9 - 5 3.0 V6 Petrol - any good?

[Cambio]

I'm thinking of getting a 9-5 estate to replace my Ford Scorpio. It needs to be an auto and will mostly be used travelling up and down motorways and lugging stuff around. There seem to be quite a few 3 litre V6 petrol estates on the market for not a lot of money - but you don't often see these mentioned on the forums. Are they any good? Is there anything in particular to look out for when buying one?

I realise that performance is no better than the 4 cylinder cars. I'm not looking for sports car performance, more a relaxing cruiser. I'm not overly concerned about fuel consumption as the company pays for that.

My past expeience of Saabs consists of two 900 Turbos, which I loved. But no, I don't expect the 9-5 to have much in common with those.

Any comments or advice welcomed.

Thanks, Phaon

[slippery]

I haven't got the V6 petrol, I've got the V6 diesel, but I'd buy the petrol with no hesitation if I wasn't driving 50k a year and paying for the fuel!!
Great value car and probably one of the most handsome estates you can buy.
Try and find a cherished privately owned car where you can get to meet the owner is my preferred approach, but each to their own!

[aeropilot]

If performance isn't what you are loking for and a wafty cruiser is, then the V6 3.0t is a good buy, especially if you can find a well specced one.

Cambelts need changing at 30k intervals and DI (Direct Ignition) packs are expensive to replace if you need to, as you have 2 of them, but otherwise, there's no real fault with them. Turbo replacement can be expensive as well, again if you need to, as they are unique to this car, but unless you are buying a high mileage one to start with that is on it's original turbo, I wouldn't worry too much about the turbo.

I had a 9000 V6 which had the same engine, but in non-turbo form, and it was a great wafty cruiser.

Unless you are particularily looking for the early shape Griffin version, which had every extra as standard, then I suggest looking for a face lift post 2002 one, which will have the better 5-speed auto gearbox.

Edited by aeropilot on Friday 15th February 13:13

[Cambio]

Hi, Thanks for the advice. I haven't found any post-2002 petrol v6s yet - I thought they stopped doing them around then, so there can't be many around. Does anyone know how much a cambelt change might cost on these cars?

Thanks, Phaon

[slippery]

Check out my thread re cambelt. I doubt if the costs are much different for the petrol.

[aeropilot]

Cambio said:

Hi, Thanks for the advice. I haven't found any post-2002 petrol v6s yet - I thought they stopped doing them around then, so there can't be many around.

Post 2002 V6's are rare, but they do exist....they were only available in Arc trim in the 2002 and 2003 model year, the V6 being dropped for the start of the 2004 model year in Sept 2003 IIRC.