2000 Saab 9-5 Consumer Reviews

Love/Hate Relationship!

Written by: Nickolek on 03/19/2009

Vehicle

2000 Saab 9-5 4 Dr SE V6t Turbo Sedan

Review

I am the the 2nd owner of this vehicle and have always had it regularly serviced. I love this car... When it runs, it runs well, when its doesn't, it really leaves you stuck! Financially and literally on the side of the road. I have tow truck drives on speed-dial. No joke. It all started with the timing belt and went down hill from there, oil sludge blew the engine, a bad ABS modulator that disables the ABS braking system. 2, yes 2 alternators, computer systems, crank sensor, alarm system, and LED display to name a few. My dashboard is a constant display of warning lights and the costs of my repairs are well over $6200. Well over what the car is worth now. I love this car, but it has broken me.

Favorite Features

When it runs it is amazing!!

Suggested Improvements

1 out 1 people found this review helpful

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GMs New Vega

Written by: Charlie on 03/05/2009

Vehicle

2000 Saab 9-5 4 Dr SE V6t Turbo Sedan

Review

Towed countless times to shop or home (can't remove rust on wheels, dead direct inginition bank, failure to start, etc.). Interior falls apart around you (carpet disintegrating, rear brake light housing fell off). Blew shocks at 45K. Leaks antifreeze from unknown location at 17K. Trunk release, data display and seat heaters, inoperative since 50K

Favorite Features

At least it looks like a Saab.

Suggested Improvements

This vehicle is most comparable to the old Chevy Vega or Plymouth Cricket. Stay away until several years after SAAB dumps GM and starts getting real SAAB quality back. My pre GM Saabs were mostly trouble free for over 200K. My 86 had 267K. The body was shot but it still ran great.

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Love Hate Relationship

Written by: Saab Story on 08/07/2008

Vehicle

2000 Saab 9-5 4 Dr 2.3t Turbo Sedan

Review

I bought a used Saab 9-5 SE with 98000 miles on it. It was the car of my dreams. I've never liked a car so much. Until it started leaking oil. Then the oil gasket blew. And the ABS module blew. And the serpentine belt blew. And 2 months later the entire belt tensioner blew, causing the serpentine belt to snap, causing a melt down. The list goes on. In the course of a year, I spent $3000 in repairs. The shameful thing is that I love driving this car so much, I actually considered getting another one. Had to slap myself out of it, because it really is better as a second car you only take for long highway rides. <Sigh> Guess I'm gonna have to find a 12-step program for Saab drivers.

Favorite Features

Ventilated/heated seats, beautiful instrumentation, peppy passing power, great handling, luxe ride, cool cup holder, unique styling, incredibly comfortable interior. Fantastic climate control system. I love just about everything about this car when it's actually running. Well, except the bill

Suggested Improvements

Reliability. It just sucks. And Saab is reluctant to do recalls on obvious design flaws. Cheaper repairs, if they don't improve the reliability.

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Don't think the dealer should know my name

Written by: Frank on 06/13/2008

Vehicle

2000 Saab 9-5 4 Dr 2.3t Turbo Sedan

Review

This car is a nice cheap option used and comes with a nice warranty. Once the warranty expires GET RID OF THE CAR! Car currently needs $5000 worth of repairs (head gasket, rear main seal and abs module). What a hunk of garbage! DO NOT BUY A SAAB, spend the extra few grand and get a Honda, Toyota or Nissan. The dealer knows, my name, my wife's name and my kids names. Unfortunately I also have a Saab 95 wagon. Can't wait to get rid of that either. GARBAGE CAR!!!! If they are born from Jets, then I am done flying!

Favorite Features

leather, trunk space, air cooled seats

Suggested Improvements

Make a reliable car. Saab should offer a 150,000 mile warranty.

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2000 Gary Fisher Edition Saab 9-5 Wagon

Written by: Steve on 01/25/2008

Vehicle

2000 Saab 9-5 4 Dr Gary Fisher ED. Turbo Wagon

Review

Purchased this car on eBay w/ 101,000 miles. I drive this car almost 200 miles per day in my sales job. I've replaced the DIC, serpentine belt, and battery since owning the car. I've completed routine maintenance when necessary (i.e. new tires, spark plugs, & brakes). Up to now this has been my BEST car for all the driving I that I do. This is saying a lot. I've had BMWs, Jaguar and Audi that cost me a fortune in frequent repairs.

Favorite Features

gas mileage, interior design and materials usd, quality manufacturing, ease of work for the do-it-yourselfer, options that you get with the car for the money (i.e. cooler in the glove box & loading deck in the back of the car).

Suggested Improvements

none come to mind.

2 out 2 people found this review helpful

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Great Car for the Money

Written by: Travis Blount on 01/10/2008

Vehicle

2000 Saab 9-5 4 Dr SE V6t Turbo Sedan

Review

This has been an excellent car. I was hesitant at first to buy a saab but my wife really wanted it. I did some research and found most people had good success out of them. Not to mention the fact the dealer paid for the 60k timing belt replacement. We have had the car for about 30k miles now and have not had a bit of trouble out of it. The 9-5 has been great. I am suprised that they really arent more expensive on the used market. They really are one of the best buys out there.

Favorite Features

Room, comfort, drive.

Suggested Improvements

More cup holders.

2 out 2 people found this review helpful

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Great 8 years!

Written by: Peter on 11/06/2007

Vehicle

2000 Saab 9-5 4 Dr Aero Turbo Sedan

Review

Our 9-5 has been a really good car. Mainly use it as a winter driver these days, but it is comfortable, quick and very fuel efficient on the highway for the performance the car delivers. On 6 separate occasions reached over 500 miles (800 kilometres) on a single tank of fuel. Parts can be expensive, but taking our car to a local ex-Saab mechanic who has his own garage, it's been wonderful. He immediately is able to diagnosis the situation and supply replacement parts at a price that a regular Saab dealer would not. Would I purchase a Saab again, absolutely but it has to have the performance, space and efficiency that the 1999-2008 95 has, which I understand is only about a year away.

Favorite Features

The engine, wonderful flat torque curve. The seats, exceptionally comfortable for long haul driving. The interior space and trunk capacity for a car with an overall length of only 190 inches.

Suggested Improvements

The availability of all-wheel-drive, coming this year to the 9=3, assume that the new 9-5 will have this drivetrain available as well. Availability of larger brakes, alternative suspension components, wheels through reputable Saab dealers in North America such as Hirsch Performance in Europe.

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Never buying Saab again

Written by: szthdy on 10/17/2007

Vehicle

2000 Saab 9-5 4 Dr 2.3t Turbo Wagon

Review

Afte having a Saab 900 that ran forever and bought used, I carefully researched wagons and came to the 9-5 purchase expecting good things. I've had problems with the the theft alarm and various things almost since day 1. Now, only 7 yrs. old, it needs more repair than it is even worth, and I've waited for tow trucks 4x in less than 2 yrs., not counting prior to that. I can only expect that reliability has gone down even further. I got a lemon, and will be glad to soon be rid of it! Cramped rear, flimsy and inconvenient (albeit cool) cupholders. It is a nice car, all except for the reliability problems.

Favorite Features

It is comfortable and fun to drive. I called it my "sporty mommy car".

Suggested Improvements

Cup holders are actually near useless, as so flimsy. And please make it reliable again!

4 out 4 people found this review helpful

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Awesome Ride!

Written by: toxicavenger70 on 09/27/2007

Vehicle

2000 Saab 9-5 4 Dr Gary Fisher ED. Turbo Wagon

Review

This is my second 9-5 wagon but this one is Limited Edition Gary Fisher. Great car but I did do a Saab ECU upgrade and it took all the turbo lag out of it! No slow starts from the light anymore! It is almost like I have it in Sport Mode all the time. Best seats I have ever sat in for a long time and heated seats that don't cook your bottom. Car handles great in our Colorado snow with snowtires (no studs). It did have the standard SID problems, Coolant bypass valve, #6 PVC update and crappy tires. But I get BBA reman. to fix the SID and it has a warranty for 86 bones, PCV update 50 bones and now the car is ready to rock!

Favorite Features

Seats(!), handling, looks (sexy), features and performance feel!

Suggested Improvements

One or 2 more cupholders, more aero roof rack (stop the whistling) and no more flat black plastic on the outside that fades!

4 out 5 people found this review helpful

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Good and well-balanced car

Written by: DCSwede on 09/07/2007

Vehicle

2000 Saab 9-5 4 Dr SE V6t Turbo Wagon

Review

The Saab's ride-handling balance is a good compromise (somewhat favoring ride quality), and it has good performance and responsiveness (esp. with the sport mode engaged). It's quiet without being Lexus-like and has a very good sound system. The seats are comfortable (though it can be tricky to find a good seating position), and the interior spacious. Respectable highway fuel economy (~25 mpg). Largely reliable (though when needed, repairs/ maintenance is expensive). Overall, it's a very good car, but the base (2.3L turbo) engine provides nearly equal performance and better fuel economy; I'd also recommend buying a car of 2002 model year or later, when a number of improvements were made.

Favorite Features

Engaging the sport mode makes a very noticeable difference, making the car much more responsive. Superb headlights (esp. high beams). Excellent crash-test (and crash outcome data) results.

Suggested Improvements

City fuel economy is mediocre (averages ~16 mpg). Standard traction control is good, but stability control would be better; a 5-speed auto transmission would also be nice (both became standard with the 2002 model year). The A/C can struggle to keep up on hot days. Small door storage pockets.

9 out 9 people found this review helpful

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