Saab or BMW?

harveybobbles

Out of the two choices by the OP I'd pick the BMW.

But I prefer the look and comford offered by the 9-3's.

However, I'd never own a diesel Saab. they suffer too many problems.

I'd be looking at a 2.0t or a 2.0T or even an Aero.

Petrols will do mid/late 30's. The money you "save" by buying a diesel will soon be spent up on fixing the thing.

Have you looked at Lexus IS220d's?

colino

While certainly biased in favour of the BMW anyway, I'd caution you against picking up such a late SAAB at that kind of money. By then they certainly were a crude hodge-potch of GM parts and while bits may remain available (if the company is defunct, no one can enforce the 10 year rule) there is no likeliehood of them ever "phoenixing" and you will be in the hands of the close-replica replacement parts market.
Second hand values are pitiful and you would shortly be in a position of having to keep it because it will depreciate so much.
Buy a beemer, you know it makes sense.

C_Mababejive

I wouldnt buy either. Id buy a Skoda.

I know someone who had a very nice Audi and decided to trade it in for a nearly new BMW 6 series convertible. Now i agree that this Beemer is a thing of beauty but oh the trouble she has had with it considering it cost megabucks. Its been back to BMW twice in the first 18 months and on both occasions it involved (a) a misbehaving roof and (b) misbehaving windows. windows wouldnt go up,alarms beeping blah blah blah. First time they replaced some kind of cpu unit.Second time they had it for weeks as they couldnt work it out and had to send for the knob twiddler in chief to try and diagnose. Again,more expensive bits fitted. God only knows what it will be like out of warranty.

BMWs and Mercs aint what they used to be...

rodenal

Ok, you won't be getting a decent 2008 320d for £6.5k. You also don't want a £6.5k e9x 320d without a good warranty (BMW comprehensive is around £55/month for under 60k starting miles) unless you fancy taking the risk on some potentially massive bills (and the 320d is known for it, especially if it's the M47) have you considered this?

The Saab, well you'll either like it or you wont I personally hated the way the 9-3 diesel I had for a couple of months drove, was hilariously poor handling-wise BUT an otherwise nice enough car inside and out.

Personally i'd consider some other options. Is diesel neccesary?

fivetide

C_Mababejive wrote: »

BMWs and Mercs aint what they used to be...

On that note - according to the latest Warranty Direct results the most reliable car you can buy is a Mercedes E-Class 2006 onwards.

5t.

Foxy-Stoat_3

You will be able to get a nice 320d for £6.5k, there's lots to choose from at the moment, you just need to buy on condition and history.

I have a E91 2007 166hp (M47) engine that's been re-mapped with full M Sport interior, currently on 137K, driven it for a year and never missed a beat, done around 20K so far. Manage to get 600 miles out of 60ltrs so no where near the figures stated by BMW. Been trying to sell it for 2 months but no joy so will end up keeping it, which isn't a bad thing.

Used to have a Skoda Octavia, much cheaper to run, insure and tax but no where near as nice to drive.

If your looking for a 2008 SE, then it will be the N47 engine 177hp, slightly better MPG. If it doesn't have I Drive or the LCI model then you can haggle them down a bit. They don't seem to sell quickly unless it has every single option. I wouldn't spend the extra premium on a M Sport as the suspension tends to be harsh with the RFT's. If you get a LCI model it will have the DPF to worry about (straight back box instead of a droopy one). They all have a DMF, sometimes shuddery in the mornings but nothing to worry about. Changing the clutch delay valve helps.

I used mine 99% fine when it snowed last, I only struggled on 3 meters of driveway. I wouldn't bother with winter tyres. Some swear by them tho, I didnt seem to have a problem on normals.

Test drive both and make your mind up.

If you do get the BMW do move your OBC port!

skivenov

cardinalbiggles wrote: »

If its the common rail 1.9 diesel then its a Fiat engine so I would suspect you will get parts readily for them (they are/were used by GM as well)

The problem there is those engines have a habit of electrical problems, and Saab had a habit of changing electrical connections for no apparent reason on a lot of things.

The Skoda Octavia isn't a bad call, it's a perfectly good car, but it never really feels premium to me. I don't blame anyone who buys one, but when you sit in one it all feels a bit "could do better". Same for the Passat.

Tobster86

Regarding use in the snow; my E36 3-series (widely regarded as the last of the 'less tame' BMWs) is absolutely fine.
Infact, I find the low end torque of the 6 cyl engine makes it better in snow than smaller-engined revvy front wheel drive cars.

Kicking the back end out is entirely optional to anyone that is competant enough to drive in severe conditions in the first place.

Yes, if you really welly it on a corner, the back end will zip out; but a front wheel drive car would just carry on in a straight line and into the ditch under these circumstances anyway.

rodenal

Foxy-Stoat wrote: »

You will be able to get a nice 320d for £6.5k, there's lots to choose from at the moment, you just need to buy on condition and history.

I have a E91 2007 166hp (M47) engine that's been re-mapped with full M Sport interior, currently on 137K, driven it for a year and never missed a beat, done around 20K so far. Manage to get 600 miles out of 60ltrs so no where near the figures stated by BMW. Been trying to sell it for 2 months but no joy so will end up keeping it, which isn't a bad thing.

....

Come on, let's be realistic - the chances of finding a good 2008 E90 320d with reasonable mileage for £6.5k are extremely low, that's complete bottom of the barrel price -wise, a good example will be more like £9k+. The op will be far more likely to find an earlier car with the M47. To the average punter who has no idea what swirl flaps are etc it's not a great buy.

I'm not saying the car will break and your own example shows that they can run like clockwork, but given the op only has £6.5k to spend a diesel BMW does not seem (for me ) to be the best choice at least not without going in eyes open. Think about the cost of replacing the run flats alone (or even decent normal tyres if they're replaced)

I agree with others r.e driving in snow, i've never had an issue with any rwd car.

Daz2009

I've owned BMW's for the last 13 years,have never put winter tyres on them and have never got stuck.
I'm clearly biased but I wouldn't touch a Saab with a barge pole,anything that's based on a Vauxhall Vectra won't get my recommendation