Headlamps utterly frosted over (seems to be an expensive fix and certainly required before next MoT), bodywork really does need sprucing at this point if I wish to drive the car! There are other things which I wrote down, but memory fails me at present.

I reckon on spening somewhere between £2000 and £3000 in the next year.

Granted much of that would be spent on any car - but if I am spending it on a car worth a few quid, it doesn't feel like money frittered away.

I take your point that the car's worth only matters if I sell it!

I'd agree with Unthrottled. Better to spend a grand on a car you know and like, with an informed view of what really needs doing and what can safely be left alone, than several thousand on an unknown quantity.

Headlights will polish up quite nicely. It's a rather boring job, but I got the local body shop to do mine (on my old 9-5 estate) and they came up a treat. The 9-5 is a very bullet-proof and safe wagon, but apart from service parts you may need things like suspension bushes to keep it rattle-free.

The turbo is embrrasingly smokey on start-up: a sure sign of its dying (according to Saab Central and my own experience iwth other 9-5s). Such things are exaccerbated by short runs - something which the car does almost exclusively in my heavy-footed wife's stewardship.

The clutch slips now at times too.

The CPS sensor, DI cassette and Alarm siren are also very likely indeed to die in the coming year if all of my other 9-5 experiences are anything to go by.

Are all of these parts likely to be readly available for the foreseeable future in light of SAAB's demise?

I am a strong beliver in stacking the odds in my favour with regard to safety - granted such devices guarantee nothing though.

As there is no doubt that there is no such thing as buying a car that is too safe - I do consider it to be the paramount aspect of any future purchase.

When I first bought a 9-5, it was the unassailable vehicle in crash tests as reported on Euro NCap. However, that was some time ago, and I am mindful of the fact that things like airbags have a limited life themselves.

As for the Skoda Octavia suggestion as a replacement, looking at its weights, it is considerably lighter than the 9-5 which would mean it couldn't tow the caravan I own safely.

If the Octavia isn't heavy enough I'd suggest a Superb estate. A couple of neighbours in my village have gone from Saabs to Skodas.They have been very pleased with them.

Many thanks indeed for all of the contributions here - if anyone wished to apply thier expertise to putting a list of pros and cons to keeping or selling, I would be glad to read them.