1999-2009 [Subscribe to Daily Digest] |
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My 02 Aero's lease was up so I got an 05 (automatic trans) You can read in any number of places about the big differences, here are the little differences that you probably cannot read about (so far):
+Smoother and quieter at idle (engine/transmission tweaks)
+Smoother and quieter in motion (Pirelli vs. Michelin)
+Fuel door is manual (no more drivers side button), but it does lock/unlock with the doors. Having had a car (not Saab) where the spring broke on the button activated fuel door, I like this better.
+No forced OnStar (OnStar may not even be available)
+Interior door handles have a less shiny finish.
-No weather band radio
-The little pockets on the lower interior of the B pillars are gone (this was a great place to put ones proof of insurance, registration and parking card)
-No cargo net and no hooks for the cargo net on the right side of the trunk
-No "Aero" logo on the door sills (the door sills also seem a little thinner and wimpier)
-The floor mats seem thinner (although I did not do a side by side comparison). I think there used to be an "Aero" logo on the floor mats too (not anymore).
-Blinker sounds annoyingly different
-No more chirps when locking/unlocking (this could be programming, but the manual is not clear on this).
After ranting a while back about GM's de-contenting (I will miss the weather band the most), I've had a bit of a change of heart. I guess I'll take "smoother and quieter" over some of the neat little dodads they took out. Hopefully, they haven't de-contented anything major mechanically that I cannot see after 30 minutes of driving.
From a reliability perspective here's the score:
- '99 base: throttle-body and DIC replaced under recall
- '02 Aero: 0 problems.
- '05 Aero: 15 miles and 0 problems :)
The '02 even beat my year old Toyota (for which I just received a "program notice" to install some tape on the lower side of the doors to inhibit surface rust).
As this BB is mostly about problems, hopefully, I'll not be back for another 3 years (knock on wood).
Happy Saabing,
Stan
posted by 68.78.2...
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