Turbo on a Budget: 2004 Saab 9-5 Turbo

I went on Craigslist today and set the maximum price at $3,000 and searched for "turbo." Among hundreds of PT Losers that are selling for like $500 (do it if you like headaches and replacing timing belts), there are a few decent turbo cars that you can get. The one that really stuck out to me was a 2004 Saab 9-5 with no problems, 150k miles, and a turbo of course. It was also half the price I put the maximum at. Here is the interior.

In 2004, the 9-2 Aero is actually a Subaru WRX STi with a different body. Same engine, same car underneath everything. People didn't know this, however, so when the car came out, it was selling below sticker price at $18,000. I still remember to this day because it was an awesome deal.

Back to the 9-5. It has a turbo inline-4 engine that makes a very decent 228 ft. lbs of torque @ 1900 RPM meaning the power comes on quick. Horsepower is 220 @ 5500 RPM which is kind of weird but hey, Saab!

Thanks to the fact that this car is pretty unknown, it's cheap. If you can find a 9-2 Aero in the same price range, it's a better deal, but it's a different car. The 9-2 Aero is a sports car while the 9-5 is a nice sedan.

The interior in all Saabs is amazing. The company has a reputation for it that I can attest to. I had a 1996 900 SE Turbo that was the most ergonomic car I have ever driven. Everything was in the perfect place. Except the key which is in the middle. Pretty damn cool though!

It's kind of like... an airplane cockpit?

That car died at 292,000 miles. The alternator went out so I junked it. Can you say reliable? The 2004 9-5 is a different car, however, but it's probably not bad as long as you maintain it.

I'm gonna make this short and sweet. Do you want a unique car that's quick and can be made fast for cheap? Are you willing to deal with potential hassles associated with owning a Saab? There isn't many except for the fact that I think Saab is dead although I could be wrong considering I've been seeing the new 9-5 on the road.

These cars are very respectable. Everyone that has owned one has good things to say about them. If the Saab 9-5 turbo fits your style, get it!