2002-2003 Saab 9-5 Aeros - Generally Reliable?
Discussion
Hi guys,
I'm looking to get a reliable car after my Focus has clapped out on me a few times, and I'm looking at the Saab 9-5 Aero as it represents stonking value for money any doesn't add much more to my insurance premiums.
I've been made redundant so I'm limited as to what I can spend, £3,000 max is my budget (I need a car to get to interviews, so I'm justifying it like that!
)
Is the Saab 9-5 generally a reliable car? What MPG does it get on a run? (It'll mainly be a motorway car!) Is the 9-3 Aero better or worse? (The convertible appeals to me...)
Thanks.
I'm looking to get a reliable car after my Focus has clapped out on me a few times, and I'm looking at the Saab 9-5 Aero as it represents stonking value for money any doesn't add much more to my insurance premiums.
I've been made redundant so I'm limited as to what I can spend, £3,000 max is my budget (I need a car to get to interviews, so I'm justifying it like that!
)Is the Saab 9-5 generally a reliable car? What MPG does it get on a run? (It'll mainly be a motorway car!) Is the 9-3 Aero better or worse? (The convertible appeals to me...)
Thanks.
In the 2.5 years I have owned my 9-5 Aero it has been very reliable, never broken down or not started on me.
The Tronic7 engine management can be a little over sensative and flag up and issue that isn't really noticable.
Usual rules apply with the 9-5. Get the sump dropped and checked. Run it on fully syth oil and check it weekly
The engine is not a self sufficient one and needs to be maintained correctly, warmed up, eased down and left to idle for a min before switching off. This kind of preventative maintenance will give you generally trouble free running.
Any failing is generally of the electrical kind. DI rails, Crank shaft position sensors and MAF's etc. NOthing too costly or difficult to do yourself.
MPG wise... I have been running mine very gently over the past couple of weeks and currently have an average of 32.
My usual average is around 29.
The Tronic7 engine management can be a little over sensative and flag up and issue that isn't really noticable.
Usual rules apply with the 9-5. Get the sump dropped and checked. Run it on fully syth oil and check it weekly
The engine is not a self sufficient one and needs to be maintained correctly, warmed up, eased down and left to idle for a min before switching off. This kind of preventative maintenance will give you generally trouble free running.
Any failing is generally of the electrical kind. DI rails, Crank shaft position sensors and MAF's etc. NOthing too costly or difficult to do yourself.
MPG wise... I have been running mine very gently over the past couple of weeks and currently have an average of 32.
My usual average is around 29.
Edited by boolay on Wednesday 26th January 17:26
Don't get me started on this one.
I was in a very similar position to you took voluntary redundancy and needed a family size car to replace the company S MAX (oh how i miss you)
I bought a 02 9-5 aero estate privately with 111K on the clock.
I have owned it about 6 weeks and in that time had to sort the following.
1) Replace LH Xenon headlamp control unit broke about 3 days after I bought car
2) Fix faulty high beam on right hand side (fuse box connection)
3) Rear park assist only works when it wants to.
3) Engine fault light came on about a week after I collected car and it turns out I have an air leak somewhere. , so light comes and goes.
4) Tail gate locked open so i couldn't shut it properly and having manually fixed that (hammer and screw driver) its seems I,ve knackered the sensor which means the boot open indicator will not go off and neither will the lamp in the boot so i'm having to remove the fuse overnight to stop the battery getting drained until i can look at this in more detail.
5) it developed a high pitch whining noise on start up which i'm told could indicate the turbo is on its way out. This seems to have been fixed by an oil and filter change and upgrade to motor sport oil. I was told by the chap i bought it off that that he had recently had the sump off, cleaned out the filter and changed the oil (couple of weeks before i bought it off him) and in all honesty i've no reason to not believe him.
Oh and i've had to replace a rear tyre but thats not the cars problem.............. so as you can see i'm a little sore and about £500 worse off.
On the plus side, it was still a very cheap car and even with the £500 it still only owes me about £2K which is not a lot of money for a lot of car. Its probably the most comfortable car I've ever owned, it has "HOT" performance when the engine warning lights not on and I love the look.
I'm no mechanic but i gave it a good once over when I collected, I found it difficult to justify a 3rd part inspection for the initial cost but in hindsight it could have been a couple of hundred quid well spent.
My advise would be unless you know what your doing purchase through a reputable dealer with at least 6 months warranty. Have a good look around there seem to be plenty on the market especially saloons and obviously get the best you can afford but that's not always the youngest.
Mines got to get me down to the Alps for a weeks skiing next week so wish me luck!!!!!
Hope this helps.
I was in a very similar position to you took voluntary redundancy and needed a family size car to replace the company S MAX (oh how i miss you)
I bought a 02 9-5 aero estate privately with 111K on the clock.
I have owned it about 6 weeks and in that time had to sort the following.
1) Replace LH Xenon headlamp control unit broke about 3 days after I bought car
2) Fix faulty high beam on right hand side (fuse box connection)
3) Rear park assist only works when it wants to.
3) Engine fault light came on about a week after I collected car and it turns out I have an air leak somewhere. , so light comes and goes.
4) Tail gate locked open so i couldn't shut it properly and having manually fixed that (hammer and screw driver) its seems I,ve knackered the sensor which means the boot open indicator will not go off and neither will the lamp in the boot so i'm having to remove the fuse overnight to stop the battery getting drained until i can look at this in more detail.
5) it developed a high pitch whining noise on start up which i'm told could indicate the turbo is on its way out. This seems to have been fixed by an oil and filter change and upgrade to motor sport oil. I was told by the chap i bought it off that that he had recently had the sump off, cleaned out the filter and changed the oil (couple of weeks before i bought it off him) and in all honesty i've no reason to not believe him.
Oh and i've had to replace a rear tyre but thats not the cars problem.............. so as you can see i'm a little sore and about £500 worse off.
On the plus side, it was still a very cheap car and even with the £500 it still only owes me about £2K which is not a lot of money for a lot of car. Its probably the most comfortable car I've ever owned, it has "HOT" performance when the engine warning lights not on and I love the look.
I'm no mechanic but i gave it a good once over when I collected, I found it difficult to justify a 3rd part inspection for the initial cost but in hindsight it could have been a couple of hundred quid well spent.
My advise would be unless you know what your doing purchase through a reputable dealer with at least 6 months warranty. Have a good look around there seem to be plenty on the market especially saloons and obviously get the best you can afford but that's not always the youngest.
Mines got to get me down to the Alps for a weeks skiing next week so wish me luck!!!!!
Hope this helps.
Edited by 968CS on Tuesday 7th February 17:19
Edited by 968CS on Tuesday 7th February 17:20
Without doubt the WORST car I have ever owned!
Obviously I bought a bad one and therefore my story may be no reflection on the overall reliability of this model, but you did ask!
03 9-5 Aero estate - very quick, appaling handling, wonderful interior - the best seats in the world
But over my two years of ownership before I finally gave up and chopped it in for a 5 series it cost me 7 grand in repairs and if you include the stuff that was done under warranty it would be close to double that figure.
Turbo went
Air conditioning sprang no more than 7 leaks
Massive oild leak precipitated top end rebuild
I've blanked the rest out
Mind you Saab Fulham were appalling too - so that didn't help.
Obviously I bought a bad one and therefore my story may be no reflection on the overall reliability of this model, but you did ask!
03 9-5 Aero estate - very quick, appaling handling, wonderful interior - the best seats in the world
But over my two years of ownership before I finally gave up and chopped it in for a 5 series it cost me 7 grand in repairs and if you include the stuff that was done under warranty it would be close to double that figure.
Turbo went
Air conditioning sprang no more than 7 leaks
Massive oild leak precipitated top end rebuild
I've blanked the rest out
Mind you Saab Fulham were appalling too - so that didn't help.
Well I made it to the Alps and back but not without issue and using nearly 7 litres of oil over 1600 miles of cruising at 75mph as i could not go ant faster as it's developed a serious vibration through the steering wheel at 75 plus. Had the wheels balanced while in France but has not made a lot of difference.
Any ideas anyone.
Any ideas anyone.
968CS said:
5) it developed a high pitch whining noise on start up which i'm told could indicate the turbo is on its way out. This seems to have been fixed by an oil and filter change and upgrade to motor sport oil. I was told by the chap i bought it off that that he had recently had the sump off, cleaned out the filter and changed the oil (couple of weeks before i bought it off him) and in all honesty i've no reason to not believe him.
The high pitch whining noise (especially on cold startup) may be a good reason not to believe the seller - it's supposed to be one of the more obvious warnings of a clogged oil-pickup strainer.http://www.saabscene.com/forum/threads/126756-LOUD...
I went through all the internet scare stories in the three year ownership of my 2.3LPT, and found that most of them were ultimately down to poor maintenance by past and present owners. Yes, they do have known weaknesses, but they're well documented and easy enough to check and avoid. Dropping the sump is easy enough, and should be no more than a couple of hundred at a good indy if you don't fancy doing it yourself. Still cheap motoring.
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