I bought my saab 9-5 2.3t 4 years ago and it was a high mileage second hand car at the time and I'm only just thinking about replacing it. This car is superb.
I bought it after owning a saab 9000i which I found to be very comfortable and reliable and the saab 9-5 is no different. Although the servicing costs are relatively high I have only once had a problem with the engine and this is in a car which is fast approaching 200000 miles on the clock. Many of those miles I have put on myself, in comfort, travelling around the motorways of Britian and Europe.
And this is where the 9-5 is meant to be. It cruises along with no effort at 70 mph and pulls away when you put your foot down as easily as it pulls away at the lights. It also pulls away easily from 80 or 90 mph and in the passanger compartment, with the saab stereo, climate control and power steering your comfort level doesn't change, in fact its very hard to believe the speed your doing without looking at the speedo. And this is because its a big, heavy, motorway machine.
Driving it around town and trying to park it at the local supermarket is hard work. The massive boot, where you can store your whole families luggage for a two week holiday, makes reverse parking a trial of judgement, skill and experience. Finding a parking space you can fit all of the car in with absolutely no overhang is basically impossible and driving at 30 mph is torture to the poor car. You can only just drive in fourth gear at 30 without causing it to stall. However it does have a good turning circle for a car of its size.
So if you want a car to use for longer journeys this is one I would recomend. It is a great car.
If you want a car for the school run and shopping around town I would suggest that buying a 9-5 would be a mistake.
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Estate - Front (FWD) - 5 Speed Automatic, 5 Speed Manual - 2290 cc - Max Speed: 143 mph - 220 bhp - Petrol - Available Trims: Linear, Linear Sport, Vector, Vector Sport
Saloon - Front (FWD) - 5 Speed Manual Gearbox - 1796 cc - Max Speed: 123 mph - 122 bhp - Petrol - Available Trims: Airflow, Linear, Vector, Vector Sport, Linear SE
Advantages: Extremely comfortable, with generous amounts of leg-room in both front and back of car. Disadvantages: The exterior styling may not be to everyones taste.
KieranBal 12.08.2008 ·
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Review of Saab9-52.3 HOT
Jan 4th, 2007
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