1999-2009 [Subscribe to Daily Digest] |
bought it CPO at 40K and it has 85K now, just off CPO. It has the Premium package with Harmon Kardon stero, auto-dimming mirrors with compass, etc. This makes the Linear much nicer. I wish it had vented seats, but so it goes. It's my wife's car and she doesn't care about the added punch from an Aero so it's fine for her. And she always uses regular gas. I put mid-grade in if I gas it up and run premium on summer vacation trips, but regular works just fine. We live in a semi-rural area and we get 23-24 local, about 30-32 highway, even fully loaded at 75 mph.
It has been very good. Only a few minor issues under warranty. I definitely notice the lower power compared to my '96 9K, which has an Aero ECU (but stock T-25 turbo) but the 185 hp engine is really OK. If you want more poke you can always have the ECU flashed to give you more power. I'd probably do that if I took this car over as my daily driver.
As you know, you want to get a car with a known service history, especially oil changes, and on a 4 cylinder 9-5 you want to be sure the PCV-6 mod has been done. Ours has had Mobil 1 every 5K since new, all recorded at the dealer. When I did the oil on Saturday I scraped inside the pan with a wire and came up with no hint of any crud or sludge.
Handling is fine. The ride is smooth and the roll stiffness is OK, even for some "sporty" driving on the back twisties. It's not as solid handling and confidence inspiring as my 9K with the Aero chassis and SAS bars, but it's perfectly fine. When it's time for shocks I'll put on something a bit firmer than the stock ones, but springs and roll stiffness are OK.
The 5 speed auto trans does a good job. Early on it sometimes seemed to sort of skip or not catch going from 1st to 2nd, but has not repeated this, so all seems well. Change the fluid when scheduled and you're good.
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