Should I want a Saab.....

[dema]

Which one should I go for?
Hi all, with the arrival of my first child, I'm thinking that I'll be needing a larger car at some point soon. Although I'm in not need of cavernous space, I'm thinking that an estate will be pretty future proof.
I've been window shopping for a few months now and Saabs tend to regularly come on my searches.
I would love to get another Alfa but the current ones don't match my needs 😥. I've looked at mondeo st220 but a bit worried about the low 20mpg.
Bmw e46 330I do look boring but also do tick all other boxes, although not sure I'm prepared to pay the premium that comes with the brand name.
Octavia VRS are good on price and performances but on my budget I'll only be able to afford the boring looking model.
So, Saab seems tick everything...
I'll be looking for a petrol estate, manual on a budget between 6 and 10k (all depend on the px of my current car).
I love the look of the 900 but unfortunately I don't think it would be a wise choice, I've heard that the 9000 has a really strong engine although I'll be looking for something a bit more modern. The 93 and 95 seems the one to go for.
Not knowing anything about Saab, which model should I b e looking for?
Only used at week ends for mainly short trips with the odd 100+ miles drive, reliable, 30mpg average, doesn't have to have masses of power as standard but, has to be tuneable.
Will I be able to get this.
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/s... on an estate version?
Thanks

[Boosted LS1]

This will be interesting. I love my saab.

[RedLeicester]

9-5 Aero wagon: massive boot, plenty of room in the back for kids to grow, 35mpg+ on a run, job done.

[dema]

Thank you,
Is that on a 2.0t petrol? 35 mpg is what I get know which would be perfect

[RedLeicester]

dema said:

Thank you,
Is that on a 2.0t petrol? 35 mpg is what I get know which would be perfect

The Aero is a 2.3HOT (High output turbo) so depending on model year it'd be either 250 or 260bhp, oodles of torque and decent economy.

[QBee]

RedLeicester said:

dema said:

Thank you,
Is that on a 2.0t petrol? 35 mpg is what I get know which would be perfect

The Aero is a 2.3HOT (High output turbo) so depending on model year it'd be either 250 or 260bhp, oodles of torque and decent economy.

I get 31 mpg all day long (22,000 miles now) on my 2006 9-5 Aero estate manual. The auto boxes are excellent, I just fancied having a manual for a change - every other daily driver for the last 20 years has been an auto. If you do a lot of town driving, get the auto.
The electric leather heated memory seats are superb (look very carefully at the spec of any car when choosing, to ensure it has all these options ticked). They are the most comfortable seats ever if you get a post 2006 facelift car (so 56 onwards).
All cars are turbocharged and have awesome overtaking acceleration, which is just what you need in A road driving. I have had both the 9-3 and the 9-5, and think the 9-5 is a far better car. To me the 9-3 felt cramped, especially in the back. Don't be tempted to buy a 9-3 1.9 diesel auto. Hateful car, cannot pull briskly out of junctions because you cannot rev up and slip the clutch, like in a manual, so it has no power until the turbo kicks in.

[jmorgan]

Quite amazed at the space in a 9-5 saloon, boot space that is.

And the auto (2004 vintage) is sublime.

Edit. just read, short trips, I get poor mpg on town running but up around 40 on the M way slog 2.3t. (150 miles or so)

Edited by jmorgan on Friday 26th February 06:49

[RedLeicester]

QBee said:

I have had both the 9-3 and the 9-5, and think the 9-5 is a far better car. To me the 9-3 felt cramped, especially in the back. Don't be tempted to buy a 9-3 1.9 diesel auto. Hateful car, cannot pull briskly out of junctions because you cannot rev up and slip the clutch, like in a manual, so it has no power until the turbo kicks in.

This. I have had both and currently have a 9-3 as firstly I no longer need the space and secondly I needed to scratch the TX itch. So I now have the fastest Saab they ever made, and the bonus of 4WD which is handy out in the sticks. The boot is still good but reasonably sized adults are a smidge cramped in the back, and child seats would be a pain. Thankfully my anklebiters are more thigh-gnawers now so all that nonsense is behind me. Whilst the TX is a complete monster it's abundantly clear that the build quality isn't to the same level as the hewn-from-granite of the 9-5s. The only bit I'd challenge are the seats - the 9-5 seats are ace, the Premium leather sports seats in the TX and Carlsson are even better and I say that coming after two 9-5 Aeros where I didn't think they could get better.

Oh and performance isn't really an issue on the TX

[Bluehawk]

I've just gone from an Alfa to a Saab 95 HOT aero estate.

Best move I've made in ages.

[dema]

Thank you gents!
So, if I got it right, I would be looking for a 9-5 hot with electric memory seats. I've read around that the post 07 models have a better (easier to swap ) radio.
Could I find an 07 without the big chrome bits on the head lights or, has anyone successfully painted those?
Bluehawk- which Alfa did you have? I

Thank you again for the advise

[RedLeicester]

Worth a google on the headlamp surrounds, they're a bit marmite. Some people paint, some unpeel the chromed bits.

[tdm34]

I've got a 2010 9-5 Aero Edition estate, it's the best car i've ever owned, around town I get 22mpg on a run at legal-ish speeds 30mpg is easily achievable
if you want more go then a 3" downpipe a 3.5 bar Fuel pressure regulator and the services of a lovely guy called "SAABNoob" Gets you 300bhp/440NM with seemingly no loss of economy, that lot costs £600 and it turns a swift car into something altogether more entertaining, it doesn't go round corners like a hot hatch, but it's not too bad, the seats are sublime, mine has the full heated memory operation, the stereo is the full touchscreen SatNav system with the Harman Kardon 8 Speaker in it and it sounds superb, Nothing's dropped off it, and it puts a smile on my face everytime I drive it.

Also a pal of mine has a 9-5 Aero with very nearly 500bhp and it's utterly mental, have a look in the projects section of the UKSAABs website

Also the "Edition" models have Satin Chrome Headlight surrounds, so not as bright....

A pic

Edited by tdm34 on Friday 26th February 23:19

[dema]

Thank you for the info, all very useful.
I had a look around on Saab uk and other sites, few more questions have popped up which I'm sure you'll able to advise on.
Some people describe the 2005/6 models as the last proper Saab, is this due to Saab going bust and being bought by a Chinese company?
Also some web site describes the later models has gone to production not fully finished? I guess this is due to the company that bought Saab not being able to finance the project.
Is this something to look out for or just web myths?

Thanks again
Alex

[macp]

Hi Alex
All very arguable regarding the last proper Saab as some would say the 9000 or perhaps the 900 classic were the last proper Saabs.I have owned two 9-5 Aeros in fact just bought another but thats for another time . The first was a 2002 auto saloon and the 2nd was a Dame Edna 2006 car.I personally feel the pre DE cars particularly the late ones are better looking and better built than the DE cars.I believe its because there is more GM in the Dame Edna cars. Having said this they are still a nice place to sit and still have decent enough build quality. Either get a late Aero with all the toys or a manual Dame Edna to avoid the silly VED rates unless you can find an auto 55 plate DE which has a lot lower duty.

Cant really comment on the very last of the line cars not heard of the issues you mentioned but entirely possible. Below is a pic of the 9-5 sportwagon as they made a handful before shutting down and I thought they looked stunning.Such a shame.

Edited by macp on Monday 29th February 18:36

Edited by macp on Tuesday 1st March 10:16

[dema]

Thank you for the info.
More stuff I didn't know... Had to google what dame Edna is, although I haven't been able to find what post/pre DE is?
The car in the picture looks really smart!!

Had a look at the classifieds, aero estate manual seems to be pretty rare, specially with a low mileage...

Edited by dema on Tuesday 1st March 09:52

[macp]

The changes were quite subtle until the DE came in around 2006

This is an early MY 99/2000 car. You got to love the hammerheads




This is a 2002/2003 car




And this a late pre Dame Edna car from 2004/2005



And lastly the Dame Edna

Edited by macp on Tuesday 1st March 10:15

[Bluehawk]

dema said:

Thank you gents!
So, if I got it right, I would be looking for a 9-5 hot with electric memory seats. I've read around that the post 07 models have a better (easier to swap ) radio.
Could I find an 07 without the big chrome bits on the head lights or, has anyone successfully painted those?
Bluehawk- which Alfa did you have? I

Thank you again for the advise

I was afraid you'd ask about the Alfa.
Was a 156, 2.0 T Spark, With Lusso Interior!

[RedLeicester]

macp said:

That, in Aero V6 XWD guise is just about my perfect car. Such a crying shame.

[Mr E]

Bluehawk said:

I was afraid you'd ask about the Alfa.
Was a 156, 2.0 T Spark, With Lusso Interior!

We went from a 156 V6 sport wagon (with a Momo interior and teledials) to a 9-5 Aero estate.
The Saab was bigger, faster and better built. It was also considerably cheaper to run.
We did 2 years in the Saab, then traded it for another estate. We kept the Alfa for 6.

The 9-5 was better in almost every regard than the Alfa.
I still miss the 156. I hadn't thought about the 9-5 for months until I read this thread.

[Bluehawk]

Mr E said:

We went from a 156 V6 sport wagon (with a Momo interior and teledials) to a 9-5 Aero estate.
The Saab was bigger, faster and better built. It was also considerably cheaper to run.
We did 2 years in the Saab, then traded it for another estate. We kept the Alfa for 6.

The 9-5 was better in almost every regard than the Alfa.
I still miss the 156. I hadn't thought about the 9-5 for months until I read this thread.

Yes my 156 was the Momo Interior (cream)... Here she is



Totally agree regarding the difference with the Saab.