Which 'Compromise' Estate?
Discussion
How long is my ball of string 
I know NOTHING about Saabs other than I think I want one!
and I'm looking for some "Avoid that model/engine/year/petrol/diesel/manual/auto" type advice from experienced Saab owners please.
What is important from a load point of view, is that the single fold-down passenger seat is behind the driver (the double being behind the front seat passenger).
Something Middle of the Road in terms of power, economy, running costs and toys, and it must be able to tow occasionaly.
Probably around two to four years old.
I've looked on some Saab forums but they seem to be more about older variants and there are SO many modern variants that I need some help to narrow down my choices and searches please.
I know NOTHING about Saabs other than I think I want one!
and I'm looking for some "Avoid that model/engine/year/petrol/diesel/manual/auto" type advice from experienced Saab owners please.
What is important from a load point of view, is that the single fold-down passenger seat is behind the driver (the double being behind the front seat passenger).
Something Middle of the Road in terms of power, economy, running costs and toys, and it must be able to tow occasionaly.
Probably around two to four years old.
I've looked on some Saab forums but they seem to be more about older variants and there are SO many modern variants that I need some help to narrow down my choices and searches please.
For Saab 9-5s, An Aero would be the weapon of choice from your criteria, it also has the least engine/turbo problems of any of the Saab 9-5's and is a better towocar than the other Petrol versions.
In summary, 9-5's are prone to:-
1) 3.0V6 Diesel - DRopped Liners Common
2) All non-aero petrol variants - prone to sludging usually caused bu use of non-fully synthetic oils
3) All petrol Sabbs are prone to turbo failure and head gasket failure, though the Aero has a different turbo and is much more reliable
4) 1.9 Diesel has numbeous problems - search the Saab forums
5) 2.2 Diesel whilst realtively reliable sounds like a tractor and is slow
6) All Petrol Variants can suffer DI cassette and CPS failures. DI cassettes were chnaged on a recall. CPS not expensive but annoying when it fails (car won't restart)
7) SID Information Display gets dead pixels, increasing over time. Used to be expensive but now repairs are in the region of £50.
I have a 9-5 2.3LPT SE Estate which we've owned for 8 years adding over 200k to it's original 7k mileage. I've experienced no sludginh issues, and my head gasket and turbo lasted 188k and 189k miles respectively.
These cars are capable of big mileages, mine drives now as well as it did 100k miles ago.
davidy
In summary, 9-5's are prone to:-
1) 3.0V6 Diesel - DRopped Liners Common
2) All non-aero petrol variants - prone to sludging usually caused bu use of non-fully synthetic oils
3) All petrol Sabbs are prone to turbo failure and head gasket failure, though the Aero has a different turbo and is much more reliable
4) 1.9 Diesel has numbeous problems - search the Saab forums
5) 2.2 Diesel whilst realtively reliable sounds like a tractor and is slow
6) All Petrol Variants can suffer DI cassette and CPS failures. DI cassettes were chnaged on a recall. CPS not expensive but annoying when it fails (car won't restart)
7) SID Information Display gets dead pixels, increasing over time. Used to be expensive but now repairs are in the region of £50.
I have a 9-5 2.3LPT SE Estate which we've owned for 8 years adding over 200k to it's original 7k mileage. I've experienced no sludginh issues, and my head gasket and turbo lasted 188k and 189k miles respectively.
These cars are capable of big mileages, mine drives now as well as it did 100k miles ago.
davidy
We've got a pair of 2.2 TDI's, mine is a 93 hatch (2002) with 114k miles on it and hubby's is a 95 estate (2005) with c. 50k miles on it. They do sound like tractors (his is quieter than mine) but I wouldn't say they are slow. It's not as quick as a 3 series touring but it doesn't come with that price tag either.
The 2.2's are pretty agricultural but IMO they function pretty well. I've had mine since new and whilst I'm always paranoid that something major is going to go wrong whenever I say this, but it's doing pretty well so far.
The 2.2's are pretty agricultural but IMO they function pretty well. I've had mine since new and whilst I'm always paranoid that something major is going to go wrong whenever I say this, but it's doing pretty well so far.
Whilst the Aero is the commonsense choice on a variety of levels, just be sure that you can live with the ride. Its not teeth clenchingly hard, but over long distances is more tiring than my V70 D5 which is more softly sprung and designed with a bit more comfort in mind.
I suspect the non Aero derivatives are far more cossetting.
I suspect the non Aero derivatives are far more cossetting.
As said above the 2.0, 2.3 and 2.3 hot all seem to return about the same MPG.
I am running a new shape 11/2005 95 2.0t 150 bhp , but Hirsch chipped to 210bhp (checked 209bhp on diatech rolling road) fuel comsumption is 27 mpg average last 4000 miles, was same before chipping. Does 0-60 a little over 8 secs the mid range is it's forte goes better than you would expect 50-100.
The seats are excellent the ride is very good better than a 5 series , audi a6 even a little better than an E class, although it handles well I would say that the e class and 5 series I have driven steer and handle a bit better and they have more mechanical refinement.
In short I chose this car as it was around £2.5-3K cheaper
than the same age equivalent BMW or Merc, the comfort is noticably better , it has a good load space and the Saab 2nd had warrenty was good.
I am running a new shape 11/2005 95 2.0t 150 bhp , but Hirsch chipped to 210bhp (checked 209bhp on diatech rolling road) fuel comsumption is 27 mpg average last 4000 miles, was same before chipping. Does 0-60 a little over 8 secs the mid range is it's forte goes better than you would expect 50-100.
The seats are excellent the ride is very good better than a 5 series , audi a6 even a little better than an E class, although it handles well I would say that the e class and 5 series I have driven steer and handle a bit better and they have more mechanical refinement.
In short I chose this car as it was around £2.5-3K cheaper
than the same age equivalent BMW or Merc, the comfort is noticably better , it has a good load space and the Saab 2nd had warrenty was good.Gassing Station | Saab | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff