06 9-5 tid auto seriously disappointing
Discussion
I bought a 9-5 2006 1.9 tid auto estate, test drive was good, seemed a quality car, and to be fair there are no faults and it has been impeccably well maintained, full service history, matching set of goodyear eagles. It drives and handles pretty tight, the engine is spot on and the gearbox shifts perfectly every time. Comfiest seats this side of an e38 comfort seat
But it doesn't feel like a quality piece of machinery like the old 900 and 9000s i had a few years ago. The door handles creak when you touch them, the passenger door trim rattles when idling in gear, trim in the boot squeaks all the time it creaks like a 10 year old vectra, not a quality car like these were priced at. The door seals whistle loudly over 85, top gear is far too short, at 85 its turning more rpm than my van at 90 and mpg is dismal, edinburgh-glasgow-manchester-leeds-edinburgh motorway trip iduting the night, no traffic sitting just below 85 most of the way, enforced 50 for far too long of the rest of the time it averaged 36mpg. My fully loaded mid size van with a roof rack does better. And why the infuriating hoops to jump through just to get in the damn boot, one of these days my foot is going through the back window.
Are they all this s
t now or did i buy a dud?
Is it worth stripping the interior and modifying it to stop the noises or am i on a hiding to nothing?
But it doesn't feel like a quality piece of machinery like the old 900 and 9000s i had a few years ago. The door handles creak when you touch them, the passenger door trim rattles when idling in gear, trim in the boot squeaks all the time it creaks like a 10 year old vectra, not a quality car like these were priced at. The door seals whistle loudly over 85, top gear is far too short, at 85 its turning more rpm than my van at 90 and mpg is dismal, edinburgh-glasgow-manchester-leeds-edinburgh motorway trip iduting the night, no traffic sitting just below 85 most of the way, enforced 50 for far too long of the rest of the time it averaged 36mpg. My fully loaded mid size van with a roof rack does better. And why the infuriating hoops to jump through just to get in the damn boot, one of these days my foot is going through the back window.
Are they all this s
t now or did i buy a dud?Is it worth stripping the interior and modifying it to stop the noises or am i on a hiding to nothing?
OldGermanHeaps said:
I bought a 9-5 2006 1.9 tid auto estate, test drive was good, seemed a quality car, and to be fair there are no faults and it has been impeccably well maintained, full service history, matching set of goodyear eagles. It drives and handles pretty tight, the engine is spot on and the gearbox shifts perfectly every time. Comfiest seats this side of an e38 comfort seat
But it doesn't feel like a quality piece of machinery like the old 900 and 9000s i had a few years ago. The door handles creak when you touch them, the passenger door trim rattles when idling in gear, trim in the boot squeaks all the time it creaks like a 10 year old vectra, not a quality car like these were priced at. The door seals whistle loudly over 85, top gear is far too short, at 85 its turning more rpm than my van at 90 and mpg is dismal, edinburgh-glasgow-manchester-leeds-edinburgh motorway trip iduting the night, no traffic sitting just below 85 most of the way, enforced 50 for far too long of the rest of the time it averaged 36mpg. My fully loaded mid size van with a roof rack does better. And why the infuriating hoops to jump through just to get in the damn boot, one of these days my foot is going through the back window.
Are they all this st now or did i buy a dud?
Is it worth stripping the interior and modifying it to stop the noises or am i on a hiding to nothing?
I used to get 40-45 from a manual 1.9TID (150), so what you are getting sounds about right. That auto box is pretty dated. Thin it will be the same as the 5 speed in my 05 Aero. The changes are pretty slow too. Also, you have to remember that the engine isn't that modern either. But it doesn't feel like a quality piece of machinery like the old 900 and 9000s i had a few years ago. The door handles creak when you touch them, the passenger door trim rattles when idling in gear, trim in the boot squeaks all the time it creaks like a 10 year old vectra, not a quality car like these were priced at. The door seals whistle loudly over 85, top gear is far too short, at 85 its turning more rpm than my van at 90 and mpg is dismal, edinburgh-glasgow-manchester-leeds-edinburgh motorway trip iduting the night, no traffic sitting just below 85 most of the way, enforced 50 for far too long of the rest of the time it averaged 36mpg. My fully loaded mid size van with a roof rack does better. And why the infuriating hoops to jump through just to get in the damn boot, one of these days my foot is going through the back window.
Are they all this s
t now or did i buy a dud?Is it worth stripping the interior and modifying it to stop the noises or am i on a hiding to nothing?
Worth trying to keep to the speed limit and I'd advise using cruise control too.
I replaced the interior with aero leather and fixed 90% of the rattles, remapped it and gutted the dpf, and it still leaves me feeling disappointed. Going to bin it. I had a c plate 900i and a g plate 9000 hot, they felt special to drive, and decently put together, this is just nondescript gm ste. Luckily the mrs borrowed it and commented how dull and ste to drive it was without me prompting her, i was dreading the amount of nagging i was going to get when i tell her i'm punting it on so soon, now i can make it seem like partly her idea.
Back to the drawing board for a comfy big estate, one that doesn't look expensive to customers. Debadged 2.7t allroad?
te. Luckily the mrs borrowed it and commented how dull and ste to drive it was without me prompting her, i was dreading the amount of nagging i was going to get when i tell her i'm punting it on so soon, now i can make it seem like partly her idea.Back to the drawing board for a comfy big estate, one that doesn't look expensive to customers. Debadged 2.7t allroad?
The big Audis are better built than the Saabs. No irritating rattles, lovely fit and finish.
I Have just gone from a 2004 A8 3.0 TDI to a 2006 Saab Aero. From 40mpg to 30mpg.
Why, you ask?
Because I had so many expensive, niggle problems with the (originally £55,000) Audi. The electronics are the biggest problem, when combined with the cars ability to fill with water. So many little ECUs in silly places, or places that would be fine if the bloody thing didn't leak.
And the auto gearbox has developed the designed-in judder at 40 mph. This is because the auto box is programmed to be in 6th gear whenever possible, but this eventually causes clutch judder at 40 mph. £2000+ to fix. If you catch it before it starts, you can avoid it by using sport mode at all times, which stops it changing up to 6th gear at 30 mph. No loss in fuel economy.
And finally, I have a battery drain that nobody can find, which drains a full battery to flat in 7 hours. Try to start the car without quite enough juice and not only does it refuse, it also keeps your key and won't give it back.
The Saab may rattle and feel cheap, but the seats are really comfortable, it will tow my track car on a trailer, take the dogs to the park, and the clients feel they are paying their accountant the right amount.
Christmas 2014 I had three cars. The Audi A8, a Merc ML, and a TVR. Only one actually running the entire holiday period......
.......the TVR. Bloody German over-complication and dodgy electrics meant the other two were off the road.
I Have just gone from a 2004 A8 3.0 TDI to a 2006 Saab Aero. From 40mpg to 30mpg.
Why, you ask?
Because I had so many expensive, niggle problems with the (originally £55,000) Audi. The electronics are the biggest problem, when combined with the cars ability to fill with water. So many little ECUs in silly places, or places that would be fine if the bloody thing didn't leak.
And the auto gearbox has developed the designed-in judder at 40 mph. This is because the auto box is programmed to be in 6th gear whenever possible, but this eventually causes clutch judder at 40 mph. £2000+ to fix. If you catch it before it starts, you can avoid it by using sport mode at all times, which stops it changing up to 6th gear at 30 mph. No loss in fuel economy.
And finally, I have a battery drain that nobody can find, which drains a full battery to flat in 7 hours. Try to start the car without quite enough juice and not only does it refuse, it also keeps your key and won't give it back.
The Saab may rattle and feel cheap, but the seats are really comfortable, it will tow my track car on a trailer, take the dogs to the park, and the clients feel they are paying their accountant the right amount.
Christmas 2014 I had three cars. The Audi A8, a Merc ML, and a TVR. Only one actually running the entire holiday period......
.......the TVR. Bloody German over-complication and dodgy electrics meant the other two were off the road.
QBee said:
The Saab may rattle and feel cheap, but the seats are really comfortable, it will tow my track car on a trailer, take the dogs to the park, and the clients feel they are paying their accountant the right amount.
That was a big part of my reasoning in going for a saab, the sublime seats, and the fact that when i used my x5 for work there were endless snidey comments, oh i see you added on a percentage to my bill to cover a fuel tanker, and noticably more haggling over price that you just don't get turning up in a beat up old van.My son in law has a 2006 9-3 1.9 tiD 150 Vector sport auto, and I have got 50 mpg out of it by driving at 65 on cruise control on a long motorway journey, so i know it is possible, but very boring, and getting smartly out of junctions into a small gap in the traffic is heart in mouth time, as until the turbo spins up you have about 23 bhp, at least that is how it feels. Only a problem with the auto, with a manual you can rev up and bang the clutch in
Gassing Station | Saab | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff