAAB 9-3 1.9 TTiD estate and the engine was very good, never seemed to run out of puff (for a diesel).

But, even as much as I liked its characteristics, I wouldn't dream of having it in a convertible because the sound of any four pot diesel with the hood down would drive me mad and the 1.9 TTiD is probably louder than most.

 

[jonnyboy]

It's a good point Lee.
Bit concerned over the whole taxation on diesels thing tbh.
May need to rethink to petrol....

 

[lxi]

My wife has a 9-3 aero petrol convertible 2004 auto. Had it a good 8 years. It's not cost much over the years, all routine stuff apart from a heater blower regulator a month ago - £400 and rear pad/discs/calipers this month (all of £325 including fitting). Crappy fuel consumption but that's stop start stuff. Never let us down

 

[John]

I ran a Saab 9-5 Aero HOT 250 for about 3 or so years.

Good points - pulled well through the gears (auto) and had comfy seats and a pretty good sound system.

Bad points - anything that needed to be replaced always seemed quite expensive and it often needed more extra-curricular bits than I'd have liked. Fuel consumption was about the same as my E55K and I didn't drive it quickly all the time.

 

[Piff]

Have been through your thought process, wanting to replace the SLK with a 4 seater.
Have driven Saab 9-3 saloons in the past and found the diesel to be a bit gruff and always ended up buying Audi/Volvo/MB so the rag top hasn't appeared on out search.
Thought possibly Eos (a bit small & roof leaks seem to be common)
Thought C70 but MPG on a diesel auto is only 44mpg
Have test driven an E class 220cdi & its currently top of the list, to the extent that SWMBO doesn't want to look at anything else.
I would like to look at an A5 though.
edit: E Class

 

[grober]

I am slightly puzzled by the apparent reluctance of previous SAAB 9-3 convertible owners to recognise what is the natural successor to their much loved 9-3 cabriolets [4635mm x 2038mm]= a Swedish designed car built in Austria with primarily GM underpinnings --- a 4 seater soft top convertible ------ the Vauxhall Cascada [ 4696mm x 2020mm] = a German designed Opel built in Poland with primarily GM underpinnings --- a 4 seater soft top convertible. Hell its almost the same size and has a turbocharged petrol [or diesel] engine. Is it some strange badge snobbery thing?

 

[jonnyboy]

I am slightly puzzled by the apparent reluctance of previous SAAB 9-3 convertible owners to recognise what is the natural successor to their much loved 9-3 cabriolets [4635mm x 2038mm]= a Swedish designed car built in Austria with primarily GM underpinnings --- a 4 seater soft top convertible ------ the Vauxhall Cascada [ 4696mm x 2020mm] = a German designed Opel built in Poland with primarily GM underpinnings --- a 4 seater soft top convertible. Hell its almost the same size and has a turbocharged petrol [or diesel] engine. Is it some strange badge snobbery thing?

Yep

Actually not so much that but a loyalty thing - lots of Saab-ites blame GM for the marque's downgrading, and demise

 

[jonnyboy]

Have been through your thought process, wanting to replace the SLK with a 4 seater.
Have driven Saab 9-3 saloons in the past and found the diesel to be a bit gruff and always ended up buying Audi/Volvo/MB so the rag top hasn't appeared on out search.
Thought possibly Eos (a bit small & roof leaks seem to be common)
Thought C70 but MPG on a diesel auto is only 44mpg
Have test driven an E class 220cdi & its currently top of the list, to the extent that SWMBO doesn't want to look at anything else.
I would like to look at an A5 though.
edit: E Class

Hmmm food for thought there. Will look....but I suspect far too expensive for us at the moment.

 

[scgfull]

No Diesel available but why not look at a CLK - plenty about and reasonable (in my opinion) prices.

Steve

 

[219]

Does the convertible need to be a 4 seater ?

If not , how about a Chrysler Crossfire ( SLK in disguise ) ; prices seem to be about on a par with the SAAB convertibles ...

Edit - this is just the first example I pulled off Autotrader

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif...on=automatic&page=1&model=crossfire&logcode=p

 

[grober]

Yep

Actually not so much that but a loyalty thing - lots of Saab-ites blame GM for the marque's downgrading, and demise

I understand what you are saying but surely the marques "downgrading" happened before the 9-3 convertible meaning that the "perceived quality" issues of the two cars -----9-3 & Cascada ---are essentially the same. Leaving aside GM's brutal betrayal of SAAB a pragmatic appraisal of the two cars would conclude they are both GM parts bin specials- one has a SAAB badge tacked on the front and the other hasn't.
All I am saying is that for folks who miss their SAAB 9-3 cabriolets --- with all their faults ---they might be advised to have a close look at the Cascada- its the SAAB's natural successor warts and all ??