Edmunds dealer partner, Bayway Leasing, is now offering transparent lease deals via these forums. Click here to see May lease deals!
Options
Popular New Cars
Popular Used Sedans
Popular Used SUVs
Popular Used Pickup Trucks
Popular Used Hatchbacks
Popular Used Minivans
Popular Used Coupes
Popular Used Wagons
Comments
One question...what's your feeling about Cosmic Blue for a color choice? The salesman and my male friend sputtered and coughed at this...I think it might be unique...hmmmph.
Can't say that I've seen that color on our local dealer's lot. The color (from the Saab website) looks alot like a blue Sienna minivan I say around town today -- I'll agree its unique, but IMHO, it doesn't seem like a color for a car. But hey, look at all the color options for the Audi A4's!
IMO I would get either the green-silver or cayenne red. (One's more classy the other more sporty, and they're both not too common).
BTW, who are you getting your car from and what kind of deal are you getting?
George
Can't say that I've seen that color on our local dealer's lot. The color (from the Saab website) looks alot like a blue Sienna minivan I saw around town today -- I'll agree its unique, but IMHO, it doesn't seem like a color for a car. But hey, look at all the color options for the Audi A4's!
IMO I would get either the green-silver or cayenne red. (One's more classy the other more sporty, and they're both not too common).
BTW, who are you getting your car from and what kind of deal are you getting?
George
The reason you have not seen a Cosmic Blue wagon on your dealer's lot. (if you are on the east coast) is that, there aren't any! That's what one dealer told me. Hmmm...perhaps this should tip me off. There is also a midnight blue, nice, very close to black though. The cosmic is a bit lighter than a royal blue ( geesh, now I sound like Myrna Loy)
I have only been to one dealer so far and they offered me $1,500 off. Dosen't seem like a great break, but seems like the Saab dealers never budge much.I am ordering cloth seats and standard which brings it to about 31G. perhaps you could give me some pointers.
Marcie
Aside from the generic advice of shopping around (generally limited by how many Saab dealers are in your area) and negotiating from the invoice price up, you may want to try this online Saab dealer located in Lancaster, PA (near you???).
Check out http://www.buysaabonline.com
Once you fill out a request form for the specific vehicle you're interested in, they will display their standard quote -- which is roughly 3% above invoice cost. I haven't tried to negotiate with them yet. However, they have been prompt about responding to my inquiries.
Also, although the quote you got doesn't sound great in general terms, you have to consider what you are trying to purchase. This is not a Honda Accord or Chevy Cavalier y'know ?!?! -- so I would'nt expect invoice price or cash incentives.
What also makes your purchase somewhat more difficult is your desire for a manual trans and cloth interior. These two features are less attractive in this "near luxury" car segment. Not to say that its impossible, but a wagon with these items is unlikely to be sitting on many dealers lot. Therefore, dealers are probably less likely to bargain with you.
Oh BTW, one more thing, if you have the interest, time, and extra $$$ for a European Vacation, consider Saab's IDS program. That way you can get a customized wagon right off the assembly line and a nice trip too!!
I finally made the decision and have ordered the manual in Cosmic Blue with leather seats. I wasn't thrilled about the leather though, seems like it might be sticky in the summer and cold in the winter . In addition, I didn't want to be responsible for the demise of our wide-eyed friends. I have spoken to some owners of leather interior and they assure me they hold up well , heat quickly, and are not being killed specifically for my car ... thus, I have dubbed my new car " Cosmic Cow" catchy ?
Spence530 in response to your question, you should test drive the manual. I can't speak in technical terms, but I can tell you that I drove both the V6 and the manual. I found the manual very zippy and held the road beautifully. I feel I have more control over a car with a manual especially in the snow Personally, I don't like a car that takes off by itself and the V6 felt that way to me. The mileage is better I believe and how much more power do we really need?
marcie
Were you able to find a better deal than the $1500 off invoice you mentioned previously?
You didn't happen to lease your car did you??? (if so, what were the terms)
George
Thank you. Well, They didn't do much better than the $1500. They knocked off a few hundred on the bike hitch and rack. I told this guy I thought they ought to throw the heated seats in too,seeing as they were always inclusive before. he laughed at me. No, I didn't lease, I do quite a bit of driving so it wouldn't have been cost effective for me. I have been searching since last October for a car and I was tired of haggling so I decided to decide...now if the teamsters are good boys I should be sporting around within 6 weeks.
Marcie
I'm new to Saabs. How do you think they compare in reliability and durability to something like a Honda or Toyota?
Ken
The 9-5 wagon really is a nice vehicle and you should definitely consider it. The engine is something to die for especially in the V-6 form. As far as thrill to drive factor might influence your decission the Saab is the car to have, but the depreciation is steep. Buy the car because you love it not because you think its the smart buy. This is a car for the passionate and the enthusiast.
V70: Tried base model and the R version. Former was wheezy and later was too stiff for day-to-day. Both felt heavy in handling. I think that if I was going to drive a Volvo station wagon I would try to find the guy to whom I sold my 240 (5 speed) these many years ago.
9-5: Sweet machine. In normal driving almost zip difference between the 4 and 6 cyl. engines. On the highway, the 6 was a little quieter and passed a little quicker. Considering what most other companies charge to add a pair of cylinders, I'm not sure I see a reason to go with the 4. Am I missing something here?
A4: Quatro, Tiptronic - lots of fun. But... To how much pain do I want to subject the back seat passangers? The smaller size isn't a problem for us per se but it's hard to justify given the price tag.
Any other thoughts out there?
Performance wise, the V-6 is deceptive because the "drive-by-wire" throttle response is very linear. We have been trained by Detroit and their tendency to build in a very "quick" throttle that just a nudge should produce mucho torque. Driven that way, the V-6 seems almost lethargic. Press down harder, though, and it FLIES. the LPT 4 doesn't do that.
I haven't driven a 9-5 4-cyl A/T, so I can't comment on the idle shake. In most cars, this is the worst part of a 4-cyl a/t combo. I can say that the 9-54 V-6 is very well behaved at idle.
wagons.
Needless to say, the two Swedes - Saab and Volvo -
take the rear behind the superlative German wagons
from Audi, Daimler and BMW. Volvo's Frigidaire
styling is easily the worst, but the new Saab came in last place.
A4 Quatro -- too small, thought great for city parking
A6 Quatro -- Big, ungainly, and pricey
V70xc -- I already own a refridgerator
BMW 540i -- Expensive but very nice
Subaru -- Wonderful reliability, but who ran it through the gaudy patch?
SAAB 95 -- Is this the one?
I have owned a 4x4 Subaru Legacy for 12 years and love it -- I know nothing about the reliability and quirkiness of Saab.
Suggestions?
I'd expect the demand for the V-6 to slacken some when the High Output Turbo becomes available, sometime in the 2000 model year. Especially if the HOT 2.3 is available with the A/T.
Would be willing to take a cross-country drive for a vacation for the right deal(er).
Any ideas?
Marcie
How much did you have to put down to order the car?
I don't know if you recall an earlier post where I mentioned a dealer in Lancaster, PA who sells Saabs Online (http://buysaabonline.com/index.html)
I'm still debating on the V6, but I noticed that they now sell at invoice. They have quoted me a 1 month wait for a green silver V6 wagon. You may want to check with them about getting you a 4cyl 5-speed in the cosmic blue. The online rep is Jay Barry.
Good Luck
George
Thank you I will try these guys. I E-mailed autobytel ( from Edmunds) and don't you know the dirty dogs contacted the dealer I was using. Embarrassing.
I asked to put money down to secure the car and they said it wasn't required. I thought that very odd.
Marcie
Also, what dealer didi you use??
Thanks,
George
If you need the cargo capability of the 850/V70 then the 9-5 is the right competitor. The V40 is classified as a sub-compact wagon and has a smaller cargo space compared to big brother V70.
Hope the info helps
George
We were first turned on to the wagon by Warren Brown, (the superb) car reviewer for The Washington Post. You can read his review on www.cars.com. The Wagon review will be the more recent of the two 9-5 reviews he has listed (March 99?). As DC residents, if Warren Brown likes it, we like it.
We also read every other review we could find -- perhaps 15 in all, being sure to note all the positives and negatives and to check each out on our two test drives. IMHO, the negatives, such as the mirrors being too small, were minor things that any driver would probably forget about or subconciously correct for after a couple days of getting accustomed to the car.
The long and the short of is that SAAB engineers put of lot of good ideas into this car (Why can't the American auto-makers do this?). That SAAB chose to make a lot of "good things" standard in this vehicle means that they're serious about meeting people's needs. (Although there could be more storage space and cup holders for the rear passengers, but that's a minor point for me.) I also thought the $695 sliding shelf was too much to pay for the 12 or so inches it extends.
We shopped against other wagons: Legacy Outback, V70, Passat and the Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo.
The Jeep was probably our second choice, but the heartburn associated with the SUV bandwagon was a bit much for me. Pursestrings note: 9-5 Wagon with leather and automatic compares to a fully loaded Grand Cherokee. Don't buy the myth that some of the SUVs carry more cargo: There really is no difference on the gross cargo capacity (@ 73 cu. feet for each!)
The bottom line was that the 9-5 wagon offered for us the unique combination of style, utility, elan, and pricing for what we sought: An anti-SUV that can serve as the family car.
I heartily echo the other posters on this message board who noted specific advantages in the design and execution of the car. No need to repeat them here. New users are advised to skim the entire message history in this list.
I'm not one to wear blinders...and it was all I could do not to remain objective once we got the inkling that this would be our car. But I think we made the rational and correct choice and I'm proud to own this pleasantly quirky set of wheels.
I'll post more as we drive it about.
When I drove the 9-3 a few months ago, it seemed to have much less visibility than the Passat. Is this a Saab characteristic? Could I learn to accept it?
Thanks!