Is a Saab 9-5 a money-pit?

[R E S T E C P]

I don't remember them ever being hailed as the the last word in reliability when they were new.

Would I need to worry about parts availability now?

I'd be looking at a 2008-ish estate with manual gearbox.

[bomma220]

My own experience of the 9-5: I bought a 2002 HOT Aero estate in March 14 for £800. It was on 157k miles, had a good history including the all-important sump drop & breather upgrade. Two issues with it on purchase were a blowing exhaust (fixed with a £25 flexi coupling) & a noisy rear wheel bearing (£55 new part)

I did 16k miles in 2 years 2 months, all that it needed was an aircon regas, brake pads, two new tyres, a sticking low coolant sensor (easy fix) & a couple of blown bulbs. The oil & filter was changed 3 times. (might be OTT but my choice)

I sold it (very easily) for £1000.

Never really needed much but parts are readily available.

I know not everyone will be so fortunate, but if you take your time to find a good 'un with a decent history (I looked at 5 before I bought mine) I don't think there's anything to be frightened of.

[CX53]

I'm on my 6th Saab now, I've decided to stick to the older ones and got myself a 9000 after two shockingly unreliable 9-5's.

[LincolnLovin]

I think it varies tbh, had my 9-5 for nearly six years and apart from the auto gearbox valve body going its been pretty reliable.

Buy with care and make sure things have been done and you should be fine.

[brman]

I've had two saabs, a 9000 and a 9-5. 9-5 was about 2002 I think. Both had done over 100k miles and had the usual problems you would expect at 100k miles. ie brake discs, brake calipers seizing. Nothing much else and no worse than any other car of similar age I have owned.

The 9-5 did have engine problems before I bought it (head gaskets, a common problem on the 3.0L V6 turbo apparently) and did eventually die because it eat its aux belt into the cambelt. But that was because I ignored the whining idle pulley for a couple of years and it eventually shredded the belt. Again, not an uncommon problem with high mileage engines so I would not blame saab for it. I think the 4 pots are pretty reliable.

[DavidY]

I had a 9-5 2.3LPT from 7K miles to 223k miles, only sold it as an aircon flap went AWOL so the passenger side was hot all the time.

In that time, it had

2 x DI Cassette (60k and about 125k)
1 x Turbo (188k)
1 x Head Gasket (185k)
2 x CPS (crank position sensor) (120k and 145k)
2 x Exhaust backbox (100K, 200K) mud and crap collects on outside lip rotting through.

That was it, absolutely brilliant car, would have kept it longer if the Aircon flap wasn't a dashboard out job and would have cost more than the car was worth.

If you buy one, I'd recommend putting a spare DI cassette and CPS in the boot, then just get in and drive.

[Nuttah]

bought a 2001 9-5 aero on 150k stage 1 remap to 170k and never missed a beat, did have an oil leak that required topping up regularly which i turned into something positive and said it was kind of a self changing oil service. Lovely car to drive 2nd and 3dr gear awesome pull. I prefer the older pre face lift models my self.

[Lester H]

R E S T E C P said:

I don't remember them ever being hailed as the the last word in reliability when they were new.

Would I need to worry about parts availability now?

I'd be looking at a 2008-ish estate with manual gearbox.

Agreed, they were never in the very reliable category. Servicing cost at dealers were very high. Like VW they managed to have a bulletproof image which was not deserved . Of course considerable numbers would have had money thrown at them whilst newish, as they attracted terminally middle class owners.Clarkson was right, as usual, Saabs were beloved of architects, dentists ,town planners, provincial solicitors etc.

Edited by Lester H on Sunday 3rd July 19:55

Edited by Lester H on Sunday 3rd July 21:36

[Lester H]

R E S T E C P said:

I don't remember them ever being hailed as the the last word in reliability when they were new.

Would I need to worry about parts availability now?

I'd be looking at a 2008-ish estate with manual gearbox.

Agreed, they were never in the very reliable category. Servicing cost at dealers were very high. Like VW they managed to have a bulletproof image which was not deserved . Of course considerable numbers would have had money thrown at them whilst newish, as they attracted terminally middle class owners.Clarkson was right, as usual, Saabs were beloved of architects, dentists ,town planners, provincial solicitors etc.

Edited by Lester H on Sunday 3rd July 19:55

Edited by Lester H on Sunday 3rd July 21:38

[CB2152]

Mine never was. It was standard for the first six months of the (nearly) three years I had it and was remapped/on different suspension after, but I never had to spend anything significant on it apart from that.

[egor110]

Mine could be however it was a £500 punt.

Turns out the big ends been repaired and oil light comes on at idle and the gearbox/diff makes a lovely whirring sound.

However it's mot'd until april and it stops and starts.

This car won't be a money pit it will be sold on spares/repairs or i'll use it until it breaks.

Although saying that i might replace the gearbox/diff oil

[lord summerisle]

on my 3rd 9-5 in 9 years. All estates, first one was a manual X reg 2.0t SE, ran it 07-12, sold at 185k. then a 04 Aero auto ran it '12-'15 took from 130k to 234k miles. Now have a 02 Aero auto, bought with 112k on the clock.

the first one was the most trouble - started with needing a new gearbox (the mechanic we bought it off had changed the gearbox oil before we bought it and not put in the fill plug once he'd done. thus the gearbox gradually lost oil as we drove it) and a new turbo - related to oil starvation and the old breather kit.

the main things we've needed on all of them has been a thermostat replacing, crank position sensor on the 04 aero and a couple of DI cassettes (roughly lasting 40-60k miles) and few of the hoses perishing causing fault codes.
the majority of our bills are wear and tear items - eg. new front discs and pads.

Edited by lord summerisle on Tuesday 5th July 09:57

[w1bbles]

I've had two 9-5 Aeros. One HOT, one not. +1 on the coil pack, and the HOT had a turbo failure. Good cars but not well-built compared to everything else I've ever owned. I wouldn't have another except... they are very cheap. I paid £23k for my first one, £2k for my second! First was ex-demo, 43 miles on the clock, fully optioned (list price £32k); second was 12 years old, boggo spec. Lost £21.5k on the first, £1k on the second. Amazing depreciation curve...

[JagerT]

lord summerisle said:

on my 3rd 9-5 in 9 years. All estates, first one was a manual X reg 2.0t SE, ran it 07-12, sold at 185k. then a 04 Aero auto ran it '12-'15 took from 130k to 234k miles. Now have a 02 Aero auto, bought with 112k on the clock.

the first one was the most trouble - started with needing a new gearbox (the mechanic we bought it off had changed the gearbox oil before we bought it and not put in the fill plug once he'd done. thus the gearbox gradually lost oil as we drove it) and a new turbo - related to oil starvation and the old breather kit.

the main things we've needed on all of them has been a thermostat replacing, crack position sensor on the 04 aero and a couple of DI cassettes (roughly lasting 40-60k miles) and few of the hoses perishing causing fault codes.
the majority of our bills are wear and tear items - eg. new front discs and pads.

Mine hasn't got one of these,even so the seats are quite comfortable.