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Hi Dave!
Sorry for the delay in replay; I was putting in long hours at the office over the last few days and didn't see your question until now :-)
<<<How are you enjoying the new one?>>>
I love it! Though I really have to remind myself that the 9-5 is more of a luxury sedan, then it is a sporty coupe like my 900 was.
<<<How would you compare the handling... is the 9-5 as "nimble" and maneuverable as the 900?>>>
In my opinion, body roll with the 9-5's stock suspension is pretty excessive and needs to be addressed. I'll probably invest in front & rear 2003 Aero specification anti-roll bars & bearings, and maybe the Eibach ProSystem struts & springs, to help counteract this. The steering seems to be MORE responsive and maneuverable than what I remember the 900 to be, but the body roll keeps me from taking advantage of this aspect.
<<<And what about acceleration? You're pulling more pounds with fewer horsepower.>>>
I really miss the 1st and 2nd gear kick that the 900SET had. The 9-5 is really restrained in 1st and 2nd gear and I suspect this is due to some sort of torque/throttle limiting that the ECU is imposing on the engine. However, in 3rd, 4th, and 5th gear I am quite happy with the acceleration response and feel the difference between the 9-5 2.3lpt and the 900's 2.0t is pretty negligible in those gears.
<<<Is there a marked improvement in the ride? Is it worth any sacrifices in the above areas?>>>
The ride is softer and markely quieter than the 900 was. I'm aiming to keep the quiet factor but firm up the ride with my above-mentioned suspension improvements. A set of new rubber and 17" wheels did firm things up a little bit too.
Fuel consumption with the 9-5 has been very nice in comparison to the 900SET. I get 30mpg on pure highway driving, and about 20mpg in the city. The engine feels more reliable, better engineered, and less quirky or unpredictable than the 900SET - those were nagging thoughts I always had about my 900.
So, here's what I've got to say about my experience in general: you REALLY have to divorce yourself from the idea that the 9-5 will have the same attitude and disposition as the 900 or the 9-3. The 9-5 is more 'sedan' than 'sport', though you can add more sport into it if you'd like. I'm sure you can tell that I want the firmer and more responsive sporty feel, but I am very happy witht he stock feel of the car. It feels much bigger than the 900 and I've had problems parallel parking it. It is a softer, quieter, roomier interior but you're going to miss having that hatch! The car overall is sexy as hell though and I'm glad I decided to get the 9-5 over the 9-3. Great car, and I would encourage you to seriously consider it over the 9-3 if you're going to spend a lot of time in a highway commute.
Hope this all helps you in your decision. Feel free to ask any more questions you have. For reference, the general info on my purchase & the car: 1999 Saab 9-5 2.3lpt 5spd / purchased for $12,000, came with 77,500mi / 35% titanium tinted windows / BBS RK 8x17 wheels mounted to 225/45-17 Michelin Pilot HX MXMs, plus an extra set of 16" stock 3-spoke wheels & tires for winter driving.
Cheers,
Stephen | sph3re
Chicago, IL
posted by 63.66.24...
, Tue, 3 Jun 2003 20:32:28
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