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Hi,
I am a first time Saab owner and thought I would share with you my impressions after the first 1000 miles! My Saab is the SE, automatic with the premium package + viggen suspension. Weird set up, but the dealer threw in the sport package then took off the 17 inch wheels (6 spoke) that I didnt like.
Likes
- The leather seats, one of the BEST features. SO comfortable...
- REALLY fun to drive. This is a true driver's car.
- Trunk space... very versatile. You can go to Costco with it, no problems.
- Acceleration: super fast on the highway, even without the "S" pressed. Beats most cars you see at red light :) My wife says it feels like an airplane when you accelerate... hmm...
- Powerful brakes... watch out, this means you always stop before the car that's behind you!
- Short turning radius, great for parallel parking and maneuvering in tight/crowded lots.
- Fuel economy is very good for a car that goes this fast! Even better if it didn't need premium gasline!
Dislikes (gripes)
- Cheap looking interior elements. Such as the "placeholders", one in front of the hand brake, one by the rear mirror controls, one on the passenger side front door, one by the passenger side mirror, one fake button under the fog lamp button... you get the idea. For a car of this class, there shouldnt have been any cheap looking interior elements! I drove an 1998 Honda Accord V6 Coupe before this, a car that costs $8000 less, but the interior was far more refined and felt like a luxury car.
- Wind noise: feels like a hurricane outside when I hit about 70 mph, and keeps increasing as I increase in speed.
- Cabin noises: constant ticking behind the cockpit at idle, the windshield/wiper makes a high pitch screech when I accelerate, the seat belt spring makes noises when the road is rough, and the front brakes are already starting to squeal! Sorry, I had been spoiled by the Accord for too long... that car did not have one little cabin noise after 50000 miles of driving.
- Locking/Unlocking doors and the trunck you get this loud clunking sound. Turning on the radio you get the clunking sounds from the antenna coming up.
- Narrow and mediocre tires (Pirelli P6000 SV 205/55/16): the tires squeals all the time and seem to give up even under mildly aggressive driving. I think bigger (215/55) or wider (225/50) tires would have looked/handled better. And definitely not the P6000 SVs... for all-seasons, the g-Force KDWS, AVS dB, or SP Sport 5000 would have better matched this car. I hear that P6000 SVs wear out almost right away.
- Radio reception is awful anywhere in the city. Hee... again, the Accord didnt even have an antenna, and it had a perfect radio reception.
Overall, the Saab still beats any car in the "fun to drive" and "seats" categories in my opinion. I've driven many cars in my life, nothing comes close to it (Audi A4 with tiptronic was the closest in terms of "fun to drive").
That's it... have fun driving Saabsters!
posted by 204.50.0...
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