I 2003 9-5 with the turbo V6 popped up locally at challenge pricing. The guy says the turbo seals are bad and it's smoking badly. I happen to be looking for a new daily and V6 turbo sounds fun. Anyone have any experience with this car/motor? Should I snag it or run far, far, away?
Run. The V6 was nothing but trouble when Saab was still around; it cannot have gotten any better with age and the death of the manufacturer. Either of the I4 models is a way better choice (though not without their own quirks).
Run away!
Haha! If m4ff3w says to run you know it's gonna be bad!
As a Saab guy I can also attest that the V6 totally blows. It makes about as much power as the 2.3 four, but weighs more, has no aftermarket, and has timing belts instead of the four's chain...they are loathed in the Saab community.
2002maniac wrote: Haha! If m4ff3w says to run you know it's gonna be bad!
Ha! 
I'd rock one. It may not make much more horsepower than the Turbo 4, but it makes an obscenely huge powerband and a lot of torque.
The Saab Turbo X can't be wrong.
92CelicaHalfTrac wrote: I'd rock one. It may not make much more horsepower than the Turbo 4, but it makes an obscenely huge powerband and a lot of torque. The Saab Turbo X can't be wrong.
The LP9 2.8 V6 in the 9-3 (Turbo X, Aero, et. al.) is NOT the same as the L81 3.0 in the 9-5. The 2.8 is a vastly improved powerplant in many ways; the 3.0 9-5 engine is also infamously found in the Cadillac Catera, where it also totally sucked.
Dont forget the saturn l-series used the L81 too. Puke!
No go on the 3.0t's don't do it.
SlickDizzy wrote:92CelicaHalfTrac wrote: I'd rock one. It may not make much more horsepower than the Turbo 4, but it makes an obscenely huge powerband and a lot of torque. The Saab Turbo X can't be wrong.The LP9 2.8 V6 in the 9-3 (Turbo X, Aero, et. al.) is NOT the same as the L81 3.0 in the 9-5. The 2.8 is a vastly improved powerplant in many ways; the 3.0 9-5 engine is also infamously found in the Cadillac Catera, where it also totally sucked.
I could have sworn the 2.8T was available in the 9-5s as well.... wasn't it available in the wagon? I swear i saw people chipping the 2.8 in the 9-5 on SaabCentral and getting ridiculous torque.
92CelicaHalfTrac wrote: I could have sworn the 2.8T was available in the 9-5s as well.... wasn't it available in the wagon? I swear i saw people chipping the 2.8 in the 9-5 on SaabCentral and getting ridiculous torque.
The NEW 9-5 - the one that was only sold two years - had the 2.8T. All other 9-5s had the 3.0 abomination.
Fun fact, the 3.0 Turbo only feeds the turbo off one bank of cylinders.
m4ff3w wrote: Fun fact, the 3.0 Turbo only feeds the turbo off one bank of cylinders.
Totally unconfirmed, but a rumor says that after the problems of the N/A L81 being forced into the 9000, Saab designed the 9-5 around the engine's dimensions while they proceeded development of the B205/B235. Then when they had prototypes going, GM brass said "no, your brand image is turbos, you're going to turbo that V6!" And GM got what they asked for, I guess...true or not, it is confirmed that Saab did the development work on turboing that turd...
Here is another SAAB guy saying RUN away from the V6t.
I just did some work to an L81 3.0 in a saturn and i was left with an overall positive impression just from working on it and driving it..
I'll be the 3rd Saab guy to say run....
Wow, I had no idea the Saab had a turbo version of that motor. Wow... 3.6psi, and the same amount of power as the Catera. 
The universal comment regarding the L81 motor in the Saturn community is "Run!"
Vigo wrote: I just did some work to an L81 3.0 in a saturn and i was left with an overall positive impression just from working on it and driving it..
what were you doing?
Relatively light work, took the intake off and did valve covers and plugs. It's a little odd but looking at the intake manifold and the heads, it's a pretty good looking motor from a performance perspective and it pulls well from 4000-6500 rpm for the displacement. Im not familiar with whatever people are saying about them on the internet so im not contesting anything about it, but working on the top end of the motor didnt give me any real red flags.
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