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1999-2009 [Subscribe to Daily Digest] |
Hi!
Had a '95 900SE-T, a '96 9000 Aero, a '97 900SET Talladega, have a
'99 9-3SE Cabrio and a '00 9-5 Aero, looking to buy a '03 9-5 Aero soon to replace my '00.
Saabness? It seems to be fading with each new model. Are the cars getting better? Objectively, yes, absolutely. Do they inspire as much love? I don't think so.
Not as distinctive as they used to be, quality of materials is getting worse (although reliability doesn't compare, new cars are actually quite normal compared to the costly and frustrating older saabs). Turbo response is better than ever, but to the point that you don't feel boost build, it's just there! Faster, but you don't get the rubber band feeling of being pulled gradually deeper into your seat, it's just bam now! Not as much fun, I think.
Steering has become lighter and more assisted, less precise and meaty. A lot less lean on the 9-5 aeros than older saabs, but also less progressive and harder to use lift throttle to correct line and understeer in tight turns. Harman/Kardon sound was sharper in 9000 than the same in 9-5.
Unless you get the wagon, you will most definately miss the practical hatch. I also miss the look of the hatch, which to me is how a saab should be. Not too keen on the apperance of the saab wagon, might actually consider a Volvo V70 R wagon instead, much nicer quality leather and interior, 300hp., but heavy and useless if not for 300 hp AWD, looks more purpose-built than the 9-5 (sort of like the 9000, it couldn't be considered beautifull, but it did look purpose-built!) The 9-5 wagon isn't either of those.
Had a '00 Audi A4 2.8 Quattro for a year, beautifull car, first rate finish inside and out (leather looked ok but was a bit thin), nothing went rong in 30K miles, but got really bored of it, missed Saabness! AWD is another useless feature, and I live in Québec and have a country home. Heavy, slow, bad gas mileage (never better than 16MPG ever), terrible Bose sound system, numb handling (but great grip), smooth and quiet six. It was too perfect a means of transportation, not much of an enthusiast's car, cold german appliance.
Saabness? It's fun! It used to be associated to more effort and everything was deliberate, you had to work hard to get the best out of the car, but that was great fun and what made it special(heavy steering, stiff rubbery shifter and slow shifting, body lean and precise handling, stable and composed ride, elastic turbo thrust).
Now saabness, it's still fun, but in the hot knife through butter kind of way (flat turns, seriously quick right now power, tight but floaty suspension, nimble but light steering, more generic interiors and cheaper quality materials - can't possibly beat the seats from the 9000 Aero, like sitting in a baseball glove, shoulders held tight).
Still like saabs, but don't quite love them like I used to. You get tired of fixing the old ones though (2-3K per year), and the associated frustration of running an old 9000 Aero keeps me in the 9-5. If a new 9000 Aero was built, I'd choose it over the 9-5, if they promised the same reliability. Now, I might actually consider a V70 R wagon, a volvo... wouldn't have ever imagined it a few years back! Evolution, modern vehicle dynamics and getting "better" are getting to the "better part" of saabness of saabs past. Good thing they're still fun though! Just different, and perhaps less to my liking (Like moving from blue cheese to something that still hase bite, but man, blue cheese is different!)
Well, enough said!!! I'm hungry! :-)
Have fun,
Richard, Montréal, Canada
Have:
'00 9-5 Aero
'99 9-3 SE Cab.
Had:
'00 Audi A4 2.8 Quattro
'97 900 SE-T Talladega
'96 9000 Aero
'95 900 SE-T
Would consider:
'02 or newer 9-5 Aero, maybe wagon
'04 Volvo V70R
If in Europe, that Alfa sport wagon would be in my driveway right now!!!
posted by 132.208.28...
, Wed, 15 Sep 2004 07:33:57
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