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1. Possibly an issue in the rear. Their single side bag in front covers both torso and head. It was certified by NHSTA to qualify as a curtain bag. Best in class pick by IIHS, EuroNCAP, etc. still beats all other cars in its class who may have rear curtains.
2. I could be wrong, but I believe CR's test 9-5 was a base Arc.
3. OK, if you go by CR rankings alone, you need to be driving a Honda Accord. My 2005 CR Auto issue shows the 9-5 as above average reliability, the TL at only average. My annual Auto issues show this type of reliability going back to 2002. Sometimes they change the rankings over time slightly. My take: the 9-5 is better than most European sports sedans in this area. Only the BMW 3 Series equals or bests it.
4. What can I say? Are these the same consumers who voted it best for initial quality from J.D. Powers in 2002? You should take all of these "reports" with a grain of salt. None are scientific.
5. Not than any other premium vehicle (and that includes the Japanese - go check out a Lexus parts department sometime and tell me what you find - and the funny thing is, that part you paid up the wazoo for will come in a red Toyota box...).
6. I don't think you need to worry about GM.
Bottom line, all of these studies and reviews are fine as a jumping off point for research. And if you just need basic transporation, then you may not need to go any further. But if you are looking for a premium European driving experience, the SAAB represents some of the best bang for the buck available. Just go out and actually drive all of these cars you're interested in, rather than Internet-testing them. I can't put it into words, but IMHO Acuras, Infinitis, and Lexii do not drive like BMWs, Mercedes, Audis, and yes, even SAABs. We drove a TL when we were shopping, but it was a dead experience, like driving an Accord (not surprisingly, since that's basically what it is). But if you don't care about nebulous concepts such as "soul" or "driving experience" or "character" than, like I said, you should probably be looking at an Accord anyway.
If you are trying to get the perfect car, it hasn't been built. For pure driving experience and performance, the 3 Series is hard to beat. For pure safety and practicality, the SAAB. For pure reliability, Lexus (read: Toyota) or Acura (read: Honda). For pure looks and ergonomics, Mercedes or Audi.
For me, the SAAB had the best balance of sportiness, performance, looks, driving experience, reliability, safety, and practicality.
My $0.02,
Derek
posted by 70.97.22...
, Thu, 8 Dec 2005 12:13:55, Wed, 14 Dec 2005 00:57:00, Wed, 14 Dec 2005 01:00:55
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