'04 Saab 9-5 Aero Estate Low Miles FSH
£1.500
Description
Regretful sale of my cherished 9-5 Aero Wagon after only a year's happy ownership.
Firstly, there are several "car Park scars "so if you insist on pristine bodywork please look elsewhere.
I've had nine Saabs (Long time UKSaabs member) and this has been one of the best. I always wanted an Aero estate and spent a long time looking for the right one. I didn't want one of the earlier cars which suffered the dreaded engine sludge problem and only had the 4 speed auto nor one of the later models with the horrible "Dame Edna" light surrounds and the eye watering £500 road tax.
What I got was a 2004 5 speed auto with paddleshift. The Aisin-Warner box is very strong - more so than the manual. The car had 74k on the clock, one owner from new and a fully stamped service book. It had been traded in for a new Audi and passed on to a trader in Perth.
I changed the oil/filters when I bought it and then had a full service at 77k along with the MOT by my local independent Saab guy. The back end had been sagging a bit so we fitted some Bilstein shocks with Maptun springs that had only done 10k on another car. The springs might be a touch too soft for a fully loaded estate but the ride and handling was improved hugely. Fitted a new CV joint too. The vacuum hoses were repaired but there is an upgraded vacuum hose kit I was planning on fitting. The transmission oil will need changing at 90-100k.
The plan had been to convert it to LPG (Her Indoors runs a 9-3 SS Aero on LPG) then do a N00btune and run it for as long as possible. Unfortunately, the plan had also depended on having a maximum of three kids - not four! A miserable life driving a people carrier awaits.
It's a terrific beast to drive. The "Sport" button turns it into a bit of an animal and the manual shift works really well on the twisties. Superb long distance cruising in comfort and effortless mile-eating ability.
Spec:
5spd Auto with Sport/Winter Settings and Wheel-Mounted Manual Shifting
Xenon Lights
Dual Climate - Ice Cold
Two Tone Leather - Unmarked
Heated Seats
Electric Driver's Seat (Though not the passenger - oddly)
Roof Spoiler (Important)
Tinted Rear Windows
Electric Everything (All works but driver's window a little slow to descend but that's being picky)
Saab Rubber Load Liner
OE stereo has been replaced with a Kenwood DAB unit that looks tacky but actually works brilliantly - esp on PlanetRock and Absolute80s!
Parrot CK3100 Handsfree Phone Kit
Good Points:
Fully Serviced
3 nearly new tyres
Goes Like Stink
One of the safest cars EVER made.
Bad Points:
Aforementioned Dings
Two of the Alloys are scuffed but I'm going to touch them up. ( I do have a spare set of 3-spoke 17" Aero wheels I can throw in)
EML is coming on now and again. Had it on a diagnostic and it went off when the vacuum hoses were fixed but the upgraded kit might sort it. It's going in this week to have it sorted.
It's started not firing when you turn the key. Maybe 1in10 tries. Might be a sticking starter motor but I'll have that looked at too.
The plastic hook that holds up the boot floor is broken but still works.
It's a bit dirty.....
So there you have it. A great big lump of Swedish metal that will go on for ever, put a huge smile on your face and won't break the bank.
£1500 isn't a lot.
(If I can't sell it for that I'll persuade Her Indoors to get rid of hers and drive this.)
If you've got a people carrier that isn't horrible I might PX.
Thanks for reading. I'll try and add some more pics if I get a moment.