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Re: maybe it is the 5 speed manual requirement? Posted by Snowmobile [Email]  (#686)  [Profile/Gallery]
(more from Snowmobile) on Mon, 10 Feb 2014 06:50:58
In Reply to: Re: maybe it is the 5 speed manual requirement?, AlexA, Sun, 9 Feb 2014 18:52:46 Members do not see ads below this line. - Help Keep This Site Online - Signup |
Yes, SAAB automatic transmissions (when they are working anyway) seem to universally shift exactly when they should, as if they could read your mind... even the lowly ancient fragile 3 speed automatic they put in the c900! The problem with those old ones (and to some extent on the 9000 also) is that they were fragile, and got lousy fuel economy. The newer ones are much better. The only reason to get a new one with a stick is for the pleasure of driving a stick. In contrast, I have never driven an Asian car with a tolerable automatic, and the American options are not much better. Hunting, early shifts, double downshifts, lack of power to pass, then late shifts... ridiculous. Some of it is in the name of fuel economy. Some is in the name of getting fast off the line times (to sell cars on the dealer test drive). Some is just pure ineptness... I can't stand to drive those cars.
You are probably hitting the same wall I did: new SAAB buyer vs used SAAB buyer demographics. The 9-5 sold (leased) reasonably well as a unique "executive car" as a sedan with automatic. This is related to price, features, finish, etc. Our dealer claimed they sold 10 sedans for each wagon! Only a few bought them new as a family car (wagon), even though they are great for that, probably due to price. Though stick was available, most sold were not. og9-3's are much more plentiful with sticks, being cheaper and the carryover from the c900 days (when stick was almost a necessity).
Nowadays, anyone attracted to buy a used 9-5 is a SAAB enthusiast - probably a former c900 owner and stick enthusiast, probably likes to haul family, bikes, dog, and a washing machine... The Aero with stick is the performance choice, and the wagon, the utility choice (and of course the ultimate: Aero wagon stick, is a ridiculously rare breed!)... automatic sedans are everywhere and cheap. So you have to decide if you want to pay a bit more (or wait a bit longer) to find a nice but rare car, or more easily find a more common car. We gave up and bought an Arc sedan for the family hauler because it was too hard at the time to find the right wagon (and we'd rather drive a SAAB sedan than most other brands' wagon options). Of all the cars on the market, only a fraction are what I would call well maintained, so rather than waiting for ever or buying a costly so-so wagon, we got a nice sedan at a good price. Even though it was in super condition, it did cost a bit to "make it right" (shocks and tires mainly). Of course since then a few nice wagons have popped up at reasonable prices... I have not bothered upgrading due to the effort and extra cost to make yet another car "right", but I do consider it... so if you are picky and can wait, do so. You will likely be more happy with your purchase. Otherwise, they are all great cars!
good luck!
, Mon, 10 Feb 2014 14:09:51, Sun, 9 Feb 2014 18:27:46
, Mon, 10 Feb 2014 17:54:12, Mon, 10 Feb 2014 06:50:58 <-- Viewing This Message
, Sun, 9 Feb 2014 18:25:35, Mon, 10 Feb 2014 08:01:06, Mon, 10 Feb 2014 07:50:39, Tue, 11 Feb 2014 07:22:08, Sun, 9 Feb 2014 10:13:05
, Sun, 9 Feb 2014 15:15:29, Sun, 9 Feb 2014 08:00:34
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