SAAB

[suburbanreuben]

Right...
All good things must come to an end but it's time to get a new car.
My beloved Forester, which I have had for ten years, has to go as I'm having my toes straightened and I won't be able to drive a manual for a couple of months. The thought fills me and the missus with dread, so for the sake of our, er, temporary arrangement, I need wheels.
My first thought is another Subaru, but they're a bit thin on the ground.
I need an estate and I need auto. I need comfy chairs,so I'm thinking SAAB, with a budget of £4k. There are quite a few around for less than that.
What are the pros and cons ? Diesel might be good; which models/years have DPFs?
General reliability?
help please! I hate buying cars!

 

[rosstheboss]

I know the thread says Saab and you've asked about Saab, but have you considered a Honda Accord?

I bought one (an 03 plate auto, full leather, electric everything, even quite randomly a subwoofer as standard too) and it's definitely comfy as well. Mine's a 2.0 petrol with 90k and cost me £3k from a dealer.

Food for thought?

 

[suburbanreuben]

I know the thread says Saab and you've asked about Saab, but have you considered a Honda Accord?

I bought one (an 03 plate auto, full leather, electric everything, even quite randomly a subwoofer as standard too) and it's definitely comfy as well. Mine's a 2.0 petrol with 90k and cost me £3k from a dealer.

Food for thought?

Good point!
I had a look at themlast time I was thinking of a new car but there was nothing decent within my budget.One year on,my budget is a little bigger...
Any other suggestions?

 

[shedobits]

Re:

Not shure if this helps but I had a 9000 for 8 or 9 years [a record for me] with no replacements other than consumables.

250,000 miles per engine is quite normal. I'd recommend joining the owners / drivers club as the Insurance discount is more than the annual subs and will provide you with spares and repair specialists contact information.

They're tough as old boots and mine towed a 1300KG caravan all over Europe and finally to Southern Spain.

Oh, and they're better to drive than they look.

 

[tigern]

Can i suggest a Volvo 850 Estate, had one for 3 years, great car and very spacious!

 

[suburbanreuben]

Re:

Those Hondas are growing on me...
You could land an aircraft carrier in the boot!

 

[poweredbypies]

Saab for the win, tho I am biased. The petrol engines are bombproof well the older 2.0 and 2.3 engines are, cam chain not belt. You get a lot of car for your money. My current ones is a 2000 9-5 2.0 lpt estate just about to hit 150k without a squeek or misplaced rattle anywhere. Its a beast on the motorway but they are juicy round town. A really good forum to ask about them is uksaabs.co.uk plenty of good folk on there to find out more specific info on any particular model.

The boot on mines an easy 5 body boot :twisted:

 

[Neil]

Can i suggest a Volvo 850 Estate, had one for 3 years, great car and very spacious!

Bombproof NA petrol engines, T5s are pretty robust, too.

More importantly, though, really robust auto gearboxes, and very snappy performing.

That said, the Aisin-Warner AW50-42LE was probably used in SAABs of that era, too.

 

[highlandsflyer]

Re:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/131192551032

Winter is coming, pounce on the chance to pick up another Forester! Only 55k on this one, even if it is a little bit of a hike to go get it!

 

[Midlife]

Just out of curiosity what are you doing with your present Forester?

Shaun