2004-2005 was a great 9-5 year… I owned a 2000 2.3 manual, a 2002 2.3 vector automatic and a 2006 Aero. The 2002 comes closest to a 2004. Now happy NG9-5 owner with a very soft spot for the 2004 OG9-5😉
It's funny how you in the States value manual transmission with these since your normal was auto. We had mostly manuals here in Europe, so we value AT in the same car.
I also own one, I need help doing mine, I have 215k and I can't afford paying for it, I want to do my own .. Love this car, my favorite car I've ever owned