Blee Carswell they used to say that between 40-70 the Aero accelerated quicker than a Porsche a few years ago. Not sure how f that was true or an urban myth!
I loved my old 9-5 Aero. Decent tyres made a world of difference to the handling and confidence, especially in the wet.. Couldn't find another, so plumped for a V70 T5. The steering, ride and handling isn't a patch on the Saab.
Good points to point out. Personally I really like the vintage interior, and listening to CD´s and tapes again is cool! If I want Bluetooth, then I use the FM transmitter, it works great. I think the handling is pretty good in 9-5, not that bad at all. But ok, its not a small nimble sports car.
The 9-5 is such a massively underrated car. I have an 02 9-5 Aero auto sedan, which has been given a little under-bonnet botox (do88 intercooler, 3" Krona exhaust, stage 3 tune, plus a few other bits), and it will blow just about anything away when it comes to mid range. I genuinely can't think of any other car that offers the same performance, comfort, safety, equipment, and low purchase price.
I just purchased my first Saab, a 9-5 Arc Wagon, er, Estate/Touring! I’m 6’3” and it’s so comfortable! Also funny as an American by way of Sunny California it’s not a large car to me! Quite nimble to parallel park too. Great video!
I have One from 2001 and I Share the same opinion as you, but I really like the interiors, shows some nostalgic "saabness" and thats os fine. Nice video!
Nice wagon(estate)! I agree about the handling. It's a bit heavy feeling. I like the interior and the stereo. The cd player plays cd-r's just fine. I go into my trunk(boot) about 5 times a week or more without opening doors so the keyfob works for me. As someone stated here the 9-5 is a great highway cruiser. Thanks for sharing.
Good review - quick, crisp and to the point. I like that you don't waste our time! Do you know why they have the ignition key in the centre? SAAB said it is to avoid being injured by the key in case of a frontal collision. The traditional position of the key is just in front of or close to your knee. In a frontal crash you risk getting your key in your knee or there abouts....
I’ve got a 02 9-5 Aero Saloon, 4th 9-5 owned and newest in reg. Took my old S-reg 9-5 2.3SE to Spain twice averaged 35mpg. Smile on face moment, we were in St Cyprien (Southern France), waiting for a family to cross the road when the little lad stopped and pointed to the car, asking his father what it was. Even the father wasn’t sure. Only saw 4 Saab’s in a nearly 3,000 mile journey that year. I do prefer the headlight wipers on the pre 2001 models to the washer jets on the face lift.
Hi, yes I too have cruised down to Spain from UK, mine was in 53 reg 9-5 2.3SE, bought it as ex-police from Hampshire constabulary and it had been modified by special operations team! Cost me £1650 in 2009, a steal for a 6 year old car with only 75k. I managed 32 mpg with fully loaded car with top box. I think 9-5 seats maybe the best seats ever, even better than my E class air vented leather. The 9-5 is becoming a rare beast to find now with low mpg and there are quite a few of us now that know they are superb high milers so prices for a low miler are not going any lower. I'm now permanently living in Costa del Sol and these cars are really rare. The 1999 - 2003 Saab convertible SE and Turbo get heads turning here, I'm sure they are next for the collectors.
Blee - Spot on! Those seats are more comfortable than most modern cars. Im a big person 6'3" and the comfort and roominess is amazing. You should look at your front tyres - makes a big difference to that B road handling. It will never handle like a Beemer but I'd rather do 350 miles in my Aero than in a Beemer with run flats! Have you tried any of the Dame Edna later models ? Brilliant car for so little money.
Yes I do - 2008 Aero estate - same colour as yours but slightly updated with more modern interior. Long journeys polished off with ease leaving you feeling fresh afterwards. Bags of power and has a way of getting under your skin.
A Saab mechanic told me that the boot release is on a separate button to help dog owners. When I get out of my 93 sport waggon (crappy name) I am in charge of letting the dogs out. It makes sense to me. I was also told by a less reliable person that you can change it in the settings but I never checked. I've got two dogs and on the one occasion someone tried to open the boot I was glad of the feature.
Bought my 2001 facelift 9-5 2.3t hot aero for an amazing £250, £50 later and it had an mot, thats with 130,000 miles! Mind i did have to get some tyres and quite a few other bits hahaha, running on the road project though! Saabs are awesome!
Blee Carswell thanks buddy! I’ve had a few issues with it namely the brakes, but it’s getting the servo and cylinder done this weekend, planning on keeping this beast and stage 3 in the near future, you should totally do that to yours then re-review it again highlighting the differences!
i just bought the same car in usa 2004 silver 95 aero combi....for $1000 us...guy started at $3000 i waitied a week for the price to go down to 2500 and then i went down to see it...major oil leak and a couple other issues helped me get the price down to $1000... love the car...i was a saab tech for 5 years...amazing getting a car that cost about 50k new for 1k...i have fixed oil leak new air mass meter and spark plugs she runs great cold ac gonna keep her a while
I had a silver 2002 95 aero estate and for sure they don't make cars with that level of character any more. I lived in Gloucestershire and commuted up to Edinburgh once a month. Last car to have cockpit interior. The fact they're increasing in price now tells you something.
The staggered locking for the boot can be changed if you want it to be. It is done so that when you unlock the car no one can steal anything in the boot while you get in, you can also put staggered locking on the drivers door unlocks at first push and all other doors at second push of unlock button. I think the Saab 9-5 estate is one of the easiest cars to park anywhere - and the turning circle is fantastic, I would go as far as saying best in class - you try a Volvo V70 P2 and park that thing, anywhere, much harder I own both. Love the videos though and thanks for upholding a good name for Saab’s as so many are so quick to denigrate them. Keep up the good work 😀
I have to admit I don't know a huge amount about Saab cars but I'm shocked with that performance, pretty rapid. While the sun visor might not be a stand out feature, it is a thoughtful one which I bet comes in handy quite nicely in summer?
Great vid! I got a 2005 9-5 Vector with stage 1, quite happy with it! I really like the interior design though, but the plastic materials that Saab used is small let down. And yes, its not the best handling car, works best as a highway cruiser! Anyways, great content and great vids, keep it up!
Latsaaben What power does it put out with stage one? They’re great cruisers, and considering the size they do alright around the corners, I was being a bit harsh haha.
@@BleeCarswell Hehe, you did have a point in your video, its a big and heavy car :) The stage 1 in my 9-5 is about 210HP, everything is stock, just a re-map to the ECU
In the future Blee I would love you to review my 2006 Saab 9-3 Aero estate with Vtuner and one off quad DTM exhaust, it sounds like nothing you would believe! I reckon its around 340BHP I am in Norfolk, would be awesome for you to drive it :)
Hey mate, thanks for the comments! That sounds like a beast and I am a sucker for 9-3 estates! I'll have to let you know matey as it a fair old distance for me.
Did you use Vtuner stage 0? I got that on my old 9-3 Turbo X (Brian at Vermont Tuning is a top bloke) and it was mental. I have a custom stage 3 tune on my 9-5 Aero that's around 305bhp at the moment
Nice video. Do you prefer this over a 9-3 turbo. I havent driven either. The 2005 9-5 has more power which seems it's biggest positive. But the 9-3 seems more reliable, is smaller and hence easier to navigate in traffic, handles better, and can also be tuned to equal 250hp. What are your thoughts? Is the comfort much better in the aero 9-5 than the aero 9-3. They seem similarly nice.
Hi Ben, sorry about the delay in getting back to you. Both cars have merits. I found the 9-3 felt quicker and handled sweeter (probably due to its size compared to the 9-5). Having said that I thought the interior of the 9-3 felt disappointingly cheap (the base stereo in mine was awful) and not up to the standard of a the 9-5. A facelift 9-3 might be better, but based on my experience for comfort I’d go for the 9-5. Petrol was similar in both. It’s hard for me to comment on reliability as a 250k 9-5 is understandably going to throw up a few more bills than a 9-3 with less than half the number of miles. Thanks for watching, Blee
Buying my 2008 Saab estate manual tomorrow. Any tips as my boot release inside does not work and any things I should get done on a 146000 miles car. Agreed that not great on B roads. . My new Saab has Saab FSH. Thanks for help
Worth noting that the manual version has an overboost which increases torque for 20 secs from around 250 lb/ft to just over 270 lb/ft. Not sure what effect it had on BHP. I'll never forget my dad's '02 car which in 2nd gear went like nothing else I'd experienced, even now. Brilliant car.
Hey guys. I'm 6'3" and on my fourth 9-5 2002 2004 2004 2005. No better car for bigger guys. Never spent more than £1300.00 for any of them. Have replaced two DIC's on two of them with secondhand DIC's. IMHO there is no better car for your £££££s than a 1999-2005 9-5. PS. NG spark plugs and regular oil changes are both a must. My current beast 9-5 2.3 hirsch upgrade that bought I 18months ago just passed its MOT 152k mileage sailed through with only one advisary, steering bushes wear. I love my 9-5. Schhhh.
Sure you are aware, Keep the sump cleaned out on them ! Even with with the updated breather kit it still can cause oil starvation. Sure it’s been done to get to over 250k miles I get mine done every three years just to be on the safe side.
It was a shame for us the consumer when Saab and Volvo lost their individual identities and were absorbed by the mass manufacturers. Oh btw do not drive with one hand on the wheel. Even at modest speeds you’re in trouble with front tyre failure.🥴
Thanks for watching! More of my Saab content can be watched by clicking here! th-cam.com/play/PL9TM9Qg0E3VY1-8_V5NHmj8ZUeKjWJ42A.html
Blee Carswell they used to say that between 40-70 the Aero accelerated quicker than a Porsche a few years ago. Not sure how f that was true or an urban myth!
@@mogulmeister I've heard that too! Would be interesting to see a race haha
No that’s a true not a myth.
my parents have one of these. i love that you can just cruise so comfortably in it, especially with an automatic. great car
Thanks for watching!
Cool motor, especially for the price. Wears its miles well! Old Estates will always beat the modern SUV trend
Matt Houston I agree with you on that. Thanks for watching 👍
Saab fan myself. Changing the front subframe bushes to solid ones will solve your handling problem.
Love Saabs as have 2 myself! Have to say I feel like I am watching a Top\Fifth Gear program, you have great presenting skills!
Saab tripped over itself so many times for so many amazing reasons, sadly that is why it died.
Wonderful and proper car maker.
It is such a shame. Thanks for watching mate!
I loved my old 9-5 Aero. Decent tyres made a world of difference to the handling and confidence, especially in the wet.. Couldn't find another, so plumped for a V70 T5. The steering, ride and handling isn't a patch on the Saab.
You are right about the tires. I use the Continental Premiumcontact 6, 225/45/r17, and they are superb.
Good points to point out. Personally I really like the vintage interior, and listening to CD´s and tapes again is cool! If I want Bluetooth, then I use the FM transmitter, it works great. I think the handling is pretty good in 9-5, not that bad at all. But ok, its not a small nimble sports car.
zosozoso2 Thats fair enough, we all like different things! I have a FM transmitter and it’s a god send! Thanks for watching 👍
The 9-5 is such a massively underrated car. I have an 02 9-5 Aero auto sedan, which has been given a little under-bonnet botox (do88 intercooler, 3" Krona exhaust, stage 3 tune, plus a few other bits), and it will blow just about anything away when it comes to mid range. I genuinely can't think of any other car that offers the same performance, comfort, safety, equipment, and low purchase price.
Have a 9-5 aero stage 1 and even I have tried to think of something is this price range better/more potent in the mid range. I haven't found yet
I just purchased my first Saab, a 9-5 Arc Wagon, er, Estate/Touring! I’m 6’3” and it’s so comfortable! Also funny as an American by way of Sunny California it’s not a large car to me! Quite nimble to parallel park too. Great video!
Thanks for watching. Haha yeah I can see it being quite small over in America. I hope you have many happy miles in your Saab!
I have One from 2001 and I Share the same opinion as you, but I really like the interiors, shows some nostalgic "saabness" and thats os fine. Nice video!
Nice wagon(estate)! I agree about the handling. It's a bit heavy feeling. I like the interior and the stereo. The cd player plays cd-r's just fine. I go into my trunk(boot) about 5 times a week or more without opening doors so the keyfob works for me. As someone stated here the 9-5 is a great highway cruiser. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for watching! I was being very picky with the negatives in this video. In reality I don't find the issues that much of a problem haha.
Good review - quick, crisp and to the point. I like that you don't waste our time! Do you know why they have the ignition key in the centre? SAAB said it is to avoid being injured by the key in case of a frontal collision. The traditional position of the key is just in front of or close to your knee. In a frontal crash you risk getting your key in your knee or there abouts....
Glad you enjoyed the video! Oo I didn't know that, interesting to know and it does make sense when you think about it.
I have a Saab 9-5 Sportcombi Aero from 2008 with 300hp and I just loving it :D
Glad to hear it! Thanks for watching.
I’ve got a 02 9-5 Aero Saloon, 4th 9-5 owned and newest in reg. Took my old S-reg 9-5 2.3SE to Spain twice averaged 35mpg. Smile on face moment, we were in St Cyprien (Southern France), waiting for a family to cross the road when the little lad stopped and pointed to the car, asking his father what it was. Even the father wasn’t sure. Only saw 4 Saab’s in a nearly 3,000 mile journey that year.
I do prefer the headlight wipers on the pre 2001 models to the washer jets on the face lift.
Thanks for watching! 35mpg aint bad, I managed a tad over that on a long long run this summer, I was surprised haha. I do like the early models too.
Hi, yes I too have cruised down to Spain from UK, mine was in 53 reg 9-5 2.3SE, bought it as ex-police from Hampshire constabulary and it had been modified by special operations team! Cost me £1650 in 2009, a steal for a 6 year old car with only 75k. I managed 32 mpg with fully loaded car with top box. I think 9-5 seats maybe the best seats ever, even better than my E class air vented leather. The 9-5 is becoming a rare beast to find now with low mpg and there are quite a few of us now that know they are superb high milers so prices for a low miler are not going any lower. I'm now permanently living in Costa del Sol and these cars are really rare. The 1999 - 2003 Saab convertible SE and Turbo get heads turning here, I'm sure they are next for the collectors.
Blee - Spot on! Those seats are more comfortable than most modern cars. Im a big person 6'3" and the comfort and roominess is amazing. You should look at your front tyres - makes a big difference to that B road handling. It will never handle like a Beemer but I'd rather do 350 miles in my Aero than in a Beemer with run flats!
Have you tried any of the Dame Edna later models ? Brilliant car for so little money.
I’ll have to look at tyres and nope I’ve not driven a Dame Edna! Do you own one?
Yes I do - 2008 Aero estate - same colour as yours but slightly updated with more modern interior. Long journeys polished off with ease leaving you feeling fresh afterwards. Bags of power and has a way of getting under your skin.
@@mogulmeister Very nice. There is just something about a Saab which makes you love them haha
A Saab mechanic told me that the boot release is on a separate button to help dog owners. When I get out of my 93 sport waggon (crappy name) I am in charge of letting the dogs out. It makes sense to me. I was also told by a less reliable person that you can change it in the settings but I never checked. I've got two dogs and on the one occasion someone tried to open the boot I was glad of the feature.
Ah fair enough. That isn't something I had considered to be honest!
Bought my 2001 facelift 9-5 2.3t hot aero for an amazing £250, £50 later and it had an mot, thats with 130,000 miles!
Mind i did have to get some tyres and quite a few other bits hahaha, running on the road project though!
Saabs are awesome!
Dan Murray Sounds like a bargain! I hope it serves you well 👍
Blee Carswell thanks buddy! I’ve had a few issues with it namely the brakes, but it’s getting the servo and cylinder done this weekend, planning on keeping this beast and stage 3 in the near future, you should totally do that to yours then re-review it again highlighting the differences!
@@professionalbodger Sounds good! Haha I wish, a few things would need looking at before that sorta thing happens.
Honored to be your 10,000th view I think. Great video, you're a fantastic car reviewer - absolute natural!
And what a car!!!
@@felixairas451 Thank you! Means a lot!
i just bought the same car in usa 2004 silver 95 aero combi....for $1000 us...guy started at $3000 i waitied a week for the price to go down to 2500 and then i went down to see it...major oil leak and a couple other issues helped me get the price down to $1000... love the car...i was a saab tech for 5 years...amazing getting a car that cost about 50k new for 1k...i have fixed oil leak new air mass meter and spark plugs she runs great cold ac gonna keep her a while
Sounds good! I hope you get many enjoyable miles from it.
I had a silver 2002 95 aero estate and for sure they don't make cars with that level of character any more. I lived in Gloucestershire and commuted up to Edinburgh once a month. Last car to have cockpit interior. The fact they're increasing in price now tells you something.
Thanks for watching pal. That is a long old drive haha.
The staggered locking for the boot can be changed if you want it to be.
It is done so that when you unlock the car no one can steal anything in the boot while you get in, you can also put staggered locking on the drivers door unlocks at first push and all other doors at second push of unlock button.
I think the Saab 9-5 estate is one of the easiest cars to park anywhere - and the turning circle is fantastic, I would go as far as saying best in class - you try a Volvo V70 P2 and park that thing, anywhere, much harder I own both.
Love the videos though and thanks for upholding a good name for Saab’s as so many are so quick to denigrate them.
Keep up the good work 😀
Hey mate, thanks for the comments! Is that stuff a tech 2 job? Now you mention it the turning circle aint bad considering haha.
Blee Carswell yes, you will need a tech 2 for that - I’ve sent you a message on Instagram with a more detailed reply.
I have to admit I don't know a huge amount about Saab cars but I'm shocked with that performance, pretty rapid. While the sun visor might not be a stand out feature, it is a thoughtful one which I bet comes in handy quite nicely in summer?
Tis rapid! I've only used them one time, still pretty cool tho 😂
Great vid! I got a 2005 9-5 Vector with stage 1, quite happy with it! I really like the interior design though, but the plastic materials that Saab used is small let down. And yes, its not the best handling car, works best as a highway cruiser! Anyways, great content and great vids, keep it up!
Latsaaben What power does it put out with stage one? They’re great cruisers, and considering the size they do alright around the corners, I was being a bit harsh haha.
@@BleeCarswell Hehe, you did have a point in your video, its a big and heavy car :) The stage 1 in my 9-5 is about 210HP, everything is stock, just a re-map to the ECU
Latsaaben Ah nice! I hope it serves you well 👍
@@Latsaaben how much it weights? around 1500 kilos? is it really that heavy? all of the modern cars weight over 1500k and handles quite well
@@HORSER9999 If I remember it correctly, about 1650-1700kg for the estate version
In the future Blee I would love you to review my 2006 Saab 9-3 Aero estate with Vtuner and one off quad DTM exhaust, it sounds like nothing you would believe! I reckon its around 340BHP I am in Norfolk, would be awesome for you to drive it :)
Hey mate, thanks for the comments! That sounds like a beast and I am a sucker for 9-3 estates! I'll have to let you know matey as it a fair old distance for me.
Did you use Vtuner stage 0? I got that on my old 9-3 Turbo X (Brian at Vermont Tuning is a top bloke) and it was mental. I have a custom stage 3 tune on my 9-5 Aero that's around 305bhp at the moment
They are a great car.. had them for years and years..
The boot does unlock if you hit the unlock button twice in quick succession I'm sure
Hmm I'm not sure, I'll have to try it.
How do you not have more subscribers? This was a great video
Glad you enjoyed it! Haha wish I knew on the subscriber front.
Evening Blee, great videos, what's the road tax on your aero?
Glad you enjoyed them :) I can't remember I'm afraid. £300 and something a year I think. (Sorry about the late reply)
Nice video. Do you prefer this over a 9-3 turbo. I havent driven either. The 2005 9-5 has more power which seems it's biggest positive. But the 9-3 seems more reliable, is smaller and hence easier to navigate in traffic, handles better, and can also be tuned to equal 250hp. What are your thoughts? Is the comfort much better in the aero 9-5 than the aero 9-3. They seem similarly nice.
Hi Ben, sorry about the delay in getting back to you. Both cars have merits. I found the 9-3 felt quicker and handled sweeter (probably due to its size compared to the 9-5).
Having said that I thought the interior of the 9-3 felt disappointingly cheap (the base stereo in mine was awful) and not up to the standard of a the 9-5. A facelift 9-3 might be better, but based on my experience for comfort I’d go for the 9-5.
Petrol was similar in both. It’s hard for me to comment on reliability as a 250k 9-5 is understandably going to throw up a few more bills than a 9-3 with less than half the number of miles.
Thanks for watching,
Blee
Buying my 2008 Saab estate manual tomorrow. Any tips as my boot release inside does not work and any things I should get done on a 146000 miles car. Agreed that not great on B roads. . My new Saab has Saab FSH. Thanks for help
my 9-3 og has the same boot lock function, i allways forget to unlock the boot then im going to open it
I forgot, what's the engine in that thing?
Oops, I forgot to mention that! It's a turbo 2.3-litre 4-cylinder
@@BleeCarswell 220hp? Pulls nicely
@@TopCarsTV 250! Although I think early cars were 220 with 250 on overboost.
TopCars TV The 9-5 Aero usually has a 2.3HOT (High Output Turbo) generating 250 - 260 bhp.
Worth noting that the manual version has an overboost which increases torque for 20 secs from around 250 lb/ft to just over 270 lb/ft. Not sure what effect it had on BHP.
I'll never forget my dad's '02 car which in 2nd gear went like nothing else I'd experienced, even now. Brilliant car.
I'm 6'3'' and well built, the seats look very high up, do they lower at all? I'm curious as i want to buy a 9-5 very soon.
Thanks, great videos 👍🏻
Thanks for watching buddy! I'll check the seat tomorrow. I'd have thought at 6 3 you'd be able to fit though!
Hey guys. I'm 6'3" and on my fourth 9-5 2002 2004 2004 2005. No better car for bigger guys. Never spent more than £1300.00 for any of them. Have replaced two DIC's on two of them with secondhand DIC's. IMHO there is no better car for your £££££s than a 1999-2005 9-5. PS. NG spark plugs and regular oil changes are both a must. My current beast 9-5 2.3 hirsch upgrade that bought I 18months ago just passed its MOT 152k mileage sailed through with only one advisary, steering bushes wear. I love my 9-5. Schhhh.
Blee where do you live? If not far from Somerset I may have a car for you to do a video on.
Hey mate, thanks for the thought but im based up near Nottingham!
@@BleeCarswell well now it could be worse, I could meet you halfway say Hopwood services or Strensham services?
@@boxfresh2483 Possibly mate, i'll have to let you know in the new year!
@@BleeCarswell of course bud no worries let me know 👍😎
Sure you are aware,
Keep the sump cleaned out on them ! Even with with the updated breather kit it still can cause oil starvation.
Sure it’s been done to get to over 250k miles
I get mine done every three years just to be on the safe side.
You need new shocks and springs if its floaty
I`m fairly sure the boot locking is configurable with a Tech2
Yeah I think you're right!
How odd. The things he doesn’t like, the interior design and boot locking system, I love. And I have owned mine for 11 years.
just bought a 2011 9-5 white sedan. 2.o t bio Tuned to 295 Hp. it's so nice and when you learn the optimal rev ranges it's amazingly fast.
Sounds good, I hope you get lots of happy miles out of it!
Great Car 👍
They are bril for what you pay!
Excellent
the rear looks like the 97 bmw 528 touring.
It was a shame for us the consumer when Saab and Volvo lost their individual identities and were absorbed by the mass manufacturers. Oh btw do not drive with one hand on the wheel. Even at modest speeds you’re in trouble with front tyre failure.🥴
Derek Whyle Very true! Haha I’ll bare that in mind, thanks for watching 👍
You aren’t if you drive a Citroen with diravi steering!
saab forever
Thanks for watching!
And it loves to drink too!
thats a rare car without sunroff