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Saab 9-5 Sedan

2237 messages,  Last post on Jul 17, 2012 at 6:08 PM

You are in the Saab 9-5 Forum.

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

Messages Page 173 of 224

#1717 of 2237 Re: What about it then? [cwmozart #1704] by aerodriver

Jun 22, 2004 (10:44 pm)

Replying to: cwmozart (Jun 08, 2004 9:00 pm)
My 2002 9-5, with admittedly low mileage, has been reliable to a fault. I haven't done any maintenance beyond the warranty-required services (shame on me). Nor have any components failed or caused me any worry. My previous 1996 9000CS had only a handful of minor warranty repairs performed over its 90,000-mile lifespan with me. I think there are plenty of Saab owners out there with similarly positive experiences; unfortunately, they're never heard from on message boards like these.

#1718 of 2237 Thanks Aerodriver by cwmozart

Jun 23, 2004 (8:31 pm)

Good point. Online boards seem to bring out the bile in some folks, and to be fair I haven't viewed the Edmunds entries for other foreign makes yet. Interestingly, my insurance only went up about 70 bucks a year as I traded a 14-year-old Volvo with 182K, for a 3-year-old 9-5 with 27K. This says much about their recognized safety standards. No need to purchase a bike rack, either. The trunk and fold-down seats easily accomodate my other wheels. My only complaint about the 9-5 is, yes, the body roll when cornering. But in contrast to others' remarks, I don't find the torque steer at all problematic. Having owned a Scirocco way back when, I was more concerned about hydroplaning during storms. Saab seems to have really refined front wheel drive,

#1719 of 2237 2003 AERO RELIABILITY by teechee

Jun 25, 2004 (5:52 am)

I have owned a 1996 9000CS and now a 2003 Aero which has a little over 25, 000 miles in over a year and a couple of months. I just replaced the front brake pads. I did it myself and took less than 45 minutes. If you are somewhat mechanically inclined the brake job is fairly easy to perform with the proper tools. I have had a check engine light come on that was cleared by the dealership after two attempts. I just replaced a cracked tire due to a pot hole, and I recently had the dealership tighten the front window sills as they were jittery on door closings. I love my Aero and really couldn't dream of a more delightful car. A recent review of I believe Car and Driver ranked the BMW 5 series as a relatively lousy car at $50,000 plus. Then there's the Mercedes at $55,000 plus. Give me my Aero any day at $35,000. It might not be perfect, but last time I checked there was not a problem free car available. And the sight, speed, and smoothness of the vehicle is beyond awesome. I look forward to many happy miles with the car. I am however considering a new wheel and tire package for the future. Happy Motoring and God's Blessings to all.

#1720 of 2237 Not Giving Up by yoreet1

Jul 02, 2004 (9:40 am)

Driving: 99' SAAB 9-5
Mileage: 75 K
Problems: None until 2003.
Then it became a nightmare. I have a catastrophic failure of A/C Compressor and Clutch. Shortly before then I bought an Extended Warranty for 100K at Nationwide Warranty. WARNING: Don't BUY IT! The warranty is administered by MBA DIRECT out of Scotsdale, AZ and they don't give a damn about your car. All they want is to have your money.
Bottom line- they installed an after-market compressor that broke this year again! In addition I have a problem with brakes' hydrolics and a small transmission leak.
But....I do not intend to give up on my car (for now:-)) because I love it. Driving and handling characteristics are superb. And it's a true SAAB machine, built in Sweden and not somewhere in Michigan

#1721 of 2237 Don't throw in the towel, Yoreet by cwmozart

Jul 02, 2004 (8:59 pm)

The problems you mention don't sound that uncommon for a 75K car, especially one from the first model year of 9-5's. For warranty issues it might be best to take it to a dealer or a Swedish specialist. I say this cautiously, of course, as all my problems are still down the road (I'm at only 28K). I haven't heard of Nationwide Warranty. There's an outfit called Guardian which was recommended to me by a shop that only works on Swedish autos. Keep the faith.

#1722 of 2237 Pinging of engine by cwmozart

Jul 05, 2004 (8:20 pm)

On hearing a pinging from the engine during acceleration, can I assume this is because I am currently using regular-grade gas and not premium? I also have dumped some injector cleaner in to mix with about half a tank. I am starting to think that high-test is the only way to go with the 9-5's. Anyone else had this happen?

#1723 of 2237 Buying Car At End Of Lease by dmb0705

Jul 08, 2004 (1:32 pm)

Does anyone have experience buying their leased Saab from Saab Finance at the end of the lease term?
 
My '01 9-5 lease ends in a few weeks. When I called Saab a month ago to ask if they would be willing to reduce the buy-out price at lease end, I was told absolutely not. They said they didn't negotiate, but if I didn't buy at lease-end Saab would offer my car to the local dealer. Saab implied I may be able to get a better price through the dealer.
 
I decided to call Saab Finance a couple days ago just for grins, and they dropped the price by $800.
 
Can anyone share their experience? I'm still debating whether to buy the car or get something else.
 
Thanks.

#1724 of 2237 Re: Hey Ponytrekker [cwmozart] by saabzerphun

Jul 10, 2004 (9:16 pm)

Replying to: cwmozart (Jun 09, 2004 9:05 pm)
Hey there cwmozart,
 
  I have owned 4 SAABs; all have been solid and safe, quick and balanced, fun and reliable. My experience with the local dealer has been unsettling. The factory-trained tech seems to only want to R&R (remove and replace) malfunctioning components. In my Wisconsin city, there is a local devotee of SAABs whose mission in life is to sell & service used SAABs (only). I buy from him and have all non-warranty service done at his shop. I own a Volvo, too. A similar "Import Car Repair" servicer for that car is a good find whenever you purchase a hard or expen$ive to repair import. One such servicer exist in this area, too. I have told my children to find the servicer that satisfies them before they purchase a used import. I think that is a good policy for everyone.
 
   I have had two accidents in my SAABs and will never buy another vehicle. One was an "off-road" experience when I fell asleep and the other was a van that t-boned me at 35 mph (I called 911, opened the door, and climbed out of the ditch). Both verified the sturdiness of SAABs and the degree the designers went to develop safety systems that work perfectly. I am still driving the "off road" vehicle that was repaired perfectly and drives as new.

#1725 of 2237 Back at you, Saab Zerphun by cwmozart

Jul 10, 2004 (9:50 pm)

Thanks for the interesting ownership history. I've had only Volkswagens and Volvos up until my 9-5, and it's certainly the best car I have owned. Someone on another auto chatroom said perhaps GM got smart and gave Saab the resources and the support to engineer and build something truly excellent in the 9-5. Where I live (Virginia outside Washington), you can't believe how many 9-3's are on the road. European car sales are quite high here; however the 9-5 has only recently started being seen in larger numbers. There's a fair group of repair shops, and 2 dealerships (Virginia and Maryland). My relationship with them is only beginning. How are Saabs in the snow, since Wisconsin was mentioned? Volvos are awful.

#1726 of 2237 Re: Back at you, Saab Zerphun [cwmozart] by saabzerphun

Jul 12, 2004 (12:16 pm)

Replying to: cwmozart (Jul 10, 2004 9:50 pm)
Dear CeeDub,
 
   It does snow quite a bit here. Since I moved up here, I've purchased only front-wheel drive vehicles (except for a disastrous 1980 LeBaron that my dad from Cincinnati sold to me at a very low price). In this climate, all four wheels need snow tires and I have had four per vehicle since around 1986. All-season does not cut it here. In March, when it warmed, melted, froze, then snowed about 6-8 inches, I was the only vehicle on the road making any headway. The TCS is a great feature unless you are in a hurry.
 
   I have read that the 9-3, up until its current iteration, was not a very safe car, being based upon an Opel design; it crash-tested poorly. This fact was not well-publicized by GM. In snowy weather, the 9-5 is the big dog on the road, with a set of Gislaveds or Arctic Alpins as your contact patch. I've purchased from my local SAAB devotee and from the Tire Rack with no problems whatsoever. Our Volvo is a turbo, too; it has an automatic, though. I don't feel as in control in the snow in it. My 9-5 is an Aero with a 5-speed. IJDGNB.

Messages Page 173 of 224

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