1999-2009 [Subscribe to Daily Digest] |
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The bad news is that my '99 V6 is languishing in the shop waiting for Saab to ship the needed ECU box--evidently the Christmas rush has limited the number of available nubile Swedish T7 escorts, creating a bit of a backlog.
The *good* news is that I have a brand spankin' new SE rental until Inga arrives with my new computer. It's a very nice looking car--black w/ black and grey interior. If it didn't get so hot here I could really go for this color 9-5. The 5-spokes have never looked better.
While not many things have changed, I do notice a few differences. First, there's a boost gauge. I am very, very jealous of you 2001 owners for this reason alone. They have fixed a few things. Compared to mine, the cold idle speed drops to normal very quickly. Mine takes quite a bit of time, hovering around 1,500 for a minute or so. The idle seems smoother--did they change the engine mounts? The suspension seems...different. Subtle but different, maybe a little tauter (same miserable Michelins, though).
The center armrest adjustment is nice and tight, meaning it doesn't slide unless you want it to. The turn signal switch has a nicer feel, not as crude as mine seems. The integrated remote key is very nice and the range is no different than mine with the separate remote. It's much easier to inadvertantly trigger though, and there's no tactile cue, like a bump, to tell you which is the unlock button (nice to have in the dark).
The auto-dimming mirror seems to be more of a gadget than something truly useful. What happens if I push the little red cross OnStar button? Does Inga come running with a 1st aid kit? The seats have less real leather, e.g., the back pocket isn't made of real hide any longer. The steering wheel could still come out farther and the seats would still benefit from more lateral and under-thigh support. There's a big electronic box on the underside of the back deck. Is that the OnStar electronics? The shark fin looks pretty goofy. Oh yes, as I stopped for a red light today, "clunk". Doesn't appear that Saab has vanquished the gas tank issue.
Best of course is the smell. My clothes smell like new leather as I write this. Why don't they bottle this?
--Rick
p.s. My 9-5 rental is an Enterprise car. Whether it's something they manage for the dealer or if they're available to the public I couldn't say.
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