Diesed off

I have owned a SAAB 9-5 Estate1.9 JTDM Manual for some 18 months. The car was first registered in March 2006 and has covered 52,500 miles. The kerb weight without driver is 1,620 kg and I intend to use it to tow a caravan of 1,360 kg max permitted weight. I am aware of the potential reliability shortcomings of this engine as per your car-by-car breakdown. I run the car on 5-30W fully synthetic oil changed every 7,500 miles. I have had the cambelt and waterpump and pulleys changed. Is there any driving/maintenance regime that you can recommend that will minimise the risk of potential failures that you outline? I understand that this engine is used in many alternative installations. Presumably these engines can run reliably to 150k plus? Alternatively can you recommend a reliable suitable alternative vehicle for the task?

Asked on 19 June 2010 by PL, Hyde, Cheshire

Answered by Honest John

You are doing all you reasonably can with your maintenance regime. The engine has been similarly problematic in the SAAB 9-5, Vauxhall Vectra, Vauxhall Zafira, Vauxhall Astra and Alfa 159. If you like Swedish cars and want to tug a caravan, I experienced the most impressive low rpm torque of the lot in a Volvo V50 2.4D5 185 manual. That pulled (solo) from 800rpm. The only modern diesel I have experienced this in.

Tags: buying used cars reliability

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