Thanks to Chris (Zaphod) for the suggestion. This topic is for owners to review their Saab in their own words for the benefit of other contributors to STT who may be interested in buying or just reading your views.
We look forward to reading your reviews!
May as well have a go with my current car -
2008 9-5 TiD Linear SE AutoThis is my 4th 9-5, and the 8th Saab I've had.
The main reason I bought this car was because of the economy. I needed an Auto as my knee was playing up a bit, and with 35,000 miles to cover a year, a diesel was the sensible option.
At the time I bought the car, I was looking at other marques. There was no way I could get a similary aged BMW 5 series or Audi A6 for the same money. Best I saw at the time was a 5 series which was 2 years older, and with double the miles. And that was still £4000 more.
I was initially wary of going for such a big car with a 1.9 diesel, but after test driving a couple of cars, found that they had a decent amount of power. Certainly enough to keep up with the flow without effort.
My previous car was a 9-5 Aero estate. It's hard to draw comparisons with Aero's in general, as there was something wrong with mine and it was no where near as quick as it should have been. The TiD felt just as quick from rest - it was only in mid range where the TiD is lacking compared to that Aero. I've often thought of having the TiD remapped as it could do with a little more shove in the mid range, though I've wimped out so far.
Economy is very good. The official combined figure for the car is 37.2mpg. My journey to work is 72 miles, with mostly Motorway and Dual Carriageways in quiet traffic. In 8 months of doing this journey, I have yet to get as low as 37mpg. I average more like 45 mpg for the commute, though have had over 50mpg on several occasions - 53.1mpg being my personal best.
I don't keep an eye on the economy in town, as I do so few miles in town traffic, so it's not that relevant for me. I think in town it's probably around 30mpg.
The VED is high for this car as it's an auto and just slips into band K - think it's £225 for the year to pay for these superb roads and world class public transport system ::)
Styling - it does grow on you. I didn't like it when it came out - especially the rear, but quite like it now.
Things I don't like about the car:
- Steering wheel - looks better than the older 9-5 one, but I hadn't realised I held the wheel at the bottom on the M-Way so much - can't do that on the new one.
- Computer SID - on the old car you could go backwards and forwards through the different options, on the Dame Edna car you have to click all the way through to get round to the one you want. Annoying if you press it once too may times, then you have to click it 6 or 7 times to go through everything and get back to where you wanted to be.
- Dash - looks a bit bland IMHO.
- Linear SE - wished I'd gone for a Vector Sport with leather and bigger wheels. Ah well.
- Could do with more cup holders in the front. (Did I really just type that! :-[ )
- Rain sensing wipers - not very good at sensing rain. Fine once you tell it's raining by turning them on yourself. Works fine after that. My old Skoda Superb was exactly the same - don't think it's a Saab thing.
- Depreciation :'(
Good points:
- Economy as above.
- Space and practicality - though this would go for all 9-5 estates.
- Performance is very respectable - could just do with a wee bit more in mid range.
- Radio/CD is more industry standard - so a lot easier to upgrade to a new double din unit (unlike the old car)
- Seats - still very comfy and supportive.
- ESP - not standard on all 9-5's, but this has saved me on several occasions when it's kicked in before I even realised the car was losing grip.
- Real world crash safety
- It's a Saab!
I'll add more to this when I think of it. Generally happy with the car - it's no where near as bad as the motoring press would have you believe. Because of the depreciation, I really think you'd struggle to get a better comparable car for the money.
Well,
I have two. Both '02 Update cars. A silver Aero sedan and hers is the Linear Sport Estate, also silver. They look great together in the driveway.
Both very different in their own ways and they do their jobs well. Packing the family and all the gear for a weekend down the beach sees the wagon deliver huge practicality and excellent fuel economy. We regularly see 40mpg from this car on the long highway runs, and for a petrol turbo automatic it is arguably the most economic car in its class on the road.
City stuff, sure it's not so hot on the fuel usage but other benefits far outweigh this aspect when you consider the bigger picture. Buy the car SH and maintain it in good condition, and you gain so much value that any fuel economy issues are then quite redundant. Depreciation benefits the purchaser and should be seen as a good thing in any aquisition of a motor car. SAABs are an attractive SH proposition because of this.
The charcoal leather interior is bomb-proof and scrubs up really well, when I could be bothered cleaning it out after the girls have trashed it. Great interior materials and the leather is tough enough to withstand musical instruments, plants, beds, timber, you name it. Roof racks are a must so you can build a fence on the weekend after a trip to the timber yard. Oh, and tow a boat half way around the country for a regatta is really easy. Getting 800km out of a tank is quite achievable on these trips.
Why did I buy it? Easy. A fabulous passenger safety cell, 4 smart airbags, seatbelt retractors, active headrests, huge side intrusion bars, burst proof doors, thick metal skin, ABS EBD TCS and a proper 5 star crash rating that beats many cars 10 years younger.
The Aero sedan is different in so many ways too. A serious contender in the traffic light GP and overtaking sees other cars positively shrink in the rear-view mirror. It looks great (see avatar), goes hard, and makes me smile every time I put the key into the ignition with my left hand. Sure, it is always saying, 'let's go!' and the suspension is a tad too taught over the choppy stuff, but it corners magically. Track days see the car pushed hard and it is always quick around the course. This car does not feel like a front-driver and I love the way the engine and gearbox ECUs chat to each other, adapting to my driving style. Put decent fuel in it and you do the car a favour.
Understanding this car early on took some time and it is all in the throttle application you use. To get the most from this car requires a certain understanding of the way it was engineered in the factory. Do it right and there is a decent reward for you. There is no torque steer and next to no turbo lag either. Stylish, well equipped and it surprises many who ride with me, for many reasons.
Years ago, we had a 900 combi turbo (the very early one, with no lights on the tailgate) and absolutely loved it. So when we were looking for something a bit nicer than our old Volvo V40, I was encouraged to see loads of good reviews for the the 9-5, although everyone said "avoid the Aero". However, when you live out in the long grass, you have to have what's available for your money - and that turned out to be a 80k mile, 2003 Aero estate, bought this February from a well-regarded main dealer for £4K. It had a few soft dents here and there and the usual Xenon sensor gone, corroded wing mirrors, shot rear suspension bushes/shocks and cracked shark fin aerial. But the comfort, quietness and staggering performance were a revelation.
After we'd had it a few weeks and checked on these forums (fora?) I discovered that this one seems to have every option offered, apart from the roll-out boot floor: sensing wipers, fold and sensing dip mirrors, leather memory seats, wood dash, Xenon lights, upgraded stereo, ESP, TrafficMaster, etc. Next step is for our local indy to drop the sump and fit the new breather kit. It sometimes feels that owning an Aero is like driving an unexploded bomb but we'll keep our fingers crossed and so far, it's looking like the best car we've ever owned (hmmm... possibly apart from my BMW 635csi - utterly beautiful but completely impractical).
Living here, with our roads, fuel economy is something you only read about but the Aero usually manages about 29-30mpg, which is a bit better than the old 1.8 Volvo - and with a lot more style!
Hi Chaps
Thanks for the invite!
For those that haven't met me, I have had quite a introduction to 9-5's over the last four years. I bought Blackun 2lt lpt
just about four years ago this month.
I've had another three since! Redun was bought as a breaker with some shiny bits! She got broken :(
So be it.
Next in line was Aero of the 2002 variety.
My latest motor is Madame Hellga a 2007 model Aero.
I would advise all potential buyers to look at the car with the highest spec that they want to buy.
Blackun was cheap. Then she cost lots of beans to upgrade. (Electric Leather, New Turbo, PCV, Sump Drop etc)
My only grumble is that Hellga is starting to fall to bits. She is not even five years old and only 38,000 miles..
Go look at a few...Buy!
And then main thingy....
ENJOY!! 8)
Welcome to STT Saabotage :)
In my early days, when dinosaurs ruled the earth, we had a 96 two stroke (four gallons and a pint of oil for a quid), later on a a 96 V4 and a 5-door 900. After that went into Company Car mode for a long time, but post-retirement, we have gone 95 Estate. Now on the third one, all bought for modest money ...
Why 95 Estate? Primarily need a good motorway barge and load lugger ... descendents in York, cottage in France etc etc.
First one was a 2.0 petrol automatic, black with cream leather, mafia staff car. No real problems, except got a free new ignition cartridge at some point.
Second was a 3.0TID with a new engine which seemed a good idea at the time but turned out to be a pain in the fundament. Also SWMBO disliked the sporty seats and 17-inch wheels / sports suspension.
Present one is a silver 2.2TID which I bought as a stop-gap when I got really annoyed with the 3.0TID. Now on 172000 miles, had a rear suspension sortout last year, but it just seems to keep trundling on. A bit rattly on start-up, but 45 mpg on the motorway. SID is OK with one pixel out.
What's to like? Big load space, comfortable seats, comedy cupholder, and driving position that suits my podgy old frame.
What's not to like? Space saver spare, replaced rapidly by a real one from Fleabay. Essential for continental travel. Flimsy estate load cover (outrageous replacement cost). Tendency to eat rear tyres (wear on inside edge)
Hi All,
this is the first Saab I have owned and got it at 2 years old from a salvage yard as a stolen recovered with no keys. I left my tale of how to get it going on the old site, but it was fraught with difficulties and dealing with the dark side of the automotive world.
Anyway, what would I advise a prospective buyer - it's a solid well built car and very comfortable. It averages about 40 to 45 MPG and will cruise beyond the UK speed limit all day. Being a Saab it gets comments about being upmarket as compared to a Vauxhall Vectra. The fact that there are so many common spares amuses me!
The bad bits - needed a new EGR valve at 3 years old and that took a bit of time to sort out, but relaced it myself once I worked out what the problem was. The inside storage is poor and we never have enough space for CD's wipes and all the usual tat. Reversing is difficult as the visibilty is not great, but we haven't hit anything yet!
Would I have another? Not sure. The 2.2 TiD is OK but not the greatest diesel engine for response. The resale values are poor, so it always a cheap buy, but a cheap sell as well. My need was for a nearly new diesel estate at the lowest possible price that would last some time. On that basis I have not regretted the purchase.
Good luck!
Well this is my 5th Saab having migrated from Volvo due to poor fuel consumption.
My first was a 9000cSEi (non turbo) manual 2.0 which was in white but superb condition and enjoyable ride. Nice to look at but had plastic wheel trims...............had no trouble selling that as I'd found my first Abbott car. This was an 'N' reg 9000cSE auto 2.0 turbo in black with black leather that Abbott took to 195hp. I really loved this car and that was now about 6 years ago and I still see the chap who bought it in Norwich - still shines great and no trouble. I hankered for more go and arrived at Abbotts again and got my first Aero. This was an L Reg black auto with Carlsson alloys and every extra. We did suspension, brakes, exhaust del & intact pipes and ECU and nearly all they did taking it to 285 hp. It flew but alas SWIMBO wouldn't travel in it as ride was too hard even on softest setting!
Sold that for good money and got my first 9-5. It was one of the first estates being a 2.3tSE 'T' Reg on frost grey. This had every extra (you name it and it had it)including self levelling suspension, loading floor, vented electric seats etc. Removable Saab towbar, roof bars, CD changer etc. The whole works. Loved the comfort of this car which went to Abbotts who remapped to 225hp. Put 65k on it but sadly had to have engine rebuild - sludge. Sold it to young musician guy up north with 198k on it and its still going with near 250k on it so Abbotts rebuild did it good.
NOw for last 2 years 2003 9-5 auto Aero estate which I love to bits - even if it has been a pain at times.
Would I buy another Saab - you tell me! ;)
Regular readers have heard this before. Bought my 2.3 lpt auto Vector saloon in late 2005, at 10 months old with 13k on the clock, after 6 unhappy months with a 2.0t 9-3. Nearly 6 years later it's done 93k. More miles and months than any other motor I've owned in over 40 years driving. (Can't believe I'm 60 in December!).
It's had Hirsch tuning and suspension, new turbo including precautionary sumpdrop, throttle body, DI cassette, Michelin tyres around every 15k, (average, backs last much longer than fronts), new pads all round twice, new front discs, a new battery today (£89), still on original exhaust. Gives me around 26mpg.
Alloy wheels showing their age. A little shopping trolley rash. A new front wing when a BMW X5 drove into me 2 years ago. A new windscreen following a big stone chip caused an MOT failure.
Bad point? The stereo is rubbish. But it takes cassettes, hooray! Good point? I can drive 250 miles nonstop and not feel in need of a chiropractor afterwards.
The 9-5 is not perfect. Peugeots and Citroens from the 70's and 80's rode better. It doesn't handle like my 1967 Mini, nor my 1990 peugeot 309GTI.
It's not cheap to insure. I wish it used less fuel.
BUT, BUT, taking everything, everything, into account, it's the best car I've used from a Mk1 Viva to a Mercedes S Class.
well,what can i say,back in 1985 bought my first saab,a black 99 3 door turbo my1980 and in its day what a car.turbo charging then was very rare and there on was smitten with saab,s.from then i had 3 900 turbo,s a gm 900 turbo which if i am honest was not so good.then i went on to my first 9-5 griffin which now belongs to my brother(steve treacy)but during ownership of the griffin i bought a 9000 aero originaly to sell on but fell in love with it on the drive home so sold the 9-5 and kept the 9000 aero which in my opinion was a great car but having 2 children age was against the 9000 and she had rust in not so good places so out went the 9000 aero and in came my first 9-5 aero wagon which brings me to why the 9-5 at present is best.after a 9000 i needed some thing the same size for practicality and the 9-3 is just too small for my family and was advised by my local indie to go for the 9-5.i then sold the aero wagon and now have a 9-5 manual saloon aero.i have stuck to the aero,s as i love that mid range grunt especialy with the manual and all in all they are still great value for money as long as you treat them like a baby and give them all they need.overall the 9-5 aero is in my opinion a good all round car.
Quote from: sean treacy on 10 July 2011, 06:03:42 PM
..the 9-5 aero is in my opinion a good all round car.
And that's why I wish I'd gone for an Aero in the first place.
By the by, I drove an acquaintance on a 35 mile trip this afternoon. She's on her second Merc SLK (the small sports convertible) and also uses her husband's Audi A6 and BMW 3, plus other similar cars besides in the past. Very impressed by the Saab's cabin comfort and functionality. And the Parrot hands-free.
And no, not just being polite.
And no, I didn't drive to impress her.
You'll have one one day Geoff. I got mine in the end!
Cheers Jim - but I think only if I'd won last night's Euromillions.
G.
Did you see that Geoff - I just thanked you...........golly gosh.............
Let me think - you'd buy Saab itself???? Or would you pay off the Beckham woman to go back where she came from?
Quote from: Norfolk Jim on 14 July 2011, 04:45:13 PM
Did you see that Geoff - I just thanked you...........golly gosh.............
Let me think - you'd buy Saab itself???? Or would you pay off the Beckham woman to go back where she came from?
Send her back to Essex? (Just Wiki'd her. Says they have four "biological chidren". Didn't know there were any other sort.) Thanks for the thanks. Not sure how they work, I've already asked the Mods to give some info on the new system.
Watched Top Gear on iPlayer last night, James May reviewed the Beckham Range Rover. A more useful motor than the McLaren that Clarkson reviewed. And no, I wouldn't buy Saab. I was thinking of a Merc C with a huge engine, but the biggest it comes with now seems to be a 2.5 petrol with 204 horses. My 9-5 has 220.
Forgot to mention, Jim. Had a family gathering in Swaffham a few weeks back. Norfolk didn't seem as flat as I remembered.
Short review - 9-5 MY1998-2005
Good bits:
- EASY to chiptune
- relatively high power engines
- some parts the same as in Vauxhall/Opel
- SUPERBLY COMFORTABLE front seats
- very solid leather upholstery
- dashboard different from any other car
- comfortable suspension (on non-Aero, non-Sport package)
- the look (the 2002 facelift still looks pretty good!)
Bad bits:
- not too much space on the rear seats
- expensive road tax and insurance
- sludge in oil sum (needs cleaning)
- 2.2TiD underpowered, 3.0TiD prone to catastrophic failures
- heater valve
- crank position sensor
- Direct Ignition cassette
- check valves (base boost only)
- pixels in SID and ACC units
- turbochargers (mainly Garrett T17)
- throttle body
- recirculation valve
- solenoid (APC)
- wheel bolts
- alarm siren
- automatic gearboxes
- fuel consumption
- lack of mp3 on AS1, AS2 and AS3
- lack of bluetooth phone integration
- torque steer
- bad handling even in Aero (serious understeer, imprecise steering, lack of feedback on the steering wheel)
- very noisy (wind noise, tyre noise)
- vacuum hoses
- big boot but short loading hatch and high bumper
- orange low beam/high beam "relay" (in fact it's a sensor)
- rear shock absorbers
Best bit:
- VALUE for money (read - seriously cheap compared to competitors)
Quote from: Drac on 14 July 2011, 08:23:16 PM
Short review - 9-5 MY1998-2005
Bad bits:
...
- heather valve
...
?
Cant find one in my car. Is it something to do with the pollen filter? ;D
Sorry that's my bad spelling, I meant - heater valve.
I knew that! :)
(no thumbs up smiley available :()
Drac
I reckon if you take the sum of all the intrinsically good features vs potentially problematic parts of a model over a 7 year span from ANY manufacturer, the list would look similarly lop-sided. The trouble is, the good bits tend to be inherent in the design, and most of the bad bits are the damned outsourced components.
Like when my BX 16valve let me down one day, and everyone said "well you will buy these cheap French boxes", and it turned out to be a bit of German electrics that had packed up. Ruddy foreigners....
CitTone - me too! When my Visa GTi broke down, it was the Bosch electronics at fault. And it was clearly marked "Made in Germany". The rest of the car was made in Spain though.
53 (MY04)SAAB 9-5 Aero Auto (LPG Toroidal Conversion)
Day One -
Picked it up yesterday after being the winning bidder on eBay.
Two previous owners, but from a trader.
A short test drive showed the car drove well, gearchanges were smooth and was boosting into the red on kickdown.
Starts on petrol, but automatically switches to LPG after getting warmed up. (Manual override to petrol available).
All the toys (windows, mirrors (which fold in electrically), front seats (movement and heating), rear seats have heating too).
About an hour into the trip home had a Low Coolant Level warning, got it topped up and it stayed off for the rest of the trip home. Came on again during the "parked on the drive having a play" stage of ownership. Topped up again, but it would appear to have a leak somewhere. Coolant and oil seem fine, so I suspect a hose, valve or joint is leaking.
Impressed with the power and refinement of the Aero, the journey home was calm and relaxing. Seats are great and the cruise and autobox make a great combination.
Next up fluid and filter change with a service.
Yo! 8)
Some will know me for still grieving about the 99 I parted with 8 years ago (Nena :'( )
Not long afterwards (after I moved to germany to work) I replaced my Vectra SRi 140 (a very good car) with the 9-3 SS Aero, with convenience and business packs, in Laser Red, a 2003 model with the 6-speed box. Six years on it was replaced by my current car...
9-5 Aero Turbo Edition, 4-door, Auto, Carbon Grey, 2009 model. All it lacks is a sunroof and ventilated seats.
Performance - can be very lazy, or hideously quick, 9-3 felt faster
Handling - shows it's age compared with the 9-3 (and the Insignia I drove last week)
Economy - for a 260PS car 35 mpg can't be quarrelled with. GF's golf is thirstier
Comfort - never been in an uncomfortable Saab, long distances are a pleasure in those seats. Acres of room
Equipment - I've got the HK Audio, SatNav, 6CD changer, 4 heated seats, fronts electric, rain sensing wipers and folding mirrors. The only thing it lacked was the MP3/AUX but then the car is 14 year old technology and the Insignia didn't have that facility either.
Looks - in the right colour and with the right wheel combination, the 9-5 can look fabuolous. Mine does.
Size - just too big, the same reason I didn't jump in and buy a NG9-5 Aero in Slaters (new) for £25 k a few weeks back, I am looking at 9-3 again.
Reliability - apart from a mirror fault, no problems. servicing not cheap but it's not a Kia.
All in all, I love the car and I hope survive long enough for her replacement to be Trollhattan built, but much as I love it I thought the 9-3SS Aero was the most underrated and undervalued car out there and I still cast envious glances at any 2003-2007 9-3 Aeros I come across.
Ill start with my previous 9 5 , an LPT 1999 T reg. I came from a 5 series BMW so buying the Saab was unknown territory for me. Unfortunately , I didnt research enough beforehand, and ended up in an increasing downward spiral of breakages and wallet emptying :'( Car was nice enough and tidy but after about 6 months things started going wrong. I wont list all the problems but 2 turbos in one and a half years was the biggest expense. Then January 09 hit a kerb in the snow and bent the front wheel and suspension (£1800 insurance repair).
Thats the bad out the way.
Next , having been put off Saabs at this point I looked around for a Lexus GS but saw a Saab 9 5 Aero 2002 for sale about 15 miles away. Car checked out fine , although highish mileage, i decided to go on condition, it had been looked after and had a ton of service history.
So far its been the total opposite of my previous 9 5 and I only wish Id gone for a facelifted Aero in the first place.
Likes-
Looks
seats and comfort
has everything but ventilated seats, rain sensing wipers and folding side mirrors
MPG on motorway - last weekend cruise control set at 75 and sid was reading between 36 and 42 mpg
Overtaking and acceleration from higher speeds
Car had bluetooth and IPod lead already fitted
Harmon Kardon AS3 9 speaker system
Dislikes
High insurance
mpg around town - 21 - 22 mpg
Front indicator fell out ;D
Booming drone inside at the moment ( rear tyres?)
Quote from: VanishingPoint on 09 November 2011, 08:36:57 PM
Car had bluetooth and IPod lead already fitted
Harmon Kardon AS3 9 speaker system
Hi VP
Can you tell me more about the iPod lead? Is this on a standard Saab double-din head-unit?
What make is the lead and does it integrate fully with Saab system?
For the lead:
http://blog.saab9-5.com/?p=153
Quote from: shiraz on 23 November 2011, 03:29:29 PM
Quote from: VanishingPoint on 09 November 2011, 08:36:57 PM
Car had bluetooth and IPod lead already fitted
Harmon Kardon AS3 9 speaker system
Hi VP
Can you tell me more about the iPod lead? Is this on a standard Saab double-din head-unit?
What make is the lead and does it integrate fully with Saab system?
Hi Shiraz, sorry didnt notice your reply, the mp3 lead was already done to my car Im certain it was this mod -
http://photo.platonoff.com/Auto/20061126.Saab_9-5_Line_Input/
But this looks like it would be easier!
Quote from: sgould on 26 November 2011, 10:32:08 AM
For the lead:
http://blog.saab9-5.com/?p=153
Quote from: sean treacy on 10 July 2011, 06:03:42 PM
well,what can i say,back in 1985 bought my first saab,a black 99 3 door turbo my1980 and in its day what a car.turbo charging then was very rare and there on was smitten with saab,s.from then i had 3 900 turbo,s a gm 900 turbo which if i am honest was not so good.then i went on to my first 9-5 griffin which now belongs to my brother(steve treacy)but during ownership of the griffin i bought a 9000 aero originaly to sell on but fell in love with it on the drive home so sold the 9-5 and kept the 9000 aero which in my opinion was a great car but having 2 children age was against the 9000 and she had rust in not so good places so out went the 9000 aero and in came my first 9-5 aero wagon which brings me to why the 9-5 at present is best.after a 9000 i needed some thing the same size for practicality and the 9-3 is just too small for my family and was advised by my local indie to go for the 9-5.i then sold the aero wagon and now have a 9-5 manual saloon aero.i have stuck to the aero,s as i love that mid range grunt especialy with the manual and all in all they are still great value for money as long as you treat them like a baby and give them all they need.overall the 9-5 aero is in my opinion a good all round car.
Sean, I,d forgotten just how many youve had. That 99 turbo with the boot, wonder where they are now, Could be a topic worth starting
yes steve,i think would make an interesting topic.i certainly wish i had a couple of my old saabs now as they were great,both 99 turbo and 900turbo in black were great cars.i think this is number 10 now.i must look for those photos at mums,i forgot last week to look but i know there are some some where.i spent a fortune on that 99t,do you remember you put a new turbo on for me.?also the fuel injection distribution unit failed which was expensive,the cluth went and had to have new timing chain so all in all good car but dear to run,even in the 80,s.also that car loved to eat front tyres,even worse than your griffin.
Quote from: Drac on 14 July 2011, 08:23:16 PM
Short review - 9-5 MY1998-2005
...
Bad bits:
- not too much space on the rear seats
- expensive road tax and insurance
- sludge in oil sum (needs cleaning)
- 2.2TiD underpowered, 3.0TiD prone to catastrophic failures
- heater valve
- crank position sensor
- Direct Ignition cassette
- check valves (base boost only)
- pixels in SID and ACC units
- turbochargers (mainly Garrett T17)
- throttle body
- recirculation valve
- solenoid (APC)
- wheel bolts
- alarm siren
- automatic gearboxes
- fuel consumption
- lack of mp3 on AS1, AS2 and AS3
- lack of bluetooth phone integration
- torque steer
- bad handling even in Aero (serious understeer, imprecise steering, lack of feedback on the steering wheel)
- very noisy (wind noise, tyre noise)
- vacuum hoses
- big boot but short loading hatch and high bumper
- orange low beam/high beam "relay" (in fact it's a sensor)
- rear shock absorbers
Best bit:
- VALUE for money (read - seriously cheap compared to competitors)
Addition to bad bits:
- eats pistons at 126k miles (disintegration of a piston, car regularly serviced)
Best bit of value for money is now gone.
Now I have to drive it for another few years. I will risk once more and buy a 9-5 estate for the missus, but if that's gonna have problems - that's it, I've had it.
I would add to the list of bad bits the peeling paint on the door mirror housings, which is also starting to happen on the door handles and roof rails on my MY2002 estate.
My other car, still a GM product, is a MY2000 Astra which is of far superior build quality to the 9-5! No missing pixels, plastic door mirror housings so no peeling paint.
Being of a cynical nature I think a lot of the bad bits were caused by the cost accountants trying to achieve profitability by cutting manufacturing costs i.e. getting components made at a cheaper price which only equals poorer quality.
I will add one more - crappy battery terminals on some 9-5s - there is at least 3 different sorts. The crappy one is the one with a T-bolt and a nut to be tighten at the top. It does not tighten the terminal enough and you risk snapping the bolt which is nearly impossible to find.
Posts in the mirror removal topic now here in a separate thread
http://www.saabtechtalk.com/forum/index.php?topic=1352.0
Owned several passats and an A4 before as well as a seat and skoda, also have a company car avensis, piece of junk that is and thirsty too, my 2.2 tid has done 150,000 the 100 in that down to me, if I am honest I have neglected it really mainly because wife uses it most, but change oil religiously at 12000 few things i hate about it ....side lights no alarm???? wiper stalk cant be seen from driving seat, and everyone loves my Vectra,,,LOL...but its economical 45 average, like the seats, great motorway car, parts are dirt cheap if you know what you are looking for,changed tyre size from 215 to 205 saves a £100 every time it needs rubber, front discs and pads just done,, bosch £50 trade cant beat it
You can set the sidelights on warning. Well a garage with a Saab "Tech2" diagnostic computer can. Beeps if the sidelights are left on and the door opened. If you leave the headlights on, they go on and off with the ignition - no warning for that.
You can also play with other warnings and the alarm and locking system.
heck the "Tech 2" option sticky thread at the top of the 9-5 forum: http://www.saabtechtalk.com/forum/index.php?topic=23.0
I love my Saab .. I am systematically rebuilding her slowly with new parts I will keep her forever :-*
One Year On.
Still like the power, refinement and seats.
Costs over the last 12 months?
A bonnet and front centre armrest, from my local indy who had a dead engined Aero in the same colour as mine (£50)
CPS same indy called out at stupid o'clock to fit a new one on my drive while I was at work (£100)
Jetex exhaust (cat-back) bought of eBay as mine's starting to delaminate, was an advisory on it's first MOT (£150)
Stop and tail lamp, collapsed filament shorting out caused all manner of electrical trouble, head/dash lights on with brake pedal, brake lights on all the time, unless sidelight were on then nothing, ESP turned itself off...(£pennies from accessory shop)
So a few hundred quid in a year only £100 was necessary, everything else either precautionary or vanity (OCD) purchase.
So not too bad for a 9 year old car with 120k on it.
Still lovin' the Aero.
Snap - a year on.........
Now had my 2.2TiD Vector Sport Estate for 12 months and must admit it has been superb.
Had Hirsch tune carried out very soon after purchase and all I've had to replace so far are
2 tyres
front discs & pads
oil pressure switch
To do list:
Possibly rear suspension bushes
Front drop links
Otherwise all good and averaging now 46mpg
The 2.2tid 9-5 Estate just keeps rumbling on. Just done 900 miles in France, bringing her up to 193,000. Definitely hanging on now just out of sheer curiosity to see how long I can make it last.
I have the GM900 2.5 3-door as a runabout to keep me amused between times
I'm in the same position as you steventon95, my Griffin is on 208,000 miles.
When I bought it I expected it to reach 150,000 miles and then sell it but it just keeps going.
Hi All.
At present we own a 1997 2.3 se, on 120k, and have owned it for nearly 8 years. I know saying a piece of metal is a part of the family might sound sad but our kids were in pushchairs when we bought it and it has grown with us. Has had a few minor niggles, aux belt and pulley disintegrated, cps, iat sensor (twice) but overall has been very reliable. We chose a 9-5 because our Citroen ZX (ahem) just wasn't big enough and felt too tinny... not good enough with nappy wearers in the back. Prior to the citroen we had a 9000 which we loved also.
As it's just passed its 15th birthday I have spent the last few months giving it a good once over in addition to all the normal service stuff, deffo a keeper.
Good : comfortable, tough and safe, fast, a bit different to the normal euro boxes, easy to work on, fantastic knowledge base when it's not so easy.
Bad : 25 mpg round town, and the bristle thing round the handbrake lever has come loose.
Next car will be a Saab, but hopefully not for a few years yet.
Ian
Welcome! :)
I was trying to find out if my early 2.3 is still around, it came to me with a personal number removed, but when I sold it I retained my personal registration number and I don't know the replacement number.
Hi, according to the howmanyleft website there was 170 9-5's registered in 1997, the previous owner said he bought it as an ex demo with 4k on it. A good few motor factor places when phoned say "what year is it" a 1997 I reply... can't be they say didn't make them till 98... must be a 9000 lolz.
Quote from: angler on 23 October 2012, 06:57:31 PM
Hi, according to the howmanyleft website there was 170 9-5's registered in 1997, the previous owner said he bought it as an ex demo with 4k on it. A good few motor factor places when phoned say "what year is it" a 1997 I reply... can't be they say didn't make them till 98... must be a 9000 lolz.
Technically the motor factors are right, there is no such thing as a 1997 model 9-5 ;D
Saab started selling the 9-5 for the 1998 model year which starts a good bit before January 1998, so although the cars were registered in 1997 they are model year 1998 cars, you just have to love people who work in marketing. ::)
Saab like all manufacturers start making their "next year's models" in the autumn of the year before. And then start selling them straight away.
Our 9-3 Sports Saloon was built in August 2002 and registered soon afterwards as a dealer demonstrator. But it's a 2003 car!!
If you look on your VIN number in the windscreen, you will find that the 10th digit is a W for 1998. And if you find the actual VIN Plate under the bonnet, it should give the actual month of manufacture, as well as the factory suspension spec.
Some cars hung around in stock too, mine is a 2002 model but was registered on the 1st March 2003 (it was carefully ordered with a big discount 2 weeks before the 1st March) so it has an 03 plate. Even then the plates are not aligned with the year as you get 03 plates being issued on the 1st March 2003 and then being 53 from September until March 2004 so cars registered from 1st January to 1st March would still be showing as a 52 plate.
Ah I see, I will check out those suspension code also, seems a touch lower than another around the corner. I need a trolley jack just to be able to get to the sump bolt easily but took a turbo off for a UKS member the other week and slid under that S plate easily ( I'm slim).
Cheers for the info.
Ian
Edit: under the Vin the spec plate shows AR - BH - - - J - - C -
You also get the opposite on Reg.
My 9-5 2.2TiD Vector Sport Est is 55 Reg Late Sept 2005 but is a 2005 model as it was last of facelift 9-5's before Dame Edna front end so not a 2006 model.
Finally got there at around 11:45pm yesterday!
(http://i858.photobucket.com/albums/ab141/Mikeherridge080553/P1060107_zpsf8c43143.jpg)
Not a very exciting report really, because this has been one of the best cars we've owned. We bought it around April 2007 at c.71,000 miles, as we were buying a flat in Austria and knew that not only would we be frequently plying the autobahns (SWMBO doesn't do flying ::)), but also needed a load carrier. Annual average around 20,000, but it has been as high as 24,000 and is now around 17,000.
First job was to Hirsch the suspension in May 2007. The shocks we had fitted are still in action at the front, but I was disappointed that the rears failed (oil leak) about 63,000 miles after being fitted, so it's on the second set. No problems with the springs.
A little later came the Maptun Stage 1- 265bhp (from 250) and 420Nm (up from 350). Fuel consumption then, as now, is 27mpg in day-to-day driving, 33mpg on a run. Only once or twice have I seen more. It doesn't seem to make a great deal of difference whether we cruise at 70mph or 100mph.
Oil and filter have been religiously changed at 6,000 mile intervals, originally Mobil 10W30, now Shell Helix Ultra 5W/40.Uses a bit of oil between changes, but doesn't visibly smoke. New PFR6H-10 plugs have been fitted every year in August (a habit I got into as part of pre-summer holiday prep). The auto trans oil was changed most recently at 150,000, but it's still a good colour. It has never entered a garage for a service since I bought it six years and 130,000 miles ago, which has kept the total cost of ownership down.
Most of the hardware is original. It had a new power steering pump under warranty in the first few months of ownership to cure a noise (which it didn't but seems to have disappeared). The front discs have been changed twice, most recently about 20,000 miles, but are as yet showing absolutely no signs of wear. The rear discs and pads were changed at around 140,000 and a couple of weeks ago, along with the handbrake shoes (see post on recent saga). New ball joint and track rod in 2010. Second-hand steering rack in 2011 due to rust getting into the original (I believe this was caused by a cable tie being used as a gaiter seal after the new track rod was fitted, but can't prove anything). This was a challenge in itself, being a RHD car and living in a LHD country ;D . Just before we moved to Austria in 2009, it had a good going over by Saabtech (great people) who replaced the auxiliary belt, power steering pipe, and the auto gearshift cable. In 2011 the electrical bits on the ignition switch failed meaning a new unit.
Lastly, I had a DI fail in January this year, quickly sorted and replaced by a new unit - luckily I had a spare.
Bodywise, holding up fairly well. A few odd scratches and a very scruffy front spoiler. A few bubbles of rust around the rear wheel arches. I managed to reverse into a rather large garage sign a couple of weeks ago which has displaced the bumper trim where it wraps around under the rear lights. Interior still smart, with ventilated leather seats which have a lost a little of the colour in places, but no sagging or tears. It's got all the toys, and the only thing that doesn't work fully is the passenger side folding wing mirror, which sometimes needs a little encouragement.
The only persistent problem is the dreaded rear tyre droning, which has always been there and no doubt always will be, a bit like income tax >:( The current summer Michelin Primacy 3s seem to be better, and the winters (Michelin Alpin PA4s) haven't developed it in around 10,000 miles, so perhaps I'm on to something. As an aside, I use 225/45 17s in a 94W load/speed rating for the summers, and 205/55 in 16s at 94H in the winter. Ride doesn't change on either, the only really noticeable difference is lighter steering on the winters.
So all in all a great experience. Never broken down on us apart from the DI, and since that was only 250 yards from home I can't grumble. It's cruised for hours at 100mph. It still bowls along very smoothly. It's lived the last four years in Austria, meaning salty, snowy roads for extended periods. I have just bought a brand new set of 16" genuine alloys from Turners Hill Garage (another great place, I get most of my spares from them) due to sealing problems on the ratty old ones used for the winter tyres, which are sitting with my parents waiting for us to arrive next week. I'm currently running the winters, so they'll be swapped while we're in the UK.
I like to think this is one in the eye for all the teeth-sucking, doom and gloom merchants who criticize Saab at the drop of a hat. :P
Quote from: mikeloadsasaabs on 20 October 2013, 11:36:57 AM
I like to think this is one in the eye for all the teeth-sucking, doom and gloom merchants who criticize Saab at the drop of a hat. :P
Good to hear it's been such a good ride for you. Have you ever dropped the sump on this car or is it an 04- version? I keep thinking about changing my 9-5 (2.0t auto at 153k now) for a later Aero with lower miles with a plan to keep for longer but my current 9-5 is good, it did need a turbo after a sump-drop (but in reality that was preventative maintenance and didn't cost me anything) and has had DI, CPS, Lambda and temp sensors (all done because as preventative maintenance seeing if it made a difference to fuel consumption). Currently I've put new suspension on the back and it has newish discs and pads all round and got a set of 4 new tyres this year. The only other thing I've got right now is a service theft alarm message which I suspect is batteries (although removing the alarm box shows it has been replaced with a brand new one at some point) but I've held off as I can't make my mind up. Of course knowing that my car (and it's a good one) has at least another 50k in it and more it's hard to think about changing.
So, do I get a set of cleaned and serviced injectors and get this car tuned and fix the alarm siren (looking at probably £300 for that lot if DIY tuning with t7suite or £600 if I Hirsch it). One other reason I want an Aero is I want one with the later body kit and some extra toys but a 2.0t with tuning will be more than fast enough. Also I keep thinking that if I keep this for longer it gets me closer to getting a 9-3 Turbo X estate but then I worry about parts availability for the T-X by the time I can afford one.
Great story Mike. Glad you made it to the mark. :)
Once a car gets to that mileage, I feel that it's just a case of keeping it until it falls apart, and putting any savings from not changing in the bank against the day you need a new car - probably in a hurry. So just look at the options for change and be ready when the time comes.
I will post my speedo picture soon. It won't be as much as yours, but it will be "quirky" if I can actually find somewhere to stop and take it.
Quote from: Audax on 20 October 2013, 11:49:58 AM
Good to hear it's been such a good ride for you. Have you ever dropped the sump on this car or is it an 04- version?
......................................
The only other thing I've got right now is a service theft alarm message which I suspect is batteries (although removing the alarm box shows it has been replaced with a brand new one at some point) but I've held off as I can't make my mind up.
No, sump has never been dropped, at least since I've had it. I did omit to mention that it was first registered in September 2003, but is a 2004 model.
Glad you mentioned the theft alarm. I forgot to mention that I had the same issue last year, and replaced the alarm unit with a reconditioned one. It didn't turn off the "service theft alarm" message, and the (UK) Saab dealer that looked at it told me it was the tilt sensor. I couldn't be faffed to fix it, nor did I want to spend more money on it, so I got them to turn the alarm off with Tech-II. So no-one knows that it's not actually alarmed! In any case, living in Austria and driving a RHD car makes it even lower risk ;D
Quote from: sgould on 20 October 2013, 12:05:51 PM
Once a car gets to that mileage, I feel that it's just a case of keeping it until it falls apart, and putting any savings from not changing in the bank against the day you need a new car - probably in a hurry. So just look at the options for change and be ready when the time comes.
That's how I feel - the fact that it's not depreciating like a stone as a newer car would makes up for the 27mpg.
I constantly research the options tbh, but there are important decisions to be made - petrol/diesel, auto/manual, LHD/RHD. It will more than likely be an estate. Current thinking leans towards petrol, but perhaps diesel. Auto, but with a proper torque convertor auto e.g. Mazda 6. Although I do fancy something a bit less common, e.g. Honda Accord tourer, but the type S with the more powerful (diesel) engine only comes in a manual ::). Perhaps a Skoda Superb 170 (diesel) estate. Peugeot 508SW? Ford S-Max (but don't need a people carrier). The new Golf 150 (diesel) estate appeals with its balance of space (more than the 9-5), economy (well over 50mpg should be achievable), and performance (a torquey 2-litre diesel with 9 secs to 60). One thing is for sure, we need something, like the Aero, that is good to drive and has plenty of urge 8). Money considerations aside, an Audi A6 Avant with the 3.0TDi quattro option would, I reckon, be nigh on perfect :P
The bigger question is whether to switch to LHD while we still have our marbles. Having read about oldies who disastrously switch from manuals to autos late in life because they think they will be easier, which turns out not to be the case, we're thinking that perhaps we should make the switch sooner rather than later.
Quote from: mikeloadsasaabs on 20 October 2013, 04:33:23 PM
Glad you mentioned the theft alarm. I forgot to mention that I had the same issue last year, and replaced the alarm unit with a reconditioned one. It didn't turn off the "service theft alarm" message, and the (UK) Saab dealer that looked at it told me it was the tilt sensor. I couldn't be faffed to fix it, nor did I want to spend more money on it, so I got them to turn the alarm off with Tech-II. So no-one knows that it's not actually alarmed! In any case, living in Austria and driving a RHD car makes it even lower risk ;D
Did they actually turn of the entire alarm system? You can set it so that the alarm system works but without the tilt sensor. That's what I keep wondering right now, replace batteries and hope or get it on Tech-II to get the codes read (I'm not used to having to get people to do things for me!) but then I get stuck by the indecision to spend the money as I keep thinking £50 to recon the siren is quite a bit of money compared to just pushing clear on the SID.
I just had my tilt sensor disabled (oo-Er missus) rather than a couple of hundred quid to replace...
Quote from: Audax on 20 October 2013, 07:20:57 PM
Did they actually turn of the entire alarm system? You can set it so that the alarm system works but without the tilt sensor.
Yes, but they didn't suggest just turning off the tilt sensor ::). They also told me the reconditioned alarm unit was faulty, but I got it from Ebay from someone who came highly recommended on here. As there was some confusion, and I was on one of our lightning visits to the UK, it was easier to shut the whole thing off rather than mess around.
They also told me the tilt sensor was under the front seat and £300+ to replace. IIRC someone on here told me it was part of the alarm unit. I realise I could probably get a second hand replacement cheaper, but, as I said above, it was too much faff. Everyone know a 9-5 has a category 1 Thatcham alarm, right? ;) We once parked in a forestry car park in mid Wales, the only other car there was a Honda SUV of some type - that was broken into but ours was untouched.....so even the low life know that the Saab is impregnable ;D
Tilt sensor is under the driver's seat. Last time I looked it up, it was £175.
Buy wisely Mike......well done for the 200k.
I'm having the odd glitch with the Volvo which seem to be electric gremlins - can't complain on economy and power - 163 hp from diesel 5 and averaging around 45 with 55 on runs but it's not the Saab!!!!!!
They don't make anything to last :( . Took the car in for it's Austrian MOT today, seems that there is a slight blow on the exhaust rear box and middle section. For goodness sake, it's only 10 years and 200,000 miles old....... ::) Luckily they passed it with an advisory, given our UK trip coming up on Thursday.
I loved my 9000 Anniversary. Over eleven years of ownership it had wafted us to many SAAB events both in the UK and Europe. Not that it was a show car. Far from it. The 9K was our everyday vehicle, doing everyday things, without any drama or major problems. So when it was written off by a careless driver, my first thought was to get it repaired.
(http://i2.wp.com/www.saabtala.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/a8.jpg?)
After talking to Martin of JamSAAB, my local SAAB specialist, Anne and I took the decision that perhaps, as we had discussed changing it for a newer model, now was the time to move on to something more modern. We did contemplate one of the last SAAB 9.5s but found it was simply too big for my wife to drive. So attention was then turned to an earlier 'Dame Edna' SAAB.
So after looking at a few we ended up with this one, and I must say we are both really pleased.
(http://i2.wp.com/www.saabtala.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/a2.jpg)
So where do I start? This was the demonstration car of Squire Furneaux, the SAAB dealer for London. Colour is Titan Grey, which I think suits the car and those chrome headlamp surrounds, very well. It is the Hot Aero model with a manual gearbox, plus a number of Hirsch additions from new, which includes ECU, intercooler, larger fuel regulator and air filter, sports cat and large bore exhaust, plus brakes and suspension, not forgetting the rear spoiler. All this adds up to a car that is a little like Jekyll & Hyde – it is quite happy to trundle around town or more than willing to send you into a scene from Star Trek reminiscent of 'engage warp drive Scotty'.
Thank heavens for traction control!
Perhaps the most surprising aspect was the mpg – at a constant 70 I am getting almost 40 to the gallon, with around 33mpg around town. Not bad for a car with 300+bhp and 400+ of torque!
(http://i0.wp.com/www.saabtala.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/a4.jpg)
As for the interior, it really is a nice place to be. Getting your head around the ventilation options presented a challenge, but when we eventually understood it, it made perfect sense. The seats, though not as deep as the 9K and dare I say not of the same quality leather, are more supportive and have that all important SAAB necessity – they are heated!
(http://i0.wp.com/www.saabtala.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/a5.jpg)
We rarely buy cars, the last time was eleven years ago with the 9000, so hopefully this SAAB, which we have only owned for a few months, will be with us for some years to come. Looking forward to the SAAB events we try not to miss which includes Swedish Day and an already planned trip to the SAAB International in Norway. So keep a look out on the roads for a Titan Grey 9.5 with a Hirsch badge on the boot and a driver with the widest, inane grin (a facial expression I didn't think I would ever get, other than in my 99 turbo, but that's another story) you have ever seen.
Congrats David, and enjoy. I mourn the dramatic diminution in the number of 9000s on the roads but there's no doubt you've done the right thing.
Looks shiny. I notice that your door rubber has worn in the same place as mine!!
Cheer Tom.
Yes I was a little shocked at this Will. Something I have never experienced on any other car. A bit of super glue and the loose bits are now whole. ;D
Took her out to a local car meet on Sunday and scuffed a wheel (again!)
(http://i653.photobucket.com/albums/uu252/Naranto/queen20square.jpg)