Short answer: there's a helluva lot more people that like these cars than don't.

Long answer:
It sounds as though you've let one or two posters here influence your decision, when they are drops in the bucket of happy Saab owners. The problems that have been described (chance of roll-over, unexpected lane changes, etc) are things that I've never experienced in 4 yrs in a '98 900SE and now 3 months in an '01 Viggen. If you drive "on the edge" every day, every outing, you expose yourself to all sorts of unpleasant experiences, and that won't be limited to Saabs. I bought both of these cars based on pure aesthetic reaction to the feel of the turbo engines as well as the extreme comfort inside the cabin. In my 4 yrs with the 98 I had 0 problems except a faulty rear washer jet. The guy who says these cars are downright dangerous is an anomoly, and perhaps a troller just seeing who he can piss off. Yes there's "torque" steer and camber steer, but again these are not noticable unless you are really flooring it, or on a bad road. If you want a car that drives itself, buy a Honda or Acura.

On Safety:
The day I picked up my Viggen another 9-5 buyer was waiting in the showroom with me (watching college football on the tv in the showroom) and I asked him if this was his first Saab. He said "no, my 9-5 was totalled last week". He said that he was sitting on an exit ramp right next to I-285 in Atlanta when a truck came flying up from behind and hadn't seen that traffic on the ramp was stopped. The truck hit the 9-5 (which was at a dead stop) at around 40-45mph knocking the 9-5 back out onto I-285 where the driver door was smacked by a semi and then knocked into the emergency lane. He said the active head restraint system did its job on the first impact, and on the second impact the side airbag kept his head from smacking the door or window. He crawled out of the passenger side with a slightly bruised shoulder. Doesn't sound "dangerous" to me, and he was there to pick up another 9-5 after a very harsh experience at the BMW dealer. I don't believe the 9-3 to be any less safe a car than the 9-5, and I sure wouldn't want to experience something like that in any Honda.

Good luck and go with what feels right to you rather than what strangers like me tell you.

John
Atlanta
'01 Viggen

posted by 65.80.5...

• I'm nearly scared off, starting to wonder, help!, Josh, Wed, 13 Feb 2002 18:58:14
  • Re: I'm nearly scared off, starting to wonder, help!, ed f, Thu, 14 Feb 2002 17:06:26
  • test drive a WRX..., Andrew , Thu, 14 Feb 2002 15:53:59
    • Re: test drive a WRX..., Bob M, Thu, 14 Feb 2002 18:16:11
    • The point is they're close, DT, Thu, 14 Feb 2002 16:56:38
    • Re: test drive a WRX..., WW, Thu, 14 Feb 2002 16:40:26
      • Re: test drive a WRX..., Jay Besoin, Mon, 18 Feb 2002 20:53:26
      • Re: test drive a WRX..., gcp, Fri, 15 Feb 2002 10:23:06
        • Re: test drive a WRX..., WW, Fri, 15 Feb 2002 16:01:49
          • Handling isn't great?!?, Jay Besoin, Mon, 18 Feb 2002 20:54:15
      • No Subaru and no Nissan, Josh, Thu, 14 Feb 2002 21:21:30
    • only quicker off the line...after that its all over, nickR, Thu, 14 Feb 2002 16:25:13
  • Re: I'm nearly scared off, starting to wonder, help!, Alex, Thu, 14 Feb 2002 11:13:40
    • Re: I'm nearly scared off, starting to wonder, help!, WW, Thu, 14 Feb 2002 14:17:43
  • If you ski get the Saab or an Audi wagon, M3fourdoor, Thu, 14 Feb 2002 10:47:42
  • 9-3 SE comments, TimF, Wed, 13 Feb 2002 22:34:37
  • I hear ya, DT, Wed, 13 Feb 2002 21:34:07
    • Get the Viggen. Much better than the rest. n/m, Joe , Wed, 13 Feb 2002 22:15:48
  • Oh Hell, Josh - just test the car, John A., Wed, 13 Feb 2002 21:30:48
  • Take one for a test drive!!!!!!!, T Randell, Wed, 13 Feb 2002 20:50:10
  • Re: I'm nearly scared off, starting to wonder, help!, jc, Wed, 13 Feb 2002 20:26:36 <-- Viewing This Message
  • Re: I'm nearly scared off, starting to wonder, help!, claude, Wed, 13 Feb 2002 19:35:48
    • Hmm.., George D, Wed, 13 Feb 2002 23:25:35
      • I ave driven a Viggen but not an SE yet., Josh, Thu, 14 Feb 2002 03:50:17
        • Viggen vs SE suspension, Schu, Thu, 14 Feb 2002 07:04:34
    • Re: I'm nearly scared off, starting to wonder, help!, Nick L., Wed, 13 Feb 2002 20:07:21
    • Re: I'm nearly scared off, starting to wonder, help!, Nick L., Wed, 13 Feb 2002 20:02:52
  • Re: I'm nearly scared off, starting to wonder, help!, PaulD, Wed, 13 Feb 2002 19:06:46
  • I wouldn't worry...all that from a guy who tells you .., Rookie, Wed, 13 Feb 2002 19:06:27
    • What do 17" wheels have to do with body lean?, Jay Besoin, Mon, 18 Feb 2002 20:55:37

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