"saabstory | fixes bikes, breaks cars" (saabstory)
05/31/2014 at 19:04 • Filed to: None
6
25|
"saabstory | fixes bikes, breaks cars" (saabstory)
05/31/2014 at 19:04 • Filed to: None | 6
| 25 |
Top Gear made fun of its "spectacles". It gets really bad mileage. It's a little fragile. The 2006 9-5 is a car that doesn't really make sense on any level until you own it, or at least engage the turbo.
( Full discolure: GM wanted me to drive the 2006 9-5 Aero SportCombi so badly that they screwed the greatest car company over so badly that the man that sold it didn't know what country it was made in. "German. That means build quality," he said. This also meant he sold it at a price low enough to make me suspicious. So far, so good though.)
It's been a little over a year since this car has been parked outside the place I live, and after thousands of washes, it's dirty again. But it has a turbo and was made by trolls, I think, so that's excusable.
Exterior: 8/10
I figure that this generation of 9-5 body is pretty polarizing. I personally think it is one of the best designs ever, but I've heard them called ugly and even revolting. But it's beautiful. Its front end is as unique as a Suzuki 360, which is to say very unique. I like how it's thick, and then ends with a slant, like one of those pink erasers. Its side profile is handsome and slick. It looks quick, but not hurried; like it will go when it needs to, but it doesn't ever really need to. And that continues into the engine and suspension and braking. People talk about Saab and GM as a mess in which the vision was lost, but I think that this car is excellently focused, and very single-minded.
Its back end rings heartily of Audis and BMWs, but has little tweaks that make it kind of distinct. The back end is a bit of a failing, but it still looks fantastic. I didn't quite grab the right angle here, but if you stand a little further to the right, your sight grabs the curved side skirt and it looks like a pouncing cat. Very, very pretty. And the Thule bike rack looks sweet. And like a turret machine gun. In silver, this car is kinda ugly, I'll admit, but the pearl black is absolutely gorgeous. Svelte, even. Which sounds Swedish, too. Oh, and the five-spoke alloys are the greatest ever. So cool. And the perfect size for the ride height. Ooh, I could go on. I even like the weird window behind the c-pillar that's at a different angle.
Interior: 7/10
The seats are very cool and Swedish. The black insets on creme leather are extremely classy and restrained. They're very supportive, but still soft and relaxing. They feel a little sporty with their pseudo-bucketness, and the bolsters do definitely help keep you from holding onto the steering wheel to stop from sliding around. The side panels continue the theme of creme/black, but introduce some silver, which is nice. The black plastics are high-density, and are nice to feel. The silver trim plastic is not as nice, but doesn't feel cheap. The silver finish has started scratching off by the brushed aluminum door handles. Other than the parking brake cowl and the little coin (?) holder falling into the center console, the interior has stayed together very well.
Physical dials! Cool. Turbo dial! COOL. Green LCD displays! Not as cool. The steering wheel is super chunky and leather-y. It feels awesome. And you can see the night panel button peeking out on the left there. That is the best. The chunkiness of the stems is the greatest. They encourage turn signal usage. The interior is a little bit bare though, which is disappointing. Oh, also: foldout cupholder. Unusuable, expensive to replace. Awesome.
Acceleration: 6/10
The 2.3 liter turbocharged I4 (B235) produces around 260 HP and 260 lb-ft of torque. That's pretty good, considering that the car only weighs 3,470 pounds. Its torque curve peaks at 1900 RPM and its horsepower at 5300, so that's a little odd. 0-60 time is about 6 1/2 seconds or 7 or somewhere around there. I like the acceleration, but it's too peaky to warrant anything higher than a 6. It's very smooth when in sport mode, and it doesn't feel like you're going very fast until you look down and see how fast you're going. The 2006 Audi A4 apparently take 7.1 seconds to go from 0-60. So I'd say that about 6.5 is preettty good for something that costs much less in Seattle's used market. Did I mention that the engine is turbocharged?! Oh, man, the turbo... It makes a great blowoff noise. And lots of whistles. It's heavenly.
"Maybe that's the turbo..."
"It says the turbo is over here... I dunno though... Let's say that this is the turbo. COOOL."
Braking: 6/10
Now we're getting to the areas in which this car does not do so well. The initial bite is pretty good, but they could definitely stop the car sooner than they do. The one time I had to make an emergency stop, the ABS did its job very nicely, but when driving this thing hard, the system isn't too invasive. But the brakes could be a little better. Not much to say here. Oh, and the parking brake sucks. But good thing it's an automatic and that doesn't matter too much.
Ride: 6/10
The ride is comfy, and on new blacktop, very, very quiet. On other surfaces, it's still pretty comfy, but it's loud. There are booms and reverberations galore, but I can live with that. The ride feels a little firm, but not uncomfortable. It feels sporty. Not really any intrusive body roll or diving, but it's there a little bit under braking. Not so much on the body roll front. It feels very controlled and very nice. But it's not world-class. I can admit that. I want to give it a 7, but I don't want to look biased. So a six it is!
Handling: 7/10
Allegedly, there is a massive understeer problem with this car, but the review I read that said that also dissed the cupholder, so screw that. The handling is great. It's responsive, linear and sublime. The steering weight is perfect. It's between light and heavy, meaning that it feels involved, but doesn't tire you out. I've autocrossed it at the UW lot once, and while I wasn't fast, the car was. It was both the fastest and only wagon there. So that's something. The front tires will break loose around 1900 RPM when the torque maxes out, but it's nothing major. Just control the throttle, cowboy.
Gearbox: 6/10
And finally we arrive at this point in the review. The point where I admit to driving an automatic. I do. And I like it. This gearbox does a great job. It's smooth and quick. It's never slovenly or slushy. It likes to go. Quickly. Put it into sport mode and it sharpens throttle response and makes it squirt and darty in a good way. Put it into manual mode and you get to use two little buttons on the steering wheel to shift (weird, but kinda cool). I do wish it was manual sometimes, but Seattle traffic is the worst, so it evens out. Points off for not having a clutch, but points saved for still being cool. If that was the end of the story, the gearbox would be a 7 or 8. But obviously it's a six.
That's because when it's in manual mode, and you're approaching redline, shifts do not happen. You need to shift before you even think that you're near the rev limiter or it'll be weird and bad and make you feel embarrassed. Just keep it in automatic. Trust me.
Toys: 5/10
The only toys bequeathed upon the '06 9-5 are optional $2.5k GM satnav (got a smartphone, not necessary, option was thankfully not selected), a radio, Sirius XM (got an iPod, not necessary, not subscribed), an AUX-input (it was 2006, no USB-in is acceptable to me), the night panel, the floor-mounted ignition, the headlight washers that use 3/4 of a gallon of fluid every time they squirt, the turbo dial and the folding cupholder. Heated and power seats are also a thing. It has a Harmon-Kardon 10 or 12 speaker system. But not that much on the toy front. But that's okay. I'll survive.
The thing that this measures is a great sounding thing.
Audio: 9/10
Excellent, clear, crisp, balanced. That's the stereo.
Raspy, whistle-y, blow off valve-y, violent, quiet (when needed). That's the engine.
This car sounds great.
Like really good. Give it the beans. It sounds really good.
Value: 10/10
I'm judging value off of the price I paid for it used. I'm not going to disclose the specific price, but it was $2,000 shy of the KBB price for a car in good condition, and this one was in great condition. And it was worth every penny. But you will spend lots of time at the pumps putting premium into its pretty small tank. I average 17.3 MPG, which is terrible. But I think SPG (smiles per gallon) is an equally important yardstick, and this car gives me at least 50 SPG. I love it. And it's not terrible to work on yourself.
Okay, it's pretty bad, but I can do oil changes and simple stuff like that fairly easily. Engine bay work is completely knuckle-buster, but Scanwest is really kind and do great work, so I'm okay with that too.
70/100
Engine:
2.3 liter turbocharged I4 (transverse-mounted)
Power:
260 HP @ 5300 RPM, 258 lb-ft. torque @ 1900 RPM
Transmission:
5-speed automatic
0-60 Time:
About 6.5 seconds
Top Speed:
Limited to something, I imagine. Let's say 155 MPH. 155 MPH.
Drivetrain:
FWD
Curb Weight:
3,470 pounds
Seating:
OEM recommended: 5 people. Possible: at least 10.
MPG:
City 16/Highway 26/19 Combined
MSRP:
$20,000 less than am '06 BMW 535ix Sports Wagon
catkam623 misses his 944
> saabstory | fixes bikes, breaks cars
05/31/2014 at 19:21 |
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This review is not at all biased I swear.
Your boy, BJR
> saabstory | fixes bikes, breaks cars
05/31/2014 at 19:35 |
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Lol saab folk gonna saab.
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catkam623 misses his 944
> Your boy, BJR
05/31/2014 at 19:38 |
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Hey odd question but are you selling your green bmw 2002 and asking for a unimog in trade on craigslist?
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Your boy, BJR
> catkam623 misses his 944
05/31/2014 at 19:40 |
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I don't have it on CL, and I'm not asking for a mog…..but fuck man, if that gets results…..
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catkam623 misses his 944
> Your boy, BJR
05/31/2014 at 19:45 |
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I posted it on oppo earlier and someone said it might be you. Let me see if I can find the link to the add.
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catkam623 misses his 944
> Your boy, BJR
05/31/2014 at 19:46 |
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http://losangeles.craigslist.org/wst/cto/448799… here it is.
sm70- why not Duesenberg?
> saabstory | fixes bikes, breaks cars
05/31/2014 at 20:11 |
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I've always loved Saabs, and the 9-5 Aero wagon is my favorite of the newer ones. I drove a purple one in Colorado Springs last year, and I loved it. Unfortunately, it was out of my price range at the time.
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Your boy, BJR
> catkam623 misses his 944
05/31/2014 at 20:11 |
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mine's older, shittier, and on the other side of the country. Got what's left of the paint on mine right though.
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catkam623 misses his 944
> Your boy, BJR
05/31/2014 at 21:32 |
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Shame I was hoping he's an oppo, whoever it is I'm certain we approve of them.
JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
> saabstory | fixes bikes, breaks cars
05/31/2014 at 21:51 |
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First time I saw one of these in public, I thought this was aftermarket chrome... its the one bit I do not like about it
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saabstory | fixes bikes, breaks cars
> JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
06/01/2014 at 02:24 |
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I was with you until I saw it in person.
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saabstory | fixes bikes, breaks cars
> sm70- why not Duesenberg?
06/01/2014 at 02:24 |
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There's something to it, right? It seems like a mess, but it's so dang wonderful.
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saabstory | fixes bikes, breaks cars
> catkam623 misses his 944
06/01/2014 at 02:25 |
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Maybe a little. But I think you might be underestimating this car. Go drive one, it's sublime.
Have car, will drive (now has a motorcycle too)
> saabstory | fixes bikes, breaks cars
06/01/2014 at 04:56 |
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Thanks for posting! I too am one of those with a (irrational?) soft spot for these 9-5s. I have been thinking about getting one (the last facelift same as yours, but probably not an Aero) on and off for a while, there's a few for sale near me at the moment but none of them look quite right. I'll just have to keep looking...
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saabstory | fixes bikes, breaks cars
> sm70- why not Duesenberg?
06/01/2014 at 18:28 |
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Wait I just read your response again. PURPLE?! AGHHH I WANT THAT A LOT.
George Costanza
> saabstory | fixes bikes, breaks cars
06/02/2014 at 12:38 |
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To be honest I actually like automatic too, only drove one manual car and not too much in traffic and only maybe 200 km in total, all in rural area for the purpose of carrying things between two farms just to occupy my time, also I didn't even have a licence it was in Libya and not necessary. I scraped the car all over the place, thank god it was a small toyota pickup.
Grotus
> saabstory | fixes bikes, breaks cars
12/27/2014 at 05:01 |
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this is a downpipe.
goatfarmer
> saabstory | fixes bikes, breaks cars
05/17/2015 at 19:48 |
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I’ll post thoughts a year after the article is written really because you can’t find crap for reviews on the 06-09ish year models.
I picked up my used wagon in automatic form with about 85k miles on it. I also have a cure nt generation nissan frontier as my DD and the children hauler is a late model honda odyssey van. Cliff notes, I really enjoy the car. It has crisp handling on my rural 2 lanes, passing people on said 2 lanes is freaking intoxicating (0-60 is vanilla, 50-110 is like two blinks of the eyes, it pulls like nothing else I have driven). I find myself intentionally driving in manner that will require a quick overtake, whether a highway exit or onramp, etc. It really pulls like a diesel truck, it just shoves you forward.
Being almost 10 years old, the previous two owners either babied it or else it is just high quality materials. It is wearing very well.
I get 31mpg @ 75mph with ac on. Turn the ac off and drop to 65-70, and it easily cruises @ 33-34mpg. Great highway cruiser.
Interior cubbies/storage space sucks. I feel like I don’t have enough space for knick knacks. But room for boxes/bikes /dogs is great.
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saabstory | fixes bikes, breaks cars
> goatfarmer
05/17/2015 at 21:49 |
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:) I 100% agree. Where are you located?
gaelzen
> saabstory | fixes bikes, breaks cars
04/08/2018 at 03:45 |
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Do you still have this wagon? How’s it holding up? I’m looking at one for sale in PA with 135k miles but I live in Seattle and would like to see/ride in one locally before taking the plunge, if at all possible. Currently driving an ‘09 VW GTI, but need a better commuter vehicle with more space.
Data Chandler
> saabstory | fixes bikes, breaks cars
05/25/2018 at 14:22 |
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This is a ridiculously late question, but love your review and your take on the car, looking to get one myself, and now I’m confused: I thought this gen 9-5 didn’t have an aux input? Or was it a custom job? Odds are low you’ll see this but would love your feedback!
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saabstory | fixes bikes, breaks cars
> Data Chandler
06/25/2018 at 03:31 |
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Hey-o! This is a stock feature on this car. Not sure if it was a special package or not, as my folks got it used.
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saabstory | fixes bikes, breaks cars
> gaelzen
06/25/2018 at 03:36 |
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Heyo! Sorry, I pop in and out of this place. On my yearly visit, I saw your question. My folks still have it. It’s held up really well! The only gripe they’ve had with it is that the city mileage isn’t superb - highway has been kinda crazy good, though.. . Otherwise, it’s smooth and the upholstery has held up really well considering how heavily it’s been used. They’ve met all maintenance intervals and it’s a healthy rig. Unfortunately, its time in the family is likely going to end within the next few months since my mom is going to start work at a new school that’s 45 minutes away, and something with better city mileage would be a better match for us.
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Data Chandler
> saabstory | fixes bikes, breaks cars
06/25/2018 at 09:42 |
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Awesome, thanks!! Such a handsome car, can't wait to get one myself.
vbranis
> saabstory | fixes bikes, breaks cars
12/16/2018 at 01:07 |
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Great review - Purchased my ‘07 9-5 Aero SportCombi 4 years ago, now at 112K and still going strong. Mine is fully loaded though, with NAV, v entilated s eats, x enons, a uto-dimming exterior mirrors, r ain-sensing wipers, and rear parking sensors. And they all work! Completely stock except for an upgraded aluminum intercooler (for those hot SoCal summers) and Stage 1 ECU tune, makes about 280 hp and 300 torques. Only car I’ve ever driven (and I’ve driven plenty! ) that accelerates faster at higher speeds . I swear 80-120 is faster than 40-80, which is faster than 0-40 . Or at least that’s what it feels like. And handling was significantly improved on the post-2006 models thanks to beefier antiroll bars, increased track width, wider 235 tires (vs 225) and probably a couple of other things that I’m forgetting. And did I mention the time I fit a 72" bookcase in the back that my friend’s late-model F-150 couldn’t without it protruding out the tailgate? Yes, it was a 4-door short-bed model. But still...
So it’s c omfortable and practical with surprisingly good performance and handling thanks to its oh-so-unfashionable low ground clearance. One of the best kept secrets out there and for anyone contemplating buying one, as long as it’s clean, well-maintained, and priced right, you can’t go wrong.
FYI, only 3095 Dame Edna ‘06-’09 9-5 SportCombis were sold in USA, with 987 of those being Aeros. I can’t imagine there being many good ones left, which is a darn shame.