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I figured I'd post my thoughts here...got a call from my local LA Saab dealer that they had 3 9-5's in stock. All 2.0T cars...and as it turned out, all base cars with 6 speed auto..no sunroof. Not sure what Saab is trying to do here, but my sales guy said his customers want loaded 2 liters and well optioned Aero's. Clearly the $39K price point and lease offers are attractive.
I was pleasantly surprised by the car's power overall. The 2 liter has a lot of car to move around, but it felt very quick overall. What really stood out was the chassis refinement. Saab/GM really got it right! Excellent ride/handling characteristics...I can imagine how planted the Aero XWD feels...the 2 liter car felt very athletic and light on its feet. I really was impressed in virtually all situations. The engine note however, is a bit coarse. I think I prefer the 2.3T sound.
The car feels rock solid and built very well...however, the interior dash really needs some sort of carbon fiber/wood/aluminum cover over the sea of grey and cheap feeling plastic on the center console area. I feel like my '03 Aero wagon feels "nicer" in many ways, even with its fask aluminum dash applique. I'm sure it's coming...either from the factory or aftermarket. I sat in a pre-production 9-5 at the LA auto show in 2009 and loved what they did with the dash. The base car's green stereo and green center digital cluster is a little generic. I think the Aero/nav cars get a nicer center multi-color gauge cluster screen?
And the back seat space and trunk space is just amazing.
I was told the wagon will be revealed at the upcoming Geneva Auto Show. I still need to drive an Aero XWD, but I'm pretty set on this version of the wagon replacing my '03 wagon when it gets here.
posted by 76.173.23...
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