Don't get me wrong - I have two 9-5s ('04 Arc, '03 Linear wagon) in my garage right now, and my previous car was a '98 CSE. However, prior to the CSE I owned a '99 528i (which I think is more comparable to the 9-5 than is a 3 series). Name any driving dynamic - steering, braking, engine power, flexibility and smoothness, ride, handling, ergonomics - the 528i, and based on others I have driven, BMWs in general, is in a class by itself. The rear wheel drive configuration, the silky straight six, telepathic steering - it literally drove like a sports car, while providing a serene ride and vault-like build quality. There's a reason they've had the Ultimate Driving Machine ad campaign for so long.

In comparison, the 9-5 is softer, with a coarser engine, busier ride, number steering. I like the 9-5, it's fast, comfortable, luxurious, and perhaps it suffers by this comparison, but BMWs are in a different league. I love the 9-5 interior though, I don't find it cheap at all.

Interestingly, the 9000, even with 120K, had handling that was razor sharp compared to the 9-5, seemed to display less understeer and generally seemed more "tossbale" - more like the 528i than the 9-5. The 9-5 seems to have lost something in the translation - more focus on luxury than sport?

At the end of the day, the cars we're talking about are great cars, better than most, but built by companies with different philosophies.

posted by 171.159.19...

• A test drive story: Saab 9-5 vs E46 325xi, masupra, Tue, 22 Apr 2008 17:35:29
  • apples and oranges, Erik919kt, Wed, 23 Apr 2008 18:35:39
  • DON'T skip the mechanical go-over of an E46, David Ingram, Wed, 23 Apr 2008 10:02:11
    • Re: DON'T skip the mechanical go-over of an E46, masupra, Wed, 23 Apr 2008 13:11:00
  • This reminds me of the 900 board......., Bill U, Wed, 23 Apr 2008 07:03:46
    • Also...., PGAero , Wed, 23 Apr 2008 08:42:42
    • you are right...but, brick8, Wed, 23 Apr 2008 07:45:29
      • I love my Aero, but I found a Volvo T5, JonAero1, Wed, 23 Apr 2008 10:51:41
        • beware the 2001 Volvos, brick8, Wed, 23 Apr 2008 12:36:20
  • BMW in a different class, ToddInMA, Wed, 23 Apr 2008 06:10:57 <-- Viewing This Message
  • Re: A test drive story: Saab 9-5 vs E46 325xi, jdlincoln , Wed, 23 Apr 2008 06:04:13
  • Re: A test drive story: Saab 9-5 vs E46 325xi, AdamB , Wed, 23 Apr 2008 05:24:58
  • Haven't driven a '05 9-5 but..., Noel, Wed, 23 Apr 2008 05:09:20
  • Re: A test drive story: Saab 9-5 vs E46 325xi, brick8, Tue, 22 Apr 2008 20:30:34
    • Re: A test drive story: Saab 9-5 vs E46 325xi, Viggen Aero , Tue, 22 Apr 2008 21:25:58
      • Bring back the 9000 model, Saabnutt, Wed, 23 Apr 2008 08:48:30
        • Re: Bring back the 9000 model, Bill Davies, Wed, 23 Apr 2008 15:09:26
          • Re: Bring back the 9000 model, Noel, Thu, 24 Apr 2008 05:49:37
            • Definitely a safety thing I reckon >, Bill Davies, Fri, 25 Apr 2008 06:09:24
              • Re: Definitely a safety thing I reckon >, Steak, Fri, 25 Apr 2008 06:49:46

No Site Registration is Required to Post - Site Membership is optional (Member Features List), but helps to keep the site online
for all Saabers. If the site helps you, please consider helping the site by becoming a member.

• Prev by Date: Re: A test drive story: Saab 9-5 vs E46 325xi, jdlincoln, Wed, 23 Apr 2008 06:04:13
• Next by Date: This reminds me of the 900 board......., Bill U, Wed, 23 Apr 2008 07:03:46
• Main 9000 Bulletin Board

StateOfNine.com

SaabClub.com

Jak Stoll Performance

M Car Covers

Ad Available

The content on this site may not be republished without permission. Copyright © 1988-2024 - The Saab Network - saabnet.com.
For usage guidelines, see the Mission & Privacy Notice.
[Contact | Site Map | Saabnet.com on Facebook | Saabnet.com on Twitter | Shop Amazon via TSN | Site Donations]

Random Saabnet.com Member Gallery Photos (Click Image)