2005 Saab 9-5 Review - Quite The Saab Story

My thoughts on the 2005 Saab 9-5 with the 2.3L turbocharged inline 4 and 5 speed automatic transmission!
_________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________

SELL YOUR CAR TO CASH FOR CARS!

FIXD BLUTOOTH OBD2 SENSOR!

GET RID OF YOUR UGLY FRONT LICENSE PLATE

BIG FRIGGIN BOTTLE Sticker:

_________________________________________________________________________________________

Contact me!
Phone: [phone]
Instagram: @Shooting_Cars

_________________________________________________________________________________________

#Saab #Saab95

Timecodes:
0:00 - Intro
1:24 - Engine / Transmission
2:22 - Interior
4:35 - BFB Test
4:46 - Interior
6:01 - Back Seats
6:45 - Trunk / Cargo Space
7:17 - Exterior
7:44 - Final Thoughts
10:17 - Outro

[robertborne]

I have owned two 9-5’s. Both were Aero’s. Both with the automatic….it actually is known for being more reliable than the manual. One of a few sedans which could hold three child seats across the back. The first was a 2004. Engine was super strong, had HID lights, and even had ventilated seats! A gentleman ran a red light and hit The right front of the car. Not a scratch on me, but the car was totaled as the cast for replacement parts was too high for the insurance company to repair. The second was a 2007. I liked the subtle front end tweak of the second one.

With the turbo lag, they weren’t the quickest off the line, and when the boost did kick-in, the torque steer could be a handful. Where these cars shined was on the expressway. You could get from 80mph(128 km) to 90 mph (144), faster than most V-8 sedans because you were right in the boost! And at an indicated 80–>82, I would still average over 30 miles per gallon. For a person who made his living on the road, this was really good. So much better than the Millers supercharger in my Mazda Millenia.

[jakobholgersson]

Love your video.
Just want to point something out: Spyker who took over Saab actually did resume Saab production. They managed to bring the second generation 9-5 to market, they brought out the crossover version of the 9-3 and started development of an in-house car platform on which the next generation of Saabs would be built. They gave Saab a whole lot more love than GM, although they didn't have as much cash.
When they got replaced by NEVS, production yet again resumed. However, when NEVS went into reconstruction a few years later, the Saab defence company got fed up and withdrew the rights to the name. When the company got their economy together, production resumed, although the car was by then known as the NEVS 9-3. The last cars were assembled in 2013-2014 and a bunch of those were "forgotten" and eventually got sold at auction as MY 2018. And that's without mentioning that an electric version was developed and entered limited production only a few years ago.

[MassiveTrackHunter]

If you get a kick out of these, you should find a pre-92 Saab like the 900 Turbo and check those out. Lots of design cues in this one hark back to those Classic True Saabs.

[wil]

The interior of this Saab looks almost exactly like my '01 9-5 Aero Wagon. Bought it in '05 with only 17k miles. I drove it every day for 14 years. God, I loved that car. Eventually though, the Michigan winters took their toll and I lost it to rust and electrical issues :-( Btw, the small fog light switch below the headlight switch was for a rear fog light. It would activate one of the rear brake lights (on mine it was the driver's side) and keep it on so cars behind you could see you sooner in dense fog. Another cool Saab feature. Also if you pause at 7:42 you can see how the corners of the hood extend out around the A-pillars. This is so in the event of a front-end collision the hood would be pushed up rather than crumple into the passenger compartment. No other car company was ever as concerned about safety than Saab. Well, ok, maybe Volvo. . .

[TheDaleGribble]

I have a 01 9-5 Aero wagon. God do I love it. It’s quick, comfortable, still looks amazing in my opinion.

[MassiveTrackHunter]

One of the best things about a GM Saab, the ones that came from Sweden, is there is little GM-ness about them. They used GM's superior design processes and some of the parts bin but still only used about 20% GM, and the rest is designed and built in Sweden and Europe. Better rustproofing, design detail, power control, power output, leather and everything else about them is more cadillac level than their malibu/cobalt/g6 counterparts. Their convertibles are the best of the bunch.

[giorgio.]

Good review. I always knew about SAAB, but I started to appreciate them a lot more when I became a salesman at a Saab dealership for a little while. I then went on to buy other cars, but never forgot Saab and was pretty sad when the brand went away.

But today, I drive a 2004 Saab 9-5 sedan and I really like it. It's rare, solid, well built, safe and of course quirky, but not in a bad way, the quirks aren't just for show, they're useful, they make sense to the driver. It's based on a GM platform, but doesn't feel like it, it's well engineered and definitely feels European. It'd even call it overbuilt and over-engineered. It's not a small car, but it drives like a smaller, more nimble car compared to many cars of the same size. I think it looks beautiful from any angle, it's classy, subdued, but with just enough flair, although not as "Saab-like" as the OG 900, that's for sure. It definitely will turn the heads of car enthusiasts, though, and other Saab drivers will wave at you.

My 9-5 is manual, which makes for a more interesting driving experience, especially with the high-output turbo that is has. It's a true sleeper! The automatic transmission is made by Aisin, a Toyota company and is pretty good. The 9-5 was the safest sedan in the world when it came out in 1997 in Europe and 1998 in North America. It was refreshed in 2006 and unfortunately, they started to cheap out on the materials, especially inside the cabin. They were better made up until 2005.

This particular model that is reviewed here is the Linear trim, the lowest trim in North America and it's missing many of the better features like headlight washers, xenon headlights, heated rear seat (not just the fronts), ventilated front seats (a first in the auto industry when it came out in the 9-5), 3-posiitions memory seats and mirrors, auto-dimming rear view mirror with compass, etc. It might even have the low pressure turbo (less HP). In its condition and mileage, it's quite expensive for $5, 000.

You can still find plenty of parts at specialized online stores and the Saab community is wonderful. Many of formerly dealer-employed Saab mechanics started their own independent Saab repair shops when the dealers closed down, so the knowledge is out there and available. These cars are new enough to have many of the safety and modern features, but old enough to not be overly complicated. If you're in the market for a used car and find one in good shape at a reasonable price, get it, you won't be sorry.

[bb_lz]

I owned 5 Saabs between 1983 and 2021, the last being a 2004 Saab 9_5 Arc Wagon (that I bought in 2013). My '83 900 4-door was probably the most reliable, although they were pretty good overall. Always a joy to drive. Always an easy sell for the salespeople when I sat in what would usually become the next one.

I've been to Trollhattan, Sweden and got to visit both the museum and the factory. Good timing for me as it was right at the time that the 9_5 wagon was first being produced and, though I wasn't supposed to, I got to see them before they were released to the US market.

Saab really blew it in when ABS and Airbags were being introduced. They said ABS on a front wheel drive car was difficult, yet other manufacturers did it. Our '96 9000CS didn't have a glovebox because of the passenger side air bag.

[MandusahRamirez]

GM should trade Buick for SAAB since Buick’s sell better in China! SAAB Could’ve been GMs Luxury Sports Brand because Cadillac is doing too much & doesn’t even have a Large Sedan or Coupe!.. OAN: GM actually didn’t appreciate SAAB because GM wanted SAAB to use more GM parts but SAAB did the opposite & cost GM more money because of it lol. The 2010 SAAB 9-5 Still Looks Like A New Car!!! They’re So Slept On!

[kingxcamm]

I just got rid of my 08 9-3. I got it as a 17th birthday present with 99k miles. Over 4 years I got it to 250k miles driving it home from college and to cost friends at their schools all over the Big 10 schools and Chicagoland area. It was a great car with almost no issues for all of that time. Unfortunately it started running poorly due to a valve problem and no one knew how to work on it in a rural college town and school and work keep me too busy to work on my own car. I needed a newer more common car and ended up with a 16 Subaru Impreza. I loved my saab and if I was still living in Chicago I would still have it.

[KH]

Someone backed into my '97 beauty at speed, into the rear quarter panel and tire, bounced my saab back 3 feet over a curb.
The car is fine!

[KH]

I still drive my '97 happily. Best high KM vehicle I have ever met! old Saab died at 500'00km+ (drives fine, subframe fine needs cosmetic repair in Ontario's rustbelt)

[NotPrezma]

I own a 2000 9-3 viggen 3-door hatch. Bought it when I was 17 for 3300$ in junkyard worthy condition. I worked hard with family and friends rebuilding it, now 5 years later it’s pushing 400whp and I don’t ever want to give it up. Its been such a great car and the community thats along for the ride is outstanding. This car helped me through rough times and better connect with family.

[taythodec]

I own a 2004 95 Arc (Auto) and It’s been the most loyal/favorable car I’ve ever driven. A Saab was made to be your best friend not just some lousy car company. If there were ever chance to reclaim the Saab name. I would love to save a company that could’ve had so much for them.

[andrewstanley]

Your reaction to the mustang was priceless! I would’ve had the same look as well. Love your reviews as always. If you can find a 9-4x I’d love to see one.

[glennk]

If you don't think the 9-5 looks good, do an image search for clean and modified ones, and you'll change your mind. :)

[emanuelsaad]

Fun thing is the saab b204 engine are getting popular being reliable up to 700 hp and are a cheap alternative to engine swap into other cars in Sweden.

[celsovera]

That’s always been a saab thing to have the key down there. The reason they do that in case you get to an accident the key doesn’t jam in to your knees. The only other car I could think of that also does that is the Smart car

[josephstanger]

I feel that the issue that the GM pencil pushers saw with Saab was the very fact that it was not like any other GM product, they had little parts interchangeably in their vehicles that weren’t direct rebadges like the 9-7, the cost of their attention to detail drew too much from GM and their forcing to use GM platforms lead to a poor compromise of a automobile, that was in a sort of limbo of high quality old Saab and GM cheapening.

[KH]

I see you don't have the elusive saab rear heated seat design from canada circa 1996.
Love A nice saab video