| Product: |
Saab 9-5 SE 2.0t 150 bhp |
| Date: |
08/04/02 (192 review reads) |
| Rating: |
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Advantages: Comfort with a sporting edge, Great Equipment Levels, Cheaper than German competitors
Disadvantages: Some people unable to look beyond the badge
I've always found it somewhat bizarre that when people find out I drive a SAAB thay look quizzically at me and make a comment along the lines of 'That's a bit of an old man's car isn't it?' Hard as I might try, no-one has yet been able to tell me why they think it is an old man's car, other than some notion they have that a lot of old men drive them. Well my friend, maybe all that experience should tell you something! After all, it was recently voted What Car Used Car of the Year.
I have been driving a SAAB 9-5 2.0 SE Airflow for just over a year, and I am very pleased with it. In truth, I would rather be driving a Honda S2000 or Aston Martin DB7 but I can't afford the latter and neither of them suit the practical requirements of a family. So a SAAB it is, and I've not regretted it for second.
You can read about handling and equipment levels on the SAAB website or any independent roadtest review. Suffice to say, it may not have the cornering ability of a BMW, but then I have never cornered fast enough to find this a problem. What I have done is saved £000s for a better equipped car that doesn't have a BMW badge on the front. This car has everything I need and more, it is very comfortable over long journeys, and all the controls are well positioned. This car makes you feel like someone has actually sat down and thought about making life easier for the driver.
That brings me on to the thoughtful touches that nobody brags about. A stereo system that automatically resets to a preset volume each time you start the car. Think about it - how many times have you got into the car at 7am only to be deafened by the stereo because your nearest and dearest was listening to Aerosmith at FULL volume the night before. Not in this SAAB.
OR, the double sun visors for those annoying times where the sun is blinding you through both front and side windows. Now you don't have to choose where to put the sun vi
sor.
If I really think hard, the only negative point I can think of is that fuel consumption tails away rather sharply above 70mph. However, law abiding citizens need not worry about that too much.
So I guess I'm an old man cos I love this car. Oh yeah....the other comment I get is 'its just a Vectra in disguise'. Maybe so....and a Jaguar X-Type is just a Mondeo in disguise. Do you think the drivers of either are bothered.......NAH!!!
Summary:
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Last comments:
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- 08/04/02 What about the 2.3 HOT ? Goes like stink, and almost persuaded us away from our Honda Accord Type R.
As de Baron says, the 9000 Turbo was super, and so roomy (like my old Fiat Croma - most of which have fallen apart lol). |
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- 08/04/02 Oh dear, I'm afraid that I don't like the look of these cars. I prefer sporty looking cars or even some old styles, just not this. |
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- 08/04/02 The SAAB 9-5 is the car that replaced the 9000 series, which was & is a damn good car! SAAB is actually Swedish for "car that WILL be OLD before it's knackered". I am on my second SAAB now; my first one (9000) was still running well (& on original turbo) at 12 years old/230,000 miles when a hit & run driver effectively wrote it off. I bought another; that is just an infant at 9 years old/84,000 miles.
I hope the 9-5 is at least as good as the predecessor on which it was based.
An excellent opinion! |
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