The old 99 9-5 is now a bit more than "broken in"

1725 Views 17 Replies 11 Participants Last post by cking1975, Jul 23, 2010

DeLorean

Discussion Starter · Jul 6, 2010

My 99 9-5 is about to turn over 190K in the next few days. And it feels like it has that sort of mileage...

Here is my list of problems.

Heater by-pass valve has just started leaking.
Transmission is making noise, however it has been doing this for the last 40,000+ miles and does not affect operation (yet). I have however noticed it is just starting to become harder to disengage from 5th gear, sometimes.
Paint is bad. Totally stone basted everywhere, primer showing on the leading edge of the hood.
Rear suspension bushings are worn, and it tends to cup rear tires even faster than 9-5's typically do .
Starting to get a bit of the 9-5 rust at the rear fender wells
Has a large dent on the right rear 1/4 panel it received in a parking lot when I was away. Also has many parking lot dings, which I don't mind that much, but it all mounts up to make it look rather beater looking.

The good part of this car is that it runs great. I have always maintained it well, and the engine is top-notch. It has the original GT17, which is almost unheard of at this mileage. It also leaks and burns no oil. It also has never been crashed.

So I don't know. The thing is probably worth less than $1500 in this state, maybe more like $1000. Fixing the body damage alone is probably going to be at least $1000, and another $1000 for paint if I want it done reasonably well... and that does not count the transmission which may or may not last another 50K. But then I think, fuck, how much can I just get a 2001 or newer Aero for? but than I go back to thinking... well with my 99 9-5, I have owned it for maintained it for most of it's life now and I know what I have.

Any suggestions to my ramblings? Keep and fix the 99 or look for a better one? Also a 06 FWD V6 9-3 aero would not be out of the question price wise.

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christian900se

· #2 · Jul 6, 2010

Even though I know you can fix it up since you have a ton of experience, this sounds like the perfect opportunity to upgrade to a newer 9-5 if you have the ability. I personally think that the 9-5 is my favorite contemporary Saab just for how well they combine comfort and performance, the low price of entry is the cherry on top.

I say move on to a newer Aero if you can.

seriks1

· #3 · Jul 6, 2010

If you can swing a newer car, sounds like a good time to pass the '99 on. I've got to agree with Christian on a newer 9-5 though. My roommate has an '06 9-3 aero with the v6 and a 6 speed manual tranny. It's nice, goes like hell, but I still prefer the feel of a 9-5 aero.

jssaab

· #4 · Jul 7, 2010

You can find fine examples of 01-02 for 5 gs or less litte eold man/lady dirven. A manual maybe not as easy to find but you can get mint examples if you look aroind. And you can part the 99, prolly worth more than the value as a car...

Raven18940

· #5 · Jul 8, 2010

Welcome to my world, only replace rust and stone chips with bent rims.

In many ways I'm very tired of dealing with the car, but it's just not worth it to get rid.

BurnsSide42

· #6 · Jul 8, 2010

Why on earth would you buy a V6 9-3? Just get a 2.0T 2007 6 speed manual - makes much more sense than the 2.8V6 IMHO. Otherwise I agree - time to pass the 9-5 along. Put it on craigslist for $2000 obo and see what you can get. It does have a nice new(er) Sport suspension upgrade and clutch.... tires I'm sure are shot again. Brakes too?

DeLorean

Discussion Starter · #7 · Jul 8, 2010

Well the brakes are good, recent OEM pads & good rotors. It also has new tires and I fixed the AC... I think I am going to run it, at least to 200,000.

Tweek's Turbos

· #8 · Jul 8, 2010

Take most of the vin plates off, drive it till it shits someplace and leave it.

DeLorean

Discussion Starter · #9 · Jul 8, 2010

Well unless the trans fails, it's probably not just going to stop unless I stop adding coolant. but that could happen!

BurnsSide42

· #10 · Jul 8, 2010

^ ya know that heater by pass valve - those are like $30-$40 and about 15 minutes to change....

I'll buy you one and install it if you come and install all 4 ball joints in my c900

zingZACH

· #11 · Jul 8, 2010

This is my mom's 01 9-5 with 190k... The side rails in the trunk were even worse.

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BurnsSide42

· #12 · Jul 8, 2010

zingZACH said:
This is my mom's 01 9-5 with 190k... The side rails in the trunk were even worse.

Ewwwww. . . If I wanted to see some more pictures of your mom's rotted boot hole I'd have gone to that thread... lol

where are the pics of the "worse" side rails anyways - you're always mentioning how much worse they were and never posted any pictures.

DeLorean's is nothing like a New England car as you've shown..... it's just well driven and parked in not so nice places.

DeLorean

Discussion Starter · #13 · Jul 8, 2010

yeah, the trunk pan is fine. My rust is surface rust, which came from the shitty 9-5 silver paint failing. It seems to have very poor quality paint. Any flying rocks that come in contact with the paint leave a little fleck that exposes primer. primer is not rust proof...

zingZACH

· #14 · Jul 9, 2010

BurnsSide42 said:
Ewwwww. . . If I wanted to see some more pictures of your mom's rotted boot hole I'd have gone to that thread... lol

where are the pics of the "worse" side rails anyways - you're always mentioning how much worse they were and never posted any pictures.

DeLorean's is nothing like a New England car as you've shown..... it's just well driven and parked in not so nice places.

I was sick as a dog, it was 90+ degrees outside and I didn't want to be out there working on it any longer than I had to. So taking pictures of it was the last thing on my mind. My mom took that picture that I posted.

Don't believe me on how bad they were, ask Kidder. He was there lol.

And Delorean, I've noticed the same problem with paint on black 9000's. They seem to just chip off in huge flakes the same way you described. My mom's sun green 9-5 kind of did the same thing, but not nearly as bad as my Black 95 9000CS.

cking1975

· #15 · Jul 9, 2010 (Edited)

In my opinion its all about the time you have "TIME" its what we all need more of

Last year I bought a 1991 Saab 9000CDE for 600 dollars...The engine was sound as new, the car interior was good, I fixed all the rust, replaced the headliner,tranmission governor seal replaced for 10 dollars (Transmission shop quoted 2500 dollars...LOL) suspension parts, etc...I think 600 in parts total. The car drove like it was brand new...my wife's cousin bought it from my for 2400 dollars...there are great buys out there if you look around...plus you have experience with saab, so you know what to look for...oh yes my answer, sell it and buy a better project car

TunnanXWD

· #16 · Jul 18, 2010 (Edited)

My kid had the ultimate beater 900s, trunk leaked and as the junk guy came to tow it away he moved it to a better spot. Just as scrap I think, with title in hand, he got at least $300 for it and I think I heard the guy say it would have been closer to $500 if it started. It would have had he not moved it.

But about $400 would buy up some nice mods.

When shopping for a car, the Aero V6 is nice and the sales guy said that with the newer versions at least ... you need to pick each car it seems and get the exact details on the options car by car or at least year by year. Anyhoo, when I commented on the handling between a base model and the Aero he said that the Aero had a much better suspension ... short version ... I just bought wife's XWD base model and loved the handling. I was not interested in a base car because the ones I tried new when shopping for her car ... really did not feel quite the same. I thought it was balance (AWD weight distribution) though the sales guy who knew Saab ... said suspension.

Aero, slightly better seats with better side bolsters. I did like the look of the "Anniversary" edition of one of the cars.

Aero, slightly better acceleration ... go car by car option by option ... 6 speed versus auto.

There is a place not all too far from you called "Bergey's" ... it's a Chevy/GMC dealer but for some reason they have had tons of Saabs in all flavors .... except for Turbo X or 9-2 .... got no clue why they buy so many off-lease Saabs but it would probably be a good place just to try a few different option levels without going all over hells half acre. I drove a bunch ... but never on the same day (shopping for me), so it was tougher to make an objective comparison. During the "blow-out" sale this winter I did drive a bunch when I bought her new car but it was all .. 2.0 versus 2.0 / auto versus 6 speed / Combi versus sedan. She would have played Lorena Bobbitt if I came home with an Aero for her.

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abdukted1456

· #17 · Jul 23, 2010

our is right around 180K or so, and we often think the same thing (ditch and get a newer aero) but we have enough money into it, so we want to try and get it to 300K if possible, maybe 250... Might as well just run it!

cking1975

· #18 · Jul 23, 2010

Dont see the point in buying a brand new Saab...I guess I am done buying new cars...they are too expensive and not worth it...plus above a good point is we spend so much money on modifications that it is important to squeeze every bit of life out of our cars...I would be scared to look through my receipts and tally them up. I once went to look at a 1991 BMW M5 for sale a few years ago and it was a one owner he had 35K worth of receipts for the car:shock: now that is an expensive car to maintain

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