Saab 9-5 Wagon

1drewsky1

Michelin MMX Tires in Snow, Ice etc. How are the tires for winter driving, Do they preform in the snow, or does anyone have a replacement winter tire suggestion 17". I live in oregon and the winter snowstorms in the mountains are bad, wet sticky slippery snow!!

bmwjoe

Many people swear by the SAAB snow tire package with wheels. I am going to see how I do with the stock 16" tires and TCS. It will be my first Saab winter.

Joe

wagonbyr

Joe,

I was unaware of a SAAB snow tire package. What is it? Up here in Connecticut our winters go from mild to dreadful. My wife has let me know that she expects 4 new snows on our 9-5 wagon in the next few weeks. Before I run off to the Super discount tire warehouse, is there something else I should consider?

Jim

bmwjoe

Jim,

Got to the Saab Web site (www.saabusa.com) and surf around the saabcatalog section. I think they may also have a web site www.saabcatalog.com. I am sure they are in there.

You can call Myers Saab in Iowa, or B&B Saab (www.bbsaab.com) and ask if they will sell you the set at a discount.

Drive safe,

Joe

lieberson1

Hi folks. Just a few quick notes of joy regarding my 2000SE Wagon. A couple of early (0-5000 mile) problems which were fixed quickly by the dealer. A/C did not work and power steering did not work. As noted, both were fixed on the first try and dealer provided loan car at no charge. The recalls were also fixed asap with a free loaner provided. Since then car has been running perfect. About 22-24mpg combo city/hwy. I love this car! My only major complaint is the less than solid handling (a bit too much body roll) and seats that could be more supportive. The gas tank noise does not bug me. I have to turn the car in Jan 02, and will likely lease another one. Maybe the Aero version. If you want more info an my first 20k with this fine car please e/m me rick@tlinedesign.com A quick note of thanks to bmwjoe for all his fast posts to my questions.

bmwjoe

Rick,

My pleasure. Glad to help where I can.

Drive Safe,

Joe

kkuehn

Hi!
I'm looking at purchasing a 2000 9.5 V6 wagon, which is a dealer loaner with 8,000 miles. As no 2000 used prices are out, wondering what a fair asking price would be (only add-on options included are heated seats). Dealer is offering $33k -- should I take it and run or do you have an opinion on a counter-offer?

Secondly, I'm also interested in the Audi A-6. We've got a lot of snow here in Wisconsin -- and the Audi's AWD feature "sounds" safer than the Saab's FWD, but Saab dealer of course says that the FWD system is better with the anti-lock brakes, locking wheels so tires don't spin on snow/ice, etc. etc. Who's really got the better handling for my kind of weather? And for the buck, which is the better of the two? (The new 2000 Audi A6 wag is selling for $37k.)

Thanks for the help.

darandall

Tire Rack sells snows mounted on steel wheels at the best prices I have found. I'm ordering them this year because last winter we had some rather tricky driving in NH. Car and Driver did a comparison between snows and no snows and the difference is significant. The only drawback is snows are not rated for speeds as fast as the regular Michelins. I'd be interested to hear from anyone who has used snows - what kind, traction etc. Thanks

wagonbyr

I think I can finally answer everyones questions on how the 9-5 wagon performs in snow & slipperly conditions. I live in Connecticut and we just had our first significant snowfall. It was 3" of the type packs down hard and the kids love to sled on.

The "test track" is my unplowed driveway. It's about 700' long, up a moderate grade with curves. My other car we'll use as a benchmark - Its a FWD Bonneville with all-weather tires & about 6 months old. The B-ville had significant difficulty going up the driveway. Lots of spinning & sliding.

Our 2000 9-5 wagon is also 6 months old with the stock All-weather radial tires. In the same driveway test, I saw the "TCS" (Traction Control System) light come on for the first time since owning the car. It provided even grip to both the front tires and performed MUCH better that the Bonneville. However, there was still slipping which I attribute to the car trying to "plow" uphill. The stock radials just do not provide the "bite" into packed snow I was looking for.

In the next hour, I went out and bought 4 new Perelli snow tires & returned to my nightmare driveway. I difference was amazing. TCS activated and the car went up the driveway like it was July. I had to actually work at trying to get the car to slip. (Can be done , but not through normal driving)
I also went down the driveway & slammed on the brakes. ABS immediately kicked in and car came to a quick, sure stop.

My review is as follows: The 9-5 wagon with snow tires is an excellent winter car. If your area does not have significant snow or you only drive on plowed roads, the TCS & stock radials are probably fine. Otherwise, get snow tires & you'll have the confidence of 4 wheel drive without have to drive a "lesser" vehicle.

As our friend bmwjoe says,

Drive Safe

Jim

bmwjoe

Wagonbyr,

As soon as the winter hits SE Pennsylvania I will see how my 9-5 wagon does in the snow. My wagon is a 2.3t with a manual transmission. Which model 9-5 wagon do you have and what size tires do you have? Also, is your manual or automatic?

Drive Safe,

Joe

wagonbyr

Joe,

I have the 2.3t with manual transmission, 16" tires. The cost of the snow tires installed was $570.00. Expensive yes, but I think they are worth it. Perelli snows seem to hold dry pavement better than other knobbier snows I had used on my 1991 9000-S. I can also say with some authority that 2000 9-5 is much better in snow than earlier SAABs without TCS.

Jim

snurple

Sounds like a pretty good deal--but not a great one.

Saab began advertising $6000 off MSRP for 2000s in October. This deal is $7500 off MSRP for a 1+ year old (used) vehicle with 8000 miles on it. Using a "lease return" calculation of .15/mile, these 8K are "worth" an additional $1200. And then there is the 8K off the warranty...

What is this dealer's best deal on a 2001? 2001s include 3/36 scheduled maintenance. I would compare his best 2001 deal with another Saab dealer's...and then, if you still want the 2000, try to push the number done further in relation to the brand new car.

crocdundee2

I have a 2000 Gary Fisher (2.3t and 5 speed manual transmission) with about 2000 miles.
I have a mix of very short trips (2 miles at a time) and freeway driving.
I am currently gettting about 19 miles to the gallon average. I am not hot footing it (yet).
What are other people's experience with mileage? Should I experience an increase as the engine breaks in further? It seems low to me, given that one of the automobile magazines drove one of these for a year and got an average of 25 mpg.
Also, I have to refill the tank after using about 14.5 gallons. The dealer at the 1K service said that the reserve light was just coming on too early, and that they adjusted it, but no change so far. They also said that my tank holds 18.5 gallons, but I wonder if the tank has been "fixed" re "thunk" in a way that decreases capacity.
Thanks.
Paul

darandall

I just had my Blizzak WS-50 snows oin steel wheels installed. they look fine with the cheapo wheel covers from Tire Rack. Handling on the highway, however, is way below what it was with the standard issue Michelins. They do offer remarkable traction, so I know I'll go - just not as fast!

bmwjoe

DARandall,

Do you have pictures of the Tire Rack wheels and covers on your car? Can you post them, or e-mail them. I wanted to see what they look like on a 9-5 wagon.

BTW, my first experience with the 9-5 TCS and ABS has been good. I played in a icey spot in a lot. Not real snow, but I got a feeling how things work.

Drive Safe,

Joe

bmwjoe

Hi,

I have a 2000 9-5 wagon. I was wondering if the rear decor panel listed in the saab catalog would fit on the wagon. The licence plate area of the sedan and wagon look the same. Will it fir the wagon? Has anyone tried?

Drive Safe,

Joe

takai

I currently drive a 1997 Volvo 850 GLT Wagon, with 83K miles, but am looking into replacing it, as problems mount with a bumpy ride, panels coming loose, poor AM radio reception (and cannot be fixed). The Volvo has been great as far as engine performance and reliability, seating comfort, and ability to haul cargo. We're thinking about getting a Saab 9-5 Wagon.

Safety is a paramount concern for us. Checking the IIHS ratings for the 1999 Saab 9-5, http://www.highwaysafety.org/vehicle_ratings/ce/html/98021.htm ,
there was a POOR rating for intrusion by the driver's right leg, and overall only an AVERAGE rating. Has Saab responded to this result or modified the design of later cars to deal with this? I have long legs and want to keep using them! This bothers me more than any gas tank "thunk".

I would also like to know more about the data suggesting than Saab has done much better than Volvo as far as number of deaths in accidents. Perhaps there are websites that give more information?

Thanks!
Jerry

murphd02

I'm an SUV (Trooper) driver looking to make a change. I'm in the market for a wagon. I really like the Saab, but am interested in balanced opinions on Saab v. Volvo. I have come across loyalists on both sides. Also looking for insights into 2.3t v. V6, as 2.3t is a Saab and the V6 is GM. Does the 2.3t have enough umph to get a wagon moving? Thanks

bmwjoe

I have a 2000 2.3t wagon with the 5-speed. I just did the 9000 mile oil change. We love this car. When we were shopping we looked at the Volvo, but they had discontinued the manual tranny for about a year. We wanted a manual.

The saab offered a little better bang for the buck compared to the Volvo as we wanted all the bells and whistles. The 2.3t is more than adequate for the wagon. The 9-5 is no boy racer hotrod, but it goes well. The car is fun to blast around back roads, but is in its element on the highway. Our family vacation this summer was a real pleasure.

I love the uniqueness of the 9-5 wagon and Saab. We never park next to one. It is the ultimate anti-minivan. I have added front and rear spoilers and different wheels. I have some pictures at the bottom of the following page:

My 9-5 Wagon

Good luck on your wagon hunt.

Drive Safe,

Joe

ksimos1

Hello:

I can't seem to come to a conclusion as to which station wagon to buy. I have looked at the Passat, Saab, Volvo and Subaru. At frist I thought that I would buy the Passat but they didn't have the color I wanted in stock nor would they for quite some time. Then I thought maybe I should just spend a bit more and get something that is truly an upgrade from my current car a 89 Maxima, so i thought more about a luxury wagon (Saab/Volvo/Audi)

Saab is lovely although in the past they didn't have the best rep. Do you think that the 2000 Saab's are still out there at the dealers and if so are they as good as the 2001's? The 2001's seem much improved but what will repairs run down the road as that has been one of the complaints that I've heard? I have a yound child and safety now is key for me.

Is Volvo now owned by Ford and if so what does this do to the integrity of the car?
Should I look at an Audi?

I know that there are many questions here but any advise would be greatly appreciated as I really need some expert opionions.

Thank You and Happy Driving!

darandall

Snow tires - love them!! 6-8 inches fresh snow, 6 am.. departure for my daughter's ski race. Out the driveway, up the hill and we were off!! Seriously, they are amazing and, although I can't post a picture (sorry, technologically deficient) they look just fine. Highway driving starts to wobble at 80 mph which is probably a good thing. I have the 2.3 with manual, and a NH sheriff claims I was going 100-105 one morning with the Michelins on. I tried to explain that it was only a 4 cylinder engine, but he was mad enough to talk about a big powerful Saab. Wonder what the judge will think. No radar - he claims to have clocked me by following me. Any helpful hints?? I was driving safely - no one else on the road.

comp

We're thinking about leasing a SAAB wagon. Have never leased cars always bought. Deal is advertised by SAAB approx. 3000 up front, 12k miles, free maintenance for 3yrs/36k miles for $449 month. Deal expires at the end of Jan. Is 3K down too much. What kind of lease deals have been available in the past? If we like the car at the end of lease we can be for 19k. What is the resale value and market on used SAABs. We don't see many in the south.

ffb13

thought that i would start a conversation on dealer charges----
for the 30,000---and 60,000 service my dealer in connecticut charges $ 700.00.

my dealer in vermont charges $ 399.00.

how about elsewhere ?

wagonbyr

Joe,
Just wondering how your 9-5 wagon is doing in the snow?

Jim

bmwjoe

Jim,

I was visiting my family in NY over new year's weekend. We got about 15" of snow. I went out to breakfast in the AM, following my brother in law's Explorer when we had about 8" of snow. He was leaving a trench where his rear differential hit the snow. The 9-5 wagon did OK in this. I was glad I was following him, but I was moving on my own.

We spent the rest of the day snowed in and let the kids play in the snow and with their pile of presents.

Once home in PA Driving on packed snow was just fine. The TCS and ABS kicking in whenever I got too ham fisted with the controls. All in all it did well. I think about getting snows for the car, but not this year. OTOH, I love the snow flake wheels that come with the Saab snows.

BTW, I have the load bars and cargo rack. It worked great for hauling out loot from Grandma's. I had a problem with wind noise in the summer with this set up. I added a wind deflector for this trip and the noise is gone :-)

Hope this helps.

Drive Safe,

Joe

davidgmills

After two posts which crashed twice I am not in the mood to make another long post. Search for my name and you should find much about FARS, Folksam and EuroNcap. In short look for post about 2 Saab deaths verus 48 Volvo deaths in 98 and 99 with US sales of 70,000 and 220,000 respectively.

davidgmills

Here's a copy of an old post:

Fatality Stats for Audi,Saab,Volvo, 94-98 models 94-98 by davidgmills Jul 01, 2000 (10:04 pm)
For models 94-98 and years 94-98 the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS)
[http://www-fars.nhtsa.dot.gov/www/main.html] reports the following US death statistics:

Audi 14

Saab 9

Volvo 85

Saab imported 133,000+ cars to the US during that period. (I went to the trouble to find out how many were sold as I am a Saab owner). I do not know how many cars the other two manufacturers imported. If any of you know, I would appreciate a post for comparison purposes.

Of the nine Saab deaths 4 were drivers and 5 were passengers. I did not check the other two manufacturers, as this is a time consuming process.

For the single year 1998 with models 94-98, Audi had 6 deaths, Saab had 3 deaths and Volvo had 37. For comparison with other marques, Jaguar had 7, Lexus 21, Mercedes 30 and BMW 59.

trbd999

In the spirit of full disclosure. Just leased 95 wagon, premium package, mettalic paint heated seats, 4 cylinder in Conneticut. Checked out 3 dealers. Best I got was $460 a month (this includes about $20 of sales tax), 10,000 miles a year (wife just does local trips), 2660 down (That number includes a $500 deposit I will get back so really 2160). If I got screwed please keep it to yourself but this was the best deal I could get after visiting 3 different dealers. Be warned that some dealers will try and play tricks with the deposit so make sure they tell you whether they are including the deposit or not. The money factor on this deal was .00127. Dealer was all upset because this was going $300 into his hold back (meaning under invoice) but I am sure they have some other incentive from Saab.

rollie

Regarding post #528:

davidgmills, thanks for going through the effort to gather this information. It's interesting but I'm not sure how useful it is. You can't draw much inference at all from this data as it is. About the only thing we can say is that there were more deaths in Volvos and Audis than Saabs. Of course there were also more Volvos and Audis than Saabs sold. Further, the cars appealed to different audiences (e.g., at the age of 25 I bought a new 1994 Volvo 850 Turbo when I was in the market for a BMW because it was so fast - the fastest mass market sedan on the planet at the time according to C&D and hence it attracted more people likely to run into a tree at triple digit speeds!)

I'm afraid there's just no easy way to tell anything significant from these numbers. Each manufacturer made cars that were differentiated by a slew of factors other than safety that affect death rates. Another example: in the mid 90s the U.S. Government released the most comprehensive fatality study ever (all cars sold in the U.S. produced for the entire prior 5 year period). The only car to record a 0.0 death rate was the Volvo 240. Does this mean that Volvo was the safest car manufacturer - maybe and maybe not. Regardless I suspect few would argue that people looking for a hot rod sedan opted for a Volvo 240 (no offense to anybody but those cars weren't about speed or handling) and as a result the pool of drivers was slanted towards conservative (and generally safer) drivers.

Although it isn't a real world setting, it seems the easiest way to isolate some of the variables here is in laboratory crash tests (which have inherent problems of their own). A single set of tests by a single organization is not definitive by my standards but a review of a particular cars performance across the NHSTA, IIHS, EuroNCAP,etc. is much more telling in my opinion.

Thanks.

-rdo
rdollie@home.com

tara

Hello! I just wanted to introduce myself, my name is Tara and I've just started working for Edmunds.com. I'll be your new host for Station Wagons:)

wohlf

Dealer has a 9-5 Areo 2000 with vented seat and 17 inch BBS wheel options. It is a 5 speed (my preference) with 8500 miles and was put into service March of 2000. Right rear wheel has "curb scrape" on about 1/4 of it; otherwise it is like new. Red/Tan. They want $31k. Is this a good deal, bad deal, great deal, horrible deal...

Does anybody know the 48 month depreciation % for this car.

drigg

We are looking at a 96 850 wagon with 85000 miles for $11,700. Any opinions?

If you had $10,000 to spend which Volvo wagon would you get?

bmwjoe

I would get the Saab.

olliedawg

We want to buy a '01 9-5 base wagon w/premium package, auto and FRHS -- what's the best deal you've seen? Are these cars worth purchasing vs. leasing? Are these cars safer than a VW Passat?

Any dealers in the NY/NJ/CT/Western MA you want to recommend?

Finally, on another note, anyone had any experiences with Gislaved tires?

adom

I have a 2000 9-5 Gary Fisher ed. wagon. Both my wife and i love it. From what I have read, both the VW and SAAB have excellent saftey records. The Eurpean crash tests showed the 9-5 to have the best results in a side impact of all the cars they have ever tested.

I would lease because the program is so good. Check out the SAABUSA.com website for all the details. Make sure to check out intellichoice.com under leases. The SAAB's have their Gold Star awards, with descriptions as to why they get the awards.

great car, great price. hard to beat. The lease deal is nationwide and should be the same at any location.

bmwjoe

On Saturday I put on a set of Saab Gislaved snow tires along with the cool snow flake wheels that come with them. Yesterday mutha nature dumped 12" of wet snow north of Philadelphia. The snow was a sneak attack and the plows did not get out. There was about 3" of ice formed from compacted snow. Things were very slippery.

Before Saturday I was unimpressed with the psnow performance of out 9-5 wagon. Now it a snow tiger! The snow make a huge difference. They flat out stick. I am very happy.

Drive Safe,

Joe

saabmoose

How did I do? I just purchased a new 2000 9-5 SE wagon with heated seats for $31,650. MSRP was over $39,000 so I think I got a good deal. Of course everyone who buys a new car thinks that. This car had only 850 miles. Love the car! Anyone have experience with Saab accessories for this car? I want all season floor mats, mudguards, car cover and one of the cargo area restraints(prison bars.

bmwjoe

I have had good luck calling around to get a good proce on SaabCatalog stuff. Here are a few suggestions.

B&B Saab

http://www.bbsaab.com/

http://www.saabpartspeople.com

Meyer Saab

http://www.meyersaab.com

You can also check out the advertisers on http://www.saabnet.com

Drive Safe,

Joe

bmwjoe

Yesterday my wife brought our 2000 9-5 wagon in for the 10k service. I was a little miffed at what they charged. $6.95 to change the rear hatch so it does not lock at 1kph and $33.99 to add two keys! Seems very steep just to change some program values. I feel trapped since Saab has not provided a way for the owner to perform these procedures. You need the Tech tool.

They also failed to see the fog in the right head light. The DRLs cooked it out on the way to the dealer, since it was not there, it does not exist.

They brushed off my hard starting complaint. Seems thy need to experience the problem, which means we have to leave it at the dealer overnight when it is 20°F. (I thought Saab had a TSB to deal with this.)

The SID is supposed to get too hot to touch.

They did not believe the SID mpg is way off and told us to read the manual. I have gotten 10 mpg according to the SID.

Thanks for letting me vent.

Drive Safe,

Joe

leepihls

Does any one have some numbers on leasing of the 2001 saab 9-5 aero wagon i.e. amount down, mileage per year, and monthly payments? Can this car be leased for $500.00 per month for 36 months with under $2000 down

tonyd7

To trbd999: Since I can lease a car in CT, I would appreciate knowing who your Saab dealer was and if you could recommend a salesman at that dealer. Thanks.

tonyd7

I need to lease a Saab at the end of April or the beginning of May. It appears from past postings that the leasing prices went down significantly around May 2000. When can I get the best leasing price for this delivery date-- now or later? When will the 2002 models be available so that dealers will offer the best pricing?

trbd999

I finally did the lease with guilford saab but visited New London and east hartford before hand. Did not like the east hartford guys; very aggressive and pushy. basically i spent a day driving from one dealer to another getting each quote on a business card and having the next guy beat it. it worked pretty well, every dealer was willing to top the previous dealer. i live in fairfield county but did not even try these guys (westport & greenwich) assuming they would be more expensive than the rest of the state.

roemer

I live in Vermont and am trying to decide on the AWD Audi, Volvo-Cross Country and the new Saab Wagon. Frankly, on dry roads, I like the Saab more and I like its's astheticd . I live on a dirt road in the mountains and am concerned about heavy snow. Anyone have a suggestion? For the most part, roads are cleared, but occasionally it gets pretty hairy...
Thanks...
Jim Roemer
weatherskicat@aol.com

roemer

Received a quote on the Saab 9-5, V4 with manual transmission and leather and heated seat packages of $2,000 and about $500./month with 17,000 miles, residual value after 36 months of $18,000
Could anyone tell me if this is a good deal..seemed so to me..value of the car was $34,000..close to invoice I think with the extras

Thanks..Jim
weatherskicat@aol.com

bmwjoe

On Saturday I put on a set of Saab Gislaved snow tires along with the cool snow flake wheels that come with them on my 9-5 wagon. Yesterday mutha nature dumped 12" of wet snow north of Philadelphia. The snow was a sneak attack and the plows did not get out. There was about 3" of ice formed from compacted snow. Things were very slippery.

Before Saturday I was unimpressed with the snow performance of out 9-5 wagon. Now it a snow tiger! The snow make a huge difference. They flat out stick. I am very happy.

Drive Safe,

Joe

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wagonbyr

I scrolled back to December and there seems to be a strong consensus on how the 9-5 wagon performs in Snow. The stock all-season radials are fine if you limit your driving to "light" winter conditions. Be careful and you'll be fine. For serious snow however - snow tires are highly desireable. Once you have snows, you'll have the security of knowing you can go out in any weather and leave that Subaru or Volvo X-Country following in your tire ruts. For more info, check out posts 505, 510, 515, 522 and 547.

mishah1

Does anyone have any experiences towing with the 9-5 wagons? The brochure says they can tow up to 3500 lbs.

wagonbyr

My wife went to the dealer yesterday and asked about towing. (We just bought a trailer boat) The cost in not cheap. $350.00 for material plus 4 hours of labor. Apparently the whole bumper assembly must be removed. She was told normal towing is limited to 1000 lbs, but 2000 is OK if the trailer has brakes.

isarankura

My wife and I (and 18 month old daughter and 40 pound spastic dog) have finally come to terms with the fact that we need to trade in our beloved Alfa Romeo 164L for a Station wagon.
We are torn between the Saab 9-5 2.3 wagon and the Volvo V70 T5. We have test driven both cars (manual transmission) several times. What we like about the Saab is it's quickness, responsiveness, and smooth gear shifting and acceleration in lower rams (2000-4500). We also like the luxuriousness and comfort of the interior.
What we like about the volvo is the acceleration,reputation for reliability, and safety features, in addition to it's new rounded aesthetic.

Any thoughts or advice?

Thanks Thomas and family