Considering a Saab 9-5

i do. very comfy, good seats, great headrests, and nice driving atmosphere. the exterior styling is nice as well...a pretty good looking package.

ours...a 2005 has been to dealer a good bit for warranty work rbut the dealer has been good at handling things quickly.

solid car on the road but has a bit of road noise entering the cabin whereas a lexus keeps you more isolated. i like the car but think that saab as brand has suffered a bit under gm ownership. the aero looks the business.

 

Be warned, there's a lot of Saab haters on F-Chat - they'll fill you in on why. My own exp. is limited to 2 900s.

Helpful forum
http://www.saabcentral.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=8

 

Acura TL/TSX?

Audi A4 1.8/2.0T?

Infiniti G35?

Subaru WRX?

Just to name a few..

There is a lot of competition in the price range you're looking in.

 

i hope my post was not a saab hater post...was it? i like the car but have had a few issues. nothing that would prevent me from buying another.

 

I drove a couple of years' old 9-5 a few months ago (01?). They were asking under $7k for it. The engine wasn't terrible, but the FWD, throttle and steering feel made it feel bland and antiseptic. Despite the heated seats, full leather, etc. for so low a price, I couldn't bring myself to enjoy it.

 

Pretty much echos what I have to say.

 

They could have called it the Saab Novocaine.

 

For a daily driver I think it would be a good choice.

 

The only issue is today there is A LOT of other choices for the same or less.

 

I had several SAAB's in the 80's and very early 90's... They were great cars, I loved them, but then GM bought the company... Now they're just Opels.

There are many MANY far better cars for the same money.

 

Agreed. In the 1980s 1990s, the SAABs were a great blend of luxury, performance, and engineering. They were also very distinct (thinking SAAB 9000s here). I'm speaking from experience - I used my Dad's SAAB in college and then after graduation in the real world for a few years, before it turned 200k miles and I grew tired of it leaking every single one of its fluids.

Nowadays, the issue is, the brand has been diluted, and as pointed out, there are many similar packages that probably do it a bit better. Back then, it was only SAAB (Subaru, Audi, etc. were just nowhere close).

I also drove the 9-5 - far less distinct and bold than the 9000, IMO. My dad drove it (rental in London) and called it "gutless"...

 

I would have to disagree with some of the negative posts here. I bought a 9-5 Aero six months ago as a stopgap daily driver. If you want something a little different than the mainstream BMW, Acura etc its a nice alternative. Front wheel drive and 250bhp is still not a great driving combo on secondary roads, but it is an excelllent motorway car, brilliant interior, great standard spec. superb seats and really strong performance. The Aero is the only model I would consider however.
Steve

 

One word...WHY?

 

I too am looking at potential Saab ownership sometime this year, although I am looking at a new 9-5 areo. The 07s can be had with heated/vented seats as well as a sat nav system.

I am not thrilled by the car, as Ryan said it is a very bland driving experience...he expressed it as novacain, I explained it to my wife as vanilla pudding, its ok for dessert, but you wouldn't order it at a restaurant.

It will be a 100% financial choice if it comes to Saab ownership for me as there are rather good lease rates for GM employee family members on the 9-5.
I'd rather drive another STS, Volvo S80 or Lexus ES350, but we'll see where they land on the payment spectrum when December rolls around.

 

Hey Michael, when does the new CTS come out? Maybe you could get that instead. What do you think of that car?

 

Used Saabs can be bought for low prices. I would imagine that is WHY he is considering it.

 

Take the bus...it would be much less humiliating than driving a Saab...

 

My wife had a 2001 Caterra and she really liked the car. Before I leased the STS I drove a CTS for a weekend. The car was nice, however I hated the interior and the car was only available in RWD, didn't have vent seats, didn't have bluetooth tech., etc., so I passed and opted for the STS.

New CTSs are due at about the time that my current lease expires (my sales person tells me late 2007, so take that for what it's worth). I saw the car at the NAIS and I really do like it. Cadillac has gotten their heads out of their collective butts (thank God for for Bob Lutz and Ed Welburn) and made an entry level, nice looking car with a nice looking interior. It is a little small for what I need a daily car for, however I think that I could make it work.

Problem is that as a new car there will be absolutely no incentives on the new CTS so I would expect the lease rate to be at least a hundred more than a comp. equiped STS for the first few months of production (when the 2005 STS was first released lease rates were in the upper 700's with the employee discount) so I could get a slightly larger (and I do mean slightly) car for a lower payment...Oh, yeah, I liked the 'no key to start the car' thing too.

With the new advancements and such the CTS maybe on the radar when my next lease expires, however I think that it's gonna be a little outa range for this year.

 

If you want a 9-5 dont waste your time with other models, go for the Aero.Not only is it fast enough, comfortable, stylish and different, its god decent fuel milage. Its way more exclusive than any of the jap offerings, and more comfortable than an audi or bmw. for the price, you cant get much better, if you were buying new, id tell u too look elsewhere, but they are great second hand cars.

 

Something about swedes they make comfy seats for cars, volvo has comfy seats as well. I checked out a saab 9-5 before buying my fusion and it was comfy. I'd get the aero as well. It seems like a great highway car. Looks great in black (as do many cars) certainly more exclusive and imo better than anything from japan, maybe not reliability wise but if that doesn't bug you then go for it.

 

S60R. Now thats a fun, comfortable ride. A bit higher than the range you are looking at but I was throughly impressed tearing it up on B/secondary/mountain roads and plenty of everything for highway/daily. The seats are a dream.

 

I will second the Volvo S60R, gorgeous little rocket.

 

here is the 9-5 on top gear

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDLS57tssQ

 

I was kind of in the same position as you a few months back.
Saab 9-5, Infiniti G35, Volvo s60....

I preferred the G35. I read too many horror stories on the 9-5.
I am quite happy with the G. I recommend you drive it before you pull the trigger on a Saab.

Plus they have a color similar to Azzuro California It's Slate something or other
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