Comments on: Saab 9-5: The TS Edition

By: gordon lindeen

gordon lindeen — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 20:22:35 +0000

From the American perspective, we see the Japanese and VW with constant special models that are just discount priced option combinations. Steve Shannon’s comment sounded a little like that. Your ideas are much better Swade. Here are some more.

First, with 300HP, you need/want a limited slip differential. (Also nice in our snow) Abbott and Quaife already have one.

Second, I would like to hear an exhaust note to remind us of an ’83 or ’78 Turbo. I like my single exhaust that screams in-line motor (unusual in the US) but I know the Europeans love the duals.

Third, I would be tempted if when I open the door, I immediately think, this is something very special. The number one issue with the 9-5 is the look and feel of the materials inside. While very practical, compared to a BMW/Audi/Mercedes/Volvo, the interior just looks cheaper, to say nothing of the AMG, BMW Individual, etc., so I would add a new top dash cover and door panels in a material that puts the old S60R to shame. This could be the unique luxury leather from the seats with colored inserts and contrasting stitching or some unique material that screams Scandinavian design and that people will still talk about in 20 years.

Fourth, how about upgraded audio? It might not be too hard to develop a Dynaudio or Bang and Olufsen speaker kit that completely fills all the speaker holes in the car. The speaker grilles in the new door panels could announce the uniqueness of the speakers. (e.g. bright rings and a Dynaudio label.) Of course, the car has the speakers for a 5.1 system but that is an expensive electronics upgrade.

As for color, SAAB just did Black on the TurboX, how about something light and airy? Red and Beige is nice, but I bet those designers can come up with something even more striking. I am partial to colors that go with navy blue trim.

Having recently acquired a 9-5 Linear, I would also be delighted if any of this results in parts that I can graft onto my car.

By: mange75

mange75 — Sat, 27 Oct 2007 13:45:31 +0000

i belive it should this seats on page 6 black and beige

By: Grackle

Grackle — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 06:38:12 +0000

Amen brother Swade; I agree with you down the line– except for the part about the wagon– I agree with other posters in that some of the lines are off– that, and I’d never drive a wagon, (not even an AMG Mercedes) no matter how cool the mechanicals are. If Saab made the TS version in sedan form, they’d have my deposit as soon as the introductory press conference was finished.

By: Jeff

Jeff — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 05:56:39 +0000

I didn’t like it before the facelift. I’ve just never been a fan of the 9-5 wagon. I think they need to do something along the lines of the 9000 hatch next time.

By: 1985 Gripen

1985 Gripen — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 01:33:24 +0000

I went back to look into the Aero-X's color and found that we'd already had this discussion here a while back. I believe that the definitive answer was that both the Aero-X and the BioPower100 were indeed Snow Silver rather than Arctic or Polar White. What is a color though really? I think scientists would define a color by the wavelength of light which is absorbed by it (therefore reflecting all other colors), right? I would like the metal trim on my 9⁵ Turbo S to be gunmetal color, please. Including the side mirrors and those pseudo 3-spoke wheels.

By: jc7222

jc7222 — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 01:27:50 +0000

You know I truly believe that the 9-5 is the best car Saab made before this new 9-3. I didn’t like the new look but, must admit that it has grown on me. This morning I passed a black one… wow that is one menacing looking car.
It particularly looks at night. It makes you look to see what it is.
I really believe that Saab’s biggest problems is that the cars are unknown. If i had a penny for every time someone was breaking their necks to figure out what I was driving, I’d be rich. And if I had a penny for the complements my 9-5 (stock everything) Aero gets, I could buy a real jet (joke).

By: mange75

mange75 — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 23:56:01 +0000

isent that seat only a 9-5 A60 sport blue/black seat

By: robin m

robin m — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 22:30:49 +0000

ehaii1, you are right about the polar white. i meant artic white. it is so much more whiter imho. thats the white i would like

By: ehall1

ehall1 — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 22:25:08 +0000

I picked up a Polar White 9-5 Aero sedan in July. Love it. I too noticed that the Hirsch kit could raise it up to 300hp. This is what they should have put in the new 9-3 Turbo X, the Hirsch-ed 300hp 2.3.

By: robin m

robin m — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 21:54:14 +0000

Gripen, the Aero X was snow silver i think you will find. it was very much silver not white. At the moment (unless I’ve got it wrong) Polar white is only available on the 9-3 convertible.