RE: Saab 9-5 | Shed Buying Guide
Discussion
cheesesliceking said:
Had one for 10 months, would never recommend anyone else buy one ever.
2007 9-5 1.9 vector Sport Wagon
in no particular order of severity or annoyance and I've probably forgotten loads
Bad points:
Rust, arches, suspension, all over the shop.
Handbrake that weekly re adjusted itself despite new parts being fitted and would not even consider holding the car in place
Auto box that shat itself each drive with no reasoning & went into limp mode, no SAAB 'Specialists' were interested in looking at it.
MPG, never saw higher than 35 even when driving like a grandma
Headlight level adjuster replaced twice
window switches would stop working randomly despite being taken apart and cleaned
parts, have a cracked rear lens? Good f
king luck finding one, and when you do good luck finding one that isn't stupidly expensive
Remove front bumper fully to replace headlight bulbs
random cheap GM interior parts that snap crackle, pop and generally don't work
Fancy a better headunit ? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA NO.
Random EMLs that appear and vanish.
Other SAAB owners insisting on flashing their headlights at you.
Good points:
I no longer have it.
You sure yours wasn't a 9-3? I thought Vector was a variant of the 9-3, not 9-5. (Could be wrong though.)2007 9-5 1.9 vector Sport Wagon
in no particular order of severity or annoyance and I've probably forgotten loads
Bad points:
Rust, arches, suspension, all over the shop.
Handbrake that weekly re adjusted itself despite new parts being fitted and would not even consider holding the car in place
Auto box that shat itself each drive with no reasoning & went into limp mode, no SAAB 'Specialists' were interested in looking at it.
MPG, never saw higher than 35 even when driving like a grandma
Headlight level adjuster replaced twice
window switches would stop working randomly despite being taken apart and cleaned
parts, have a cracked rear lens? Good f
king luck finding one, and when you do good luck finding one that isn't stupidly expensiveRemove front bumper fully to replace headlight bulbs
random cheap GM interior parts that snap crackle, pop and generally don't work
Fancy a better headunit ? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA NO.
Random EMLs that appear and vanish.
Other SAAB owners insisting on flashing their headlights at you.
Good points:
I no longer have it.
fathomfive said:
Ah, the 9-5 Aero.
I've had two:
First was a 2004 facelifted 4-dr manual, so 250bhp, with heated front & rear seats etc. It was a mildly expensive way to do 18k in the time it was with me. Bought with heart and not head, ignoring obvious issues, so my own fault. Still, it had something about it in the way it would almost lope down the road, especially motorways. It was very, very easy to overtake in - 2nd / 3rd from 3000rpm was hilarious.
Sadly, when it developed gearbox & head issues, the country was in full recession, I'd been out of work a while and I just didn't have the funds or desire to keep pouring money into it, so sold it to my indie, who got it sorted and it ended up with someone on here.
That would be me I've had two:
First was a 2004 facelifted 4-dr manual, so 250bhp, with heated front & rear seats etc. It was a mildly expensive way to do 18k in the time it was with me. Bought with heart and not head, ignoring obvious issues, so my own fault. Still, it had something about it in the way it would almost lope down the road, especially motorways. It was very, very easy to overtake in - 2nd / 3rd from 3000rpm was hilarious.
Sadly, when it developed gearbox & head issues, the country was in full recession, I'd been out of work a while and I just didn't have the funds or desire to keep pouring money into it, so sold it to my indie, who got it sorted and it ended up with someone on here.
Ran it for about 18 months and over 20k miles and never missed a beat apart from a DI cassette. Only sold it as fancied a change and it needed some paintwork on the rear bootlid due to rot.
Loved my MY2004 9-5 Aero auto that I owned for 6 years between 2004 and 2011...still miss it in many ways....especially the ability to travel a huge distance and get out as if you'd just driven around the block.
Did 65k miles in it and it was the last of the 5 x Saab's I owned.
Mine did have a few Hirsch goodies fitted, the lovely 18" lightweight rims, Hirsch/Brembo 4-pot brake kit and full Hirsch suspension as well as the factory Lux Pack option
It needed a few things done while it was still under warranty, but other than the DI unit needing replacement at about 5 years old, it was a reliable thing and no worse than any of my previous Saab's.
Did 65k miles in it and it was the last of the 5 x Saab's I owned.
Mine did have a few Hirsch goodies fitted, the lovely 18" lightweight rims, Hirsch/Brembo 4-pot brake kit and full Hirsch suspension as well as the factory Lux Pack option
It needed a few things done while it was still under warranty, but other than the DI unit needing replacement at about 5 years old, it was a reliable thing and no worse than any of my previous Saab's.
I had a 53 plate Aero for 3 years. Fabulous cars.
Good bits:
Best seats ever (better than RR, big Merc, various BMWs, everything else I've tried)
Saabnoob tune made ~290bhp/325lb ft and only weighed ~1600kg including driver. Not slow!
Very reliable
Very practical, seat 5 in comfort and a huge boot
Bad bits
They don't really handle as standard and trying to make them handle makes the ride worse
They don't make them any more
Time and mileage consigns them to history
Good bits:
Best seats ever (better than RR, big Merc, various BMWs, everything else I've tried)
Saabnoob tune made ~290bhp/325lb ft and only weighed ~1600kg including driver. Not slow!
Very reliable
Very practical, seat 5 in comfort and a huge boot
Bad bits
They don't really handle as standard and trying to make them handle makes the ride worse
They don't make them any more
Time and mileage consigns them to history
ShyTallKnight said:
fathomfive said:
Ah, the 9-5 Aero.
I've had two:
First was a 2004 facelifted 4-dr manual, so 250bhp, with heated front & rear seats etc. It was a mildly expensive way to do 18k in the time it was with me. Bought with heart and not head, ignoring obvious issues, so my own fault. Still, it had something about it in the way it would almost lope down the road, especially motorways. It was very, very easy to overtake in - 2nd / 3rd from 3000rpm was hilarious.
Sadly, when it developed gearbox & head issues, the country was in full recession, I'd been out of work a while and I just didn't have the funds or desire to keep pouring money into it, so sold it to my indie, who got it sorted and it ended up with someone on here.
That would be me I've had two:
First was a 2004 facelifted 4-dr manual, so 250bhp, with heated front & rear seats etc. It was a mildly expensive way to do 18k in the time it was with me. Bought with heart and not head, ignoring obvious issues, so my own fault. Still, it had something about it in the way it would almost lope down the road, especially motorways. It was very, very easy to overtake in - 2nd / 3rd from 3000rpm was hilarious.
Sadly, when it developed gearbox & head issues, the country was in full recession, I'd been out of work a while and I just didn't have the funds or desire to keep pouring money into it, so sold it to my indie, who got it sorted and it ended up with someone on here.
Ran it for about 18 months and over 20k miles and never missed a beat apart from a DI cassette. Only sold it as fancied a change and it needed some paintwork on the rear bootlid due to rot.
nice to hear it served you well. I was gutted to let it go.nicfaz said:
Bad bits
They don't really handle as standard and trying to make them handle makes the ride worse
That maybe the case today, but it wasn't when Saab were still in business.They don't really handle as standard and trying to make them handle makes the ride worse
I had the Saab approved dealer supplied Hirsch suspension kit on my 9-5 Aero and it massively improved the handling and grip at no expense to comfort...in fact the Hirsch suspension was more compliant than the standard Aero suspension, so a win-win situation.
I take mine to Two stroke (Saab specialists) and they seem busier than ever. They’ve even started restoring cars because their owners cannot bear to part with them. My 2003 model has only done 85k miles so barely run in. No rust either. They offered to by it from me such is the demand for good ones.
I had 3, well 2 and a 9000 back in the day. They were really the best cars I’ve owned and surely missed. Think I had a DI unit go on one and that was it, my 4 foot nothing wife loved her last 9-5 estate and was really sad when they went bust and we couldn’t buy another. Without doubt the most comfortable long distance cruisers, think my 9000 had optional Bridge of Weir leather, the seats were wonderful.
Twoshoe said:
You sure yours wasn't a 9-3?
That definitely does sound like a 9-3 alright, especially the headunit comment. The pre-2007 9-3 dashboard was very inflexible. I repeat what I sad earlier though, the diesels (9-3 or 9-5) definitely seem to have a hard life. aeropilot said:
Mine did have a few Hirsch goodies... full Hirsch suspension
Your original Aero suspension ended up on my 2005 2.2 TiD. Bargain it was too, and easy to fit. I miss working on 9-5's.My last one, the Aero, was sold to a guy in Ireland who imported & reregistered it there. He couldn't believe the way it drove on a test drive. I've tried to see how he got on with it, and contempleted asking if he ever wanted to sell it back to me, but it wouldn't be the same.
Best thing you can do to the more powerful versions is fit the quaife lsd as I did to my aero. Few do because it is expensive, but I'll tell you now the way you can deploy the power (320bhp) in my case turns it into something else entirely.
Only sold my stage3 aero last year because i wanted to get back into bikes. Mine was a rare spec and colour combo with low miles. I spent a small fortune on it on 'improvements' and I'd have it back in a heartbeat if funds permitted.
Only reel negative for me after sensible chassis mods is that the steering was still to light without feel. As said above the midrange, particularly on a tuned one is indecent and surprises many.
Only sold my stage3 aero last year because i wanted to get back into bikes. Mine was a rare spec and colour combo with low miles. I spent a small fortune on it on 'improvements' and I'd have it back in a heartbeat if funds permitted.
Only reel negative for me after sensible chassis mods is that the steering was still to light without feel. As said above the midrange, particularly on a tuned one is indecent and surprises many.
gigglebug said:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Having just explained to my partner todays bright idea which is to buy the car above and all the various things I would do to it she has nothing better to add than just give me her 'what the fk are you on about now' look.
Having just explained to my partner todays bright idea which is to buy the car above and all the various things I would do to it she has nothing better to add than just give me her 'what the f
k are you on about now' look. - ahem*
"Don't you bloody well dare, that thing cost us more money than it should have done". I did ask whether I should go back to last week's bright idea which was to import a Toyota Century 5.0 V12.......
This is why I should
a) Not read car forums
b) Not go out car shopping unaccompanied
Hairymonster said:
gigglebug said:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Having just explained to my partner todays bright idea which is to buy the car above and all the various things I would do to it she has nothing better to add than just give me her 'what the fk are you on about now' look.
Having just explained to my partner todays bright idea which is to buy the car above and all the various things I would do to it she has nothing better to add than just give me her 'what the f
k are you on about now' look. - ahem*
"Don't you bloody well dare, that thing cost us more money than it should have done". I did ask whether I should go back to last week's bright idea which was to import a Toyota Century 5.0 V12.......
This is why I should
a) Not read car forums
b) Not go out car shopping unaccompanied
Yeah, we're on out 2nd 9-5 Aero Hot. Decent cars. Few things that go on them, but well enough documented and easy enough to resolve.
Current one starting to be a bit long in the tooth now - but what to replace it with though. Nothing really comparable for shed money I can find these days.
Current one starting to be a bit long in the tooth now - but what to replace it with though. Nothing really comparable for shed money I can find these days.
Had one of the very last Dame Edna "edition" Aero Estates, bought at 80k and was utterly pristine within 10k i'd added an Albert 666 3" downpipe, 3.5 bar fuel pressure regulator, DO88 big pack intercooler, then took it to Karl in Nottingham to map, the result 306bhp and 480nm
Suspension was upgraded using Bilstien Shocks and Eibach springs with a 25mm drop, all the mounts and bushes where replaced at the same time and then it had a full geo set-up.
Result? the ability to munch virtually any hot hatch as long as I was in 3rd/4th surprised loads of Golf R's, Focus ST's and all manner of rep special TDi's, it's overtaking ability was truly breathtaking, handling after the mods was very good in a bargy sort of way, loved the thing and it was a mistake to let it go, and I still miss the seats.
Pal has a 2002 Aero with an unreal 490bhp and 585nm, a fully forged engine, big Turbo, Quaife LSD and extensive suspension and brake mods, to drive it just feels like a standard Aero low down it's quiet and smooth and fuels immaculately, but take it above 3000 rpm and the world suddenly goes into reverse, nobody notices it as to the man in the street it's just an old SAAB, but it's ability to dispatch things like an Audi RS5 in a straight line is giggle inducing.
I'm off to the classifieds now!
Suspension was upgraded using Bilstien Shocks and Eibach springs with a 25mm drop, all the mounts and bushes where replaced at the same time and then it had a full geo set-up.
Result? the ability to munch virtually any hot hatch as long as I was in 3rd/4th surprised loads of Golf R's, Focus ST's and all manner of rep special TDi's, it's overtaking ability was truly breathtaking, handling after the mods was very good in a bargy sort of way, loved the thing and it was a mistake to let it go, and I still miss the seats.
Pal has a 2002 Aero with an unreal 490bhp and 585nm, a fully forged engine, big Turbo, Quaife LSD and extensive suspension and brake mods, to drive it just feels like a standard Aero low down it's quiet and smooth and fuels immaculately, but take it above 3000 rpm and the world suddenly goes into reverse, nobody notices it as to the man in the street it's just an old SAAB, but it's ability to dispatch things like an Audi RS5 in a straight line is giggle inducing.
I'm off to the classifieds now!
I absolutely love my Aero. It's a manual MY2000 built in 2001, so amongst the last of the first gen design before the facelift.
It's such a comfortable car with a ferocious appetite for the road once above ~2500rpm. It's spacious yet quite small next to modern cars. Its looks have become timeless. I love the way the lines of the car are all so connected, and the shape is reduced to just what is needed to give it purpose and character. It's Swedish minimalist roots and Saab's function-led-form are obvious and something I admire.
When I bought it I inherited a few problems, which in the end were quite easily fixed. That gave me a reasonably solid platform to start improving.
It had a bit of an oil leak so I decided to pull the head off.. one thing lead to another and in the end I refreshed the whole motor – some light machining for Wossner's, rebuilt the suspension with Bilstein and Maptun springs, subframe bushes, new mounts etc etc.
Some people ask why I spent the money on it – probably about £3500, and I'm in Aus so that includes shipping parts from overseas..
If I couldn't do most of the work myself perhaps I wouldn't. But I know these are great cars and if you treat them well and care for them they reward. And as someone else said, they really do get under your skin.
People think I'm even more crazy when I tell them the 9-5 we had before this one went through 2 high-km engines – one killed a piston, the other killed the crank when #3 main failed.. but to me that was all the more reason to see this one looked after from the start, and done right.
I drive it quite hard, I change the oil often, and I have a long road ahead making it even better – it's not even tuned yet!
It's not perfect – the paint has some UV damage, it's got plenty of dings and it might want a gearbox rebuild one day.. but there's something about these cars, and like any good shed its value and the quality of the engineering is so much greater than any new "cheap" car I could buy.
It's such a comfortable car with a ferocious appetite for the road once above ~2500rpm. It's spacious yet quite small next to modern cars. Its looks have become timeless. I love the way the lines of the car are all so connected, and the shape is reduced to just what is needed to give it purpose and character. It's Swedish minimalist roots and Saab's function-led-form are obvious and something I admire.
When I bought it I inherited a few problems, which in the end were quite easily fixed. That gave me a reasonably solid platform to start improving.
It had a bit of an oil leak so I decided to pull the head off.. one thing lead to another and in the end I refreshed the whole motor – some light machining for Wossner's, rebuilt the suspension with Bilstein and Maptun springs, subframe bushes, new mounts etc etc.
Some people ask why I spent the money on it – probably about £3500, and I'm in Aus so that includes shipping parts from overseas..
If I couldn't do most of the work myself perhaps I wouldn't. But I know these are great cars and if you treat them well and care for them they reward. And as someone else said, they really do get under your skin.
People think I'm even more crazy when I tell them the 9-5 we had before this one went through 2 high-km engines – one killed a piston, the other killed the crank when #3 main failed.. but to me that was all the more reason to see this one looked after from the start, and done right.
I drive it quite hard, I change the oil often, and I have a long road ahead making it even better – it's not even tuned yet!
It's not perfect – the paint has some UV damage, it's got plenty of dings and it might want a gearbox rebuild one day.. but there's something about these cars, and like any good shed its value and the quality of the engineering is so much greater than any new "cheap" car I could buy.
Edited by Pastry. on Thursday 10th October 02:13
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