I too own a 9’5 and a VW Passat. The 9’5 is a 2000 AERO and the Passat (my wife’s car) is a 2000 VW Passat V6. I often drive these cars back to back and these are my impressions of both.

The Passat is a great car for the money. (However in 2000 due to their popularity there was little price movement) I purchased the AERO used and got a great deal because of the depreciation SAAB’s suffer. I purchased my AERO two months ago for less than our 2000 Passat was worth. Not a bad deal considering the SAAB was about 10k more when new.

Reliability: Our VW has not been the picture of health. Two fried ECU units, three oil leaks (both valve cover gaskets and a cam follower cover). Drivers seat fell out of it’s track. Worst of all two mysterious stall outs & no starts that left my wife stranded. Our VW dealer has been great and all repairs have been under warranty. However it’s not as reliable as expected seeing that the car originally hit the streets as a 1998 model. The bugs should have been worked out by 2000. As far as the AERO is concerned it has similar mileage and was a one owner car that was dealer serviced. It has had far fewer problems. One DI cassette failure @ 44k. covered under warranty.

Exterior styling: Hell I purchased both cars so I like them both. However I give the nod to the AERO for it’s exclusivity. I see VW Passats everywhere. It’s rare to see another AERO

Interior: Here is where you SAAB folks might disagree. VW/Audi is making the best interiors in the business right now. PERIOD! The SAAB is very nice and I would rate the build quality as a push. The materials in the SAAB are fine but don’t have the warm feel and soft touch of the materials used in the VW. The SAAB seats are more comfortable but I would much prefer the seats out of the VIGGEN to go along with the AERO’s sporting nature. The 9’5 had more interior room hands down.

Driving Dynamics: The VW drives nice and accelerates effortlessly but it’s just not a sporty car. Push it hard and the soft suspension objects to the drivers inputs. However, Driving at 9 10ths is quite fun. I recently purchased new tires for the VW Dunlop Sport A2’s and they did wonders to liven up the handling. The soft sidewalls on the stock M-brand didn’t help matters. Other than that the car is fairly solid. My AERO on the other hand has a much sportier feel as it should. The AERO is so solid it feels bomb proof. It just feels solid as can be and has a great balance of sport and luxury ride. While the AERO has the edge here I am not sure a base model 9’5 would compare as favorable.

Ownership Experience: A VW is a VW everybody seems to have one. SAABs are truly unique automobiles. To the point where it might be their downfall. Most people don’t even consider SAAB as an option so you are half way there. Differentiate yourself form all the brain washed VW owners and buy something truly different. A SAAB. You will never regret it. Next time my wife will be getting a SAAB as well.



posted by 65.242.142...

• passat wagon v. linear wagon, mike, Sun, 9 Feb 2003 19:43:48
  • Re: passat wagon v. linear wagon, saab newbe, Tue, 11 Feb 2003 13:44:30
  • Considered both, Pete Saab 9-5, Mon, 10 Feb 2003 13:46:52
  • See NYTimes link to VW/Audi's "Black Eye", Jon in Chicago, Mon, 10 Feb 2003 12:49:25
    • You're claiming Saab is more reliable than VW?, phred, Mon, 10 Feb 2003 13:11:40
      • God, I hope it is! n/m, Jon in Chicago, Mon, 10 Feb 2003 16:39:00
        • Wake up and smell the lingonberries n/m, phred, Mon, 10 Feb 2003 17:44:18
          • Had them for breakfast this morning!, Jon in Chicago, Tue, 11 Feb 2003 10:09:10
  • Re: passat wagon v. linear wagon, Dean, Mon, 10 Feb 2003 09:34:19
  • I own both! Comparison-Saabsters don't flame me please, Brent, Mon, 10 Feb 2003 03:28:29
    • Re: I own both! Comparison-Saabsters don't flame me please, DA, Tue, 11 Feb 2003 14:15:38 <-- Viewing This Message
    • Went from Passat to Saab, chris74, Tue, 11 Feb 2003 07:52:12
      • Re: Went from Passat to Saab, dwin, Wed, 12 Feb 2003 00:16:10
    • Re: I own both! Comparison-Saabsters don't flame me please, mike, Mon, 10 Feb 2003 19:30:15
      • Re: I own both! Comparison-Saabsters don't flame me please, Brent, Tue, 11 Feb 2003 10:43:17
    • woosh!- no flame here- good comparison thanks n/m, turboboy, Mon, 10 Feb 2003 16:37:59
    • 9-5 def. has better quality interior than Passat....., Alex Athanasiou, Mon, 10 Feb 2003 14:55:59
    • "Hands free driving"? I gotta know more about this., JimW, Mon, 10 Feb 2003 11:48:18
    • VW are not very good cars., Adam M, Mon, 10 Feb 2003 10:27:34
    • Agree and disagree somewhat..., bRAD, Mon, 10 Feb 2003 09:28:53
      • Re: Agree and disagree somewhat..., rolf 02 aero wagon, Mon, 10 Feb 2003 12:15:21
  • Re: passat wagon v. linear wagon, Stephen Goldberger, Sun, 9 Feb 2003 20:45:58
    • Re: passat wagon v. linear wagon, Scott Paterson , Mon, 10 Feb 2003 02:11:30
  • Re: passat wagon v. linear wagon, RickP, Sun, 9 Feb 2003 20:27:15
    • Re: firmer ride?, mike, Sun, 9 Feb 2003 20:39:57
      • handling/performance edge goes to Linear, Aero'ed, Mon, 10 Feb 2003 12:36:38
        • handling of Passat, Aero'ed, Tue, 11 Feb 2003 07:39:47
          • Re: handling of Passat, Brent, Tue, 11 Feb 2003 10:41:26
      • Tires!, Stephen Goldberger, Mon, 10 Feb 2003 11:23:19
      • Re: firmer ride?, cork , Mon, 10 Feb 2003 10:01:46
      • 2002 + 9-5's have firmer ride over eariler ones, T Randell, Mon, 10 Feb 2003 08:37:15
  • Better gas mileage, Keegs , Sun, 9 Feb 2003 20:25:13

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