Which car?

[Kev_Mc]

I bought an Audi A3 TDi as my main car but hated it so I've flogged that on to get shot.

Now looking again as the Audi went a few weeks ago.

I had narrowed things down to a Saab 9-5 Aero or a Merc E320 CDI.

Now, I was just browsing through Autotrader / Ebay / Pistonheads etc, and I came across a very nice looking 9-3 Convertible. This is a 2002 model so the older shape which I prefer.

I almost looked at a 9-3 convertible when I was looking for my current 9-3 hatch. I really like the look of the convertible though I'm way too miserable to have a wind in your hair car.

Basically - talk me out (or in) to the convertible. It's impractical though a very nice looking car.

My perfect 9-5 would be a 9-5 Aero Estate 2005 (not dame edna) with nav. Would love a sunroof too, though I've only ever seen one for sale which isn't cheap for the age though the service history is excellent - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Saab-9-5-2-3HOT-AUTOMATIC-AERO-Estate-1-owner-F-SAAB-S-H-16-stamps-/332160839072?hash=item4d56542da0:g:Pd8AAOSw2gxY16Dk

Any pointers / tips / advice?

[phoenix]

We have a 9-5 (pre Edna), MY01 9-3 and a 9000. I drive them all quote regularly.

Of them all, the 9000 feels the most "connected" with the road.

As far as the 9-3/9-5 goes, the 9-3 is not in the same league as a 9-5 in terms of ride comfort and handling. The plasticine front end squirms about under acceleration (the convertible more so) unless you fit a VRK or similar.

But it's certainly not an unpleasant place to be and the 2.0 engine revs nice and free and has less vibration than the 2.3. You'd want to make sure any purchase has had the bulkhead welded already or budget to have it done. They will be subject to the sludge problem unless it's had the latest PCV kit fitted or frequent, documented, fully synth oil changes.

They tend to rust around the rear arches and the front suspension components. The roof switches can be temperamental, but it's an improvement over the GM900 which was mechanical rather than hydraulic.

But would I consider one? Yes, by all means. The cabin is still a fairly nice place to be and open air driving is rather nice.

[Kev_Mc]

I'd love a 9000 though there are very few around now.

Definitely right about the rust as my 2002 9-3 is starting to go on the rear arches. The one on Gumtree though looks to be rust free - not sure how long for though!

I think I'm veering back towards the 9-5 and the E320..

[sgould]

That eBay one is reasonably well specced up.  As a 52 reg it will have the Aero "dealer pack".  This is almost the same as the "Aero Luxury Pack" for 2004 onwards but without the AS3 Harman Kardon 8 speaker audio.

So... memory driver's seat electric passenger seat, heated rear seat, rain sensing wipers, etc.

My main concern is the long service history with the Now Vauxhall garage.  The Now branch at Staples Corner in N. London did some servicing of our company cars.  They were dreadful.  I heard stories, but only have personal experience from one visit, and I wouldn't go near them again.  If it's a franchise, then it's possible that standards are different at different branches, but, I took a colleague to collect his Zafira after a service.  They couldn't find the car!  It was eventually found parked on a double yellow line a couple of streets away!  Fortunately, no ticket.  Then the service manager said that the "technician" had gone home, so he didn't know if the service had been done... " But take the car sir, and if you think the service hadn't been done, bring it back and we'll do one free of charge".   

While all that was going on, I wandered past a Saab as they had just acquired a Saab dealership, I asked the salesman for some info, and his reply was "Nothing to do with me. Come back on Tuesday when the Saab guy is here". 

Not something that inspires confidence.

[Kev_Mc]

The Service History was the main selling point of that car as well! That and the sunroof.

There is a decent looking Dame Edna saloon in Peterborough, though a long way to go if it's poo.

[David]

Friend of mine bought an E320 cdi. Came with all the usual refinements and quality, but he sold it again within three weeks. The seats were so uncomfortable, he could not drive it any length of time. Ended up buying a Volvo......

Footnote: When he was still a Merc owner, he travelled to London with me in my 9.5 and said the car was better planted and had far better seats than his Mercedes - if SAAB were still making cars he would buy one. 

[Kev_Mc]

Friend of mine bought an E320 cdi. Came with all the usual refinements and quality, but he sold it again within three weeks. The seats were so uncomfortable, he could not drive it any length of time. Ended up buying a Volvo......

Footnote: When he was still a Merc owner, he travelled to London with me in my 9.5 and said the car was better planted and had far better seats than his Mercedes - if SAAB were still making cars he would buy one. 

Must admit I am keeping my eyes open for S60's and V70's too.

I had a newer E250 and had no problems with the seats. Not sure how much different they'll be in the older car. E320 is likely to be 53/04 reg ish, Saab would be 08/58, Volvo probably closer to the Mercs.

[David]

Hi Kev,

Hope this helps: A short report on the Volvo from the Rover P5 Club magazine 'Take Five' 

"Three days before I sold the AMG e250 Mercedes as I reported in February Jottings, I had driven my Volvo S60R up to a specialist dealer in London who had agreed to buy it subject to it being as described which it was and they did, without quibble.  Although the S60R is a fabulous car and it had been great to own one again, I soon got fed up with the manual six speed gearbox so it needed a new home.  I hired a Seat Ibiza to get back to Cornwall from London as that worked out much cheaper than a single, off peak railway ticket and was much more convenient.  It seemed to be fitted with a three cylinder lawn mower engine and took a great deal of effort to get it up to speed but it was an easy way to get home.  It proved incredibly economical and although lacking anything other than basic equipment, was also more comfortable than the Mercedes. Much as I always went back to my Renault 20 TX in the 1980s, I always revert to my Volvo V70 these days when other cars have been sold but I still wanted a quick, modern car to replace both the Merc and the S60R.  The solution came when my local Volvo dealer called me to say they were selling a very rare, one owner version of the V60, not a car I had considered. It is a 2011, 40,000 mile, T6 Sportswagon fitted with a twin scroll turbo, transverse three litre, six cylinder petrol engine and six speed “Geartronic” auto box.  Finished in black metallic with soft cream leather interior it is much like the S60R as it has four wheel drive and even more power with 304 BHP and diesel like torque of 440 Newton metres.  Needless to say it goes incredibly well and in this rare SE Luxe specification does not have hard suspension or sports seats.  In fact the comfort is as good as any car I have ever owned so I may settle with it as my modern car for quite a while and the increased running cost can be justified as it is effectively replacing two cars. The fuel consumption is somewhat challenging if you have been used to a diesel and is way under the 40 MPG the Merc managed but then it’s 0 to 60 time is the same as a 5.4 litre Porsche 928 GT and the four wheel drive and launch control mean it can put the power down better than most sports cars. Being a top spec modern car it is laden with technology and all of it is working thus far.  Although it has Bi-Xenon headlights that look round corners much like the Merc, the dipping is not automatic so I have had to get used to operating a dip switch again, what a fag! It has a rear TV camera so I can see exactly who I am about to run over when reversing and that is rather useful. The Arthur household no longer has any diesel powered cars so I am following the new government advice about how bad they are for the environment despite the previous advice that we should all rush out and buy one. "

[Kev_Mc]

The V60 T6 sounds like an excellent car. However I just don't like the look of them. I made that mistake with the Audi A3 I bought last October - did everything I asked of it - excellent economy, more rapid than my 9-3 and easy to park because of the size. Despite all this I hated the thing and sold to wewantanycar to get rid quickly.

There is a decent looking S60 that's appeared on Ebay.

The other choice in  this is I end up keeping the 9-3 for a while longer. It will need an MOT next month. I doubt it'll need much to get it through, though I'll get it serviced at the same time. It is tempting to spend more on the car - I want to get the rear arches seen to as they're starting to rust. If I do that though (assuming I can find somewhere who'll give me a quote!), I'll keep the car as I don't want to spend the money for the benefit of someone else.

[Norfolk Jim]

Having had a few 9-5 estates over time (incidentally my original T63JAH 9-5 SE Est is still on road at 230k miles - I think and passed MOT 3 years in a row without advisories - has some now but only minor) I was a little reluctant to get a 9-3 combi but having had my 58 TTiD Aero Estate now for 16 months I really enjoy it. Ride is wonderful on the 18" alloys (although i have replaced all 4 shock and springs at 125k) and is incredibly fast and frugal in 6 speed manual. I had a 2005 V70 D5 geartronic for a few months and found ride much firmer than my 9-3. The V70 had loads of electrical issues which drove me round the twist with main being climate control having no idea what temp it was outside and getting inside completely wrong..........................there are several nice Aero TTiD's out there at the moment for not a lot of money and also a nice 2.0T 9-3X XWD 2001 I think for less than 6k