9-5 Auto

[swansea v6]

We are looking at getting my wife a new car and a mint 9-5 has turned up, now i have had a few saabs before, 9-3 convertible and an aero. Both manual and both fun but this 9-5 is an auto? What are they like compared to the manual? I think it is a GM 4 speed? any issues we should look out for? (it is a 55 plate 2.0t)

[griffin dai]

I had the Auto in my old 9-5 Griffin (3.0 v6 turbo) that was lovely & smooth.

Also had a couple 9000 autos and driven a few 9-3/9-5 auto courtesy cars. No complaints.

[ElectricSoup]

I had a 53 plate 9-5 2.2 TiD with an auto box. It was a 5 speed, Aisin-Warner I think, possibly shared with the Volvo V70. It failed on me at 130k miles and had to be replaced with a recon box, cost was about £800 parts and labour if I recall correctly. I now drive a 2005 Merc E320CDi which is in every conceivable measure a better car but I still miss the 9-5...

Other than exploding, it was a very nice auto box to use I seem to remember.

Prepare for a 2.0t to be ultra thirsty, you can watch the fuel needle heading south for kicks (I drove a few as courtesy cars from my local SAAB indie). Good thing about this one you've seen though is that if it's a 55 plate it'll be the lower tax bracket. All 9-5 petrol autos after March 06 are in the eye-watering VED bracket.

[Fattyfat]

I've had a 9-5 2.0t manual and a 2.3 auto. Neither are economical, the 2.3 really was low 20's

The major issue on these was oil sludge and subsequent engine failure, that year should be ok though.

If the box is smooth and changes fine, I'd go with it.

[Stiggolas]

I've just sold my 9-5 2.3 auto. It was a 5 speed box and always smooth. Loved that car but the economy wasn't great. 19mpg round town, 25 on a run. Even less towing our caravan, that's why we swopped it. Also nice to have a stage 1 map on it