Swedish rocketship (Saab 9-5 2.3T 230 bhp Aero)

Member Name: ColonelB

Product:	Saab 9-5 2.3T 230 bhp Aero
Date:	03/05/02 (187 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Power, Comfort, Quality

Disadvantages: Rear visibilty, Size, Not recognised

Perhaps dooyoo readers would like to hear my about experience of driving one these 'Swedish rocketships' over 12 months and 20,000 miles.
Firstly, a new driver will notice the wonderful smell of leather on entering the very roomy cabin. The seats are justly renowned for comfort and adjustability. The steering wheel feels large. The light steering makes for easy parking but you can have great confidence in the stability and general roadholding of the car. The ride is slightly firm and possibly underdamped so the car does not feel as 'sporting' as a BMW say.
The engine is just wonderful. It does not have the ultimate smoothness of a six but thanks to balancer shafts it is pretty good for a large 4 and the high pressure turbocharger gives tremendous pickup in the higher gears. Even though 5th is nearly 30 mph per 1,000 revs it can be used from 30 mph onwards and storming accelation is available from 2,000 revs onwards in any gear. Amazingly the car averages 30 mpg driven reasonably.
The car is at its best as a long distance cruiser. It is also superb at towing a caravan! I took it to Geneva with a 'van, averaged 25 mpg and went nearly all the way at 60 mph in 5th gear.
I will not bore the reader with a long list of equipment but suffice to say it has nearly everything anyone might need and is much cheaper than its German rivals when loaded with similar goodies.
The negatives are few. Yes there is torque steer in 1st and 2nd gear if you accelerate hard. I pefer to get the car rolling and then use heavier throttle in 3rd. It also saves wearing out the Michelin Pilots at about £150 each. I have had one minor fault - lost power steering fluid at 10,000 miles cured same day by my dealer. Servicing is expensive about £400 for 12,000 mile job.
The car has its fun side - few people expect such performance - especially BMW drivers.
Since the German rivals are so common these days try something different - you will very pleasantl
y surprised yourself.

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