1997 SAAB 9000 CSE from North America - Comments

Hazard light switch failed twice in last few months.

Cabin temperature sensor required replacing due to noisy operation.

Passenger side sun visor sags.

This car has been relatively reliable. The engine is fantastic, delivering strong performance with good fuel economy. Handling is also good. It also has a large cargo capacity. Unfortunately, the interior rattles and squeaks like a 25 year old pickup truck. The ride is hard, but I could accept this if the interior were more tight. My last car was a 1987 Audi 4000 quattro and it was infinitely quieter over bumps than this Saab. I would sell this car in a cold moment, but I would lose too much on resale value. The seats are uncomfortable with the lower cushion side bolsters too close together putting undue pressure on the outer thighs. There is also insufficient headroom. I am 6'1" tall and my head touches the ceiling even with the seat fully lowered. The car vibrates on the highway even after I had the tires balanced by the dealer.

After six years of working with, and owning Saab 9000´s, this is the FIRST time ever I´ve heard the comment of insufficient interior space!?

In the USA, the car was classified - according to the EPA system - as a "large car", while f. ex. the Audi 200 Turbo just was classified as a "mid-size car", the BMW 528 classified as a "compact car", and the Mercedes 190 only ranked as a tiny "sub-compact car"...

Are we talking about the same car, really?

I´ve heard innumerable comments about the absolutely unbelievable roomy interior!

Once I gave ride to an exceptionally tall guy. He was 215 cm tall (!!).

// Trying to convert this to your "feet", I believe this would be ~ 7,0 feet ("US Survey Feet")... //

This guy was as impressed w the roomy coupé as all others, and said this was the first car EVER he´d been able to sit straight in, without his head touching the roof!

The 9000 doesn´t use up unnecessary space on the street, but the interior is undoubtedly one of the roomiest there is! Not counting a 20+ feet limo...

Apart from the obvious first minute observation that "this car just isn´t big enough for me", I think You must have missed some seat adjustment ;-)?

(Actually , I do have one experience, where a small stone actually blocked length adjustment (!) on one of the front seats. Fixing that added some 6 " inches of leg-room!)

Please feel free to contact me! :

gunnar.bengtson@telia.com.

Regards!

Gunnar.

I'm also surprised about the headroom complaint. I've had two 9000's, both with sunroofs which take some headroom away, but still I've had no problems despite being 193cm (~6'4") tall.

Uncomfortable seats, lack of interior space? r you sure you owned a 9000? :\ I replied since I noticed you complained about vibrations at highway speeds. This is most likely the caused of a worn inner driver. Heads up for anyone with that problem...