Would I be mental to buy the last of the Saab 9-5s?

I love the shape and image of the Saab 9-5 and the fact that they can be picked up for a song in the UK. Apart from the fact that they are now defunct and the resale value is thusly affected, are there any disadvantages to buying one?

Paul Campbell (Irishtown)

Jan 2014 Filed under: choosing used car

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Expert answer

Hi Paul,

I presume you're talking about the 'new' 9-5 - the last car Saab launched before everything went pear-shaped? It's a little hard to tell on the reliability front how good or bad they are, simply because there are so few on the ground. That said, all of the mechanical and chassis parts are shared with the Opel Insignia, and that's a car that has proved very reliable, bar the occasional electrical niggle. 

I know what you mean about the shape and style - you're talking to a long-term Saab fan here, and the 9-5 was an especially nice car, massive for the money (practically Mercedes-Benz S-Class sized for the price of a BMW 3 Series) and, in the fine Saab tradition, had a huge and comfy interior. It's also pretty decent to drive, not BMW good perhaps, but nice all the same and the 1.9-litre turbodiesel engine should prove very frugal.

It is a bit risky, I suppose, but a risk I reckon might just be worth taking. Might be worth taking out an aftermarket warranty mind, just in case...

Neil Briscoe - Complete Car Adviser
@neilmbriscoe