I think I'm a good candidate to debate this (in a friendly way). Today I drove a 2001 530 (loaner), then drove my 2001 9-5 2.3lpt, then drove the 530 again, running around with my daughter. My wife drives a 540, in the shop, hence the loaner, but for obvious reasons I won't talk about that car (performance-wise).

Paint - BMW wins. I've waxed my wifes car and my Saab, and while the Saab paint is excellent, the BMW paint seems to be an inch thick. Beautiful stuff.

Audio- Saab wins. My 9-5 has the 200w 8 spkr HK, beats my wife's DSP stereo in her 540 (at least that's what I think, she doesn't think so).

Seats -Saab wins, but could use more lateral support. If I could make a chair from my Saab seats and move it inside I would.

Road noise - BMW wins, however I have the OEM MXV4s on the Saab. Anything would be better than those, but the BMW would still be quieter even if I used something else, I think.

Handling- depends on your preference, FWD vs. RWD, but the BMW goes exactly where you want it to. BMW wins (no torque steer), plus the handling shortcomings of the base Saab 9-5 have been well documented on this board (body roll etc).

Performance - not fair to compare a 3.0 6cyl 5 speed auto Tiptronic vs. a 2.3 4cyl 4 speed auto. Of course the BMW wins. The Saab in Sport mode comes pretty close, though. The growl of the BMW is hard to beat however, and the power is smooth as silk.

Room - Saab. Definitely.

Overall feel- BMW. Feels solid as a chunk of steel.

I'd love to drive a 525 someday, I think that'd be a closer comparison with the base 9-5. Next time my wife's car is in the shop (!!), maybe she'll get one of those and I can compare again. Thank God the 540 is under warranty - been in the shop for almost two weeks. Which says something right there, doesn't it?!!





posted by 63.15.17...

• Why Saab is better than BMW - At least to me!, PaulD, Mon, 28 Jan 2002 10:49:57
  • Re: Why Saab is better than BMW - At least to me!, J, Sun, 8 Sep 2002 15:56:36
  • Re: Why Saab is better than BMW - At least to me!, Doug, Tue, 29 Jan 2002 07:59:03
    • My problem with BMW..., Bob M, Tue, 29 Jan 2002 13:52:32
    • Re: Why Saab is better than BMW - At least to me!, Lou, Tue, 29 Jan 2002 10:01:58
    • An Aero for $43k? $US? Then you didn't even try!, redirector, Tue, 29 Jan 2002 09:43:28
      • Re: An Aero for $43k? $US? Then you didn't even try!, Andrew gay, Wed, 30 Jan 2002 10:11:44
        • Try Canada, stevec, Wed, 30 Jan 2002 22:19:04
      • Re: An Aero for $43k? $US? Then you didn't even try!, Doug, Tue, 29 Jan 2002 13:49:24
        • Re: An Aero for $43k? $US? Then you didn't even try!, Raymond, Wed, 30 Jan 2002 15:54:59
          • Raymond, my 3 Cents worth.., Doug, Wed, 30 Jan 2002 21:53:25
            • Doug re: your 3 Cents worth.., Raymond, Thu, 31 Jan 2002 14:28:36
            • Sorry, screwed up link to crash test, Doug, Wed, 30 Jan 2002 21:55:37
        • You Are right On The Money, PaulF, Wed, 30 Jan 2002 02:20:40
          • "on the money"... that is, if you have the money, redirector, Wed, 30 Jan 2002 10:43:28
      • Re: An Aero for $43k? $US? Then you didn't even try!, Doug, Tue, 29 Jan 2002 11:14:10
        • If I offended you, Doug, I am sorry., redirector, Tue, 29 Jan 2002 12:41:28
          • Re: If I offended you, Doug, I am sorry., Doug, Tue, 29 Jan 2002 17:30:13
            • Re: If I offended you, Doug, I am sorry., John, Wed, 30 Jan 2002 09:30:01
              • Re: If I offended you, Doug, I am sorry., Doug, Wed, 30 Jan 2002 22:42:49
                • What's wrong with the guages?, Ron H, Wed, 30 Jan 2002 23:27:26
                  • Re: What's wrong with the gauges?, Ron H, Wed, 30 Jan 2002 23:28:34
                    • spelling errors (need to learn how to type), Ron H, Wed, 30 Jan 2002 23:29:32
            • My problem with BMW, David G. Mills, Tue, 29 Jan 2002 20:13:58
      • $35000 for an Aero? Last month? Really? Where?, BernieC, Tue, 29 Jan 2002 10:51:02
        • Re: $35000 for an Aero? Last month? Really? Where?, NewSaabOwner, Tue, 29 Jan 2002 11:11:01
          • Re: $35000 for an Aero? Last month? Really? Where?, BernieC, Tue, 29 Jan 2002 11:43:33
            • Re: $35000 for an Aero? Last month? Really? Where?, redirector, Tue, 29 Jan 2002 12:02:54
    • I agree with you completely, or almost completely..., TKC, Tue, 29 Jan 2002 08:49:23
  • As much as I like BMWs M3 and M5s and so on..., Coolknight, Tue, 29 Jan 2002 05:50:31
    • Some answers...., Plasticman, Tue, 29 Jan 2002 12:13:19
      • Re: Some more answers...., Ed in NC, Tue, 29 Jan 2002 12:51:34 <-- Viewing This Message
  • You will all hate me for this...a BMW perspective, Plasticman, Mon, 28 Jan 2002 18:03:53
    • Some corrections to your list!, VIKINGMAN, Wed, 30 Jan 2002 15:45:08
    • Plasticman, your 20pt list is very good, actually. n/m, redirector, Tue, 29 Jan 2002 12:55:00
  • Re: Why Saab is better than BMW - At least to me!, Paul , Mon, 28 Jan 2002 17:08:45
  • Well, have you tried driving uphill in a front..., TKC, Mon, 28 Jan 2002 15:30:19
    • Huh?, Sieglo, Tue, 29 Jan 2002 18:59:39
  • 10 years of technology advance . . ., Jim, Mon, 28 Jan 2002 13:47:24
  • Oh dear. I have both (more), Bevan, Mon, 28 Jan 2002 13:30:08
    • Even more basic than that..., Ron H, Mon, 28 Jan 2002 13:40:32
      • VW Blue is even worse than BMW orange gage lighting!, Atul, Mon, 28 Jan 2002 17:46:37
        • I disagree, nickR, Mon, 28 Jan 2002 21:32:19
          • Audi's A6 dash is the worst, in my opinion! n/m, Bob M, Tue, 29 Jan 2002 14:00:35
        • Re: VW Blue is even worse than BMW orange gage lighting!, Ron H, Mon, 28 Jan 2002 18:55:33
  • Re: Why Saab is better than BMW - At least to me!, james, Mon, 28 Jan 2002 13:07:29
    • Re: Why Saab is better than BMW - At least to me!, Lou, Mon, 28 Jan 2002 13:15:39
      • Re: Why Saab is better than BMW - At least to me!, BernieC, Mon, 28 Jan 2002 16:09:12
        • Re: Why Saab is better than BMW - At least to me!, Lou, Mon, 28 Jan 2002 21:06:53
  • Re: Why Saab is better than BMW - At least to me!, BernieC, Mon, 28 Jan 2002 12:31:12
  • As a BMW owner, I agree. But the debate isn't over., Plasticman, Mon, 28 Jan 2002 12:08:43
  • Re: Why Saab is better than BMW - At least to me!, Lou, Mon, 28 Jan 2002 11:57:23
  • This is funny, and so true!!, Polaris, Mon, 28 Jan 2002 11:38:22

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