Comments on: More official 9-5 pics

By: Rob

Rob — Thu, 13 Oct 2005 01:32:20 +0000

When will Saab put a dual symmetrical exhaust system in? That’s the one thing I reckon could make a Saab 9-3/9-5 look any better, a dual symmetrical exhaust like that on the Audi TT Quattro (or any of the quattro models).

By: Dan

Dan — Tue, 30 Aug 2005 11:37:29 +0000

The rear portion of the sportwagon reminds me of the Mercedes Benz E class wagon.

By: Pinovski

Pinovski — Tue, 30 Aug 2005 09:56:19 +0000

It’s looks OK for me. At least for now, but the tail light is very much like Toyota Altis which I hope Saab could realise about this and change it in the real model. Otherwise, Saab’s value must be in trouble for definitely sure.

By: Pavel

Pavel — Tue, 30 Aug 2005 09:27:36 +0000

And most of all I dislike this new hood. The old one had very simple clear design…

By: Pavel

Pavel — Tue, 30 Aug 2005 09:25:34 +0000

What a nightmare. To my mind, every single minor change they’ve made was a bad move. Especially the headlights, the unsaabiest design I can think of. Real disaster.
However, these are MINOR changes, and minor changes cannot that completely spoil an overall great car, can they?

By: TuuSaR

TuuSaR — Tue, 30 Aug 2005 09:03:36 +0000

I sure hope its going to be short lived.

By: Garris

Garris — Tue, 30 Aug 2005 07:51:55 +0000

Hi everyone. I’m a Saab admirer here, if not a “fan,” and never owned one, so this is an “outsider’s” perspective…

I have to say I guardedly (until I see it) like it. I’ve thought they’ve squeezed blood out of the rock of their current styling theme for a while. Being able to so easily (and effectively) graft their corporate front onto the 9-2 is evidence of how formula the theme has become, and the 9-3, while nice, is bordering on bland. Saab also doesn’t have a very distinctive rear design right now.

Michael Mauer, the until recent head designer there (now at Porsche), I read disliked the 9-3′s design, most of which was done before he arrived, and he thought things needed shaking up. I think this does it. It has a frosty, Scandinavian, IKEA-ish feel about it which is somewhat the opposite of the tortured, baroque themes of the other European makes of late (especially Mercedes, which I haven’t liked). I like this front motif even better squared off on the 9-6x spyshot.

With Mauer gone, though, who knows what will happen. This could be a short lived Saab theme.