Can the Brits help Saab survive?
June 21, 2011 in News
Many of you may have already read about this, but for the the others may be of interest.
The British car magazine What Car? has asked its readers to review the 9-5 SportsWagon.
The reviews shown in the video are all positive, but the most interesting is what car those reviewers drive.
If a Superb driver and a Mondeo driver can give such a positive review of the 9-5 SW, then anything is possible. 
My preferred quote is on timestamp 1:53, when the Mondeo driver describes how it feels when a 9-5 comes upon you on the Motorway.
terry9000k said on June 21, 2011
You really cannot help being impressed with this car……..it states ‘class’ move over Beemers (etc)
Kikaluka said on June 21, 2011
Get people test drive those cars is all Saab has to do. My father in law, who currently owns an E-class, fell in love with my 2011 9-5 Aero. During the week he is visited us, he kept on looking at the car, discovering nice details. He liked the gadgets (especially head up display), was surprised with the back seat leg room, loved the touch screen navi (so much simpler than all the buttons in the Merc) but was most impressed with the ride. He prefered Comfort in Drivesense, while I always use Intelligent, which for me is practically the same as Sport. The price difference with a 4 Matic Merc E got him thinking.
Get people drive those cars, the 9-5 will do the rest…
dohrmc said on June 22, 2011
The difference in price, plus all the details made it easy for me to choose a Saab 95 over the Merc E class. Diff in price was amazing here in the states. Yes, the interior is not up to Merc standard, but the Saab drives better to me.
I had a 95 for a long time and sold it in March. This is the first time I have EVER bought the same brand twice, and I have had a fair number of cars. I like the Saab best.
Jeff said on June 22, 2011
The effect the new black pearl dash panel in the 9-5 for 2012 can’t be explained adequately in words here, you’ll just have to see it in person. To say that it transforms the interior is a serious understatement. The materiality and premium feeling is so enhanced by its reflective quality that it feels like a completely different car, and in parchment trim, I’d go as far as to say it feels every bit as premium as the Mercedes. The only nagging detail that is still love it or hate it is the plastic grill surround behind the instrument cluster– I think it needs to be made of a harder plastic that approximates metal more than matte plastic, and then we’ll have a winner.
Troels, Denmark said on June 22, 2011
Besides: The E-class design, interior but especially exterior is – in my opinion – very poor in its shape: lacking attitude and integrity. (Sometimes it can even be hard to recognize from a Kia (specially seen from behind).
RS said on June 22, 2011
Jeff, do you know if MY12 will have an all parchment interior for the Aero trim?
If not, SAAB make it available! Extra cost 0 SEK.
Red J said on June 22, 2011
RS,
on all the MY 12 price list I’ve seen till now, the all parchment interior is still reserved to the Vector trim.
Kikaluka said on June 22, 2011
+1
Motoradd\'s Cat said on June 22, 2011
We Brits love our Swedish Cars, especially in Wagon (Estate) format.
Most OG 9-5′s you see on the road are wagons and the most of the other Swedish makes larger cars are wagons too.
I have a good feeling that the new 9-5 Wagon will sell like hot cakes in the UK, providing that the kit level and the price is right.
It will be about 3 years before I replace my MY08 9-5 wagon (due to residual value), and I intend to replace it with the new 9-5 wagon (or the all new 9-3 if it is a hatchback).
If Saab can stay in business long enough to get the new 9-5 Wagons rolling into the showrooms and onto the road in the UK, I’m confident that the future of Saab is secure. Fingers (and everything else) crossed.
Red J said on June 22, 2011
From all (4) the MY 12 price list I’ve seen so far the British is the most competitive, but I have to add, that I haven’t checked how the Saab compares, price wise, with other cars.
BTW, where dis you park your Vulcan?
Motoradd\'s Cat said on June 22, 2011
The Vulcan is on active duty at the moment (air show season), so I thought I’d put my new little monster on display (Toby the Russian Blue) for a while.
The Vulcan will return after the RAF Waddington Airshow (possibly with a better image).
zippy said on June 22, 2011
Ahh the Vulcan. Its up there with Concorde, Viggen and the 747 as the most beautiful aircraft ever made.
Red J said on June 22, 2011
I accept the first 3, but not the 747.
Saabheart said on June 22, 2011
The only interior feature I don’t care for on the new 9-5 are the front head rests. I loved the old style Saab ones they used for years and years. The plastic behind the new ones just looks bulky and cheap. The dash panel isn’t a big deal for me because my OG900 dash panel was painted piano black and looks fantastic to say the least. I get more compliments on it. A quick shot over that plastic and it’ll look like a million bucks. Of course the customer shouldn’t have to “fix” the interior…
I love these cars. I can’t wait to see my first 9-5 Wagon on the road. I bet it looks great!
zippy said on June 22, 2011
Great review. The Merc E and BMW 5 look positively dull stood next to a new 9-5.
A sign of good things to some I expect.