Used 2002 Saab 9-5 Sport Wagon - 168K mi - RUNS GREAT - cars & trucks -... for sale in Venice, CA

*$1800 OBO - must go by December 18th*

Everyone meet Solveig & Hilga, the body and soul of this 18 year old Saab Linear 9-5 turbocharged Wagon.

Alas, here I am, already having to bid adieu to my first-ever purchased vehicle due to a cross country move at the end of December. I can no longer rationalize driving the Saab back to NYC and keeping it in the city with me (where I will be working again come January).

I bought this car a little over a month ago, in Oregon (where I worked wine harvest from Sept through the end of Oct) with the intention of exploring the PNW a bit before driving down to LA and potentially finding a way to settle out west for a while (and yes, keep the car). Life has thrown some curve balls my way and as it turns out, I can no longer stay out west as I had hoped.

Even if this car isn't cosmetically 'perfect' or mechanically 'pristine' (more on that below), this car really does drive like a dream. I drove it from Portland to up and around the Okanogan region of Washington before driving down the coast of OR and CA to LA. No resounding issues besides having to top up the engine coolant from time to time.

Maybe the better name for them is Wabi-Saabi.

If you're the hopeless romantic type, part pragmatist/part idealist, or the kind of person who can't resist aesthetic relics of the past (like me), this car is for you. If you're looking for a solid daily driver that feels like luxury without the snobbery that goes with it, this car's for you. If you're looking for a car to love and nurture and spend time with *and* in (yes, yourself +1 could totally sleep in this - the beauty of station wagons), this car's for you.

Buying this car you will get:

Charcoal grey leather seats (and seat warmers) in great condition, a functioning sun/moonroof, a turbocharged engine with a 19 gallon fuel tank that takes regular gas and averages about 23 MPG, a sport mode and winter mode for the daredevils and adventurists of the world, an impressive sound system that beats most modern 'daily drivers', heat and AC that work, plenty of storage space (back seats fold down), a functioning display and dashboard, a spare tire that's never been used, two key fobs, GOOD TAGS thru 2021 and the Carfax report I bought before purchasing this car myself, as well as proof of maintenance records since I purchased it.

I bought the car at 164,932 miles and have since put nearly 3K miles on it. Since purchasing, I've put a pair of 2-year old tires on the front (that should last at least another 2 years if not more, depending how much you drive it) and made sure I took it in to a *trustworthy* mechanic (Everett Autoworks in downtown PDX to be precise) for an oil change and full inspection. Nothing is in need of dire repair, however, there are a few things that Sol will eventually need...and like any old car, routine maintenance (and TLC) goes a long way. Talk to any SAAB enthusiast/fanatic or read the forums and you'll discover they are worth the fix..and can easily run for 300K if you maintain them.

Known Issues:
+ The trunk opens and closes, however, there seems to be an electrical error that's tricking the trunk into thinking it's still open when it's really locked (and thus the trunk light will stay on for a little while after locking the car). Could be the actuator, but the mechanic I spoke with said it's likely just a coding issue.
+ Every so often the display board will say 'FILL ENGINE COOLANT', which is likely due to the Coolant Bypass Valve (CBV) needing to be replaced (about $40). I've done heaps of research on Saab forums and websites before and after purchasing this car and have almost always found the answers and information I needed. Happy to share those.
+ When going back into Drive from Reverse, there's a slight stick/delay, which the mechanic said is probably tied to the loud sound the engine can make while stationary, which is probably due to the car needing one or two new engine mounts.
+ Finally, some SAAB fanatic or punk ripped off all the SAAB logos save a couple on the tires. A cosmetic thing. If you want new stickers you can probably find some more online.

Car has a rebuilt title from OREGON due to a minor accident from the previous owner. Because Saab folded, insurance companies almost always tend to total these cars at any minor issue - even if they still run. It was a cosmetic issue (the right-side passenger door) in this case. SO, there you have it. If any of this resonated with you, please reach out.

$1800 OBO (based on KBB) and please, serious inquiries only. If I didn't love this car I wouldn't have taken the time to write all of this out.

Thank you for reading :).