USED Saab 9-5 Saloon (97 - 11)

My car

I have been drawn to Saab's and Volvo's since the 1960s when reading of these cars’ performances in world rallying. They were always different to the Mercedes and BMW's that I was generally exposed to once able to drive my parents’ cars! Just over a year ago I began looking for a good value used car with a decent spec. Having read the What Car Review I settled on looking for a Saab 95 2.0t sedan. I bought this car privately knowing that the 'anti theft alarm' was in need of replacing (£180 - £200). This was a fairly straight forward DIY replacement but not cheap! I had an ignition warning light appear on my drive home after purchase too! A visit to a local Saab dealer the following day saw me part with £220 with a new one being fitted. Not a great start but the mechanic assured me that I had made an excellent purchase even with the £420 extra. A year down the road and it is a most comfortable and enjoyable car to drive. The interior specs on this 'base level' Linear include an excellent sound system, climate control and the best seats I've sat in. (33 years of driving experience in a variety of cars). The boot is cavernous and a delight to fill on a recent Dordogne holiday last summer. Long journeys are not long and this is when the car really comes into its own. It has plenty of power and is pretty economical for a car this size (32 - 39mpg on motorways, 25 - 31mpg in town). It is not the prettiest of cars but a joy to drive.

My car

I'm surprised. I had one on hire once and I'd always fancied a Saab and this one with 125k was going for a song from a local dealer with an iffy rep. But it seemed OK to me and I bought it. One year and one passed MOT later, it's still blazing along, but mostly I'm gentle with the right foot, because if I'm not, I can just drive between petrol stations. I tested it with my wallet and excel v the odometer and I'm getting 32 mpg which amazed me. It's true that on motorways, it just sips fuel. I did Brussels and back on 3/4 of a tank, but a week driving around town can easily do a tank if I enjoy it too much. Handles OK but take it easy in the wet on country lanes. Overtaking? No problem. Shoot past most things if you want, but watch that petrol gauge. Huge boot, leather interior, and of course - solid. A Jag clipped me when I was parked and he did £1200 of damage to his car and I just washed off the little bit of paint he left behind on my bumper. So glad they're still going and I can see why Saab owners keep going back for more.

My car

It amazes me how poorly the Saab does in road tests. Before the Saab I had a 2005 BMW 525D which does very well in road tests. I absolutely hated this car after a year and couldn't wait for the lease contract to be finished. In contrast I just love the Saab. It is very reliable, cheap to maintain and the seats are very comfortable. Economy is often above 36mpg as I often drive on the moterway.

My car

I am looking to buy a 2.3 HOT Aero. THis will be my 4th SAAB and I've never had a bad one. After the demise of the 900 and then 9000 I have flirted around the car market with different manufacturers. I currently own an S-Type (another fantastic retro styled model leaving the forecourts), however, the look of the 9-5 is still very distinctive.

There is only one thing I detest about the interior and that is the cheesey cup holder on the dashboard. How can any real driver like that. My thoughts are, if you do, then please hand in your licence as you're not fit to drive a real car.

In context tho' I will still be buying my new Areo before the end of the year and look forward to many years of continued SAAB comfort and safety.