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We have an aging classic 900 as our daily driver, and are considering a newer second car (likely to be a 9-5). As due diligence, we rented a Subaru Legacy wagon (couldn't get an Outback unfortunately) to do an extended test drive while on vacation... you learn more putting 3000+ miles on a car than you would in a normal 10 minute test drive!
On the surface, it's a nice car - simple engine + AWD design, looks pretty easy to work on under the hood (and all the weight is down low for good dynamics), lots of space (somewhere between 9-3 and 9-5 for cargo), good safety specs, PZEV is now available, great reliability record... One thing I really liked about the car is it's literally silent at idle - sounds like the car is turned off! The car handles quite well on various surfaces + would probably do quite well in snow with the AWD (previously drove an Outback in a blizzard and found it quite good, maybe even a little better than our c900). The legacy is also available with a turbo, but at much higher cost: it's more expensive than a 9-3!
In most other respects, it's no contest, the 9-5 is just in another league (price-wise as well new, but not used). It's the (seemingly) little things that make Saabs so great, and we really noticed that with the Legacy. Seats were ok, until 20 minutes had passed... after 4 hours + time to refuel, I could barely walk. Headrests are huge (to pass iihs "headrest size = safety" standards) and impossible to see around and tilted in such a way as to make your upper neck sore. Control placement was rather poor: radio down low, storage bin up high, light switch on signal wand (easy to turn off lights while signaling), reflections off of various surfaces (worst was off front map light which reflects dashes on pavement into driver's eyes like police lights in the rear view mirror!)...
In terms of driving: 170hp, 175lb-ft torque (at 4000rpms) from 2.5L with a 4 speed automatic with manumatic mode. Again, what makes Saabs so good is the low end torque and the good gear ratios... while better than most Japanese cars I've driven, the Legacy is light on low end torque and geared to jump out of a red light, so while fun around the city, 4 gears aren't quite enough and the automatic flobbers around on the highway... as a result, I basically ran manumatic mode all the time on the highway and it works quite well. A 5th gear would help the highway fuel economy though: cruising a little over 3000 rpms vs 3500 rpms in a 3 speed c900, the legacy had only marginally better fuel economy (24mpg, loaded down)...
Overall, it's not a bad car, but with used prices around the same as 9-5 and turbo + Outback versions priced new somewhere between 9-3 + 9-5 (with weaker discounts/financing deals)... it's no contest, the Saab wins. I have said many times that Subaru buyers share a 90% of the Saab values and that GM would be smart to heavily market Saabs at the Subaru customer more so than vs. BMW/Merc. Subaru outsells Saab, Volvo, and Audi combined and is growing quickly - it's a solid market! The "luxury" market is not! FWIW, a Subaru salesman here used to be a Saab driver, but with increasing GM involvement in Saab considers Subaru "the new Saab"... while I don't fully agree with him, there is a little truth in it, and GM should take notice! Would love to see the upcoming 9-5 available as a turbo 4 wagon with AWD as an option, but I think they are going more for an upscale (turbo) V6 hatch to compete with BMW's X6 or whatever...
cheers!
James...
posted by 216.75.191...
, Thu, 4 Sep 2008 17:30:05, Mon, 1 Sep 2008 11:53:00
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