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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 203 of 224

#2019 of 2237 Re: Wrong again... [saablcp] by tomw

Dec 20, 2005 (3:43 pm)

Replying to: saablcp (Dec 14, 2005 3:12 pm)
Well, it has to be better than the "stereo" in my 9-3 Linear, which is absolutely atrocious. Between what is an intentionally bad system - somebody approved it for production that way - and the other quality fiascos, I'm done with SAAB. When the lease is up in a couple of months, ADIOS!
 
This after a 2000 9-5 and a 2002 9-5 (my wife's). Both were great cars.
 
The 2006 9-5 is essentially a holdover that was designed before GM took full control of SAAB, so may be OK (if you can get past the headlight treatment that makes it look like it's wearing goggles).
 
But the 9-3 demonstrates that now that GM is in control, the content and quality is being ratcheted down to GM levels. NO THANKS.
 
Accorging to the car magazines, it appears that future SAAB's will essentially be re-badged Opels (in the same vein that the 9-7 is a re-badged TrailBlazer).
 
NO THANKS. I want a quality vehicle, not a GM vehicle!

#2020 of 2237 Re: Wrong again... [saablcp] by wthm

Dec 21, 2005 (7:59 am)

Replying to: saablcp (Dec 14, 2005 3:12 pm)
It would be nice if this bulletin board were restricted to customers only. Saablcp has stated that he is a Saab dealer, and therefore obviously is biased towards Saabs.
 
The leather is a subjective issue, but you cannot twist the facts that Saab 9-5's have had two major engine problems : ignition cassette failures and oil sludge, which federal govt forced Saab to admit these defects.
This has directly led to Consumer Reports downgrading
their reliability recommendations.
 
Combined with this is the poor customer service at many
dealers in the Boston area (Reading MA, Andover MA,etc),
and I have registered a complaint with the local BBB
about the Andover shop. My Toyota and Acura dealers have
been great in contrast.....I believe I am neutral since
I dont sell cars : I am an internist who simply wants
reliable transportation.

#2021 of 2237 Dealer/non-dealer non issue by saablcp

Dec 22, 2005 (9:37 am)

All of my posts regarding the 9-5 have been reasonably free of pro Saab bias.I try and stick to the facts and dispute and challenge that which I consider to be opinions stated as fact and factual misrepresentations .You have stated that Saab has de-contented the car....I challenged you to make a list to counter my list of additions to the model.Your response....no response.The Consumer reports recomendaton of the car is a matter of record.Your opinion regarding the Leather is totally subjective and my response was only to point that fact out.You also misfired on the audio system which was and still is done by Harmon Kardon.

#2022 of 2237 Re: Wrong again... [wthm] by pat

Dec 22, 2005 (9:39 am)

Replying to: wthm (Dec 21, 2005 7:59 am)
We have a lot of very helpful salespeople hanging out in the Forums. They are a valuable part of our community. And for the record, I've seen several salespeople state that they like and/or drive cars other than what they are selling. I don't think you can just automatically assume bias.

#2023 of 2237 I like my 9.5 by pearson244

Dec 22, 2005 (10:17 am)

Wow, did not realize so many bad vibes on the 9.5. I have a certified 2001 V-6 (been off warrenty for 1 year now) and it has been a great experience, esp. compared to my prior Audi's. At 74K two repairs off warrenty were a front R wheel bearing and new battery. It is a great winter car (Maine) and the dealership is great with nice Saab loaners. I get 29 mpg highway and 19 around Portland, mainly stop and go crap. Love the stereo, the automatic heater function when car parked (keeps dogs warm up to hour at 25F in winter, tons of room with seat down, and car has been dead reliable. Anyway, sorry to hear of all the problems as I have been recommending 9.5's to all my friends. I am planning to get Certified 2001-2002 V-6 Wagon next year as those have the vented seats and the weather band radio (which is use all the time during sailing season) and they are cheap. Finally, did get a recall on the Cassette but installation not until March.
 
  

#2024 of 2237 Salesman's insight... by saablcp

Dec 23, 2005 (9:32 am)

Here's a generalization based on 21yrs.sales experience:The two groups of people who make internet posts regarding their cars are those who LOVE their cars and those who HATE their cars.The vast majority of owners who fall in between are largely unheard from.They vote with their dollars, expressed as brand loyalty.For the most part Saab owners are intensely loyal.Those who post negative experiences outnumber the positive posters by a huge majority .That is largely attributable to basic human nature.Ever listen to sports talk radio the Monday after your football team loses vs the day after a win?Which scenario generates more callers and more passion?The other result of our extreme dependence on our cars in this society is the opinion we form when our ONE car lets us down,inconveniences us and disrupts our day to day routine....not MY car (singular) is a lemon,no....these CARS(plural,as in every one ever built!!)are lemons!Just one man's view from the trenches!

#2025 of 2237 my review after test driving the 2006 9-5 by minarets1

Dec 24, 2005 (7:24 am)

i had seen some pics and thought the new redesigned 2006 looked better and caught my eye more then the older 9-5. now i am not gonna lie, i am not a saab loyalist...i have never owned one and just as recently as the new 9-3 even became interested. maybe this is why Saab did what they did,--to bring in more then just the loyalists.
 
anyway, on to the drive.
 
upon approach the car is very low to the ground. the front end is very long and "beak-ish" if you will. the wheels look good but imo, need to be 18's. i beleive the 9-3 has 18s and the 9-5 is a bigger car and has a lot of gap to fill. the Pirreli tires are nice, but replacemet will be expensive. the grill looks good to me and the headlights , for some reason, appeals to me. i wish the US version could get rid of the amber corners. i do hate we have to have those on cars here.
 
the back end looks good, but i dont care for the cheap looking plastic covers on the tailights--the rippled red covers do not appeal to me.
 
i entered the car and for you who may be worried about traditional saab headrests, they are still there. i have seen some mention on some boards that Saab "GM-ized" the headrests--no worries. the seats were comfortable as always. Volvo still makes the best seats in the biz, but these were nice, no doubt. i for one do not like the extremely busy 9-3 dash. too many buttons! the 9-5 has "GM-ized" the dash some, but for the complainers, i think its for the better. the only thing it lacks imo is the temp dispay for dual zones. the dials are easy to reach and read. i like it. i bet the NAV looks better--the pics i have seen looked better, imo. the drive was nice. i am always amazed at how Saab's 4 cylinder engines put out. always could add more power, but the 260 is plenty for passing and needed fun. the steering wheel is good.
 
back seat always could use more room, but again, plenty for the class and size of the car. i love the car colored door-handles. i hate the black ones, and i am glad the 9-5 doesnt have the black plastic piece running the side and back of the car much like the 9-3 has.
 
overall i was impressed. i am 25 and will soon be in the market for a new car. i must admit i am after the Lucerne right now...of all things--a Buick for a 25 year old, but the new 9-5 does appeal to me. its an odd bird. always has been and still is, just less odd.

#2026 of 2237 Saab GM talk is played, get over it by smu1976

Dec 26, 2005 (10:29 pm)

You know, I really get tired of the GM/Saab talk. Hey guys, platforms are platforms. The 9-3 and 9-5 are Saabs.
The 9-2 and 9-7 we know is rebadged, but every manufacturer has done this since the 1940's. Maybe your not familiar with the cars like Camaro and Firebird?
Ford owns jag, same tired post there, GM make a Vette, nobody bitchn there? Ford makes the GT, no bitchn there. But you talk about a 20-40K car and everybody pinches their pennies thinking they can drive a Malibu and get the ride of the new 9-3 combi V6 turbo. If you like it, buy it
GM will have the new Camaro out in 28 months, you won't bitch about it either. If thats the platform for the new Saab 9-5 will you bitch? GM saved Saab, so there would be no Saabs left. Plenty of work for Sweedes and Germans cause of GM. Saab will outlive all of us, either drive one, drive something else, but please, we all know the corporate structures. Hey I took a bath on GM stock, took a batch on 4 Saab retained value vs a Honda Accord, but I sure enjoyed my time behind the wheel. PS, the NSX is sooo old, you need to try a GM Vette for half the price and twice the performance. New NSX next year maybe.

#2027 of 2237 I'm enjoying our new Saab 9-5 Sportwagon by deacane1

Dec 28, 2005 (3:22 pm)

I bought a 9-5 Sportwagon after reading the good reviews in Consumer Report. It rated highly with only the Acura TL and Lexus ES300 getting the same high marks; yet neither of those companies make a wagon. We love the wagon so far; unfortunately too much because we are WAY WAY over on the lease mileage. So far so good. No sob stories here.

#2028 of 2237 Re: Dealer/non-dealer non issue [saablcp] by bahamamoe

Dec 31, 2005 (11:08 am)

Replying to: saablcp (Dec 22, 2005 9:37 am)
I had a 900 turbo in 1990. it was a great car which unfortunatly was crushed by a tractor trailer. I bought a new 9-5 in august. Its an arc with harmon kardon stereo. We had to remove the radio for some service and it is labeled panasonic on the back. Its performance is mediocre. The engine runs well. paddle shifters are a joke, fuel economy is good, suspension is a farce. The car bottoms out in road dips. It handles like a boat. No driver feedback. Mushy ride. very dissapointed....Captain mike

Messages Page 203 of 224

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