Cosmic Aero Wagon – yes please!

The 9-5 is one of those under-appreciated cars, but if you're ever lucky enough to own one you'll probably find it gets right under your skin. 

We owned a base spec 9-5 S which was absolutely fantastic as a family bus, right up to the point it blew up a piston. The (used) replacement motor I put in spun a bearing about 20,000km later. But that didn't stop me loving it or wanting another 9-5.

Then one day this beautiful non-running 9-5 Sportcombi (wagon/estate) cropped up on Gumtree about an hour from where we live.

It was being offered as a "please just take it away" deal, which I sadly missed by about 20 minutes – it had only been up for 22 minutes! So some other guy got it.

Fortunately this bloke only wanted to make a buck, and so re-listed it later that day for a mere $800. Like the Saab hunting hawk I am I spotted it and offered him $600 for it. SOLD!

It's a 2001 (MY2000) Saab 9-5 Aero w/ 5sp manual, which are extremely rare here.

A quick overview

• 130,000 km
• 5sp manual box
• Heated/Ventilated power seats
• Sunroof
• Top spec audio system
• Cosmic Blue (my fave)

 

My initial detective work reveals a doctor as the original buyer (typical!), which explain the amazing spec sheet. It's obviously been owned by someone slightly clueless since, but actually looks in solid shape – no oil leaks, good compression (all 4 cyl around 180), everything seems to work. It even has all the SID pixels!

 

It starts but doesn't currently run for long – idles very rough, eventually slows and dies unless given gas. Original listing said it was a throttle body issue, and that may be right. I have 2 spare laying about, along with heaps of other parts, thankfully.

All being well here's what I'd like to do..

• Wossner forged pistons
• Walbro 255 + suitable injectors
• 3.5 bar MAP
• 3" full system
• Bigger turbo, 19T or GT series?
• Big ol' intercooler
• Bilstein/Eibach combo
• Stage 3/4-ish software (aim somewhere over 330bhp/450Nm)

Granted these are ~250bhp stock so no slouch for a fairly everyday sled, pistons being the weak link if oiling is not well looked after.

Suffice to say I am very happy with it – when it runs it will hopefully turn out to be a spectacular buy!