Comments on: Aussie 9-5 BioPower review

By: Ronald

Ronald — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 00:25:51 +0000

I really don’t understand why people complain about the 9-5′s age. I mean, every other Saab in history was about 10 years old before replacement (9000 anyone…). Its just a Saab thing. We should embrace it.

Besides the Car has gone through 2 facelifts already, a mild one in 2002 and a (only 3 years old) and another one 4 yrs later, in ’06. In person, it really does look new and “fresh”. More years in production= less problems. Just ask VW. XD

By: Edonis

Edonis — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 20:09:01 +0000

Bought a 9-5 Estate new in 2004, for a little less than an BMW 520i or Audi A6 cost, and although those have gotten better reviews, I’m glad I don’t have a german in my garage. But today, I wouldn’t have bought a 9-5 new, it’s just simply too old.

One thing I noticed from the comments-field in those reviews is that people complain about the poor resale values Saabs have in Australia. Here in Norway, they hold their value pretty well. LeasePlan, a company leasing out cars said the 9-5 Estate was the car in its category which kept it’s value the best, although this was two years ago or so.

The second reviewer got me pretty annoyed, he didn’t seem to know what he was talking about, especially when it came to the emmision figures etc.

By: Hot Aero

Hot Aero — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 16:13:32 +0000

Reading the review, whilst in part there is some truth but can’t agree its all true. Personally I think the shape has aged well, in fact the BMW does have some styling cues which resemble the 9-5 in some angles such as the raked the front and more sport look its predecessor. Whilst the 9-5 has been due for a face lift, long due maybe it not entirely true. The S-type which was released a year after the 9-5 has just released its new XF, and that is still based on the old s-type chasiss; and lets not forget the brand has been brought by mass cheap car maker TATA. As a brand consultant, there is not many companies who can pull off buying a premium brand when they have inferior and low cost brands. GM is an example of its handling of the Saab brand; yet GM can be regarded as more premium brand than TATA.

I also agreed with Cdp88′s comment, had this car been an Aero it may have been a different story.

By: cdp88

cdp88 — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 12:58:53 +0000

The 9-5 is a bit of an easy target for reviewers. I own one but I didn’t buy it new and to be honest it is hard to justify spending the new car price for a 9-5. I’d probably buy a 9-3 instead.

But perhaps if SAAB had given them the Aero it might have been a different review. Even TTAC found some things to like in the 9-5 Aero and I think the extra power and sharpened handling would have gone down well.