Is the 9-5 worth the price difference vs 9-3? - Saab General Bulletin Board - Saabnet.com
The banner above is an advertisment - if it asks you to download software, please ignore.
Site News -
7/1: Members: Log In to See Fewer Ads! |
5/28: SAAB Evolutions/TSN T-Shirts $14
[General |
Members |
C900 |
9000 |
NG900 & OG93 |
93 |
95 |
NG95 |
99 |
Sonett |
Vintage Models |
Clubs |
Other Cars |
FAQs |
Gifts |
Member Photo Galleries |
Member Directory |
Classifieds |
Manuals |
*Buddy Registry |
*Mileage Registry |
Polls |
What's New |
Raffle |
Photo of the Month |
Sponsors]
[Main General Bulletin Board | BBFAQ |
Post Followup ]
Member Login / Signup - Members see fewer ads. - Latest Member Gallery Photos
Is the 9-5 worth the price difference vs 9-3?
Posted by paul de k [Email] (more from paul de k) on Thu, 18 Mar 2004 15:41:13
Members do not see ads below this line. - Help Keep This Site Online - Signup
Yesterday, while our 2000 base 9-5 was in for some warranty work, we got a 2004 9-3 Linear as a loaner car. The 9-3 very much surprised us for a variety or reasons, and after driving the 9-3 and comparing it to the new 9-5 prices and specs (we have not driven the new 9-5), we would question whether the 9-5 is worth the pricing differentials (ranging from $3,605 Arc to $6,332 Aero re invoice price differences versus the comparable 9-3 models). Our observations were as follows:
1. Other than in overall length (7.5 inch difference), and rear seat legroom (1.5 inch difference), the external and internal dimensions of the two cars are not all that much different. Despite the 7.5 inch difference in length, the wheelbases of the two cars are only 1.1 inches apart, which probably accounts for the good ride of the 9-3. The historic difference between the Classic 900/NG900 and the 9000s in terms of dimensions is no longer the case between the 9-3SS and the 9-5.
2. 9-3 has a quieter engine with less vibration at idle, a much cheaper looking interior, and a far worse sounding radio than the 9-5.
Have the newer (2003/2004) 9-5 radios been cheapened as much as the 9-SS radios appear to have been?
3. 9-3 Linear handles far better than our 2000 9-5, but how does it handle versus the newer 2003/204 9-5s?
4. 9-3 has a 2 foot shorter turning radius, a trunk that is only 0.9 cubic feet smaller than the 9-5. It is 270 pounds lighter than the 9-5 and gets about 2 MPG (per the EPA) better mileage than the 9-5.
So, fellow Saabophiles, given the above observations, and incorporating your personal observations between the 9-3 and 9-5, and in view of the aforementioned pricing differential, is the 9-5 worth the higher price??? Particularly in view of the closeness of these two cars in both interior and most of the exterior (other than length) dimensions. Granted the 9-5 has a longer proven track record of reliability, and a proven bulletproof engine and trans, but which car would you buy if you had to buy now (we will have to buy within 6 months, thus our interest in this issue).
posted by 67.82.4...
Posts in this Thread:
- Is the 9-5 worth the price difference vs 9-3?, paul de k, Thu, 18 Mar 2004 15:41:13 <-- Viewing This Message
- Re: Is the 9-5 worth the price difference vs 9-3?, Tom, Mon, 22 Mar 2004 18:18:59
- 9-5 vs 9-3?: my $0.02, Bart, Sun, 21 Mar 2004 10:30:10
- Well, if you don't mind buying slightly used, I would.., TKC, Fri, 19 Mar 2004 06:28:35
- Price very close after incentives......, Mike Lynch , Thu, 18 Mar 2004 18:38:09
- We have both..., chris74, Thu, 18 Mar 2004 18:20:04
- Size Matters, Stephen Goldberger, Thu, 18 Mar 2004 17:51:35
- Re: Is the 9-5 worth the price difference vs 9-3?, Steve in Chicago, Thu, 18 Mar 2004 17:13:28
Members do not see ads below this line. - Help Keep This Site Online - Signup
Post a Followup
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.
StateOfNine.com
|
SaabClub.com
|
Jak Stoll Performance
|
M Car Covers
|
Ad Available
|
Random Saabnet.com Member Gallery Photos (Click Image)
This is a moderated bulletin board - Posting is a privilege, not a right.
Unsolicited commercial postings are not allowed (no spam). Please, no For Sale or Wanted postings, SERIOUSLY.
Classifieds are to be listed in The Saab Network Classifieds pages.
This is a problem solving forum for over 250,000 Saab owners, so expect to see
problems discussed here even though our cars are generally very reliable. This is not an anything goes
type of forum. Saabnet.com has been a moderated forum since 1988. For usage guidelines, see the
Saabnet.com Mission and Purpose Page. Please remember that you are
not anonymous. Site Contact | Site Donations | Other Sites by SP -
Poverty2Prosperity.org | Run Club Menlo Park | ScreenBot
Site Members do not see red text instructions, bottom of the page anchor ads, or box ads.
Click here to see all
the Site Membership Benefits!