Saab 93 or Alfa 156

legalbird12

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Alfa-Romeo/156/1.6-T.SP/200845190770438/advert

or

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Saab/9-3/1.8-t-Ar/200840190268024/advert

just wondering if anyone would have any advice? A friend of mine has 10,000. The above cars are the 2 cars he is lookign at.

Any help would be much appreciated

bazz26

I'd have the 156 but not with the 1.6 litre engine. Minimum I would go for is the 1.8 litre but my choice would be the 1.9 JTDm 16 valve diesel.

BTW the description for the Saab is wrong. The 9-3 1.8T is actually a 2.0 litre not 1.8 as described in the advert.

legalbird12

Cheers Bazz

Lex Luthor

I agree with Bazz, there is no competition. The Alfa would be my choice but not the 1.6

You are on the right track getting the Ti spec for the Alfa. Its the top spec so you can't go wrong.

The 1.9JTDm engine is a peach aswell....I can personally vouch for that, especially after coming from the 1.8 Petrol 156

bottletops

+1 to the above.

And before everyone jumps in with Alfa opinions...

I own a 05 1.9 M-JTD with 140,000 Miles on clock which has had no problems. Just make sure its serviced by the book & has belts done if required. Also treat her to a new filter and drop of oil every 6000

Oh.... and remap it, It'll leave the 2.0 TS for dead

NewApproach

Agree with all the above posters.

Of ths two posted above, I would have the saab, simply because of the 2l engine vs the 1.6 in the 156.

A much fairer comparison would be a 1.8 or 2.0 engine in the 156.

Lex Luthor

NewApproach wrote: »

Agree with all the above posters.

Of ths two posted above, I would have the saab, simply because of the 2l engine vs the 1.6 in the 156.

A much fairer comparison would be a 1.8 or 2.0 engine in the 156.

I'd still have the 1.6 156 instead of the 2.0 Saab any day

bush Baby

You'll rarely see an Alfa Romeo with 200,000 miles on it. Same can't be said for a Saab


My 2p worth

skyhighflyer

Alfa is nicer, but not at that price. Will in all likelihood be dearer to run, not necessarily because things go wrong, but because of cambelt / variator changes every 36k, etc. Also, that 156 will be worth very little in a couple of year's time, given they're already superseded by the 159 from 2006.

samhail

personally i would probably go for the alfa 1.8 or 1.6 over a saab !


oh... what are saabs like on repairs ?
ive heard a lot of bad things about the alfas... might be a question your friend would need to have3 answered.
(i was very lucky with the alfa i had)

skyhighflyer

samhail wrote: »

personally i would probably go for the alfa 1.8 or 1.6 over a saab !


oh... what are saabs like on repairs ?
ive heard a lot of bad things about the alfas... might be a question your friend would need to have3 answered.
(i was very lucky with the alfa i had)

Accepted wisdom seems to be that Alfa's don't take well to the average Irish motorist's servicing regime, i.e. none. If well looked after and belted every 36k miles they are reliable. The engine uses oil (it even says so in the handbook) so needs to be checked and topped up with the right oil regularly. A mate of mine checks his every time he fills up. There are Alfa specialists who report 156's going for 200k+ miles, they just need care.

A-Trak

NewApproach wrote: »

Agree with all the above posters.

Of ths two posted above, I would have the saab, simply because of the 2l engine vs the 1.6 in the 156.

A much fairer comparison would be a 1.8 or 2.0 engine in the 156.

+1

Test drove a bunch of Alfas over the summer and although good to look at, the 1.6 engine in the 156 was a bit gutless for a car of that size.

Would look for a 1.8 or 2.0 if going for the Alfa. (I picked up a 1.8 TI and am delighted ever since BTW:)

bazz26

This would be my choice but obviously not at that asking price:
http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=1092571

Lex Luthor

bazz26 wrote: »

This would be my choice but obviously not at that asking price:
http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=1092571

good choice...colour is terrible though

somethings up here with this one for price but it would be worth checking out
http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=1263430

Might even pop round myself for a butchers

Redsoxfan

bazz26 wrote: »

This would be my choice but obviously not at that asking price:
http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=1092571

That's a sweet car-has been for sale for ages-I wonder how much the price has fallen or what it would actually sell for?

I'm no expert, but I wonder was the Ti version actually available as a 1.6?

Redsoxfan

Lex Luthor wrote: »

good choice...colour is terrible though

somethings up here with this one for price but it would be worth checking out
http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=1263430

Might even pop round myself for a butchers

Looks cool alright, but 'Urgent sale' with no phone number?????

bazz26

Typical scam, I'd put money on the seller giving some bs story about that car being located outside the country at the moment.

bazz26

Redsoxfan wrote: »

That's a sweet car-has been for sale for ages-I wonder how much the price has fallen or what it would actually sell for?

I'm no expert, but I wonder was the Ti version actually available as a 1.6?

Yes the very nice Ti trim was available from 2004 onwards on the facelifted 156 including the 1.6 litre.

Incidently it is available on the facelifted 159 too afaik.