ESSENTIAL CHECKS

1 Check the service

schedule for evidence of the oil having been changed every 6000 miles on turbocharged models. A lack of oil changes leads to

turbocharger failure and an £800 bill to fix things. The 2.5 V6 has a cam belt that should be replaced every 70,000 miles or five years; it’s an easy DIY job or budget £265 at a specialist. 2 All four-cylinder engines need fresh oil every 6000 miles. Without this the timing chain wears

and the oil pick up strainers

block leading to damaged piston skirts and crankshaft bearings. Once the chain has worn it’s an engine-out job to fix, with a £1300 bill to follow. 3 The diesel engine is reliable but becomes difficult to start from cold when the rubber fuel return hoses crack and perish, leading to air and fuel leaks. Repair is straightforward (budget £70) but genuine Saab hoses must be used.

4 The diesel engine can also suffer from

leaking injector seals and fixing this requires camshaft removal, for which special tools are required. A specialist will charge

£200 to fix things.

5 Make sure the air-con is working as the neoprene seals dry out and condensors get damaged,

so they leak. Repair bills will be at least £150 if the problem is simple; if a new condensor is needed this will swell to £350+.

6 Rust is a problem, so

check the inner and outer rear wheelarches, the floorpans, front inner wings

and strut mounts. The most common problem is rust in the front bulkhead, where the steering rack is mounted. This can fracture and repairing it can cost £600. 7 The Sensonic semi-automatic transmission is

overcomplicated. Sensonic spares are

now scarce, so if any of the servos or actuators have failed you can’t necessarily get new ones. 8 The 900’s convertible roof is different from the 9-3’s hydraulic set-up. The 900 roof has several motors, potentiometers, microswitches and an ECU, all of which can go wrong. The 9-3’s roof is more reliable, but can still suffer from faulty microswitches and hydraulic fluid leaks.