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Saab 9-5 Wagon

1081 messages,  Last post on Jun 02, 2012 at 7:17 PM

You are in the Saab 9-5 Forum.

What is this discussion about? Saab 9-5, Wagon

Messages Page 80 of 109

#788 of 1081 Aero Engine Tweaked? by buddhabman

Jun 25, 2003 (1:51 pm)

blockisland - you seem a little tweaked today.
 
Are you kidding ? The whole 9-5 family are better engineered than the competing Volvo V70 lineup. The new 2002+ 9-5 is safer, has more features, equal in room, better gas mileage, faster, better handling, there is no comparison in looks. It is by far a better driving car and great value. SAAB is lacking in the AWD, area, but a Subaru AWD will fix that.
 
As far as your opinion that the Aero 2.3 4-Cyl is tweaked. Sure it is, it's been refined up to 250 HP but it still has more available HP and torque on tap. Nordic, Hirsch, Abbott perfoamance all have products that take it up to 300HP, and Hirsch and Nordic are warrantied.
 
You make the comparison to the Audi 2.7-T, like in the Allroad. Nice car, beautiful interior and design. We almost bought it over are Aero but for the reliability concerns. The other issue was gas mileage and the Allroad suffers bad from Turbo lag from standing starts. Aero will eat an Allroad for lunch 7 days a week in acceleration. Part of that is weight difference with Audi AWD. And aside from the BMW 540 or M3 the Saab is as smooth and powerful as the 5 series in a roll-on power situation from 50-100+. A 530 will not keep up in the 50-70, 80-100 run.

#789 of 1081 New discussion board? by blockislandguy

Jun 25, 2003 (7:04 pm)

ATTN HOST: feedback to my recent post about Saab product planning and reading other posts on this board suggests that there would be interest in a new discussion board of Saab vs. Volvo. I suspect that Saab/Volvo buyers share demographics, inhabit the same geographic regions, and cross shop the other manufacturer more than any other two pairs of vehicles. There are other boards like this (e. g., Toyota Sequoia vs. Expedition vs. Tahoe) and this new Swedish Wagon/Sedan board would be a natural.
 
Can you set it up?

#790 of 1081 Volvo Comparison Board? by dski

Jun 25, 2003 (7:52 pm)

It'd be a waste.

#791 of 1081 Hi blockislandguy- Saab vs. Volvo by revka

Jun 25, 2003 (10:07 pm)

Here it is: Saab vs. Volvo Wagons. Let me know if you'd like me to add anything to the title?
 
Also, for future reference, anyone here can start up a new discusions if they'd like. Click on the "Add Discussion" button on the upper/right side of any of our main message boards.
 
Revka
Host
Hatchbacks & Wagons Boards

#792 of 1081 Vibrating Wheel, Storage, and Choice of Winter Wagons (Long) by fauxpaws

Jun 26, 2003 (9:26 am)

nelsoncm: Wow. My first thought was maybe you've got an Aero, driving low profile tires and sport suspension on bad concrete. But in an Arc? Something's wrong. What tires in what condition? I'd have it checked. Or, loosen the death grip on the wheel <VBG>. My Pirelli P6's transmit thumps, but no abnormal vibration. Weird.
 
Totally agree on the cupholder scandal. Where are the kids going to put their super-duper-sized electric pink strawberry "shakes?" All over the carpet so the dog can slurp up the goo! My Sheltie misses his own cup holder. Really. Now I have to lift the center console to let him sip.
 
The Volvo has the front storage competition locked up. But if I want closet space, I'll go to IKEA. Plus, I was dubious about all the little nets on the seats and side pillars in the Saab. But, you know, net storage means you don't have to deal with cleaning all the GRUNGE that builds up in car storage bins. Also, remember that Saab uses an airplane analogy in their cars (right down to the map light that is identical to those in their jets like the 340B I flew down to Lynchburg last month). In airplanes, stuff that can end up floating around at zero G (including Shelties) is not allowed. Perhaps they're carrying the analogy a bit far. Maybe it's just safer to keep a neat cockpit.
 
Use of space in a finite environment would be a great topic here. Anyone found a classy aftermarket cupholder or tiny trash bin?
 
Also, one thing I noticed first thing: The car is pretty darn tight and quiet. Anything loose will rattle, and you'll notice it. I hate that. You can't store CD's in the door bins: rattles.
 
Under floor in back: I'm using this area for breakdown stuff: towing strap, flares, tire pump, flash light, jumper cables and a good book.
 
BlockIslandGuy: Good news is that there IS a choice in AWD wagons. But the overwhelming choice seems to be the Subaru Outback, not the Volvo. I've been in three major "weather" cities this month: Portland, ME, Rochester, NY, and Reno, NV (Sierra passes). It's no contest, especially in snow belt Rochester. Most Saab wagons: Maine. Least (none) Reno.
 
Aside: As if you didn't know the target audience for Volvos, take a listen to Everclear's new song, "Volvo-Driving Soccer Mom."
 
If Volvo owns the right lane. Saab owns the left. "The Wall Street Journal" (6/6/03) reviewed the Volvo S60 ("A Fast Car for the Tweedy Set") and it seems they still have work to do. The reviewer wasn't bowled over with the car. A bit unrefined for all the horses.
 
Also, read my profile for some favorite websites.
 
Best,
Greg (retired and long winded. Sorry.)

#793 of 1081 Vibrating Wheel, Storage, and Choice of Winter Wagons (Long) by fauxpaws

Jun 26, 2003 (10:55 am)

nelsoncm: Wow. My first thought was maybe you've got an Aero, driving low profile tires and sport suspension on bad concrete. But in an Arc? Something's wrong. What tires in what condition? I'd have it checked. Or, loosen the death grip on the wheel <VBG>. My Pirelli P6's transmit thumps, but no abnormal vibration. Weird.
 
Totally agree on the cupholder scandal. Where are the kids going to put their super-duper-sized electric pink strawberry "shakes?" All over the carpet so the dog can slurp up the goo! My Sheltie misses his own cup holder. Really. Now I have to lift the center console to let him sip.
 
The Volvo has the front storage competition locked up. But if I want closet space, I'll go to IKEA. Plus, I was dubious about all the little nets on the seats and side pillars in the Saab. But, you know, net storage means you don't have to deal with cleaning all the GRUNGE that builds up in car storage bins. Also, remember that Saab uses an airplane analogy in their cars (right down to the map light that is identical to those in their jets like the 340B I flew down to Lynchburg last month). In airplanes, stuff that can end up floating around at zero G (including Shelties) is not allowed. Perhaps they're carrying the analogy a bit far. Maybe it's just safer to keep a neat cockpit.
 
Use of space in a finite environment would be a great topic here. Anyone found a classy aftermarket cupholder or tiny trash bin?
 
Also, one thing I noticed first thing: The car is pretty darn tight and quiet. Anything loose will rattle, and you'll notice it. I hate that. You can't store CD's in the door bins: rattles.
 
Under floor in back: I'm using this area for breakdown stuff: towing strap, flares, tire pump, flash light, jumper cables and a good book.
 
BlockIslandGuy: Good news is that there IS a choice in AWD wagons. But the overwhelming choice seems to be the Subaru Outback, not the Volvo. I've been in three major "weather" cities this month: Portland, ME, Rochester, NY, and Reno, NV (Sierra passes). It's no contest, especially in snow belt Rochester. Most Saab wagons: Maine. Least (none) Reno.
 
Aside: As if you didn't know the target audience for Volvos, take a listen to Everclear's new song, "Volvo-Driving Soccer Mom."
 
If Volvo owns the right lane. Saab owns the left. "The Wall Street Journal" (6/6/03) reviewed the Volvo S60 ("A Fast Car for the Tweedy Set") and it seems they still have work to do. The reviewer wasn't bowled over with the car. A bit unrefined for all the horses.
 
Also, read my profile for some favorite websites.
 
Best,
Greg (retired and long winded. Sorry.)

#794 of 1081 bad vibrations.... by explorerx4

Jun 26, 2003 (5:47 pm)

would have the wheels checked. my wife's saab has twice lost wheel weights, which resulted in vibrations at highway speeds; rebalnce and everything is fine.
saab vs. volvo wagons... what took so long?
it will be just like soccer games.

#795 of 1081 Fauxpaws' Windshield Survey of AWD Wagons by blockislandguy

Jun 26, 2003 (7:19 pm)

Fauxpaws, another great post. You must have been an ad guy or writer in an earlier life.
 
I'm not surprised at the number of Saab wagons you saw in ME. There is a huge infrastructure of good, independent Saab shops. So many so that there are even TWO in China, ME! Mainers really got into Saabs years ago before there were other FWD let alone AWD cars. Now Suburus seem to have taken over especially for the under 40 crowd and those on fixed incomes. (Maine is a poor state, despite the new McMansions you see from Kittery to Portland. When you control for cost of living, ME is as poor as Mississippi with a similar economy-farming/fishing/Gov't shipbuilding.)

#797 of 1081 V70 T5 or Saab Aero Wagon?? by trapper7147

Jun 27, 2003 (7:19 am)

Saab Aero vs. Volvo V70 T5 (or 2.5T). I have been looking for a couple of months now. Tough decision, especially since Volvo has gone to scheduled maintenance at no charge for 2004. I am leaning towards the Saab but the Volvo seems like the rear cargo area is larger since the wheel wells dont intrude into the rear cargo compartment. Performance seems to be similar between the T5 and Aero. It is probably going to come down to price. Another plus with the Saab is that it doesnt carry as much of a "soccer mom" image.
 
Anyone else who has compared the two, I would be interested in your feedback.

Messages Page 80 of 109

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