Do I want a 9-5 Turbo Edition?

Do I want a 9-5 Turbo Edition?

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Discussion

highway

Original Poster:

1,955 posts

260 months

Saturday 20th December 2014
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This isn't the busiest corner of Pistonheads but I'm looking for some wisdom from 9-5 Turbo Edition owners. I'm looking to change the family car. I've got an old 911 for nice days which sleeps on a trickle charger much of the time. The daily has been a 1.8 Primera. I'm attracted by underdog cars. The Nissan had 1
Owner before me, had covered 11k and came packed with toys including nav, reverse camera, cruise, auto lights and wipers. I can get over 400miles to a tank of fuel with a combination of driving. It's patently NOT a fast car but with a chain driven engine it has given me zero headaches over the past four years.

I'm looking at an 09 95. Manual 2.3t. Heated front and rear leather seats, nav, premium audio etc. has a big boot though I fear I will miss the practicality of a hatch. I'd also need to get a Parrot fitted as Bluetooth didn't seem to standard?

The Saab appeals as its low miles, mint and presents a lot of car for the money. It must also be far more entertaining to drive than the Primera.

I have two concerns. How savage on fuel is it? Is it entertaining to drive? I can enjoy a car that's well equipped, slow but good on fuel. I can't accept a car that's heavy on fuel whilst not being quick. That's a bad combo. The Mrs had an X type 2.5 a few years ago which was exactly that-slow and thirsty despite a 2.5V6.

So please share your 95 experience 09 model and manual thanks

highway

Original Poster:

1,955 posts

260 months

Saturday 20th December 2014
quotequote all
Am I also right in thinking that an 09 car is substantially the same car as when the 9-5 was launched based on a Vectra ?

2013BRM

39,731 posts

284 months

Saturday 20th December 2014
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09 has a facelifted front and interior, the 2.3 averages about 30mpg+, it can be mapped to 275bhp for £100 but is plenty fast enough as is, a lot of car for the money, any Vectra similarities will be few as that was the reason for the demise of Saab

pewe

648 posts

219 months

Tuesday 30th December 2014
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IIRC 9-5's have little or nothing to do with Vectras.
That was reserved for 9-3's.
The 9-5's were developed from the 9000's which in turn were the Type 4 chassis shared originally with Fiat, Alfa and Lancia.
My m/y 2000 9-5 2.3 LPT auto estate has reached 150k with only a turbo (85k) and a rad (144K) plus minor irritations like coil pack and CPS (all DIY) jobs.
In terms of perfomance it's adequate especially if you have a second car for fun (mine a s/c Mazda Eunos). As for chipping I've thought about it but can't really see the point.
When buying check its service record and it MUST have been run on fully synth oil all its life.
Non or semi-synth clogs up the sump mesh oil pick-up (GM downsized the oil pump and made the mesh finer to compensate). Owners using non-synth may claim they've cleaned said filter but that's only part of the problem as non-synth encourages glazing which in turn can detach causing problems.
Don't let the above discourage you - there are plenty of cars out there which have run fully synth.
Change gearbox fluid regularly for long life.

As far as I can see rust isn't an issue and there are plenty of specialists, good parts supply and knowledgeable forum members available.

More than once passengers used to similar up-market brands have, unprompted, said how well it rides and how comfortable it is partic in the rear.

Drive it hard and you'll see 22mpg, more relaxed and 30 is just possible (auto).

Sum total - Good at what it says on the tin and now cracking value for money.
Any further PM me.
BOL, Pewe.


highway

Original Poster:

1,955 posts

260 months

Tuesday 30th December 2014
quotequote all
Thanks for the replies. I bought it. Took £81 of super unleaded from close to empty which was a lot. Very comfortable with great ride quality as mentioned. Doesn't feel like a car you would want to hustle hard over a B road but the ride quality makes up for that. Great audio and looks quite imposing as well!

fivepointnine

708 posts

114 months

Wednesday 31st December 2014
quotequote all
pewe said:
IIRC 9-5's have little or nothing to do with Vectras.
That was reserved for 9-3's.
The 9-5's were developed from the 9000's which in turn were the Type 4 chassis shared originally with Fiat, Alfa and Lancia.
My m/y 2000 9-5 2.3 LPT auto estate has reached 150k with only a turbo (85k) and a rad (144K) plus minor irritations like coil pack and CPS (all DIY) jobs.
In terms of perfomance it's adequate especially if you have a second car for fun (mine a s/c Mazda Eunos). As for chipping I've thought about it but can't really see the point.
When buying check its service record and it MUST have been run on fully synth oil all its life.
Non or semi-synth clogs up the sump mesh oil pick-up (GM downsized the oil pump and made the mesh finer to compensate). Owners using non-synth may claim they've cleaned said filter but that's only part of the problem as non-synth encourages glazing which in turn can detach causing problems.
Don't let the above discourage you - there are plenty of cars out there which have run fully synth.
Change gearbox fluid regularly for long life.

As far as I can see rust isn't an issue and there are plenty of specialists, good parts supply and knowledgeable forum members available.

More than once passengers used to similar up-market brands have, unprompted, said how well it rides and how comfortable it is partic in the rear.

Drive it hard and you'll see 22mpg, more relaxed and 30 is just possible (auto).

Sum total - Good at what it says on the tin and now cracking value for money.
Any further PM me.
BOL, Pewe.
I am pretty sure they had the sludge problem cleared up by about '05 or '06, and the newer manuals reflected the need for synthetic oil and shorter change intervals.

highway

Original Poster:

1,955 posts

260 months

Thursday 1st January 2015
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I have noticed lots of interesting little details like the fact that the handle used to close the boot lid is exactly the same as the wife's ancient Saab from the 80s that lives in Sweden.

2013BRM

39,731 posts

284 months

Thursday 1st January 2015
quotequote all
9-5 was based on a GM platform, nothing to do with the Vectra, mods in 2004 ended the sludging woes

highway

Original Poster:

1,955 posts

260 months

Thursday 1st January 2015
quotequote all
To Guildford then on to Bluewater, then back to Sutton earlier. Super comfortable. Cruise control poorly sited on stalk rather than on steering wheel. Steering wheel controls not lit at night. A curious omission. As is the lack of factory Bluetooth on a 2009 MY exec type car.

I've driven mostly gently since filling up on super. Done 210 miles on just over half a tank. Not great but maybe I can live with it. I really miss a reversing camera!

bladerrw

128 posts

128 months

Saturday 3rd January 2015
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I had an auto 2.3 for 11 years. I loved it and it never let me down but did require regular attention - turbo, DI cassette, balancer chain, cam chain, sensors, and finally gearbox issues.

Got some Saab roof bars if you want them and are ever near Oxford.



highway

Original Poster:

1,955 posts

260 months

Sunday 4th January 2015
quotequote all
That's a kind offer thanks!

I was researching prices for a Parrot kit earlier today. Out of nowhere my getting elderly neighbour knocks the door and asks if I will sell him the car! I explained I had just bought it as replacement for our family car. He explains he's always wanted one and proceeds to offer me a fair chunk more than I paid for it.

It is a great car. I think it will cost me broadly £30 more per tank of fuel, to do the same miles I was doing in the current daily. I've been servicing the car myself and I can change the oil and filters on the car easily enough. I wonder of long term that's a false economy with regards to replace.

The diesel is obviously more popular but would have cost thousands more to buy at this mileage. Overall I'm really taken aback at how much car it is for the money

2013BRM

39,731 posts

284 months

Sunday 4th January 2015
quotequote all
I'm of the same mind, so amazed to get so much for the money, who cares if it costs a little more to fuel when you can disregard depreciation, spares are cheap, specialists aplenty, it is comfy, fast and handsome

FraMac

785 posts

217 months

Monday 5th January 2015
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Same here - I bought a 55 plate 9-5 2.3 auto estate for buttons four years ago, and it's a great place to be. Bought a nearly new turbo for it last year for £100 (the turbo had done about 10k), had it fitted when the car was serviced, and it has been as sound as a pound. It's taken us on the annual pilgrimage to Le Mans 4 times now - no problems.

pewe

648 posts

219 months

Monday 5th January 2015
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highway said:
It is a great car. I think it will cost me broadly £30 more per tank of fuel, to do the same miles I was doing in the current daily. I've been servicing the car myself and I can change the oil and filters on the car easily enough. I wonder of long term that's a false economy with regards to replace.

The diesel is obviously more popular but would have cost thousands more to buy at this mileage. Overall I'm really taken aback at how much car it is for the money
Depends on what sort of mileage you're doing.
My local indie reckons the diesel, being of Alfa origin, needs to be used for long journeys on a regular basis as it's more prone than other diesels to carboning up if used primarily for short runs.
No problem with DIY oil changes - I just mark the Service Book accordingly - you can then claim "Service History" in the (unlikely) event you want to sell it before it grinds to a halt.
Cheers, Pewe.

highway

Original Poster:

1,955 posts

260 months

Saturday 17th January 2015
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This car really does have a turn of pace. The HK sound system sounds great and it's not even as difficult to park as I first thought. Only thing I need to sort is a Parrot for hands free.

2013BRM

39,731 posts

284 months

Sunday 18th January 2015
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I think Saabs are the most undrrated cars around right now

WildCards

4,061 posts

217 months

Friday 23rd January 2015
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I've got a 10 plate manual turbo edition estate, great vfm but pretty awful fuel economy if not being used in it's natural habitat.

highway

Original Poster:

1,955 posts

260 months

Sunday 25th January 2015
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I've now managed 1000 miles since purchase. Liking it more and more. This may allow me to effectively retire my 911!

Every time I see the see the last 9-5, the facelift before Saab bit the dust, I think how good looking it is and wonder what it was like to drive. That car still looks bang up to date.

sabb95

3 posts

110 months

Monday 16th February 2015
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i am looking to sell my saab95 2.3t this has had hirsh upgrade now sits at 305bhp it has 21000 on clock feb 10 (59) its good con anybody tell me what its worth thanks

sabb95

3 posts

110 months

Monday 16th February 2015
quotequote all
i am looking to sell my saab95 2.3t this has had hirsh upgrade now sits at 305bhp it has 21000 on clock feb 10 (59) its good con anybody tell me what its worth thanks