Hot Aero - Saab's last hurrah

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Saab 9-5 Saloon Aero 2.3 Hot
★★★★☆
4.5
82.0% of users recommend this
  • Performance

  • Practicality

  • Reliability

  • Value For Money

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a8drewson1's review of Saab 9-5 Saloon Aero 2.3 Hot

“Hot Aero - Saab's last hurrah”

★★★★★

written by a8drewson1 on 05/06/2012

Having gone through the Saab family taking in the GM offspring was like adopting a kid from the bad estate... as much as you hope for the best you somehow know that the bad habits are likely to surface under pressure.

Three years on and it just shows how prejudice and affect perceptions. The car has been an absolute joy (I fear saying it because, at 90,000 miles, I know it is getting close to needing a new clutch. At times I've driven it like the hooligan from the estate - those of you who take the opportunity (a clear road late at night) will recognise the bedevilment that pushes man and car beyond the limits... well beyond.

I've driven some truly terrible cars so I tend to adjust my driving to compensate. There may be cars that corner better - my old Lotus Elan was right up there with the best, and the lift off oversteer was about as much fun as you can have on four wheels. I find the 9-5 predictable and easy to manage - without any of the Elan drama.

It eats the miles without leaving you thinking about booking in for a back treatment so those long runs (for us) to Cornwall are stress free - out of the traffic jams. But when you do get space to over-take you think, okay, one or two cars and in the gap... foot down and four cars later you pull in. It is so quick in that vital over-taking range that it often surprises.

Reliable? No problems at all - manual gearbox, regular oil and filter change, treated it to new discs and pads (because I value stopping) and that is about it.

Fantastic car - a good one to end on.

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