Volvo 850/V70 T5 versus Saab 95 aero estate
Discussion
Considering a quick estate as my next purchase and these two seem excellent value with a manual version in good nick coming in at about £3k.
But which is best in terms of handling, reliability and costs? Performance and prcticality seems pretty evenly matched. I'd love to find a comparative road test but the views of people who run them would be great too.
Are there any other options? I do like a rwd car and have considered the Omega and 5 series. I've also had a little look at the Subaru Legacy and that Mitsubishi thing. Have I missed anything?
But which is best in terms of handling, reliability and costs? Performance and prcticality seems pretty evenly matched. I'd love to find a comparative road test but the views of people who run them would be great too.
Are there any other options? I do like a rwd car and have considered the Omega and 5 series. I've also had a little look at the Subaru Legacy and that Mitsubishi thing. Have I missed anything?
The Volvo T5 lump is a very reliable indeed, my dad had an 850 T5 and it never let him down once. He bought it at 100k miles and i was still going strong at 200k when he wrote it off. I think the only issues we had were the turbo going pop at about 140k and 180k, the clutch release bearing needed replacing at 110k and the boost bias pipe split; not bad for 10 years of hard use IMO. In terms of driving, the 850 and 1st generation V70 are pleasantly surprising: the steering is well weighted and is very communicative, the brakes are well modulated, all the controls are well laid out, it has a very driver focused cockpit, the pedals are positioned well for spirited driving and the seats are something else entirely, I have never sat in a better seat. On the other hand the ride is quite hard, the clips the at hold tailgate trim on tend to fail making the trim rattle and it does lack refinement.
HTH.
HTH.
I'd lean strongly towards the Volvo. I do love Saab cars but they'e outclassed by Volvo in pretty much every respect. The Volvo will be the better drive and the engineering better too. You can bet that anything with a 'T5' badge on is going to be good (a police S60 T5 came past me at warp speed on the A69 this morning!). The Saab will be a great car too no doubt but not quite as good as the Volvo. And don't even get me started on how good Volvo seats are...
I've driven both although mostly the Saab's. Basically i prefer the interior of the Saab, Volvo seats are fantastically comfy but i don't like dash/dials etc. Personally i think the Saabs have a more aggressive boost where as the Volvo whafts you along. The Saab gives more of a pushed into your seat feeling. Not much in it performance wise but I just prefer the Saabs power delivery.
If you want to tune it a bit then the saab is a lot easier to tune with plenty of people who can remap your ECU for about £50. I would have the Saab but if i found a mint Volvo i wouldn't say no.
ETA The saab's will always be cheaper than Volvo's hence why i'd probably go for them. You'd get a newer Saab than equivelently priced Volvo.
If you want to tune it a bit then the saab is a lot easier to tune with plenty of people who can remap your ECU for about £50. I would have the Saab but if i found a mint Volvo i wouldn't say no.
ETA The saab's will always be cheaper than Volvo's hence why i'd probably go for them. You'd get a newer Saab than equivelently priced Volvo.
Edited by hackett on Tuesday 16th August 19:09
I have owned both and would take the 9-5 aero if i had the choice again, i loved the seats in the saab and it was smoother to drive and as mentioned above the T5 didn't have the same kick in the seat that the saab gives i rember having to hold onto the steering wheel in 2nd gear in the saab the volvo didn't feel like that at all.
I had the choice and I plumped for a 9-5 Aero.
Cracking smokers, relatively cheap to buy, easy to maintain and hide their age very well due to the shape being used until very recently.
Not too much in it for a driving experience but SAAB's seem just that little more under the radar and that makes it much more fun to charge around in.
The 4-speed auto is not that great but if you can get a 5-speed (it will have paddles on the steering wheel) version it is very good and suits the car well.
Not sure about the tuning potential of the engine, there did not seem to be a cheap option for the 250bhp version that I have. I have looked but, it seemed that without investment into engine parts, such as manifolds, intakes, intercoolers, etc, there is not much left in the OEM set-up. I’d like to be proven wrong, if anyone out there can point me in the right direction.
Only downside is on average I get ~25-26mpg. It does go right up into the 30’s on a run but you mustn’t be blind to the fact that they both are a touch thirsty. I personally decided that I’d rather buy a cheaper car and pay more for fuel. Also, if you intend to LPG it, the 4-cyl donk in the SAAB is a tricky blighter due to its high bhp/cyl, meaning that you end up with a botch job (ie not 100% gas) or a very expensive Prins or BRC job (like £2500+).
BB
PS If you do get one and find yourself at the traffic light GP with something tasty, make sure that you look across to see the look on their face when a dirty great family barge (in my case with a couple of bikes and a top-box nailed to the roof) can either keep up or fark off into the distance! Priceless.
Cracking smokers, relatively cheap to buy, easy to maintain and hide their age very well due to the shape being used until very recently.
Not too much in it for a driving experience but SAAB's seem just that little more under the radar and that makes it much more fun to charge around in.
The 4-speed auto is not that great but if you can get a 5-speed (it will have paddles on the steering wheel) version it is very good and suits the car well.
Not sure about the tuning potential of the engine, there did not seem to be a cheap option for the 250bhp version that I have. I have looked but, it seemed that without investment into engine parts, such as manifolds, intakes, intercoolers, etc, there is not much left in the OEM set-up. I’d like to be proven wrong, if anyone out there can point me in the right direction.
Only downside is on average I get ~25-26mpg. It does go right up into the 30’s on a run but you mustn’t be blind to the fact that they both are a touch thirsty. I personally decided that I’d rather buy a cheaper car and pay more for fuel. Also, if you intend to LPG it, the 4-cyl donk in the SAAB is a tricky blighter due to its high bhp/cyl, meaning that you end up with a botch job (ie not 100% gas) or a very expensive Prins or BRC job (like £2500+).
BB
PS If you do get one and find yourself at the traffic light GP with something tasty, make sure that you look across to see the look on their face when a dirty great family barge (in my case with a couple of bikes and a top-box nailed to the roof) can either keep up or fark off into the distance! Priceless.
BadgerBill said:
PS If you do get one and find yourself at the traffic light GP with something tasty, make sure that you look across to see the look on their face when a dirty great family barge (in my case with a couple of bikes and a top-box nailed to the roof) can either keep up or fark off into the distance! Priceless.
This is all part of the appeal of them I think! 
Those Volvo S60 T5's can't half shift though. I saw an white police one on the A69 carrying an easy 130mph. Made the diesel Focus my colleague was driving feel about as fast a wheelbarrow.
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