1985-1998 [Subscribe to Daily Digest] |
I sold Audis, VW, Subaru and Nissan until recently and now I'm an independant used car dealer. I actually specialize in cars under $5,000--usually Hondas,Toyotas and Subarus or Saabs, Volvos and VW/Audis. In that price range condition is everything--you might start out looking for a Saab, but if you run into something else like an Audi that's really nice at a good price, grab it! Audis definately retain better resale than the Saabs, so at any given price point you'll get more bang for your buck with a Saab. I think Saabs are generally more simple mechanically, and parts are a lot cheaper. I also think the long model runs on the Saabs are a plus--the 9000 went from 1986 to 1998 and if you've had one 9000 you'll imediately feel familiar with any 9000. Audi has had a lot of changes in that period--I don't even have a clear picture of it.
As for the newer cars, again Audis have much better resale, but if you buy used (which I highly recommend) you'll get a lot more for your money with a Saab. Audi has a pretty broad line of cars so I'll just compare cars in the same price range. The A6 2.8 quattro is a fair comparison with the 9-5 in terms of price. The Audis have a really delightful interior and are bigger inside. The quattro is flat out phenominal in the snow, especially with the ESP. But in terms of performance it's really a slug compared to any 9-5. The twin turbo and 4.2 v8 are very nice, but a lot more money than the Saabs. I haven't driven the newest A4 but the older one is very small in the back seat and also kind of a slug compared to the 9-3.
The quattro system is very nice, but once you're on the highway cruising, it doesn't really have that much of an advantage over my Saab. And I agree with you that if I suddenly got sideways at 70 on an icey highway, a Saab might just be easier to get back under control (I speak from experience). And the simple fact is that even here in Michigan, you just don't need all-wheel-drive often enough to really justify the added complication. My Saabs have all been really good winter cars and the only thing that ever slows me down in snow is slow moving sport-utes hogging the left lane. Finally, it's just a subjective opinion, but Audi's seem like they cost a lot more to maintain than Saabs. They seem pretty reliable, but I've sure seen some repair bills that would make a grown man (like me) cry. If you can afford one they are very nice cars, but I'll stick with my Saabs.
posted by 24.247....
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