Saab test drive 9-5 2001-2005 sedan

The idol of the few

SAAB-9-5 was no better and no worse than other European competitors, but did not gain due popularity from us. Just by the time his debut in 1997, the SAAB fashion in Russia had already passed. Today, nine to five, including used, is bought only by devoted fans of the Swedish brand. And they know why they pay money.

Scandinavian automobile companies Volvo and Saab were one of the first to organize official sales of their cars in the nascent Russian market. While there was nothing to choose from, demand was distributed as follows. The conservative Swedish Volga was mainly bought by government officials and bankers, and swift Saabs liked ambitious businessmen.
 
But even then, in the first half of the 90s, when Saab's dealers rubbed their hands from the record volumes of sales, it could be assumed that the euphoria would not last long. As the choice of the preference of our compatriots expands, they shifted towards German and Japanese competitors. Against their background, the Saabs looked too original to claim mass. Plus, they have established themselves as moody and expensive in operation. As a result, interest in Saabam began to quickly fade away.
 
In such a situation, 9-5 was already originally accepted without much enthusiasm. Moreover, it soon became clear that the new model has lost the main highlight of the Saabs sports. Compared to his predecessor, nine-thousandths, nine or fifth on the go became much more comfortable, but he gained imposition and slack of completely unusual Saabam. Yes, and at first there were more than enough problems. Handryla electronics, motors refused to start in the cold, turbines were flying most childhood diseases to win the 2000 model year. By the way, at the same time the chassis settings changed, as a result of which nine to five again became a car for the driver.
 
Therefore, if the SAAB-9-5 is pretty to you, it is better to look for an instance starting from the 2000 model. And there is something to love this car.
 
 
The first SAAB station wagon for many years was created on the basis of 9-5 and appeared in 1999 model year
  

 
Signs of the breed
Firstly, for his personality. In the nine-to-five, from whatever angle, the real SAAB is absolutely recognized: long overhangs of the body, emphasized the wedge-shaped silhouette, which enters the sidewalls of the hood line. Nowadays, a recognizable appearance is worth a lot of general unification. And the salon? Front chairs with high backs, between which the ignition lock, heavy, around the driver of a torpedo with large keys, was on the floor. This curved board looks especially expensive if a wooden fan of Saabov with any experience will feel at nine to at home at home.
 
The body of the mechanics is characterized from the best side. Problems with paint, foliage around the moldings around and along the edges of the wings, were resolved at the time of the 9000th. And with corrosion resistance in Scandinavian cars, everything was always all right. Perhaps only a long front bumper and fogging in it can suffer from contacts with snowdrifts and curbs. This is especially true for the version of Aero with reduced road clearance and developed plastic body kit along the lower perimeter of the body. However, on the nine -thousandth front spoiler was generally considered consumable.
 
A used nine to five can present surprises with the electrical equipment of the cabin (especially the early issues). At first glance, they seem small, but the elimination of some malfunctions will require significant expenses. Therefore, it is better for possible sores of electrical equipment in advance in the head of capricious climatic.
 
 
The aerial version is distinguished by sports seats, plastic spoilers along the lower perimeter of the body, a sports suspension and more powerful brakes. In maintenance and repair, it costs somewhat more expensive than civilian modifications

 
Carious climate
 
When checking the operation of electrical equipment, first of all, pay attention to automatic climate. The installation should adequately respond to a change in the direction of air flows (up and down) and temperature (heat-cold) on both sides of the driver’s and passenger. The fact is that the distribution of flows and temperatures is in charge of electric shutters. So, plastic adapters of complex shape, connecting electric motors with damper, tend to break in half. The details are penny, but in order to change them, you need to remove and put climate again, which takes 12 normally. And, most importantly, adapters are not delivered separately to spare parts. It remains either to buy new climatic ($ 1950), or look for a used disassembly (not the fact that it will be serviceable), or to beg for the Saabov mechanics so that they take a ill -fated piece of plastic through their channels.
 
Another constructive puncture in the microclimate system fan installed in front of the salon filter. To begin with, he is clogged with foliage and begins to make noise, and after 23 years he dies on our dirt completely.
 
Approximately the same amount of the motor -artists of the phary cleaners live, taking on the main streams of slush. Like door locks that refuse quite rarely, they change in the collection.
 
On the central console, both displays of the on-board computer and climate control over time (certain symbols begin to disappear on them). Despite the modest size, displays are quite expensive. It is not surprising that they are stealed from cars, like radio.
    
What is the price
Replacement of the heater fan $ 285
Replacement of the water reducer of the Faro -cleaner $ 250
Replacing the door lock $ 235
Computer display replacement $ 545
Replacement of the climate control display $ 450
 
Real Saab Saab-Turbo
Another highlight of Saabov is their famous turbo engineers. The company from TrollHettan has become a pioneer in the mass use of turbote technologies and today is a recognized leader in this area. Fans of the brand believe that a real SAAB must have a 4-cylinder motor with a turbocharged.
 
On 9-5, several versions of in-line fours are installed with a volume of 2.0 and 2.3 liters, which differ in the pressure of the boost. Until 2000, only low -level engines were offered, providing even, stable traction in a wide range of revolutions. They develop a power of 150 and 170 forces. Then two high -fiber engines were added to them, issuing a powerful surge of acceleration after 2000 revolutions. The most common of them is a 250-horsepower 2.3-liter engine, installed on the sports version of the Aero. Less common is a 190-horsepower 2-liter unit. It is supplied mainly to the countries of Southern Europe, where taxes are highly dependent on the volume of the engine.
 
The range of 4-cylinder turbo engines with a volume of 2.0 and 2.3 liters is installed on the SAAB for a very long time. It is all the more amazing that with the transition to 9-5 they retained many characteristic sores. This is especially true for cars of 199819999. Their motors can put the owner for a large amount.
 
In addition to in-line fours, nine to five is equipped with a low-level 3-liter V6 with a capacity of 200 forces. This is a somewhat redesigned motor from Opel-Omega. Despite the installation of the turbine, the power of the Saabov V6 compared to the Opel analogue not only did not increase, but rather decreased by 11 forces. The fact is that the Swedish engineers set the task of getting a noble, painful, but not very high -speed engine, combined exclusively with an automatic box. As a rule, V6 is found on a prestigious version of Gryffin.
 
In the days of Saaba-9000, mechanics about Opelian motor spoke not in the best way. But by the time the 9-5 V6 appeared, it became much more reliable. With the exception of a turbine, not distinguished by the durability of up to 2000 model year.
 
Diseases of engines
Planned then for all engines in our conditions it is recommended to be carried out after 10,000 km. Moreover, this is due not so much to the replacement of oil (although if there is a turbine on good synthetics, it is better not to save) as the life of the ignition candles. Usually they are enough just 1012 thousand. Even at the air, where platinum candles are installed, they rarely withstand two periods between that.
 
4 cylinders
All 4-cylinder engines have a timing chain drive, which eliminates the regular replacement of the belt. However, until 2000 of the model year, they suffered from a more unpleasant disease of the forehead of the engine (can appear on any run). In principle, Europeans go with this. However, the oil belt that oozes from under the lid can soften the oil belt, and it will jump off. And there is a lot of oil itself. Therefore, it is still advisable to change the lid (now enhanced ones enter spare parts). But the trouble is that for this you need to remove the engine and its hinged units. The work turns out for 18 hours. Therefore, if the car ran about 150,000 km and you are not going to part with it, it is better to simultaneously replace both crankshaft oil seals and a complete set of timing, including tensioners, shoes, chains and asterisks of balancing shafts. The amount is very decent, but after all, both seals and chain drive (wear are determined by sound) will still require replacements soon. What is the point of paying for 18 hours of work again?
 
As you can see, leakage from under the lid or the need to replace the timing of the timing can cause the sale of a car. As well as the turbine. On all 4-cylinder engines, except for aero (the durable superceter of Mitsubishi is installed on this engine), the turbines at first rarely nursed more than 60,000 km. By 2000, their design was changed, and the resource increased to about 150,000 km. Nevertheless, there are a lot of cars with dead turbines in the market.
 
In addition, there were problems with the launch of the engine and reliability of the engine control unit in the frost and the reliability of the engine (it was oxidized and began to fail). It is possible to normalize the cold start by reprogramming of the brain, and unsuccessful control units changed under warranty. But if there is an old -style electronics on the machine, you will probably have to fork out for a round sum. The dying control unit stops keeping idle and does not allow the engine to gain momentum.
 
By the way, the same symptoms are the gradually souring block of the throttle, which is enough for about 100,000 km. In the same period, one can expect the failure of the rear support of the engine, the gas pump and the unified ignition cassette united for all cylinders (shown by the arrow). True, unlike the 9000th, the cassette at 9-5 has become more reliable.
 
It happens that a pump, thermostat, oil pressure sensor fail (when the ignition is turned on, the red lamp does not light up) and the crankshaft position sensor (the engine stalls in the heat, and two hours later it starts again). But these are already trifles.
 
V6
A belt is given on a 6-cylinder engine, so every 90,000 km it must be changed along with the rollers. Among the possible faults from the fours, he inherited a turbine (until 2000), a throttle block, a gas pump, a crankshaft position sensor and a ignition cassette. The only difference is that there are two cassettes on the V6.
     
What is the price
Replacing candles 4 cil./Aero/V6 $ 35/95/55
Replacing the front cover without a timing drive $ 1050
Replacing the front cover with a timing drive $ 2250
Turbine replacement $ 1500-1600
Reprogramming a control unit $ 20
Replacing an engine control unit $ 1350
Replacing the throttle block $ 700
Replacing the ignition cassette 4-cyl./V6 $ 370/740
Replacement of a gas pump $ 390
Replacing the oil pressure sensor $ 145
Replacement of the crankshaft position sensor $ 140
Replacing the rear support of the engine $ 385
Replacing a timing belt with rollers (V6) $ 570
 
Check the cooling fans!
Those that are installed behind the radiator (two of them). Over time, its bearing wedges from dirt, and the fan stops working. In this case, it does not rotate (or rotates poorly) by hand. What this threatens the engine, I think, you do not need to explain. By the way, the need to annually cleanse radiators from dirt is fair, of course, for nine-fifth.
    
What is the price
Replacement of $ 610 cooling fan
 
Mechanics or machine gun?
With any of the 4-cylinder engines, you can get both manually and automatic boxes. A 170-horsepower 2.3-liter engine is especially well combined with a machine gun. But sports air, on the contrary, is interesting with mechanics. In this case, its motor initially has a 20 nm large torque than with an automatic box. And only with the mechanics the engine has an outsider mode, when, with intensive acceleration of the turbine, another 20 nm thrusting can be given to 20 seconds.
 
 
The ignition lock according to the Saabov tradition is located on the floor, behind the lever of the checkpoint
 

The manual box is absolutely trouble -free. The oil in it is flooded for the entire service life (if you have to change, then pour only company, Saabovskoye), and the clutch is usually enough for 150200 thousand. It is amazing that against the backdrop of expensive Saabov spare parts, a branded clutch kit costs only $ 260 (plus 8 normally for replacement).
 
The Japanese automatic box is also very durable, and the oil in it is recommended to be changed after 60,000 km. It happens that an electronic selector or block of control valves fails. In any case, the cost of repairs will not exceed $ 300. Worse, if you still manage to burn the ultra-dried Japanese machine gun. Spare parts for him are roads, so the cost of large repair will be a little less than the cost of a new box ($ 4400).
  
Toughie
The SAAB-9-5 is built on the Opel-Vetre platform of the previous generation, although it surpasses its donor in size and mass. Accordingly, it could be assumed that the chassis of nine to five would not be long-lasting. But, contrary to fears, the suspension and steering were surprisingly strong.
 
True, in the cars of the early issues they did not differ in the durability of the front stabilizer rack. But after this problem was solved, the first interventions in the chassis became necessary only after 80,000,000,000 km on our roads. And the figures are more than 150,000 km say that these details on natural wear have not yet changed. In any case, compared with the 9000th, the chassis 9-5 causes much less trouble. Of the probable unscheduled expenses, only the failure of the steering wheel of the steering wheel and front wheel bearings can be noted.
 
By the way, the Swedes took care of the owners of the 19981999 of model years, the very cars that, as we recall, were not very handling. If your saaba has a large mileage and the suspension is already tired, for $ 700 you can buy a sports chassis kit, which includes four springs and shock absorbers, as well as both reproach stability stabilizers. It is much cheaper than buying these parts separately.
 
Operational costs (chassis)
Front suspension and steering
Rear suspension
 
 
60 000 - 100,000 km
 
80 000 - 100,000 km
 
stabilizer racks $ 95
Shock absorbers $ 335
 
brake discs $ 270
Silent blocks of longitudinal and transverse levers (6 pcs.) $ 780
 
silent blocks of front levers $ 435
100,000 - 150,000 km
 
120 000 - 150,000 km
hubs assembly with bearings (2 pcs.) $ 770
 
shock absorbers with upper supports $ 790
Brake discs $ 280
 
more than 150,000 km
more than 150,000 km
 
balls $ 90
Stabilizer racks $ 105
 
steering tips $ 105
Possible unscheduled expenses
 
steering rods $ 425
Replacing the power steering $ 585
 
 
Replacing the front hub bearing (1 pc.) $ 215
 
_________________________________
 
 
 
Prices of original details, taking into account the replacement in the authorized technical center SAAB.
 
Buy?
If you regularly read our heading for three years not age, you will probably notice that in terms of reliability the SAAB-9-5 does not differ for the better or worse from prestigious European classmates.
 
Yes, nine to five have characteristic problems with 4-cylinder engines, climate control and electrical equipment. But show me at least one German business class model in which the motorist and electrician would have nothing to do. But Saab has reliable chassis and transmission.
 
What is really unpleasant is a recent increase in prices for original Saabov spare parts. Apparently, in this way, managers from Ji-Em are trying to raise the profitability of their Swedish company. However, even today, the cost of branded spare parts for 9-5 is comparable to prestigious European competitors. Just when you know that it was cheaper yesterday
 
But be that as it may, the Saabs are not bought for mercantile reasons. For such people, there are indestructible Kamri and Maxim. And in the nominations to be not like everyone else and the pleasure of riding competitors nine to five. If you agree with this, be prepared to give about $ 22,00026,000 for the engine, a good copy of 2000 from Europe, depending on the engine. Cars of earlier releases are offered significantly cheaper. But, as you already understood, they can require very large investments, so they should be diagnosed before buying especially carefully.
    
Take for three minutes
The likelihood of Saab’s hijacking is not a Mercedes or Audi. However, the owners of nine to five should be afraid of another misfortune of the plunder of the car. This has happened from the nine -thousandth model and is explained by the fact that the SAAB machine is rare, so it is difficult to find cheap used spare parts for it on disassembly. And there is a demand for them.
 
Specialists undress the car in just 3 minutes. The most scarce and quickly removable details are used: headlights, a radiator grille, ignition cassette, a large two-day radio, on-board computer and climatic displays, and a safety pillow. On a circle, at the prices of official dealers, about $ 3000 is obtained.
 
Therefore, it is necessary to equip the machine with a properly installed hood lock (alarm for thieves is not a hindrance), and lock the central locking should be double -pressed on the key fob button. This is how the function of the superc is triggered, which does not allow you to open the doors from the inside, breaking the glass. And, if possible, do not leave the car unattended. In Moscow, the most dangerous areas are the city center where there are many prestigious cars, and southwest, where the Saabovs are located.
 
Alexander Konov
 
 

Source: Magazine "Limousine" [08/03]