Saab 9-5 hot aero vs Legacy GTB

[Guest Coldstart86]

Hello, New to AutoShite forum but thought this would be a good first post here. Basically in true shite fashion, I've got a budget of a grand and have managed to track down two nice cars (in my opinion). Problem is I can't decide which one I want to go with. Both are 200+ horse power and both have there pro's and con's.

 

The first contender is a 03 saab 9-5 aero salon, done 137k but had a recon engine fitted, looks to be in tidy condition and has all the gadgets to go with it. The other contender is a 97 subaru legacy Gtb estate also in very good condition. Done approx 75k mileage as it's an import, but has plenty of history to go with it. So what I would like to know is your general opinion on each and which you would rather have. Also if you've seen something else, which is under 1k and might be of interest to me, feel free to post up suggestions.

[daveb47]

Dont know much about the cars,but check insurance before you buy on import as  it can send insurance sky high.

[Sloth in a bowl]

My instant gut feel is that the saab will be the nicer place to be unless you are in a colin macrae mood on a good B road.

 

However these thing are personal and the real test is to look at both cars and see if there is one that you don't want to walk away from.

[Sloth in a bowl]

I've just been having a quick flick through Scumtree and on the fast family wagons for a grand would shortlist.

 

Alfa 156 / 159 in v6 form

Ford Mondeo ST

Jaguar X type 3 litre

Volvo S60 T5

Skoda octavia vrs

 

Ther's other stuff out there but those are common enough that you can be fussy on condition.

[twosmoke300]

The saab is a gentlemans cruiser but no sports car. The Subaru will be a better drivers car

[RichardMoss]

I could never own a Legacy because I would be unable to let the word "Scooby" pass my lips. In a recent Practical Classics article EVERY specialist listed had "Scooby" in their name.

 

For that reason alone, Saab gets my vote.

 

I find the use of "Dubs" in the VW scene equally fucking childish/irritating/moronic

[DVee8]

A friend of mine has a Saab 95 areo hot estate on lpg.With some voodoo and black magic it is running around 300 bhp .This is the one i would go for so fast.

[Station]

I got my Saab 9-3 SE 'HOT' (high output turbo)and didn't realise it would be so quick. It 'torque steered' on the entrance slip road when I floored it just after I bought it. (I was doing about 40 already).

My mate had a 9-5 'HOT' and he said it was faster than the very fast Impreza WRX I bought off him.

Legacy and Saab will both be hard to resell - it's best to get the cheapest. Saab will be good even if it hasn't been that well looked after, the engines are very tough. Legacy's do rust quite a bit. Make sure the oil has been changed regularly though.

[wuvvum]

Having owned examples of both (albeit that the 9-5 was a normal 2.3 Turbo rather than an Aero), I would say it depends on what you're going to use it for.  Legacy will be quicker, handle better (although not by as big a margin as you'd think) and have more boot space.  Saab will be more refined, more comfortable and probably cheaper to run.  Being a post-2001 model it'll have the upgraded suspension so should go round corners OK too.

 

Another consideration is that the Saab will actually be quite sensible on fuel on a run.  The Legacy won't get over 25mpg even if you drive it like a nun.  Which would kind of defeat the point of buying it in the first place.

 

Also consider a Volvo S60 T5.  Not dissimilar to the Saab to drive (perhaps slightly more nose-heavy), but sounds a lot better, and probably better built too.

[wuvvum]

That's a good point actually.  When BMW brought out the Bini they had a major crackdown on all the Mini specialists who used the word "Mini" in their name.  All a bit pathetic I thought.

[RichardMoss]

Marque specialists often use slang names to get around copyright restrictions.

That may be true, but it's still irritating

[Sudsprint]

If you can bear diesel I had a 156 2.4 JTD Sportwagon remapped to about 200bhp.

 

It was a hooligan of a car but looked as sharp as an italian suit.

[bigfella2]

If you do go for the Saab try and find evidence that the sump has been dropped and the oil pump strainer has been cleaned, as its getting to an age and price where people will put the wrong oil/cheap oil which then sludges up the pump pickup pipe leading to premature engine failure. This is probably the reason it's got a 'recon engine' fitted. The later Saab engine is very similar but not the same as the bullet proof forged engine the 9000 used. When the GM bean counters get there hands on Saab they fitted cheaper pistons that limits safe reliable power to 300bhp ish, and the block is not as strong either. Got to agree these look a real performance bargain though.