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Counterpoint
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Posted by Eric law [Email] (more from Eric law) on Fri, 17 Sep 2004 06:21:24 Share Post by Email
In Reply to: survey, 9000's vs 9-5, vermontsaab, Tue, 14 Sep 2004 19:51:13
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While I like the 9-5, I've gotta give a counterpoint in the area of reliability & repair costs.

My wife bought a '99 9-5 in January of 2002 with ~55K miles on it. The following month, I bought a '97 9000 Aero with about 50K miles. Since then they have been driven comparable amounts in comparable conditions, they now both have mileage in the high 70's.

The repairs that have been done on my Aero:
Shift coupler (didn't fail 100%, was just a bit loose) ($35)
Ignition switch (spring broke) ($50)
DI cassette (engine developed a misfire) ($225)
Clutch hydraulic hose (burst) ($50)
Miscellaneous vacuum hoses (no outright failure, just starting to crack near ends) ($25)
Turbo bypass valve ($20)
PCV check valve ($15)
Exhaust (needed rear muffler, I replaced /upgraded entire system w/mostly stainless parts)($500)
Total $920.00
None of the above issues left me stranded, required a tow, or prevented the car from passing safety/emissions inspection, and I was able to do all the work myself.

Now for the wife's 9-5:
Persistent wheel vibration on highway, been to dealer 3 times & indy tire shop once, replaced all 4 tires, still not fixed ($600)
Climate control air-distribution unit failed ($1800, 75% labor since entire dash needs to be dismantled)
DI cassette (sudden no-start, required a tow) ($425 including tow)
A/C was leaking water on rear floor ($200)
CEL with code for "evaporative small leak", been to dealer twice & indy once, still not fixed ($200, latest suspicion is new gas tank needed for ~$500)
Turn-signal switch failed ($50)
Miscellaneous vacuum hoses (as above) ($20)
Turbo bypass valve ($20)
PCV check valve ($15)
Theft alarm failed, alarm would go off by itself in the middle of the night, would not disarm thus rendering car undrivable (fixed by a friend by replacing batteries for $20, would have been $300 at the dealer)
SID losing rows/columns of pixels intermittently, replaced ($225)
Total $3330.00
Rear muffler needs to be replaced, estimate $175
Soft plastic covering on driver's door pull disintegrated, haven't fixed, would probably require replacement of entire door skin ($150?)
Many of the above issues I could *not* fix myself. Car was unable to be used on two occasions, one requiring a tow. Car cannot pass MA inspection with the CEL issue.

And to top it all off, the 9-5 cost more to purchase (used), costs more to register & insure, has less room inside, has more tire noise (the 9000 has more engine noise because of sport exhaust), and accelerates about half as fast while getting the same gas mileage. It also doesn't handle/brake quite as well, but that's primarily due to the 9000 having grippier tires.

So sad to say that based on our experience, when my 9000 dies (many years from now) I will NOT be replacing it with a 9-5. As for the wife, she's probably gonna trade her car in for a Subaru.

Eric Law

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