My wife just replaced her aging EuroVan with a new Volvo V70 T5 manual 5spd. We picked it up at the factory in Gothenburg on Volvo's factory delivery program. The program is terrific- They flew us both from LA to Sweden, limo?ed us to the provided hotel, then limo?ed us the factory for lunch, a tour, & picked up our special-order car. The price was +/- less the the best deal here at the dealer. Saab does not appear to have a programfor non-expatriots

I was impressed at how similar the cars appeared on paper, in size, power & price. The T5 V70 Volvo was ~$35k, pretty close to a good deal on an Aero. I have a 2000 Saab 9-5 Aero 5spd manual (now w/ 75k mi) & saw this as a chance to get insights- how folks who live about 100 miles from each other (Trollhatten & Gothenburg) see things differently.

Swedes in the area are very aware of Saab's financial problems. The consensus opinion is that Saab has two years in which to show a profit or it?s over. The Volvo factory "campus" is huge. Saab 's is big


Volvo V70 T5 Saab 9-5 Aero

Wheelbase 108.5 106.4

Length 185. 189.2

Curb Wt 3390 3470

HP@ 247@5200 230@5500

Torque 243@2400 244@1900

Tires 225/55 16 225/45 17

Some minor or micro points that may interest you for further discussion

*Speed: tough to say for sure as Volvo is brand new & we were admonished not to exceed 4K rpm, but the Saab feels substantially substantially faster, especially 50-80 mph

*Power windows: Volvo has express down and up (pressure sensitive) and is faster than the Saab. Saab should include the express up feature

*Volvo: still has headlight wipers ( new Saab has hi pressure washers)

*Volvo: no shift-up light; no turbo gauge ( I missed this); speedo has 80 mph @ 12 o'clock - wasting lots of needle sweep in rarely used speed range; tach & speedo use skinny needles not easy to see

*Sun visors: Saab has double visor, Volvo is single. I like the Saab here

*Brakes: Saab just feels studlier, but the Volvo was kinda new

*Radio: Saab sounds significantly better (does wagon make a difference?), Volvo has no push buttons for preset stations but rather a single rotary knob to access the presets. The Volvo upgrade radio is $1200 more. Onstar equivalent is also extra.

*Steering wheel controls: Volvo cruise is all on left side, easily visible & usable, better than the Saab stalk based controls; Volvo radio controls not as useful & both + & - buttons are flat- not allowing sightless control.

*Tranny: Volvo new, stiff shifts, throws +/- longer than Saab, but you can remove key without putting it in reverse

*Space: Volvo has lower belt line & seems roomier inside, Saab more like Germans

*SID: Volvo info display is small & seen only by driver, Saab solution better. Volvo selects among info segments by turn of ring on turn signal stalk, this is better than the Saab

*Rattles; Volvo seems like it will never have a loose sound, beats my Saab

*Seats: both are about the same size & shape. Saab leather is noticeably better

*ACC / ECC both automatic climate systems work well. The Saab layout is clearer & has an "OFF" button. The Volvo rear set ventilation is weak

*Clutch: Saab much smother & predictable

*Controls: Volvo turn signal stalk much better quality feel. The Saab stalk really bothers me - it feels cheap. Rain sensitive wipers on Volvo really works- I?m impressed. My Saab does not have this option

*Bottom Line: the Volvo is a fine car & we?ll have it for a long time, but the Saab is just faster & more fun. I hope Saab is still alive in 2-3 years and has a factory delivery plan as good as Volvo so we can justify another trip to Sweden.