Would you buy a SAAB 9-5 AERO HOT?

Would you buy a SAAB 9-5 AERO HOT?

Author
Discussion

Mr.Nobody

Original Poster:

880 posts

55 months

Saturday 7th September
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A friend of mine is looking to buy a car for the weekend. He quite fancies a Saab that he’s seen at a Saab specialist for sale. 2004, Auto on 100k for just over £2k. Are there any previous owners that can help with these cars, common problems and what they are like if anyone currently has one?

Mr E

22,126 posts

266 months

Saturday 7th September
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Ran an estate for a couple of years. Full boost in 3rd was amusing. Estate was massive. Good seats.

From memory, ignition cassettes failed (cheap enough) and crank sensors were wonky on mine. The HOT chipped to nearly 300 of your earth horsepower for not a lot of money.

I think I paid less than 3k over 10 years ago.

thetapeworm

11,897 posts

246 months

Saturday 7th September
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Rust was the only major issue with mine, the "rear dog legs" at the front of the arches, not economical for me to have repaired but the handy chap who bought it had it sorted in a couple of days.

The interior door handles fell.apart too, an issue with the ivory leather interiors and hard to get replace for.

Mine was a manual and I've never driven an auto but presumably it works well with the smooth and relatively relentless power deliver that makes them such good mile munchers.

There were quite a few options available on them, heated / cooling seats, stereo upgrades, HIDs etc - it's worth getting the best you can from day one.

There's been a couple of project threads on 9-5s on here and a couple of shed of the weeks, all with great content from owners and previous ones.

I'd have another in a heartbeat if I needed a car of that size again.

Edited by thetapeworm on Saturday 7th September 20:04

Tonberry

2,127 posts

199 months

Saturday 7th September
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I had a manual one 10 years ago.

Fast and economical. Only issue was worn gearbox / engine mounts.

Inspire

275 posts

186 months

Saturday 7th September
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Check the tax, particularly if it is an auto - surprising expensive.


carinaman

22,064 posts

179 months

Saturday 7th September
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mcdjl

5,490 posts

202 months

Saturday 7th September
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Loved my one but it has been abused at some point in it's life. The turbo leaked oil amongst other parts which eventually killed it. Not sure if had ever had the breather replaced. I had to replace the ignition cassette fairly early on, this would have been about 10 years back and a manual.

bearman68

4,795 posts

139 months

Saturday 7th September
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I had a low mileage manual. Not the most reliable in the world, but I loved it. Smooth, fast, economical. Fab engine.
Don't fancy an auto though.

macp

4,111 posts

190 months

Saturday 7th September
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Had three of them. Two were auto and one was manual. I actually preferred the autos. Fantastic cars but economical is not a word I would have used to describe them. Although better than the S70R I had.

Bonefish Blues

29,412 posts

230 months

Saturday 7th September
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Auto estate here. It was an impressive drive when it drove, but when it stopped on the Bedford bypass with my two young children on board that was enough. Our XC70s have never stranded us.

Mr E

22,126 posts

266 months

Sunday 8th September
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Engine sludging on early ones rings a bell. You might want to drop the sump as a precaution

Of course, at a couple of grand for the whole car you might just take the risk.



Edited by Mr E on Sunday 8th September 11:25

PoorCarCollector

128 posts

27 months

Sunday 8th September
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To answer your question, no I wouldn't, thanks for asking though

TheWokeBlob

58 posts

15 months

Sunday 8th September
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No I wouldn't because it's not 2011 anymore and the "well quick, junior supercar with a tune, innit" internet hype looks a bit redundant when there are old diesel sheds out there for similar money that will put one in its place, whilst not costing £600 a year to tax, not using one of the most pathetic and soul sapping auto boxes on the planet and not constantly trying to battle MPG figures starting with a "1" when you dare to press on a bit.

thetapeworm

11,897 posts

246 months

Sunday 8th September
quotequote all
TheWokeBlob said:
No I wouldn't because it's not 2011 anymore and the "well quick, junior supercar with a tune, innit" internet hype looks a bit redundant when there are old diesel sheds out there for similar money that will put one in its place, whilst not costing £600 a year to tax, not using one of the most pathetic and soul sapping auto boxes on the planet and not constantly trying to battle MPG figures starting with a "1" when you dare to press on a bit.
You need to eject the cup holder a few more times and repent!

Valid points though smile

Olivera

7,671 posts

246 months

Sunday 8th September
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TheWokeBlob said:
No I wouldn't because it's not 2011 anymore and the "well quick, junior supercar with a tune, innit" internet hype looks a bit redundant when there are old diesel sheds out there for similar money that will put one in its place, whilst not costing £600 a year to tax, not using one of the most pathetic and soul sapping auto boxes on the planet and not constantly trying to battle MPG figures starting with a "1" when you dare to press on a bit.
This. Plus in recent years most Saabs were run by paupers simply wanting a cheap fastish barge, before running it into the ground then scraping it.

Mr E

22,126 posts

266 months

Sunday 8th September
quotequote all
TheWokeBlob said:
No I wouldn't because it's not 2011 anymore and the "well quick, junior supercar with a tune, innit" internet hype looks a bit redundant when there are old diesel sheds out there for similar money that will put one in its place, whilst not costing £600 a year to tax, not using one of the most pathetic and soul sapping auto boxes on the planet and not constantly trying to battle MPG figures starting with a "1" when you dare to press on a bit.
Show us on the model where the saab touched you?