I am think about trading in my 97 850 wagon on
a 2000 9-5 se wagon,

any fellow volvocians had any experince with saab 9-5 and
is there a site just like this one for saab

I've had a 2000 Saab 9-5 Aero for 78k mi & my wife just bought a 2004 V70 T5-please search this web site or Saabnet.com for my long note on some differences.

In very brief summary: the Saab seems spotier & more connected; the Volvo seems sturdier. Follow up surveys rate Saab reliability at the top of the European cars, better than most American, not as good as most Asian cars.

I'm waiting until Saab shows a profit before replacing the Aero with another Saab.

GREAT Saab site...

http://www.saabnet.com

I've owned a couple pre-GM Saabs. I tried the 9-5 myself and I can't drive it because the pedals are too close for my Size 13s, at least in running shoes. That is, I hit the clutch and brake pedals together or gas and brake. I came VERY close to buying a 9-5 without driving it. I told my wife: "I've driven 8 bazillion miles in my Saabs, OF COURSE I'll be comfortable!" Well, thank god for nagging wives.

They've since corrected THIS problem with the new 9-3, in which I make contact with the headliner.....

(Not just big feet. Too tall, too....The Fates don't want me to buy another Saab, it seems.)

The new 9-3 has, in effect, a Saturn motor. The new Saab 9-2 will be a restyled Subaru and the 9-7 a Chevy Blazer...so much for an actual and distinct Saab brand identity!

Anyway, Saabs do depreciate fast, much worse than Volvos (buoyed by their undeserved reputation for reliability) so if you want to buy one, a used one should be the way to go. Of course, I'd look for lots of service records, CARFAX, a mechanic's lookover, etc.

-Punxsutawney Phil

The trade in on my 850 was pretty abysmal as well. It seems resale has taken a nose dive on pre 97 Volvo's as of late. Thanks to 0&% financing and hige rebates, the used car market is flooded.
--
96 850 GLT 5-Speed- Sold due to astronomical repair costs.

Edmunds gives a trade-in price of $6703 for a '96 850 GLT, but $4753 for a '96 Saab 900S.

You are correct about the effect of ex-lease cars on the used car market. I've looked at the residuals most companies are using for calculating lease payments, I think they might as well be smoking crack. (Honda-Acura seems to be an exception FWIW. I considered a lease, but it actually makes more sense for me to buy one.)

-Punxsutawney Phil

Holy cow!!! When I boought my V70 7 months ago I sold a stripped-down 94 Toyota Corolla for 4500--and had 4 offers on it in two days, so I know I wasn't over-pricing it. OK, I took good care of it and Toyota's are ultra-reliable, but does that make it more valuable than a more recent Saab? I guess the bottom has fallen out of the sued-car market.

BTW, Phil, thanks for the advice re. getting the car door panel off for vomit removal...
--
Mark 2002 V70 8k