My 2003 9-5 Aero Hot.
Discussion
Lots and lots of years ago I owned a couple of Saab 9000/CDE Carlssons and had really fond memories of both of them being great cars. So a couple of years ago I decided to return to the Marque with a 9-3 Aero Hot Convertible (mostly for my wifes use) however, it was one of the worst cars I've had the misfortune to own- even my wife could blatantly tell it had no dynamic capability at all..... So it was sold within a couple of months.
However. Finding myself needing a practical daily, now that I have to do the school run as part of my commute I decided I would give SAAB another go, and this is what I've taken the plunge with.
(luckily it reminds me of those 9000 Carlssons :-)
However. Finding myself needing a practical daily, now that I have to do the school run as part of my commute I decided I would give SAAB another go, and this is what I've taken the plunge with.
(luckily it reminds me of those 9000 Carlssons :-)
richard300 said:
I didn't rule out the estate. If this car had been an estate i would still have bought it.
Of course you would - only jesting.Looks good. My 02 Estate just passed its 10 year anniversary MOT with no advisories.
Hurrah!
GM management should be sectioned for the way they have handled their involvement with Saab - in my opinion. Interesting to read that both Opel and VX seem to be struggling in Europe.
Thanks chaps..... The wheels have yet to grow on me (i really like the ones fitted to the 'Vector' models) and having tried the car in M-drive, i'm never likely to use the function again, But the previous owner really cherished it. It was his 6th one and he addressed any known problems with preventative servicing and parts replacement. The navigation is still usefull and other than one vertical strip of pixels on the SID everything works perfectly. I just need to put a genuine SAAB badge on the front and change the wheel centres back to the standard ones.
I bought one in almost identical spec, albeit silver for £1600 last November as a daily.
Cracking cars, if a bit on the thirsty side.
Mine needs bushes doing which I'm hoping might tighten up the handling a bit.
It will most likely be on it's way in the next month or two if anyone's on the look out for one.
Cracking cars, if a bit on the thirsty side.
Mine needs bushes doing which I'm hoping might tighten up the handling a bit.
It will most likely be on it's way in the next month or two if anyone's on the look out for one.
MartinD said:
Looks excellent!
Just need to sort that SID display to get rid of the dead pixels. Easy fix at home though
Going to get the iron out on ours soon, tried wedging extra cushion in to push the pin connectors closer, but think iron option may be better. Just need to sort that SID display to get rid of the dead pixels. Easy fix at home though
Nice looking car, I have the 2002 Estate version and love it. Replaced a V6 Alfa and so far has been just as enjoyable to own.
Are these still a viable ownership proposition? Or over the course of the next few years, will they become harder and harder to run; and by that I mean will new parts be available for them? I love fast Swedish cars and Saab have been on my mind recently, but I worry I could be buying trouble!
Baryonyx said:
Are these still a viable ownership proposition? Or over the course of the next few years, will they become harder and harder to run; and by that I mean will new parts be available for them? I love fast Swedish cars and Saab have been on my mind recently, but I worry I could be buying trouble!
They are a lot of car for little money. Parts should not be a problem for a while at least. Historically the enthusiast market seems to keep things going well beyond normal modern day expectations. My now 10 year old Aero 9-5 Estate just passed its MOT with no advisories.Saab may yet find a buyer that satisfies GM's paranoia about IP transfer.
Baryonyx said:
I guess so. I really am giving these Saabs some serious thought. Ideally I'm after a 9-3 HOT or a 9-5 HOT saloon. Manual, obviously. I could be tempted by a 9000 though if the right one came along.
Mine is an auto, pre-flappy paddle. Astonishing progress can be made in normal mode. In Sport mode it just gets silly ... 
Before I bought the (very leggy for its age) Saab I had owned a 24V Senator (remarkable device for its time), a 3Ltr Omega (loads of unfulfilled potential compared to the Senator) and had recently test driven a 3.0ltr Subaru Legacy 'loads of performance' model which I really enjoyed. But the Saab was just something else in terms pure low down grunt. Couldn't help but smile. Still do. The seats have to be at least as comfortable as anything else on the market.
It's not perfect but there's nothing I am aware of that makes me want to change it whilst I can keep it on the road. Maybe I'm just getting old ...
I had 2 9-5 Aero models, both estates, one needed a lot of work, and the latter one was a super car. It also had the lux pack fitted with front and rear heated seats, sat nav, multichanger, etc... the list is endless and after having an automatic first, i went for the manual. What a difference in performance and economy.
They are super cars, give most a fright at the lights and as for value for money secondhand, well that speaks for itself.
Looks a nice clean car.
They are super cars, give most a fright at the lights and as for value for money secondhand, well that speaks for itself.
Looks a nice clean car.
These cars are very capable of big mileages with few issues, the Aero even more so, as the Turbo is more reliable. Not much goes wrong, I ran a 2.3LPT from 7000 miles to 221,000 miles, and the only reason it went was because there was an aircon fault which would have been expensive to fix, bought another Saab though!
If anyone is buying one, I would recommend the following:-
1) Always use fully synthetic oil
2) By a spare Crank position sensor (CPS) and leave it in the boot (the AA man can then replace it when it stops the car from starting, and you can always guarantee that it will happen in an awkward place/time)
3) Get hold of a spare DI cassette, and put that in the boot as well, along with the CPS you can now guarantee that you will never need them!!
4) Autobox change the oil every 90k miles
Head Gasket failure is likely between 120k and 200k miles, budget about £400, turbo failure also possible, more likely on LPT cars, mine went at 188k miles!
Cracking cars, and the OP's looks very smart.
davidy (slumming it in a 9-3 currently)
If anyone is buying one, I would recommend the following:-
1) Always use fully synthetic oil
2) By a spare Crank position sensor (CPS) and leave it in the boot (the AA man can then replace it when it stops the car from starting, and you can always guarantee that it will happen in an awkward place/time)
3) Get hold of a spare DI cassette, and put that in the boot as well, along with the CPS you can now guarantee that you will never need them!!
4) Autobox change the oil every 90k miles
Head Gasket failure is likely between 120k and 200k miles, budget about £400, turbo failure also possible, more likely on LPT cars, mine went at 188k miles!
Cracking cars, and the OP's looks very smart.
davidy (slumming it in a 9-3 currently)
Replaced our CPS last month as the car wouldn't start on more than one occasion, seems to have done the job. Really need to get a spare cassette as you suggest too as have heard they often go at the wrong time.
I am having difficulty sourcing a xenon drivers side headlight, but looking at breakers yards before new.
I am having difficulty sourcing a xenon drivers side headlight, but looking at breakers yards before new.
The chap I bought the car from, was a proper SAAB fan, this was his 6th one. He now commutes on the train and as a result is replacing the 9-5 with a Classic T16 Convertible.
He was rather meticulous with servicing and 'preventative' repairs and upgrades I think everything he ever read that 'might' go wrong or be an issue he made sure was investigated and changed as a matter of course....
For example, all the rear bushes, and all the window roller mechanism parts where there was a later upgrade??, rear wiring loom, water pump, gearbox oil etc. Were all changed when he purchased the car. The car has all the later spec breather hoses and the oil has been changed with fully synthetic Mobil oil, every 6000 miles, along with a service by SAAB or his trusted SAAB service specialist.
With the Full history, lots of TAX and nearly a years MOT, along with the great spec and the car only having covered 80K, I was happy with the £2250.00 I paid for the car.
He was rather meticulous with servicing and 'preventative' repairs and upgrades I think everything he ever read that 'might' go wrong or be an issue he made sure was investigated and changed as a matter of course....
For example, all the rear bushes, and all the window roller mechanism parts where there was a later upgrade??, rear wiring loom, water pump, gearbox oil etc. Were all changed when he purchased the car. The car has all the later spec breather hoses and the oil has been changed with fully synthetic Mobil oil, every 6000 miles, along with a service by SAAB or his trusted SAAB service specialist.
With the Full history, lots of TAX and nearly a years MOT, along with the great spec and the car only having covered 80K, I was happy with the £2250.00 I paid for the car.
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