Pre vs post 2001 facelift 9-5 Aero differences?

[SlowV6]

Hi all,
I have been interested in getting an Aero estate for a while now. My budget places me in the early facelift cars range, but if a really good pre-facelift car came up I would not rule that out. I would like a manual.

I realise that Saab extracted another 20bhp out of the facelift engine and aesthetically it is improved (although I like the 3 spoke wheels of the original!) but I was wondering if it noticeably better than the pre-facelift model across the board? Should I rule out an early car, as they are cheaper than the facelift.

I was wondering if anyone on here had had both and could comment? Car will be our 2nd car, used as a workhorse with some straight line heroism hopefully providing me with smiles and will do less than 5k miles a year.

Thanks all.

[jackthelad1984]

I have a 2000 and a 2002 9-5 aero estate, the 2002 is my main car and the 2000 I bought for parts off ebay for a stupidly low price and it turned out to good to pull apart so a mechanic friend mot'd it and we share it as and when we need it. The seats are nicer in the facelift model but other than that not alot of difference. Both nice to drive and fairly quick, though I believe my daily had been tinkered with before I bought it. Grills and headlights can also be different.