The Zohan

Looking for a new barge to transport the family about without breaking the bank.

Always had a soft spot for them (had a '90 2.ol 16v as a company car for a while and it was fun and well screwed together but not particularly quick) and quite like the look for the face-lifted 9-3.

Currently our old Honda Accord is doing around 6K miles a year so not doing ballistic mileages, it is a 99 model and now looking somewhat tired although it all still works just fine although it is an auto and urban use manages just 25mpg! Time for it to go

Looking at the MY'05/06 9-3 2.0L (petrol) Turbo Sport Vector on paper the 175 and 210bhp models look similar on fuel with the latter being a bit quicker. The insurance/fuel/mpg costs will probably be the decider.

Has anyone had one and what is the real world fuel economy like?
Any issues/common problems i should look at?
what are they like to drive and live with? bare in mind it is for running about in not for ragging everywhere.

Looks like parts are readily available for them from specialists/independents.

StiX

iTrader: (4)

I had one until two weeks ago - 9-3 Aero 2.0 turbo remapped to 250ish bhp. Fuel a litle bit better than an impreza but not much. Averaged 20mpg or thereabouts.

Unless it's had some mods to correct you will get some torque steer, not too bad though. You can't boot it in 1st or 2nd really but I suppose that's the same with all front wheel drive cars with 200+ bhp.

Very comfy though, excellent on A-roads and motorways 80mph seems like nothing.

If it's an Aero they are fully loaded with toys. Electric memory heated leather seats, cruise control, steering wheel controls etc. etc.

Insurance much cheaper - £200 for me, £500 on my '56 Hawk Wagon WRX as a comparison.

They take stellar miles in their stride. Mine had done 138k and the engine/box etc. was sweet.

Very different car from an impreza obviously!

The newer ones are much better sorted for suspension. I used to have a convertible courtesy car and it was fantastic.

The Zohan

Thanks for that, i am leaning towards the 175bhp model due to insurance and slightly better fuel economy, not interested on the diesels (in fact any diesel) as i am hearing a lot of horror stories regarding stupidly expensive fuel pumps/injectors, etc along with them not liking short or urban journeys and them 'sooting up' and my mileage doesn't really warrant an oil burner

lozgti1

Probabbly not helpful but wasn't there some link between saabs amd vauxhall?

Always quite liked the look of saabs.Not the new ones with the daft lights though

Wolf_gsxr

Yeah The car is basically I vectra I think. Same engine and chassis but a prettier body. Deffo vauxhall though. So on one hand it will probs be boring handling wise but it will be very reliable and cheap to fix if it ever does break.

steve ex vauxhall

iTrader: (5)

Yeah, all owned by general motors, Most of the vectra bits fit, if buying parts, i always used to search google with the part numbers, could always get a better deal on the parts that way, as part numbers are also shared!

The Zohan

Thanks Wolf and Steve,

I understand the Sport version has uprated and slightly lower suspension which should help with the handling and interesting/useful that they share parts with Vauxhall.

Mike-K

It will mainly be brake parts that are shared with Vauxhall. Make sure it comes with 2 keys that both work because they were on back order a while back and I'm not sure if they are available yet. Check the front springs due to the lower coil snapping off at the rear, grab the top of the rear wheels and tug towards you and push to check for play in the rear cross stay arms, and just check all electrical items work. You will be able to check the oil quality and what service is due next off the info display.

Mike

J4CKO

iTrader: (1)

I just sold my 9-3 Aero, also remapped about then as well, not bad cars really, mine gave any major trouble but then I only did 10,000 miles in four years, was quick but not especially fun though it could be hustled very quickly.

Was quick enough to trouble a TVR Chimaera, Escort Cosworth and gave a Porsche 997 C4S driver a bit more of a surprise than he had anticipated.

Trim looks better than it is, they all tend to have squaeks and rattles, a shame as the rest of the car is decent quality, it isnt just a Vectra, the suspension is different, it is shorter and they dont share much other than the basic architecture.

Agree that torque steer is well contained, very well considering the power but it does limit boost in the first two gears, they arent like an Impreza of the line, but once rolling, third gear, especially when remapped is epic, there isnt a lot that will utterly destory one in the 30 -100 range, they run out of puss at higher rpms, all done by about 5300, like a slightly more revvy diesel with a bit of a drink problem. Knocking on 300 lb/ft of torque with the remap, mine did slip its clutch a few times but then was ok, new owner (a mate) reports no issues on that side but its a consideration when remapped as its a third more torque, they are ok without the remap but a bit sensible and not that quick, mine when I got it as standard didnt feel much quicker than my old model 150 lpt but that was ridiculous for what it was, no way was that only 150 bhp, would say nearer 180/190.

Brakes are the best I have ever experienced on a road car, mine was the first year so it got the biggest disks with vented rears, later years got downgraded .

The dont all have all the options, mine didnt have memory seats or Xenons, fairly well specified but there was an options list.

The Pink Ninja

iTrader: (23)

Got a 2006 vector sport but an auto diesel can't really fault it, tiptronic box, sat nav, dual climate etc.... It's the 2nd one we've had and havnt really had any issue with either of them