Saab 9-3 or 9-5 aero?
Discussion
Hi guys.
I have searched about thinking this might have been a bit of a hot topic but surprisingly not! Im looking for another fast Saab to replace my (oddly much newer!) 2011 9-3ttid aero. The TTID is an amazing car but it's just too new to work on myself on the driveway and with me doing 20,000+ miles a year this makes it awkward as I have to leave it to the garages!
I'll have a budget of around £3000 and I'm looking for either a 9-3 or a 9-5 aero but not sure which one to go for! I'm going back to a manual to bring back a little economy too.
I've been looking at a few already and it looks like a 9-3 has 210 BHP and the 9-5 has either 250 or 260 depending on if it's post 2005, regardless of which one i'd be remapping it too!
So what's your guys experiences of these?
Cheers
Gary
I have searched about thinking this might have been a bit of a hot topic but surprisingly not! Im looking for another fast Saab to replace my (oddly much newer!) 2011 9-3ttid aero. The TTID is an amazing car but it's just too new to work on myself on the driveway and with me doing 20,000+ miles a year this makes it awkward as I have to leave it to the garages!
I'll have a budget of around £3000 and I'm looking for either a 9-3 or a 9-5 aero but not sure which one to go for! I'm going back to a manual to bring back a little economy too.
I've been looking at a few already and it looks like a 9-3 has 210 BHP and the 9-5 has either 250 or 260 depending on if it's post 2005, regardless of which one i'd be remapping it too!
So what's your guys experiences of these?
Cheers
Gary
9-5 everytime, I have a 2010 Aero Edition Estate which is 260bhp as standard, but have recently had a Stage 3+ tune Karl AKA Noob off UKS a normal stage 3 tune is a 3" Downpipe a 3.5 bar fuel pressure regulator and the re-map which gives you around 290-295bhp and 440nm of torque, I've had a DO88 intercooler fitted which apparently means you can push the mapping a little further so apparently should have just over 300bhp and 460nm, it's gone from being brisk to being swift, it's not brilliant off the line (but it's not the car for that) but once into third it's amazingly quick for something the size of a small hearse.
Had a go against a very surprised Focus ST and Clio RS owners on the M60 recently, it didn't go to well for them is all I can say.......
But it's addictive as when your not on it they're just a lovely cruiser the character is just the same as the standard car, A pal has a Stage 6 2002 9-5 with 450bhp and 580nm and it's as brutal as you can imagine, but off boost it's as docile as a standard car.
I also had a full Bilstein B8 and Eibach Spring kit fitted which lowers an Aero by 25mm and makes the handling a bit better...
Had a go against a very surprised Focus ST and Clio RS owners on the M60 recently, it didn't go to well for them is all I can say.......
But it's addictive as when your not on it they're just a lovely cruiser the character is just the same as the standard car, A pal has a Stage 6 2002 9-5 with 450bhp and 580nm and it's as brutal as you can imagine, but off boost it's as docile as a standard car.
I also had a full Bilstein B8 and Eibach Spring kit fitted which lowers an Aero by 25mm and makes the handling a bit better...
This is the sort of thing I was looking at;
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...
So one vote for the 9-5 then! I should mention my daily 66 mile round trip commute is on mainly Oxfordshire's finest back roads all the way the Slough rather than a motorway.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...
So one vote for the 9-5 then! I should mention my daily 66 mile round trip commute is on mainly Oxfordshire's finest back roads all the way the Slough rather than a motorway.
given that your choice is between a 9-3 SS and a 9-5, i'd suggest the 9-5 as the SS can get troublesome whereas the 9-5 is a known quantity and most fixes cheap/simple. some of the SS niggles can be costly to rectify and could leave you immobile quite easily.
do prefer the looks of the SS but personally i'd take the OG 9-3 aero over both of them
paul
do prefer the looks of the SS but personally i'd take the OG 9-3 aero over both of them
paul
That's a great point actually. I've learnt it's too much to ask of a car to go 20,000+ miles a year and not break so whatever I buy needs to be driveway maintenence friendly.
It looks like the 9-5 wins hands down here then! The only thing is, is the 9-5 much thirstier than the lighter, smaller engined 9-3?
It looks like the 9-5 wins hands down here then! The only thing is, is the 9-5 much thirstier than the lighter, smaller engined 9-3?
with your budget you should be past the sludge era, just keep a spare "get you home" DI cartridge and CPS handy.
no experience of the SS but i found that my St3 9-5 Aero consistently returned more or less the same mpg as my St3 OG 9-3 Aero. the 9-5 feels more flexible throughout the range, with better torque, and i can envisage similarities when comparing with the SS.
paul
no experience of the SS but i found that my St3 9-5 Aero consistently returned more or less the same mpg as my St3 OG 9-3 Aero. the 9-5 feels more flexible throughout the range, with better torque, and i can envisage similarities when comparing with the SS.
paul
Edited by paulmakin on Sunday 9th October 12:28
I think the 9-5 is superior in almost every way, including looks! I just can't find anything nice about the 9-3.
My Aero estate (275bhp remapped) manual does 30-32mpg average. This includes spirited driving from time to time. Nice to stretch its legs, although I will warn you, stretching a 9-5 Aero's legs means you are doing over a ton very very quickly. Be careful!
My Aero estate (275bhp remapped) manual does 30-32mpg average. This includes spirited driving from time to time. Nice to stretch its legs, although I will warn you, stretching a 9-5 Aero's legs means you are doing over a ton very very quickly. Be careful!
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