Before we bought our 01 V70 T5, we took delivery of (and then declined) a black Saab Aero 9/5 wagon. The 230-hp Aero is quite rare; only 300 in the U.S. this year. The 9/5 model is top-rated for reliability, and the wagon has some cool features such as an optional slide-out load bed and perforated air conditioned seats. We even were eligible for a large GM employee discount on the Aero due to a company connection!! Could not have been a sweeter deal on a rare car. Why didn't we take it? Good question, since our T5 has some troubling suspension noises, and we paid full list. One thing is the resale--Saabs are apparently notorious for not holding their value. They'll last 10 years easy, though: one of my recent cars was a Saab 900 with 175,000 miles. And Saab owners are a cool subset of drivers. The Saab is equally safe as the Volvo (active head restraint, etc.) and actually a little larger capacity. But after ten years, the 9/5 design will look dated, whereas the T5 will (somewhat of a guess here) look less so. Design aesthetic was the primary reason we chose to get the Volvo; the other reason was that I was not entirely pleased with the mating of engine and tranny (auto) in the Saab wagon. (I also drove a 9/5 Aero sedan with a manual, and it was a screamer.) It's a tough call. My idea is that the Saab will be in the shoppe far less frequently, but I'd probably still choose the V70 based on "owner appreciation." The T5 is a real nice ride.