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Saab 9-5 Aero......hmmmm

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Old Jun 22, 2012 | 09:41 PM
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Default Saab 9-5 Aero......hmmmm

Would you?
Something from 2002 onwards, manual, either SW or Sedan......
They have gone bust, but just like the 850s and V70s, they seem like some sturdy cruise missiles!

Cheap too!

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Old Jun 23, 2012 | 12:21 PM
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Zohan's the man on these, he'll be along shortly.
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Old Jun 23, 2012 | 12:55 PM
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Originally Posted by ditchmyster
Zohan's the man on these, he'll be along shortly.
How kind, the rest of FC have just finished spit roasting your mum so she will need a good wash when you get home

I have a 2003 9-3 aero which is a great car. Saab's do have their problems like most cars. have a look here and ask a few owners. http://www.saabscene.com/forum/index.php

Most parts are readily available as Saab Parts is now a different company from Saab Cars. Lots of indies and specialists will supply parts and service your car.

Only problem with mine was a secondary air pump valve sourced with ease (new) and purchased at half list price. Just completed a 600+ mile trip to Devon and back and never missed a beat.(touch wood)

Last edited by The Zohan; Jun 23, 2012 at 12:56 PM.
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Old Jun 23, 2012 | 04:58 PM
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Lol, next time wash her yourself, i always give your mrs a golden shower when i'm done with her.

What overall mpg did you get on your run..
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Old Jun 23, 2012 | 05:09 PM
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Originally Posted by ditchmyster
Lol, next time wash her yourself, i always give your mrs a golden shower when i'm done with her.

What overall mpg did you get on your run..
motorway at 70-85 around 36-38mpg around town 30
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Old Jun 24, 2012 | 12:17 PM
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Originally Posted by The Zohan
How kind, the rest of FC have just finished spit roasting your mum so she will need a good wash when you get home

I have a 2003 9-3 aero which is a great car. Saab's do have their problems like most cars. have a look here and ask a few owners. http://www.saabscene.com/forum/index.php

Most parts are readily available as Saab Parts is now a different company from Saab Cars. Lots of indies and specialists will supply parts and service your car.

Only problem with mine was a secondary air pump valve sourced with ease (new) and purchased at half list price. Just completed a 600+ mile trip to Devon and back and never missed a beat.(touch wood)


Is it standard?
How is the torque steer?
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Old Jun 24, 2012 | 04:31 PM
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Hirsch suspension and ecu - 240bhp instead of 210.it is an auto albeit it has a 5sp manual paddle shift if i feel the need.

no noticeable torque steer and has never caught me out booting it out of a turning, etc. Handling is actually superb, given it's fwd and a largish car. the uprated suspension helps - it was fitted before i got the car but i did drive others with std sport suspension which was fine just not as sharp or as balanced as mine.
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Old Jun 24, 2012 | 05:18 PM
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Hirsch, saw a 9-3 with that kit. The owner states it has 260 PS...
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Old Jun 24, 2012 | 05:20 PM
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Originally Posted by Janspeed
Hirsch, saw a 9-3 with that kit. The owner states it has 260 PS...
2.0l or 2.6? Mine is a 2.0l
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Old Jun 24, 2012 | 05:42 PM
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I had a mapped 9-3 Aero for 4 years and would echo Zonhan's comments, a good car if a little inert, corners faster than it has any right to, ride was crap on mine and actually better on aftermarket springs, torque steer not an issue, people confuse these with the old ones which were pretty bad for it but these are very well planted and with decent tyres, even with the remap wheelspin/torque steer just isnt an issue.

Mine was the first year which got the biggest disks on the front and vented rears and the brakes are the best of any car I have owned.

Interior quality is pretty poor, Saab spent up on the differences between these and the Vectra, they got in trouble with GM as they overspent and there was evidently not much left to improve the interior, it looks nice but tends to rattle. Seats are very comfy.

Gearbox is a bit notchy and the clutch can slip with the remap and can be expensive.

Boot is good and you can put the seats down.

The 9-3 is a more modern car than the 9-5 but I prefer the engines in the older Saabs, but these seem bulletproof with only really coilpacks to worry about, no cambelt as its a chain.

They are cheap now, good value and I think look good and have a decent image, the Aero does look good, really handsome car, dare I say it better than the Audi and BMW, they arent quite as good a car as the Audi or BMW but they are half the price and rarer.
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Old Jun 24, 2012 | 06:14 PM
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Originally Posted by The Zohan
2.0l or 2.6? Mine is a 2.0l
The 2.0 l version, is it possible?
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Old Jun 24, 2012 | 06:19 PM
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Originally Posted by J4CKO
I had a mapped 9-3 Aero for 4 years and would echo Zonhan's comments, a good car if a little inert, corners faster than it has any right to, ride was crap on mine and actually better on aftermarket springs, torque steer not an issue, people confuse these with the old ones which were pretty bad for it but these are very well planted and with decent tyres, even with the remap wheelspin/torque steer just isnt an issue.

Mine was the first year which got the biggest disks on the front and vented rears and the brakes are the best of any car I have owned.

Interior quality is pretty poor, Saab spent up on the differences between these and the Vectra, they got in trouble with GM as they overspent and there was evidently not much left to improve the interior, it looks nice but tends to rattle. Seats are very comfy.

Gearbox is a bit notchy and the clutch can slip with the remap and can be expensive.

Boot is good and you can put the seats down.

The 9-3 is a more modern car than the 9-5 but I prefer the engines in the older Saabs, but these seem bulletproof with only really coilpacks to worry about, no cambelt as its a chain.

They are cheap now, good value and I think look good and have a decent image, the Aero does look good, really handsome car, dare I say it better than the Audi and BMW, they arent quite as good a car as the Audi or BMW but they are half the price and rarer.

The interiors seem quite bulletproof from what I have seen, after seeing the state of most BM/Audi interiors after a couple of years, these things look mint (if taken care of).

Ever change the exhaust for something more vocal?
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Old Jun 24, 2012 | 07:14 PM
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Originally Posted by Janspeed
The 2.0 l version, is it possible?
not sure what 260ps translates to in old money - you could ask on the Saab forum.
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Old Jun 24, 2012 | 10:48 PM
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I've got a black 9-3 Aero with Hirsch mods including ecu, the exhaust system and suspension. It's allegedly 250bhp (never been on a rolling road though), sounds very distinctive and goes and handles pretty well. You very soon learn to drive around the minimal torque steer (it's not the Devil's work like Clarkson would have you believe). The weakness with these mods is the clutch (mine's on its third) but the engine goes on for ever (220,000 miles and still going strong).
For all round performance it can't be compared with a modded Impreza but it does 25mpg in everyday driving, 30 on the motorway, something the Scoob can't get close to. Servicing is simple, parts readily available used or new and much cheaper than the Impreza.
Which would I choose for a fast rip through the country lanes? The Impreza every time. 300 mile journey on M & A roads? Saab for sure!
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