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Saab Wagon Road Test
Saab wagons are excellent
family vehicles made all the more useful by a cargo carrying area that has handy
tie downs, optional pet safety features, and a nimble ride that transforms mere
shopping trips into true driving enjoyment.
Our Saab AUD$72,000 Arc is for those who love to drive but have to face the
reality of a family and, most assuredly, a pet. This Saab was taut and hearty.
Of course, you pay a tidy sum for this rare combination. We liked the base model
Linear just as much and it costs even less making it a very good buy at
AUD$64,000 and you still get the safety features and the 93 cubic feet of
storage space
Mom's view
First of all, forget
the stick shift. It isn't that the Arc is difficult to move from gear to gear
its just too much temptation. After all, you are sitting on 220 horsepower and
by the time you leave second gear you are above every posted speed limit you are
likely to find. There wasn't too much turbo lag and very little torque steer so
the Saab was very controllable. The suspension was bit soft for those who like a
car that handles, but this is a station wagon after all.
Safety wise, there are adaptive-force front airbags, active head restraints, and
seat-mounted side airbags, four-wheel antilock disc brakes, stability and
traction control, daytime running lights, and earned exceptional government
crash test scores.
The interior is clearly old
world and you can forget the charm. It has a dated look, but everything is easy
to read and use. We are currently testing a Mitsubishi with fancy new gauges
that are unreadable at night, and so there is value in sticking with what works.
Overall, this is a functional Swedish import that brings with it great crash
test scores, above average gas mileage, wonderful seats, and ample storage area.
In other words, everything a station wagon should be.
Dad's view
A fairly fun vehicle
that makes you feel quite at home best describes my time with the Arc. There is
ample power from the turbocharged four-cylinder engine and it makes me wonder
what the Aero model with 250 horsepower is going to be like when the Arc is so
responsive with considerable less energy.
This is a car that is meant for
the highway. It is fun to drive modestly on heavily contoured roads, but the
body roll is notable and the stability control system lets you know who is the
boss. In this model, I would go with the automatic. There is very little gas
mileage penalty and I didn't care for the shift linkage, although the clutch was
easy to modulate.
Young working male's view
Nice sound system, but
my favorite feature was the way the Saab melted into the landscape. No one saw
it, paid any attention to it, or sought it out for special treatment. More than
once a motor patrol officer flew past me to capture a victim in a more
noticeable vehicle. Very cool. It also parks very easily and has wonderful rear
view mirrors that give superior visibility once you get used to the unusual bend
in the passenger side unit.
Inside, the drink holder comes out of the dash and looks way too fragile. I
wouldn't want to put anything heavy in it. There is another in the center
console, but the center mounted ignition key gets in the way. The seats are
better than good, but the leather looks cheap. I would cover them up right away.
The cargo area has nice tie downs and the rear hatch is easy to open.
I liked the Saab. It isn't my type of car, but it has its appeal. The engine has
more than enough power and the 18.5-gallon tank makes 500-mile trips a
possibility. It is quite functional, and that is probably its most notable
feature.
Check out my online site if you are into modern music. I have a couple of free
downloads, too. http://www.csulb.edu/~aross/
Young working woman's view
Saab calls it a Sports
Wagon, and it certainly is one. Of course, I owned a Saab several years ago so
it feels like going home when I was driving this 220 horsepower Arc model. In
fact, it felt a little too old. It was like being in a time warp as if nothing
had happened in five years. Mind you, I like the way the Saab looks; it just
seems dated for a pricey car.
Driving the Arc was a challenge because it seemed like the quiet power of the
engine made it easy to exceed the speed limit. The ride was very good, with only
the largest bumps providing any drama for the sturdy wagon. The steering was
very reassuring, but a little too vague when cornering.
I liked the hard cover over the rear cargo area and the way you can turn off
almost all the dash lights at night to avoid eyestrain. The driver computer
center data was very complete, but you need to practice which buttons to push
because they are not logical. Also not logically placed are the automatic window
controls. They are on the front side of the center console as is the central
locking button. Another quirk was that you had to place the manual transmission
in reverse before the ignition key could be removed.
Standard features include dual zone climate control, interior air filter, power
steering, doors, windows, mirrors, and keyless entry. Saab also has cruise
control, leather upholstery, heated outside mirrors, AM/FM/cassette/CD player,
automatic-off headlights, a theft-deterrent system and a refrigerator glove box.
That's a significant number of items, but nothing compared to the hot Aero where
they even throw in a driving class.
Family conference
Saab continues to offer
solace to those who reveal in the reassurance of a quirky, but conservative
product. Resale value, a limited dealer network, and the lack of significant
modernization hamper Saab from making further headway in a dynamic market. We
like the Saab Arc, but are eagerly awaiting the recently introduced 9-2 wagon.
Good points:
Power, cargo capacity, safety, warranty, gas mileage, seats, warranty
Needs improvement:
Pricing, interior appointments, resale
Written by The
Car Family |
