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[Broomies Mate]

Engine failure means you haven't used (or your garage) proper fully synthetic oil.  Bad times.  The B235R engine is bullet-proof otherwise.

If only it were that simple....  it's had fully synthetic all its life. After much back and forth I appear to have either piston ring or valve stem oil seal failure. One of only two known examples that the specialist who looks after it has ever known on that engine.

Thanks for the honest views so far everyone!

What year was your 9-5, out of interest?

[qmc]

Engine failure means you haven't used (or your garage) proper fully synthetic oil.  Bad times.  The B235R engine is bullet-proof otherwise.

If only it were that simple....  it's had fully synthetic all its life. After much back and forth I appear to have either piston ring or valve stem oil seal failure. One of only two known examples that the specialist who looks after it has ever known on that engine.

Thanks for the honest views so far everyone!

What year was your 9-5, out of interest?

2005. One of the last pre Dame Ednas. It's still running but it feels like I'm spending more on oil than petrol.

[Broomies Mate]

I strongly advise you to drive an Omega.  On paper, they are pretty quick, but being quite heavy, they are a bit lazy.  Very good from 50mph and pretty untouchable from 100mph..... sadly, we aren't allowed to do that on public roads.  You will really miss the torque of the Aero.  It goes without saying, the Omega Estate is a 'proper' estate.  The 9-5 is a decent size, but the Omega could probably swallow a Saab in it's boot.  Seats down, and you've got a van!

Economy......  Don't know how you drive, but my 3.2 wasn't far different to my 2004 9-5 Aero, fuel wise.  I have had mine re-mapped though, and like to use the loud pedal.  I'm also lugging a LPG system around so on long runs, I'm happy days when it comes to pence per mile.

Ride..... I'd suggest a MV6 over an Elite, else you'll bin it the first roundabout you come to.  The Elite is very soft and beautifully comfortable, but corners like the QE2 with a pissed helmsman.  The Aero (as you'll know) has lowered and stiffer suspension, just like the MV6.

Seats...... The Saab seats beat the Omega hands down - no question.

Brakes......  Very much dependant on what discs and pads are fitted.  Both the Saab and Omega have terrible brakes.  The Saab has bigger discs, and is lighter so in theory, should be better.

Servicing & Parts......  Both are comparable.  Oil changes every 6k (Aero nearer 3k for me).  Suspension is the bugger for the Omega.  As is cambelt changes, which is not an issue with the chain driven Saab.

Tech...... The Bose setup sounds great (for it's day) just like the HK setup in the Saab.  If either cars have Sat-Nav, they'll be as useless as eachother.  Work perfectly well, but no Postcode entry makes them poor compared to modern standards - No recent updates.

Personal Opinion...... I'll always look at an Omega and crave it, but I don't think I'll own another.  If my Saab goes pop, I'll definitely buy another.

[Diamond Black Geezer]

I'm biased, because I love Omegas, and think they're the comfiest for the money car around, as ana ll-rounder. For our family they have provided the services of every day family car, commuter, limo, furniture removal van, bin lorry, you name it. An Omega estate will swallow anything. The saloons still have a cavernous boot, and still impresses many people when they see the lid open up.

Broomies above can offer a very good comparison, in that of course he's owned both, I haven't.

I'd say I agree with lots he says, and there's definitely something simply incomparable with a Saab Turbo, there's just nothing else like it in the world. That in mind, and given Vauxhall never fitted the excellent Swedish engine in the Omega, I'd be looking at having a 'different car' ie: don't look at the Omega as an 'alternative' to a Saab, they're different animals, some stuff the Saab will do better, some stuff the Omega. The Omega was designed to move you in comfort, on the autobahn/motorway with every possible amenity for a lot cheaper list price than the equivalent Merc, BMW, Audi. That, it does exceedingly well.

Aim for range-topper Elite spec, however I own a CDX and don't feel short changed (only difference is leather seats and the odd other bit here n there dependant on year)

In order of rank...

Select/Reflection (unbadged)
GLS
CD
Sport
CDX
MV6
Elite

Nothing stopping you buying any other trim level and fitting MV6 springs to it, though, like wot I did. 

[EMD]

I'm biased, because I love Omegas, and think they're the comfiest for the money car around, as ana ll-rounder. For our family they have provided the services of every day family car, commuter, limo, furniture removal van, bin lorry, you name it. An Omega estate will swallow anything. The saloons still have a cavernous boot, and still impresses many people when they see the lid open up.

Broomies above can offer a very good comparison, in that of course he's owned both, I haven't.

I'd say I agree with lots he says, and there's definitely something simply incomparable with a Saab Turbo, there's just nothing else like it in the world. That in mind, and given Vauxhall never fitted the excellent Swedish engine in the Omega, I'd be looking at having a 'different car' ie: don't look at the Omega as an 'alternative' to a Saab, they're different animals, some stuff the Saab will do better, some stuff the Omega. The Omega was designed to move you in comfort, on the autobahn/motorway with every possible amenity for a lot cheaper list price than the equivalent Merc, BMW, Audi. That, it does exceedingly well.

Aim for range-topper Elite spec, however I own a CDX and don't feel short changed (only difference is leather seats and the odd other bit here n there dependant on year)

In order of rank...

Select/Reflection (unbadged)
GLS
CD
Sport
CDX
MV6
Elite

Nothing stopping you buying any other trim level and fitting MV6 springs to it, though, like wot I did. 

If you can find them   

When you become sick like us puppies you will do anything for your baby Omega's  And hope no one slags them off 
Best handling ive owned is the MV and i miss it , tried desperately to contact the previous owner to buy it back but no luck . My opinion is the CDX is far better than the elite 

[Diamond Black Geezer]

Oh, CDXs better than Elites, no question! 

Well, true, you do have to keep an eye out for them, they're not abundant, but certainly a worthwhile upgrade for the OP, should he feel the suspension is a little wafty compared with what he's used to. 

[biggriffin]

Got mine for sale  and i'am in Cambridgeshire 

[Diamond Black Geezer]

I'd say buy from an OOFer if you can. We all know what needs doing to your cars, and we don't just blindly walk into garages and ask for work, we do the jobs that need doing, spend the money here it needs to be spent etc. Thing is, not too often do OOFers cars come up for sale, as we tend to want to keep them! (Mainly because we invest thousands of £ in them, then sell them for 14p, then buy another...  )

[qmc]

Thanks for all the comments and advice. I must say I haven't come across such an honest bunch of owners before! IME ask a question like this and you usually get replies along the lines of 'our cars are faster than Ferraris/more spacious than a Transit/ comfier than a Rolls/cheaper to run than a bicycle'. Not here though, which is great.

Anyway, I will have to have take on board everything you've said, but thanks again.

[Lazydocker]

Thanks for all the comments and advice. I must say I haven't come across such an honest bunch of owners before! IME ask a question like this and you usually get replies along the lines of 'our cars are faster than Ferraris/more spacious than a Transit/ comfier than a Rolls/cheaper to run than a bicycle'. Not here though, which is great.

Anyway, I will have to have take on board everything you've said, but thanks again.

That's how we are... Honest.

To be honest, it's a capable car in V6 guise, but more of a cruiser than anything else.

[Andy H]

I bought a 2003 2.6 Elite Saloon with 113,000 miles on it 5 years ago, it has done 208,000 miles now so I have averaged 18K miles per year.

I don't know of any other make/model of car that I can buy for pocket money that I would be happy to do that many miles in.

[jimbo125]

2.5V6 CDX good economy for such a big car and its age, 17 years old. Still going and don't want to part with it happy as a pig in shit

[Diamond Black Geezer]

My sentiments exactly 

To be honest, the engines were designed for smoothness and economy, not out and out power. Bear in mind the 'little' C20XE of Astra GTE / Cav GSi fame put out 150bhp, so compared with the X25XE there's a whole 500cc more but only 17bhp difference? Sounds like the V6 is 'rubbish', but of course one is aimed at pushing the power envelope, the other for relaxed cruising.

Mind, the power is accessible, if you go down the much-done G-Cam mod (3.0 cams in a 2.5 for those not aware) which takes the engine to a theoretical 195bhp, which is much more like it. 

[henryd]

My sentiments exactly 

To be honest, the engines were designed for smoothness and economy, not out and out power. Bear in mind the 'little' C20XE of Astra GTE / Cav GSi fame put out 150bhp, so compared with the X25XE there's a whole 500cc more but only 17bhp difference? Sounds like the V6 is 'rubbish', but of course one is aimed at pushing the power envelope, the other for relaxed cruising.

Mind, the power is accessible, if you go down the much-done G-Cam mod (3.0 cams in a 2.5 for those not aware) which takes the engine to a theoretical 195bhp, which is much more like it. 

At the expense of low down torque(or at least thats what I found with mine)

[Diamond Black Geezer]

interesting... did you fit the longer plenum and/or 3.0 divider plate? Never done the G cam mod myself, so openly admit no personal experience, just going by what I've read. Worth noting if it does cost some bottom end torque...