1995 SAAB 900 Reviews - Page 7 of 7

CD changer not working -- dealer replaced at no charge.

Rear seat ashtray not secure in console -- dealer replaced console at no charge.

I was not prepared to like this car when I first stopped in at dealership, but a brief test drive quickly changed my skeptical attitude.

The car has very hefty, solid feel -- tracks true in crosswinds. V6 engine reasonably powerful (I'm used to V8's).

Cowl shake and chassis flex very minimal. All body panels & windows seat/seal perfectly (a small amount of wind noise noticable at the joint between left side windows, only objectionable because interior so quiet!).

Seats VERY comfortable -- firm & supportive without clumsy bolstering -- great for long distance motoring. Plus, I have the satisfaction of a prestige car without being flashy about it. HIGHLY recommended.

Nothing since I've had it but the service history indicates a squeaky door window which was attended to.

Quite why the 900 gets such bad press regarding its handling is a mystery to me.

The grip on turn-in is good and, provided the power is kept on through the corners, the car tracks very well.

I recently drove briskly along a known back road route in the 900 and covered it as quickly as I had done previously in my MKII Golf GTI.

The brakes are the best I have ever used, loads of feel and plenty of power.

The seats too are the best I have ever sat in.

The power steering retains lots of feel too, unlike recent Fords and Vauxhalls I have driven.

General quality of the plastics and paint is high too.

Dealer service costs were reasonable but at least they attempt to make you feel you are getting something for your money.

Before purchase I was aware that Saab made aeroplanes too, but after driving the 900 convertible it appears they also do a mean line in boats. Driving the 900 reminds me of the 80's VISA card advert: "your flexible friend" although there isn't much friendly about a car whose boat-like handling forces me to select first gear at every roundabout and watch Reliant Robins and Merc A-Classes pass me on bends.

Note for Saab: why not replace the existing speedometer with one that displays knots. I actually feel seasick on my drive to work such is the wallowing characteristics of the drive.

Saab drivers are rightly seen as the brave, and as a turbo-charged convertible owner, I can see why!

Firstly to take the insults and derisive sneers from German and Japanese car driving colleagues, and secondly to risk your life every time a corner approaches. Distinctive looks help it to sit apart from other cars, while its atrocious handling often has it sitting off the road. Small consolation is the powerful engine as it powers you helplessly out of control whenever a course alteration is required, and a turbo-charged engine that gets through bearings like a hungry sheep through a bale of hay (both of which you'll often see as you spin off into countryside fields).

The trademark Saab "heads-up" dashboard is very good, however. Very good at informing me of the obscene amounts of fuel I'm burning and how shortly it will be before I pull into another garage. All in all, a great car to talk about, a great car to look at (if you like its odd design) but not a car you'd ever want to drive.

Interior lights, windscreen washers, wheel bolts too long for space saver spare, leaving me stranded!

Heavy clutch, woolly handling, noisy interior on motorway.

Very good fuel economy, relaxed tourer, huge boot.

9-3 is miles better!