2003 Saab 9-5 Consumer Reviews

Unreliable Car

Written by: Sad Saab on 08/24/2008

Vehicle

2003 Saab 9-5 Linear 2.3t 4dr Sedan (2.3L 4cyl Turbo 5M)

Review

Bought a new 95 Linear on 05/03 with 23 miles. At 3k miles the back passenger door latch jammed. AT 7k the sunroof jammed. AT 14k noise on the front wheel with bearing replaced. AT 35k the trunk would not open. One recall to replace the clamp on the fuel system. AT 41K engine lights on with O2 sensor replaced. At 44K there is a front axle leak and broken belt protector. At 56K heater valve leak. At 58K again O2 sensor was replaced and also the fuel pump. Car just died on the middle of the road. Now at 61K stranded again. Car just choked, jerk and not getting into gear. Very dissatisfied. Maintenance schedule has been followed.

Favorite Features

Good winter car. I have not swerve during snowy and icy weather. Very stable. Turbo charge engine that gives you option to speed up.

Suggested Improvements

Better cup holder. Makes compass a standard features.

1 out 2 people found this review helpful

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Not worth the money

Written by: shellEy on 11/15/2007

Vehicle

2003 Saab 9-5 Linear 2.3t 4dr Sport Wagon (2.3L 4cyl Turbo 5M)

Review

For a car that costs as much as this did, I expected much higher quality. The engineers did a poor job of ergonomic design, parts break (and when they do, it's *very* expensive to fix), and there are known bugs which Saab doesn't seem to care about fixing. (Repairs on my car in 100,000 miles: fuel pump, brakes (twice!), rear-hatch-closed sensor, engine-temp gauge...) My pet peeve is if you set the interior temperature, I expect the car to maintain that temp. Instead, it'll either be too hot or too cold.

Favorite Features

With a 5-speed manual transmission, I get ~25 mpg in city driving, ~30 mpg highway. Not bad for a car this big.

Suggested Improvements

1. Fix climate control--if I want temp to be 72, then that's the temp it should be, not hotter or colder. 2. The speedometer reads ~44 mph too fast, but dealer said "that's normal." No way! I've never had a car that inaccurate. 3. Make it easier for owner mtce (e.g., replacing headlights).

1 out 2 people found this review helpful

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Best in class.

Written by: M.A.D.MikE on 10/20/2007

Vehicle

2003 Saab 9-5 Aero 4dr Sedan (2.3L 4cyl Turbo 5M)

Review

Used to own a 1994 VW Passat VR6, and didn't want anything slower. Narrowed my search to A4 or Passat with the same 1.8T engine, BMW E39 or 46, C Classe and Mazda RX-8. Didn't even consider Saab at that time. But after sitting in different cars at used car lot, felt in love with 2000 Arc model and went straight home to do some research. Found a black 2003 Aero and bought it the same day. It's 440 pounds heavier than my old car but the acceleration is just stunning! The only major problem with this car is $3000 I had to pay on my 90k servicing :( Nevertheless I would buy it again if I had the chance and would recommend it to anyone who is looking for a compromise between sport and luxury.

Favorite Features

Comfort, speed, styling, uniqueness, smart gadgets (cup holders, ventilated seats etc), unmatched sound quality, great value for money.

Suggested Improvements

In-dash SatNav, audio input to hookup mp3 player, wood trim would be nice, one touch open-close buttons for windows and sunroof, lower price for parts and labor, four wheel drive, adjustable heating and ventilation for backseat, steering wheel is too big, gas pedal is not responsive enough.

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Saab 9-5 Aero

Written by: John C. on 08/28/2007

Vehicle

2003 Saab 9-5 Aero 4dr Sedan (2.3L 4cyl Turbo 5M)

Review

Have had my 9-5 about 7 months. Although there have been a few things that needed attention, I love the car. It has a dual personality: practical family hauler (I have 3 kids and do the school drop-off in the mornings... backpacks, musical instruments, computers, sports equipment, it all goes in the trunk), gets close to 35 mpg on the highway, but at the same time is a highly entertaining performance sedan. Great seats, great stereo, but interior ergonomics are not great. I think it's one of the best looking 4 door cars on the road. Try to find one that has some factory warranty left on it.

Favorite Features

Driving dynamics, Harman-Kardon stereo.

Suggested Improvements

Some interior controls feel cheap to the touch; overall build quality could be improved.

4 out 4 people found this review helpful

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Second-hand Saab

Written by: famvanman on 03/09/2007

Vehicle

2003 Saab 9-5 Linear 2.3t 4dr Sedan (2.3L 4cyl Turbo 5M)

Review

Recently bought this car with 56,000 miles. Although it is the Linear base model, it is a very nice machine overall; 4 cylinder economy with the turbo to add power when needed. Very solid feel on the road and good handling without harsh feedback from the pavement. Generous interior space and full size trunk. Many nice features, very good stereo and overall a unique feel to the car.

Favorite Features

Sport driving mode adds pep and is very useful for getting on the highway. Heated leather seats are a treat here in the northeast winter.

Suggested Improvements

Needs another cup holder in the front.

1 out 1 people found this review helpful

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Saab makes great cars

Written by: baco99 on 03/09/2007

Vehicle

2003 Saab 9-5 Arc 3.0t 4dr Sport Wagon (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 5A)

Review

Our 2003 Saab 9-5 Arc wagon is a superb car to own and drive. Yes, there are a few Saab quirks to get over, but the pleasure of driving it far outweighs any minor nuisances. Ours is equipped with the Sentronic automatic transmission and performs very well. In "Sport" mode the transmission responds very quickly, especially out of 1st gear and is like IRL's "push to pass" button. The interior is quiet and comfortable. The wagon has great cargo room and our 2 dogs love it back there. With a baby on the way, it's a very sensible and responsible purchase, with much better gas mileage than our neighbors' SUVs. This is our 4th Saab, and we'll be back to the well again in a few years.

Favorite Features

Styling, power & "Sport" mode handling, cargo room, heated seats, front and rear, headlight washers, great audio system, rear visibility & backup sensors.

Suggested Improvements

iPod uplink or Bluetooth, but in 2003 that wasn't the norm. Squeaks come from under dash when cold.

2 out 2 people found this review helpful

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Very good

Written by: Frank on 03/09/2007

Vehicle

2003 Saab 9-5 Aero 4dr Sedan (2.3L 4cyl Turbo 5M)

Review

Everything is excellent, only the fuel economy is not so good, but you can't have it all.

Favorite Features

The headlights, the sound system, the front seats heated and vented, the automatic gearbox, especially the sport mode.

Suggested Improvements

Nothing so far.

2 out 4 people found this review helpful

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Solid Car

Written by: bah on 03/06/2007

Vehicle

2003 Saab 9-5 Linear 2.3t 4dr Sedan (2.3L 4cyl Turbo 5M)

Review

Very nice car, frustrating issue with in dash display module indications that appears to be a factory issue. Excellent handling in ice and snow/rain. Very solid fit and finish. Gets a little expensive out of warranty.

Favorite Features

Style.

Suggested Improvements

Information display is a factory issue that they appear to not care about. I have seen it on multiple years and models.

2 out 2 people found this review helpful

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One Sweet Swede

Written by: NineFiveAero on 01/28/2007

Vehicle

2003 Saab 9-5 Aero 4dr Sedan (2.3L 4cyl Turbo 5M)

Review

You would have to be pretty hard pressed to find a better sport sedan for what these cars bring used. Saab has tuned the Aero with usable power. Tons of torque and very responsive. Goes to show you that you don't need a big, heavy, gas guzzling V8 to have power. These cars are true "sleepers". A timeless design and high quality interior materials, especially the beautifully sculpted sport seats wrapped in high quality leather. The performance, equipment, and styling are impossible to beat at this price point, plus, Saabs are still relatively exclusive. It will definitely stand out in the packs of 5-series BMWs. These cars deserve much more credit than they get.

Favorite Features

The amazing amount of torque from the engine. It is always shocking to me how low this 4-cylinder motor revs out on the highway! It doesn't turn 3,000 rpm until 95 mph! I also love the interior and exterior design, and the relative exclusivity of the car.

Suggested Improvements

The vibration felt at idle can be a little irritating, but it is a known trait to the 4-cylinder automatic 9-5s. Also, a faster steering ratio would be a nice improvement, which I believe has been addressed in the 2006/2007 model.

5 out 5 people found this review helpful

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2003 Aero

Written by: Trebla on 01/02/2007

Vehicle

2003 Saab 9-5 Aero 4dr Sedan (2.3L 4cyl Turbo 5M)

Review

Best car I've owned (of 12 in 42 years of driving). Fast, fun, comfy but not floating, gets 26-31 mpg and easily does 110 mph on highway. Astonishing acceleration 40 to100, which is where most of us actually use it.

Favorite Features

Rather than one "feature" the best part is the integration of all the components into the driving experience. It's faster than you think. Great brakes - good initial "bite", linear progression with pedal pressure and rapid deceleration. The instruments are deceptively simple, defining ergonomic.

Suggested Improvements

Driver's seat cushion could be longer (I'm 6'2").

3 out 3 people found this review helpful

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