Ask the Car People.SM


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 183 of 225

#1816 of 2237 Re: saab problems [ffb13] by peterson33

Jan 22, 2005 (6:13 pm)

Replying to: ffb13 (Jan 12, 2005 8:32 pm)
I feel for the people with problem vehicles. I had a Chevy Blazer than was a nightmare.
 
But I leased a 2000, 9.3 that didn't have any problems - i miss that car.
 
I now have a 2002 9.5 Areo that has had only very minor problems. A headlight fell out while driving and scratched up the paint - the power cables kept it from falling off, so it bounced around until I stopped.
 
The Aero is FUN to drive but I wouldn't get another with auto trans - because it vibrates at idle. It's bad enough that it makes me put it in neutral at every red light.
 
Does anyone know?... Can you put modern tire chains on the factory delivered tires? I live in Raleigh and I won't drive in snow but we get a lot of ice. I don't think snow tires would help when it's very icy.

#1817 of 2237 saab corporate is non-responsive by j umberger

Jan 25, 2005 (2:57 pm)

I agree that with any make/model you run the risk of getting a car with problems, but the big difference is how a company responds to them when they do arise. Saab has done nothing but blow us off. You cannot get anywhere past the call center, and the reps there are empowered to do nothing. Most companies are now smart enough to know that the best way to differentiate themselves is to get closer to their customers, not push them further away. The truth is, most complaints come from passionate customers who are the only ones who take the time to speak up. Most of the time, it's the most valuable input a company can receive.
Perhaps part of my frustration is because I know some automakers are getting it right - we have had the exact opposite experience with Audi. The few problems we have had we hardly remember because Audi calls us after every visit to make sure our needs were addressed and we're 100% satisfied. That's how loyal customers are created.

#1818 of 2237 Snow belt Aeros by wintercruisr

Jan 26, 2005 (5:19 am)

Hi folks,
 
I want to get rid of my gas guzzling Landcruiser and get back into a SAAB; last one was a 96 9000CSE, a blast but always breaking down. Hope to get 03 Aero within next few months.
 
Question is how will it handle snowy winters (Vermont for me) even with winter wheels and snow tires. I am tempted to get a Volvo S60 AWD but have always wanted an aero. If you depend on your aero in the snow belt I'd like to hear your observations. Thanks!

#1819 of 2237 Re: saab problems [peterson33] by bcool

Jan 26, 2005 (11:32 am)

Replying to: peterson33 (Jan 22, 2005 6:13 pm)
I just tried a set of SCC Super Z-6 cables on the front tires of my Aero - 225-45/17's. There was some interference (clank clank clank) while making turns. It may be that the Z-6 135's were just a loose fit. I'm going to try the smaller 133's. If that doesn't work, I may have to go to the smaller 16 inch tires.

#1820 of 2237 Re: Snow belt Aeros [wintercruisr] by rworrell

Jan 26, 2005 (9:59 pm)

Replying to: wintercruisr (Jan 26, 2005 5:19 am)
We're on our second 9-5 Aero wagon in Minnesota and, with snow tires, the car is fantastic in the snow (you know it comes with summer tires, not all-seasons, I'm presuming). We run the OEM winter setup, which is alloy wheels with Gislaved snows--I just change them out twice a year--on around Thanksgiving, off around Easter. The first Aero was a stick and no problems. Our current one (my wife's car this time) is an '03 automatic. The year is important because '03 was the last year they offered Winter mode (starts in 2nd and seems to accelerate a little more gently). I went to Aero Academy last year after we bought it (if you get an Aero, definitely go to Aero Academy) and asked the Saab exec why they had discontinued the Winter mode. He admitted it was cost-cutting, but that with the Sensotronic (fake manual), it wasn't necessary. The more I think about it, though, the Winter mode is nice--if you're in stop-and-go traffic in a newer Aero, you'd constantly have to be shifting up to 2nd at starts. With Winter mode, it's taken care of.
 
Either way, a Saab 9-5 Aero with snows is a joy to drive in winter. We took ours up to northern Minnesota to go skiing a couple of weeks ago and drove it during a heavy snow at night on our way out to dinner. The car felt like it was on tank tracks. Go for it--you'll love it!
 
Let me know if you have any questions.
 
Oh, and far as fuel economy goes, we got just over 33 mpg in the snow with snow tires on. We made the same drive last summer and got just shy of 35 mpg. The interior is a little noisy (it's our 4th Saab--they all rattle and creak), but it's a fantastic car.

#1821 of 2237 snow belt aeros (rworrell) by wintercruisr

Jan 27, 2005 (5:08 am)

Thanks for the comments re. aero in snow. My old saabs did ok in snow too but after awd in Landcruiser, you start driving like the snow isn't even there. I used to run studded Hakkas on 900's and 9000's and they ran great in winter. Makes sense aero would be the same.
 
Did you consider the awd volvo xc70? Just curious as to why or why not compared to aero wagon. Thanks.

#1822 of 2237 Re: snow belt aeros (rworrell) [wintercruisr] by rworrell

Jan 27, 2005 (9:13 pm)

Replying to: wintercruisr (Jan 27, 2005 5:08 am)
Two big problems for us with the Volvo:
 
1) The styling--with all the black cladding, it's just trying too hard to be something other than a wagon. It's kind of like an Audi allroad--if you're going to drive a wagon, drive a wagon. Black plastic doesn't make the car look tough, just like you're hiding something.
 
2) Reliability--my company gets Ford supplier pricing, my wife's gets GM--not too bad a deal, eh? So, I considered the Volvo, but then started reading complaints (brickboard.com, etc.) from actual owners. I know it's all second-hand (so no flames, please!), but right now, I'd have to say Volkswagen, Audi and Volvo are all on my "too unreliable to consider" list.
 
Also, I'm really not all that sold on awd. With modern road maintenance (plowing responsiveness, salt/chemical application, etc.) and modern snow tires, awd (even in the snowy northern plains of MN) would only truly be helpful a few times a year. The entire rest of the year, you're paying for those few days with the extra weight of awd. A balanced car with snows and some electronic aids is all we need here (my own car is a BMW 330--RWD, but with a 50/50 balance, DSC and Dunlop winter sport tires).
 
Probably more than you wanted to know, but there you have it.

#1823 of 2237 Re: snow belt aeros (rworrell) [rworrell] by j umberger

Jan 28, 2005 (6:23 pm)

Replying to: rworrell (Jan 27, 2005 9:13 pm)
surprised to see you think Saab is more reliable than Volvo or Audi
 
My A4 has been a dream - zero problems
My wife's 9-5 is a total lemon...
 
Resale on both Audi and Volvo is among the best out there, Saab is among the worst

#1824 of 2237 Audi/VW by r34

Jan 28, 2005 (9:14 pm)

That's strange too. I heard more Audi/VW problems than other European makes (well, MB seems to have more and more problems now). For VW, it is too famous for reliability problems.
 
I heard that Saab (BMW too but it depends on the model years) is on the top of the most reliability European brands (I heard that Saab is the most reliability European brand). I heard that Audi has good resale value but I have never heard that Audi, VW, or Volvo are reliable

#1825 of 2237 MB by rworrell

Jan 28, 2005 (10:35 pm)

Good point on MB--not only is their reliability decreasing, they are also de-contenting their cars (i.e. no more seat memory, etc. because they can't get the electronics working correctly), but they have also stopped offering free scheduled maintenance.
 
BMW was the first marque we bought from that offered free scheduled maintenance, and theirs is very generous--even includes consumables like wiper blades and brake pads. Most of the other luxury brands have followed suit. For MB to drop it speaks volumes to me about how expensive it has been for them to maintain their current vehicles--for them to remove features says even more.
 
I read an interesting comment about MB around two years ago. Not an exact quote, but something like: "Mercedes used to be designed and built by engineers and the cars cost what they cost; now they're designed by marketers and the engineers have to fit within that budget."
 
J Umbgerger: I can only say that this is our fourth Saab and they have never had a major problem other than a dead battery. There have been some quirks with HVAC or squeaks, but they have been just great cars for us in terms of always being ready to drive when we need them. I don't quibble with you on the A4--I test drove one when I bought my 3er and I loved it...but the reliability complaints just scared me away. I'm glad to hear you've had such good luck with yours--maybe things are getting better over there and I can add them back to our next shopping list. They certainly have the most beautiful and livable interiors in the business.
 
As far as Saabs go, most of the reliability problems came right after GM bought out the company and introduced the new designs--'94-'96 are very bad years for Saabs and that reputation has followed them.

Messages Page 183 of 225

To POST a message, please Sign In.

Advertisement

Browse by Category

Browse by Vehicle
   View All Vehicles

Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
View All Topics

Edmunds Community

Advertisement