2002 Saab 9-5 Consumer Reviews

I Laughed, I cried, It Moved Me

Written by: jzeilinger on 11/15/2008

Vehicle

2002 Saab 9-5 Aero 4dr Sedan (2.3L 4cyl Turbo 5M)

Review

This has to be the craziest love/hate relationship I've ever had with a car. One day I hated it, the next day I loved it. This car has a ton of power for a 4-banger and it was a total hoot to drive. It handled corners extremely well with very little body lean, was incredibly quick, roomy, huge trunk, responsive, and got very good gas mileage for a car of this size. I enjoyed this car tremendously. This was my 2nd 9-5 so that tells you something about my love for car. The Aero is pavement hungry & the conservative sport sedan look is very deceptive - cop magnet, be careful!

Favorite Features

Powerful turbo-4,comfortable seats, huge trunk,incredible sound system (best I've ever heard in a car), great on gas, nice conservative exterior styling well hides the car's need for speed. It out ran it's share of German cars & a plethora of Hondas.

Suggested Improvements

By far the worst car I've ever owned. At 118k miles it started falling apart. $5000 in repairs later I finally dumped it and bought a newer 9- 5 Aero. I stay loyal to Saab and won't let one bad apple spoil the love affair while most everyone else would run to another brand. Check maintenance histories.

1 out 1 people found this review helpful

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The 9-5's Evil Twin

Written by: jzeilinger on 09/30/2008

Vehicle

2002 Saab 9-5 Aero 4dr Sedan (2.3L 4cyl Turbo 5M)

Review

Is my 2nd 9-5 and without a doubt, the Aero is the way to go. The amount of power this 4 cylinder has is amazing & the cornering with the low profile perf. tires is tenacious. Everyone who rides in this car is extremely surprised by the "giddy up" & handling. It's definitely a vehicle I enjoy driving and doing 30k miles/yr for business that's an important requirement, I practically live in my car during the business week. There's a host of creature comforts in the interior and I've never gotten fatigued behind the wheel, even on 4+ hr business trips-very comfortable seats that seem to wrap right around you. .

Favorite Features

Large trunk, sound system is best I've ever experienced in a car, performance, handling, roomy, 30+ mpg on long trips, night panel, interior/exterior design, sport/winter driving mode, ignition between the seats. Safety features. Get compliments all the time. After all my ranting below, I'll still buy another.

Suggested Improvements

At 118k miles it's been one exp. repair after another. Have spent $3000 in past 6 mos, ready to sell car. 02's typically have been very reliable. Ride is a little noisy for a car in this class. Still has some turbo lag w/has been addressed in newer models. Understeer because of overly torquey eng.

1 out 1 people found this review helpful

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Great car!

Written by: chris on 09/11/2008

Vehicle

2002 Saab 9-5 Arc 3.0t 4dr Sedan (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 5A)

Review

This is my first Saab but I am hooked. I bought it on Dec 30 2007 and have not had any issues. You cannot beat the price for the amount of car. I live in northern KY in an area that is saturated with Chevy Impalas, Toyota Camrys, and Honda Accords. I love the uniqueness of the Saab. Great performance and decent fuel mileage along with excellent build quality are my favorite aspects. My only complaint is the pixelated LED display which should be a recall since it is apparently so common. I would recommend this car to anyone in need of a 4door sedan.

Favorite Features

Style, performance, and build quality (nothing squeaks or rattles)

Suggested Improvements

Air conditioning seems to struggle on very hot days, extra cupholder, looks could be improved with a larger wheel base, fix the led displays

2 out 2 people found this review helpful

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A Unique Blend of Virtues

Written by: Charlie on 08/19/2008

Vehicle

2002 Saab 9-5 Linear 2.3t 4dr SportWagon (2.3L 4cyl Turbo 5M)

Review

This is a great all-around family vehicle, with something for everyone. It's got great interior space, attractive exterior appearance, exciting turbo performance, economical gas mileage, and reasonable mechanical reliability.

Favorite Features

Internal spaciousness, turbo- driven "giddy-up" on demand, smooth highway ride, unique Saab design elements and bodystyling.

Suggested Improvements

Better suspension for handling corners/bumps, tighter overall fit and finish to substantially reduce close-to-excessive levels of highway road noise for an expensive sport wagon.

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Smooth, fun and safe

Written by: Autoenthusiast on 08/14/2008

Vehicle

2002 Saab 9-5 Linear 2.3t 4dr SportWagon (2.3L 4cyl Turbo 5M)

Review

My 5yr old nephew was impressed and loved the car because it looked like "a plane" from the outside and inside. My 3rd Saab(from: 900, 9-3SE, now '02 9- 5Linear) and have been very happy most especially the 9-5. Great space (hauled a love seat), lots of standard features that are still optional in some cars 6yrs later (side airbags, ESP, 5-spd auto tran, glovebox cooler, Trip-comp, dual sun-visors, Harmon-Kardon etc.) Safe - a fist-sized rock hit windshield 2x/2occasions and only a small chip, rear-ended by an Explorer and no damage (Explorer bumpers bent and caved-in). Great in long-drives, very peppy and quite! The Aero would have been exhilirating. Plan 2 keep it until 1M miles!

Favorite Features

Windshield, cockpit and night display, trip-computer, sound system, glovebox cooler, dual-sun visor, engine!

Suggested Improvements

None

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Great car!!!

Written by: dave on 02/15/2008

Vehicle

2002 Saab 9-5 Aero 4dr Sedan (2.3L 4cyl Turbo 5M)

Review

My 02 Aero has 95k miles and still drives and looks like new! Saabs do require some extra care in terms of maintenance and do have some glitches, but no serious defects. The car is a blast to drive, handles great, has great steering and all that power and pickup, even at highway speeds!!! Still get great gas mileage. Smooth and quiet ride like no other car with similar performance. The interior is as good and even better than most luxury brands, it has the best seats I've ever sat in! It is also one of the few cars remaining that has a distinctive look.

Favorite Features

Engine power, handling, the way it looks, great seats!

Suggested Improvements

Not sure.

1 out 1 people found this review helpful

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Solid car

Written by: JAM on 10/05/2007

Vehicle

2002 Saab 9-5 Linear 2.3t 4dr Sedan (2.3L 4cyl Turbo 5M)

Review

I've owned my 9-5 for 3.5 years. Bought from a local coming off lease. I've put approximately 90k miles on and am amazed at the mileage I get (mostly highway driving) I average 32- 34 highway depending on A/C needs. This car is quiet, comfortable, and somewhat fun to drive. It handles well but isn't a sportscar. It accelerates well especially in sport mode, but won't slap you in you seat. I bought a Maxima and it sits in the garage while I half heartedly attempt to sell this car - that should tell you something. The total package is well done if not overly exciting in any one area.

Favorite Features

Seats, Harmon Kardon, fuel economy, understated style, ample room.

Suggested Improvements

More low end torque, better center display, better lug nuts.

1 out 2 people found this review helpful

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Rip roarin' fun

Written by: Mike on 09/11/2007

Vehicle

2002 Saab 9-5 Aero 4dr Sedan (2.3L 4cyl Turbo 5M)

Review

It's great to see people's startled expression when they're in the passenger seat and you step on it! I did the all aluminum exhaust upgrade (lifetime warranty and 8 more bhp). Mileage has been a pleasant surprise, but hey, it's a 4 cyl after all. Big car comfort, small car fun and all I've done after 66 months was replace the battery, finally. I had never owned a Saab before, and relatively speaking I think they are somewhat pricey as new, but they prove to be worth it!

Favorite Features

Available as a 5-speed... get it! Night panel feature is great on a long trip at night. Climate control's a dream and heated seats get hot instantly. Plus, you could put another car in the trunk!

Suggested Improvements

New model needs a 6-speed, and power has to push closer to 300 bhp. Low profile performance tires are a little dicey in the snow. I guess with snow tires this thing will go through anything, but I haven't wanted to sacrifice the performance.

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2002 Saab 9-5 Aero review

Written by: nate on 07/05/2007

Vehicle

2002 Saab 9-5 Aero 4dr Sedan (2.3L 4cyl Turbo 5M)

Review

I have owned Saabs my entire life, this being the first "GM" saab. I am pleasantly surprised with the ride/seat comfort on long trips. The handling on the Aero is much better than that of a standard 9-5 turbo that I have driven. And the sound system is amazing. Only thing I do not like is the small amount of storage space. Overall, I am very happy with the car.

Favorite Features

Stereo system sound, Xenon headlights, side bolster seats.

Suggested Improvements

More storage space.

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9-5 Arc

Written by: tw on 06/29/2007

Vehicle

2002 Saab 9-5 Arc 3.0t 4dr Sedan (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 5A)

Review

3rd Saab I've owned. Initially loved it. Fun to drive, plenty of interior room, solid handling and quick. Saab's poor quality control has convinced me this is my last Saab however. I've had numerous failures of the temperature gauge. the fuel gauge and missing pixels on the dashboard Saab information display (SID). Although it is just a display problem caused by poorly engineered wiring, to fix the problem you have to buy a whole new computer that costs hundreds of dollars.

Favorite Features

Fold down back seat. Heated and ventilated front seats.

Suggested Improvements

Quality control! Better cup holders. Better arm rest between seats.

3 out 3 people found this review helpful

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