Solid construction. Doors close with nice "thud". Winter and Sport modes make the automatic bareable and more useful. Safety ratings! (Safest car ever tested in Europe). FULL daytime running lights (all lights on ALL the time=safety). Exclusive- not everyone drives one. Heated front and rear seats. OnStar.

Weak cupholder in dash. Rattle from sunroof. Ummm....

I have owned this car for almost 2 years now. In that time, I have replaced the front brakes and one headlight bulb, and nothing more. The car has almost 28,000 miles on it and has never missed a scheduled maintenance visit. I am completely satisfied with the car, never have had a problem. The automatic climate control can be a little fussy at times, but I have gotten used to that. The night panel is awesome, dimming all dash lights except the ones you really need. Everything in the car has been throughly thought out. Even the way the doors are concaved makes more leg room for added comfort. The leather seats are the best I've ever sat in. The trunk is huge, and is able to swallow a standard size real estate sign! This is impressive. You owe yourself a test drive. Buy a newer model and stay away from the 1999's if some of the reviews have scared you. It's really NOT a bad car, rather the best I've ever owned.

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Volvo S60, Jaguar X-type, SAAB 9-3

sporty style comfortable

Everything else from the electrical system to the engine and in between.

This car has been a nightmare since I leased it in 1999. Trips to the dealership have been numerous. I always liked the feel of the car and the style but the performance makes what few strengths it has worthless.

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Saab 9000 1989 This car was a dream but something definitely happened in 1999 with the 9-5. Too many complaints to ignore.

Great, sporty look. Engine power. Not a "clone" car like BMW or Mercedes.

Massive amounts of brake dust on rims. Little advertising by Saab Corp.

Great car. Lots of standard equipment that is only optional in other luxury cars. Not everyone drives one, so that's a big plus. The giddie up on merging lanes onto highways is a major bonus. Contrary to other negative reports, there has been absolutely nothing wrong with my car, and I've had it for over a year. It's probably an isolated thing, so I don't know why people are knocking Saab as a whole.

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Volvo S80, BMW 3 series, Lexus ES300.

Looks Convenience of controls

RELIABILITY Performance

Unfortunately I'll be preaching to the seemingly growing 1999 choir. My car has had significant issues that have all been listed. Now, that it's out of warranty and is waiting a new Head Gasket and Front Wheel bearings (at only 60K), I reviewed the numbers of visits I've had to the dealership. It's unbelievable the amount of electrical problems and major malfunctions that have been experienced. I'm in the process of pursuing litigation, including a potential class action suit. If you have a similar story and would like to be included, please feel free to contact me directly with your contact info.

+ peace of mind when it comes to safety + general design, especially with respect to its sportiness + ergonomics, especially relating to its seating and driving position + abundancy of space with no odd corners + versatility (ability to go to the mountains with a bike rack or downtown for the evening)

+ front wheel drive (only necessary in Wisconsin and Sweden) + brake pads (dust abounds and predecessor pads needed replacement too quickly) + spotty service levels (quality control issue) Tally of major failures in 22 years of ownership: = automatic transmission failed after 100K (first 900) = odometer stopped working after 15K (second 900) = cleaning brake dust on the wheels (both 9-5s) One accident: 900 received $1,000 of damage; Toyota pick-up $3,000 plus.

After owning four Saabs since college (two 900s and two 9-5s), I can be described as a Saabaholic. It's too bad Saab has yet to ask me to do a commercial for them. As has been well-documented in the past two decades, Saabs are destined for a particular breed -- company literature used to call us mavericks. Those who desire an automobile that will never leave them stranded should not choose a Saab or another European brand for that matter -- pick a Japanese car though I have never been stranded in my Saabs). Those who desire low maintenance costs also should not pick a Saab (Toyotas only need oil changes). Saabs are for those people who require a unique statement when it comes to driving down the road. It may not be a smart choice economically and in fact, many in the family may not fully appreciate the choice but it is a choice that true Saab owners stand by -- through the trouble-free times and otherwise. Much has been said about Saab's perceived unwillingness to advertise more. That is part of its mystique, which admittedly is declining. Disclaimer: For me, the 9-5 is five stars, for my sensible Dad, three stars.

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BMW 5 series, Lexus.

Looks Great.

Everthing you could image.

I bought my Saab 9-5 with 57,000 miles on it thinking that this was a quality made vehicle and the miles should not matter. I WAS WRONG. My wife has been stranded twice. The first time there was a electronic code that had to be reset. The second time the wiring harness had to be replaced. Four months later my blower motor goes out, of course it's the first day of the summer it hits 92 degrees. I figure why not have an inspection done while the blower motor is being replaced. Come to find out there is a seal leak and I also had them program my running lights off becuase they kept burning out. They fixed everything and now the dual air control is not working. The local dealership is working on that now and it looks like this is the first one they have done and it is going to take three days to fix. I can't wait to see the bill on this one. Did I mention that they are installing my third SID display(electronic display). I have 82,000 miles on it now(all highway) and I took it in to see what I could get for it and they offered me $8,000 for the car. They also told me they coudn't believe how nice the car was. Nice resale value. So much for the $3000+ I have put into the car. I wish I would have done more research. Hopefully this will help others. DO NOT BY A SAAB!

The car wash I get for living at the dealership

Too numerous to list...stay away!

Drives well when it drives, but it is an absolutely wretched product that has left my family and me stranded twice.

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BMW 5 a much better car, and i'm looking to replace the Saab (if I can afford to given that it has cost me so much money) with another 5 or Audi A6

Not everybody has it. Good looks. Roomy. Sporty and quick. Great gas mileage (22 city/30 highway). A ton of features standard (like refridgerated glove box, heated front and rear seats, turbo engines, etc). Knowing the car is made to last 300,000+ miles.

Has blind spots if rear headrests are in the upright position. (fold them back to solve) Cup holder's aren't the best, although the one in the dash is popular with passengers for enjoyment. Brake dust on wheels just gets maddening.

I've always liked Swedish cars and finally got my first one in February of 2002. It has a gray exterior with charcoal interior. This car comes fully loaded! The only "option" I didn't get was ventilated seats. OnStar is more of a gimmick than a help, but is nice to know it's there. I have only driven the car 6,000 miles myself (for a total of 23,000) and haven't had one problem. The car is solidly built, with a nice weight to guide you through the snow. Winter mode is especially helpful as it gives you less torque to the wheels to prevent wheelspin for easier traction. I feel safe in this car, the sheet metal is thick and the comfort of knowing SAAB's are one of the safest cars in the world is reassuring. I would avoid the 1999 models, as they seem to have more problems. The 2001 for sure is worry-free. If you still have doubts, buy one and get the extended warranty. You'll only realize later that you didn't need it!

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Similar: Audi A4/A6, Volvo S60, Lexus GS300. Not Similar: Mitsubishi Galant, Acura Vigor, Honda Accord, Mazda 626

Performance is awesome. It accelerates briskly and is especially powerful at passing. The 225 45 ZR17 tires stick to the pavement like glue. OnStar is free for one year, and regular scheduled service is free for 3 years/36 mos. It very comfortably seats people in the rear as well, something my 328i never did. Fit and finish is first rate.

Some torque steer is evident during turning and heavy acceleration; with 230 horses going into the front wheels, there''s no way to prevent this. A short turbo-lag is evident on takeoff as well. The 3 years of free service does not include oil changes other than at 10, 20 and 30k mi.

This car is surprisingly impressive! We originally bought the car because of it''s value with us; we get a GM discount and there was a $6000 rebate going on at the time, saving us a grand total of $12,000 off the sticker. We thought giving up our BMW 3 series would be a downgrade, but have we been surprised!! We actually like it better. This is a great car; as soon as GM''s marketing people get on the stick, expect people to say "Saab" in the same breath as BMW and Mercedes a few years from now.

Looks good, nice power, great options for the money when compared to other entry level luxury cars.

Reliability, Roadside Assistance.

When it''s running, it''s great. When it''s not, be sure that you do not rely on Saab''s Roadside Assistance. The car was purchased to provide safe, reliable transportation that was also fun. Reliability has been a problem, from failure of the computer (replaced within months of purchase) to minor items like headlights burning out. The latter was corrected by having the dealer turn off the constantly running daylights to decrease wear. This seemed to work. On Roadside Assistance, the first time we called we went through about half a dozen phone calls before the tow guy called directly and asked if he could come out in 24 hours since we were at home. No thanks, called AAA and was towed within 30 minutes. Next, the car died without warning in the middle of the financial district at 5:30PM on a Friday. Not good! Saab promised they''d prioritize the tow. It took 40 minutes and 3-4 calls to get a tow. Then Saab had them tow me to the nearest authorized repair shop ... which was closed and had no lot to leave the car in. The tow guy suggested we leave it on the street, and I could call the shop the next day. Of course, they were still closed. Called my local dealership to get the Roadside Assistance number. The recorded message gave a 1-800 number for Roadside Assistance that turned out to be a phone sex line. Finally got the right number and called Roadside assistance again and arranged to meet a tow truck at the car at 1:30. Asked for a call if the tow truck couldn''t be there. Heard nothing from Saab, was at the car at 1:30. No tow. Called Saab. No record of call or request for tow or appointment for tow. Called AAA. Towed within 20 minutes. Bad enough the car doesn''t run, the incredibly poor service at every level at Saab was truly unbearable. They should give up Roadside Assistance and give away AAA membership with every car.

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We have a 1975 Mercedes 280 that is more reliable. What else can I say?