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Date: Sat, 03 Apr 1999 10:44:26 -0500
From: roblnopsamhiz.com (Rob Levandowski)
Subject: Re: Saab 9-3 or a BMW 328i


I'm sorry to hear about your 9-5 experiences, but it doesn't sound like my '99 9-5 SE V6, which is a US car (as I'm a US citizen, go figure :) In article <37056045.1401518nopsam.one.net.au>, wilkinspnopsamnet.au (Peter Wilkins) wrote: >I have to take my hands off the wheel to operate some of the steering >column controls, like turning on/off and setting/changing cruise control or >changing the variable wiper delay speed. I used to be able to adjust every >steering column control without removing my hands from the wheel in my last >car (a Subaru Heritage) and in my earlier Saabs. This isn't a problem if >you are alone on the road, but in heavy traffic in the rain it can be >distracting and dangerous. This may be a function of hand size; I've found the audio controls fairly easy to operate; one needs merely un-grasp the wheel with the appropriate thumb and slide it toward the wheel. I can see where someone with smaller hands might find that difficult. But then, if the controls were closer to the wheel, one would activate them by accident a lot... I've been in cars where that was true, and worse, the controls were for the cruise control rather than the stereo... The wiper delay knob is a bit small and awkward, but with a little practice, it's not hard to control it by extending the right forefinger when the wheel is more or less straight. It's also a lot easier to adjust than the similar control on a Volvo -- the Volvo control is very stiff and seemed to require the whole hand on the stalk, in my experience. >The front windows don't have up/down controls on the doors: they are only >on the centre console. Most annoying and dangerous when approaching a toll >booth: trying to juggle change with your right hand, lower the window with >your left, and steer the car with your... oops, just ran out of hands. >The front window controls are also not intuitive or easy to find by feel, >and it's not good to drop they eyes down to look for them while you are >driving. I can't say I found the controls hard to locate after the first week. It just took time to get used to the "European" central window format. Also, if one pushes down hard on the front window switches, the windows automatically go all the way down, and the spare-change holder is right next to the switches, so I've not noticed any undue difficulty at the toll booth. I'd love to have automatic up on the windows, too, but apparently the U.S. legal liability is too large. >You can't safely operate the SID while driving - must have a passenger do >it. No passenger, no SID. I've not found this to be a problem, either. Reach out, feel control, press it, glance down. >The internal rear vision mirror is too small, with blind spots for >overtaking cars not compensated for by the external mirrors. I definitely can't agree with you here. The Saab 9-5 is the first car I've owned with NO blind spot. With the mirrors properly adjusted, as per the instructions of my dealer -- i.e., you shouldn't be able to see the sides of the car in the side mirrors without ducking your head over -- there is wonderful visibility, especially with the aspherical passenger mirror. >You can't see some of the switches (eg foglights) without bending down >around the steering wheel. However, the foglight switch is the only switch on its panel, and can be easily actuated by touch, and its position (on or off) can be easily determined by touch. My beef is with the labelling of the front and rear foglight switches... too similar, too easy to confuse for novice drivers. >The door pockets won't even take a simple Sydney street directory, let >alone a road map book: they are an odd oval "fashionable" shape, which is >useless for real items. Maps fit wonderfully in the front seat pockets (along the front edge of the seat); that's a very convenient place for things, even if it looks a bit rude when you go rummaging in the pocket with other people in the car :) I've found that the side pockets are a good size for holding handheld cellular phones, personal digital assistants, reciepts, and many other things. They're also small enough that things don't slide about noisily, and they have a rubber bottom, unlike many other cars I've been in. Now, what's truely useless is the little net pocket on the B-pillar. I have yet to figure out what, exactly, Saab figures people would put there. A spare pager? That's about all that would fit... and it's awkward for front-seat passengers to get to it. >I have other minor bitches, including several system failures, but that's >enough for a start. No, let me give you one more example. There is an >interlock which stops you putting the car in gear unless you have your foot >on the brake. Good idea. Unfortunately, the interlock has a habit of >failing, leaving the car locked in "park" and you stranded. There is a >means of bypassing the interlock, but do you think it is mentioned in the >handbook or in the delivery briefing? No, I had to hike miles to a phone >to find out. Good design? Huh! Either your owner's manual is very different from the one for '99 U.S. models, or you missed the page... my manual clearly describes the procedure for overriding the shift lock using the key. I've only had my 9-5 a month, but it is easily the best car I've ever owned. It's comfortable, it flies, it wants to be driven, it's reliable, it has an outstanding warranty, and it shows some real thought in the interior design. My last car, a Dodge Intrepid ES, was nice for about a year, but quickly became a nightmare of mechanical problems and dealer nightmares. Besides that, the Intrepid's seats were murder on any trip lasting more than an hour and a half. I'd certainly recommend the 9-5. -- Rob Levandowski roblnopsamhiz.com

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