Date: Mon, 13 Dec 1999 20:38:27 +1100 From: "Paul Panetta" <norsoftnopsam.com.au> Subject: Re: Reliability of late model Saab 9-5?
Hi there, I looked at an Audi A6 (not Quattro though) a few months ago. It was quite a nice car. Liked the interior (quite classy I thought), very roomy and the rear end was an eye-pleasing shape. In the A6 the rear seat belts all pull tight in a crash like the front and it had 3 rear seat head rests. The SAAB's rear seat belts do not pull tight (I forget the term) but the centre head rest was optional. What I didn't like about the A6 (here in Australia) was the starting price. For about $17,000 AUD more than the SAAB 9-5S you only got a 2.4 litre engine without a turbo and quattro was a whopping $12,000 AUD extra (including a 2.8 litre engine). Insurance costs were much higher as well, about $1500.00 comapred to $900.00 for the 9-5S. I bought the 9-5 S and it has been great. I've done about 8,000K (5,000 miles ?) and it has not missed a beat. I have had zero problems, nothing has fallen off. You don't get the real wood look inside like the A6 but it's still pretty good. I guess looks are subjective but the 9-5 looks up-market from the outside. I suppose it's the round badge that does it. Accelarates well (we get the 2.3L 4-cyl Turboin this S and SE models) and handles capably by my standards at least. My brother drove it and he was impressed. He owns a Bimmer 535. I really enjoyed shopping for a car this time. I was impressed with a lot of little things in a lot of cars. The front end looks of an Alfa 156 and the push-button manual selespeed gearbox. The suspension of a Peugeot 406. The quietness of the Lexus ES300 motor. The remote window-down feature of a Merc and Passat, quite a nice feature for sunny Sydney. Shame you can't get it all in one though. Given that any purchase is a compromise the SAAB suited us pretty good. And you ? ...Regards ... Paul P. <tygrrr2nopsamo.com> wrote in message news:82ra62$4lf$1nopsam1.deja.com... > Okay, so Saab's are cool and distinctive cars (if a little bit > quirky ... but then again, quirkiness is one of the reasons they're so > distinctive), enough that I'm actually thinking about buying one. > > But I've got some nagging doubts about reliability, because it seems > like Saab's also have a reputation for having lots of little problems > and some not so little problems -- e.g., old Saab 900's are infamous > for electrical system problems. > > I'm curious what people's experiences have been with newer models. I'm > thinking about buying either a 1999 or 2000 Saab 9-5 SE. Any feedback > from the group on reliability of the 9-5 in general? > > Past and current owners are invited to convince me that I should buy > the Saab instead of an Audi A6 Quattro :-) > > > Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/ > Before you buy.
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