Saab 9-5 Aero or Volvo S60 T5
Discussion
Sold my beloved TT, bought a cheaper 01` 325i, dont really like it and riddled with niggles.
Anyway I`m thinking of buying either a Saab 9-5 Aero estate preferably or a Volvo S60 T5, V70`s seem too expensive for a decent one.
I know i`m going to look like a bit of a nob at 21 driving either of these cars but I think I`ll get over it.
I want a fast, reliable car with decent spec and all for a reasonable price, had an E39 530d in the past so feel like a change
How to these 2 cars compare?
What are they like to live with, are they as reliable as their image suggests?
I live in London, do I go for auto`s or are they best avoided?
Could I expect late 30`s (MPG) on a run?
Do either cars suffer from common problems?
Anyway I`m thinking of buying either a Saab 9-5 Aero estate preferably or a Volvo S60 T5, V70`s seem too expensive for a decent one.
I know i`m going to look like a bit of a nob at 21 driving either of these cars but I think I`ll get over it.
I want a fast, reliable car with decent spec and all for a reasonable price, had an E39 530d in the past so feel like a change
How to these 2 cars compare?
What are they like to live with, are they as reliable as their image suggests?
I live in London, do I go for auto`s or are they best avoided?
Could I expect late 30`s (MPG) on a run?
Do either cars suffer from common problems?
Edited by coley20 on Tuesday 16th February 11:15
Personally if it was my cash I would want the 9000 Aero over the 9-5 Aero. The 9000 is a non GM Saab and is massively over enginnered - small details like the parcel shelf being made of a properly hinged piece of MDF, not some rubbish pressed cardboard. The chassis is also very solid, someone wrote their Ford Ka off against my 9000's front bumper ( which is basically a large metal I beam underneath ! ) and only slightly scratched the black plastic trim.
Check this thread Although the volvoforums have died in the last few days.
Who cares what you drive, they are both have good seats. If anyone gives you jipp, just give them a dose of 3rd then 4th. It will surprise them. Then go back to trundling at 50 in the middle lane
Who cares what you drive, they are both have good seats. If anyone gives you jipp, just give them a dose of 3rd then 4th. It will surprise them. Then go back to trundling at 50 in the middle lane
pilchardthecat said:
I always understood that both were quite expensive in parts prices etc, though no doubt someone will be along shortly to tell be that i'm talking out of my arse.
GSF and Europarts supply pattern parts at reasonable prices for these cars. They are not as cheap as, say Ford or GM can be, but they don't take the piss like the japanese can ! Matt UK said:
Not sure of your budget, but have you consider the V6 Mondeo?
Around £3k, some saabs are slightly cheaper though, But I want a very nice examlpe with full history, there seems to be a few about, I hope I`m right in thinking a saab is the sort of car people look after.Are they reliable if looked after
Both cars are very reliable for 200bhp Turbo saloons loaded with electronics.
They are not as reliable as large unstressed NA engines due to higher underbonnet temps and more complexity,
You will need to keep an eye on hoses, vaccum pipes and electronics.
The Saab in particular are very easy to work on with lots of engine bay space and a modular design.
Both are capable of 200,000 miles of use if taken care of.
They are not as reliable as large unstressed NA engines due to higher underbonnet temps and more complexity,
You will need to keep an eye on hoses, vaccum pipes and electronics.
The Saab in particular are very easy to work on with lots of engine bay space and a modular design.
Both are capable of 200,000 miles of use if taken care of.
First thing is what is your budget...as this will dictate whether you are in post 2001 facelift 9-5 Aero territory or pre-facelift..?
They are both very capable, the Saab has the better auto gearbox (post 01) if you go that route, and the Volvo has the turning circle of the Titanic, which if you London domiciled like I am was the big factor in not having the Volvo.
High 30's on a run is prefectly possible in the 9-5 Aero.
I'd say both can be as unreliable as each other, specialist servicing is always best.
Difficult to give to many pointers with the Saab until you give an idea of budget, as some things applicable to early cars arn't for the later ones etc.
They are both very capable, the Saab has the better auto gearbox (post 01) if you go that route, and the Volvo has the turning circle of the Titanic, which if you London domiciled like I am was the big factor in not having the Volvo.
High 30's on a run is prefectly possible in the 9-5 Aero.
I'd say both can be as unreliable as each other, specialist servicing is always best.
Difficult to give to many pointers with the Saab until you give an idea of budget, as some things applicable to early cars arn't for the later ones etc.
coley20 said:
Matt UK said:
Not sure of your budget, but have you consider the V6 Mondeo?
Around £3k, some saabs are slightly cheaper though, But I want a very nice examlpe with full history, there seems to be a few about, I hope I`m right in thinking a saab is the sort of car people look after.Are they reliable if looked after
coley20 said:
coley20 said:
Matt UK said:
Not sure of your budget, but have you consider the V6 Mondeo?
Around £3k, some saabs are slightly cheaper though, But I want a very nice examlpe with full history, there seems to be a few about, I hope I`m right in thinking a saab is the sort of car people look after.Are they reliable if looked after
I'm in the same situation here but I'm leaning towards the Volvo to be honest.
I know they're both 250 bhp, but how do they compare for power in the real world, as people seem to rave about the acceleration of the 9-5 Aero much more than they do so about the S60 T5? Also the 9-5 seems to be 0.5 secs quicker to 60, despite identical power and very similar weights.
Thanks.
I know they're both 250 bhp, but how do they compare for power in the real world, as people seem to rave about the acceleration of the 9-5 Aero much more than they do so about the S60 T5? Also the 9-5 seems to be 0.5 secs quicker to 60, despite identical power and very similar weights.
Thanks.
Volvo all day long
Neither are dynamically brilliant but the Volvo is a more stable high speed companion in my experience.
Additionally you get that legendary, characterful, unburstable 5pot engine
I would also say whilst not as good as earlier t5s, the s60 would be the more reliable of the two
Neither are dynamically brilliant but the Volvo is a more stable high speed companion in my experience.
Additionally you get that legendary, characterful, unburstable 5pot engine
I would also say whilst not as good as earlier t5s, the s60 would be the more reliable of the two
Synchromesh said:
I'm in the same situation here but I'm leaning towards the Volvo to be honest.
I know they're both 250 bhp, but how do they compare for power in the real world, as people seem to rave about the acceleration of the 9-5 Aero much more than they do so about the S60 T5? Also the 9-5 seems to be 0.5 secs quicker to 60, despite identical power and very similar weights.
Thanks.
I think thats because most people have probably not driven the S60 T5. GM have, on the other hand, made plenty of hot Saabs that have made there way over here, mainly because they were dirt cheap to buy in the first place. The S60 T5 though is an extremely capable car, but never really found a mainstream public audience, maybe becuase when it was launched it was still that funny thing of a 'fast' Volvo which only appeals to a niche market. After all, Mr. Cool who wants a properly quick saloon car is not going to choose the Volvo badge. But the S60 T5 was immensely popular with police forces around the UK, which says something.I know they're both 250 bhp, but how do they compare for power in the real world, as people seem to rave about the acceleration of the 9-5 Aero much more than they do so about the S60 T5? Also the 9-5 seems to be 0.5 secs quicker to 60, despite identical power and very similar weights.
Thanks.
I wouldn't worry too much about how old you are, buying a car like that. I bought my S60 2.0 T when I was in the first half of my 20's, and I'd have probably kept it if I'd bought the T5 version. I'll quickly summarise my S60:
Good:
- supremely comfortable seats
- well equipped for long distance cruising with cruise control
- massive boot
- Amazing stereo
- superb refinement
- lovely burbling 5 cylinder sound when pressing on
- Fantastically designed interior
- surpringly stiff and agile for a bigger car in the corners.
Bad:
- Interior was plasticky. Didn't bother me but if it does, look for a model with leather seats and wood trim.
- The 2.0 T engine made the car quick, especially once you'd gotten it off the line, but it was not outragously fast.
As I say, I really enjoyed owning that car. It just seemed unflappable in all conditions. The main issue to watch out for is the Electronic Throttle Module, which is the major weak point of these cars. If it fails it could set you back a couple of hundred quid. The ETM on my S60 failed but luckily the dealer replaced it FoC and I was very, very happy with the car after that and it was faultless. The response from the throttle also feels a little delayed, but then it does in most modern cars. You'll have to account for that when you're blipping down your downshifts; my S60 loved double de-clutched downshifts with big stabs at the throttle to match the revs. Went like a magic carpet once you'd got the hang of that.
As I mentioned earlier, they've bee very popular with traffic police over the last decade. My local force has used them for years, and having spoken to a few friends who are traffic cops they've all full of praise for them. Sadly, they're getting on a bit now and my local force is discontinuing them. I knew the S60's must have been good when the lads were disappointed to be given BMW 5 series estates. I remember doing a driving course with work, which was great. It was just in a diesel Focus, but we were always looking for the overtake where it was safe to do so. On loads of opportunities the trainer would be saying "if we were in the Volvo we'd be past here" in fairly short spaces, so it gives you an idea of what the Volvo can do. One friend of mine who is ex traffic said he wished he could have bought his, as it was 'his' car for 4 years at work. Then he left traffic and it was written off the next week. Another praises it's legendary overtaking power between 50-80mph, which made it possible to make a lot of progress.
Like I say, had I gone for the T5 I'd probably still have an S60. I loved the car, I just wanted something faster. The Saab on the other hand, whilst I've always liked the HOT/Aero Saabs, never struck me as the same quality package. They feel a bit archaic, whereas the S60 strikes me as a good design all round and does not feel aged like the Saab does. I still look at Saabs occasionally and dream of buying a HOT 9-3, even though I know I wouldn't like it as much as the S60. That and the fact that since Saab have gone belly up it seems like a risky car to be buying into.
Found this that I posted in the bargain barge thread earlier:
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...
Lots of owners(!) but seems a lot of car for the money.
I loved my TT too - one of the few cars I wish I'd kept.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...
Lots of owners(!) but seems a lot of car for the money.
I loved my TT too - one of the few cars I wish I'd kept.
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