Saab 9-5, Honda Accord, Alfa 159... Which would you choose?

Spanker · 12 Jan 2007 at 17:39

volospian said:
You think 6 years is not "a few years ago" then?

I've got a 2003 9-3 Aero and the interior is complete crap. The centre console feels like it would come out altogether with a good pull. Admittedly I've only driven a 2003 9-5 on a test drive, but didn't notice that interior was made out of substantially better quality plastics than the 9-3.

My 1999 9-3 had a good solid interior that felt great to touch, but the one I have now? Calling it cheap crap is being kind to it.

Have a read of this about what other Saab people think about the quality.

IMO the 9-3 interior is inferior to the 9-5, take the crappy cheap feeling handbreak for instance.

POB · 12 Jan 2007 at 17:44

Spanker said:
Not the same model of 95 as the other image shown

Is this the current one though?

Spanker · 12 Jan 2007 at 18:39

POB said:
Is this the current one though?

Yes

Matt · 12 Jan 2007 at 18:40

We did briefly look at a few of these, and the Alfa is a LOT smaller inside than the others, but so much more interesting. The boot is tiny really, that might be a problem but i'm not totally sure. It does look great though

Will_3rd · 12 Jan 2007 at 18:43

Honda all the way i've driven both my parents Honda's and can say they are very good cars, excellent build quality and longevity

[TW]Fox · 12 Jan 2007 at 18:44

I wish people would realise that build quality and reliability are not the same thing..

wonder_lander · 12 Jan 2007 at 18:52

jimblowscash said:
he drives a radical..... say no more

Who does?

wonder_lander · 12 Jan 2007 at 18:55

Gilly said:
Yup

Each to their own and all that, but you're wrong! I think as a child bad things happened with you and an Alfa and so you have an irrational fear of them

Are there any of the Alfa range that you like the look of? Don't want to derail the thread too much but I am currious. I think some of the Alfa's are as ugly as sin but do think that some are quite nice looking!

Sadgeek · 12 Jan 2007 at 21:58

I've just got rid of my Accord 2.4 Type S, and to be honest I was glad to see the back of it.

It never gave me much grief, but after 75k, it was just so loose. Ok, I maybe didn't give it an easy life, but even so, I just lost ever more confidence with it. Road holding went out of the window at around 30k, and the rear tailgate sensor was replaced 5 times during the two years that I had it. The lack of a spare wheel caught me out twice too, with punctures. The battery is underpowered for the car, so if you ever have to use the compressor to re-inflate your wheel, make sure you keep the engine running too. My battery was flat after a 5 second blast :mad:

If anyone is going to the auctions at Blackbush this week, look out for it (MW04 ETK - ex LEX vehicle) but make sure you give it a wide berth.

volospian · 12 Jan 2007 at 22:42

Spanker said:
IMO the 9-3 interior is inferior to the 9-5, take the crappy cheap feeling handbreak for instance.

Yeah, maybe, and I'm happy to be proven wrong as the 9-3 interior is a totally bad move for Saab. If they continue in that vein Saab will soon be no more. There is talk of a V6 turbo AWD version of the 9-3. So what, if the interior feels like it came out of a christmas cracker, the bluetooth does not work with anything and the sat nav is next to useless. People will just buy something else. And to top it all, Saabs latest model is... the old model with totally disgusting headlights. Yeah, nice one!

Saab were beavering away on technology such as the variable compression engine and then GM are forcing them to stick tat in their cars and consider some cheap looking chrome trim to be a "facelift".

For god's sake GM, let Saab do what they're best at and allow them to deliver fast, sturdy, reliable, turbocharged motors!