Yes, but~it got way too costly. They start at just shy of $50k...about 5k MORE than an M-B SLK, even more than that on top of an Audi TT (about the same as a TT-S), and within spitting distance of a Boxter. Is it a great car that is worth that much money? Perhaps. Personally I think they got too bloated and…

Oh yeah. Try going up to Ballard, and the place is filled with Volvos and still quite a few Saabs, too. Pity you can't get a manual in them anymore though~the S60 T5 and R manuals are a hoot to drive, despite a somewhat odd clutch.

Closest thing to driving the last Saab 9-5? Huh? you do realize that the second-gen 9-5 was sold in the US for both 2010 (limited) and 2011 (broader range) release? And if you look carefully, it's even availble with a manual transmission.

Since you're looking used, consider a Saab 9-5 wagon. It's about the same size as a V70 Volvo wagon, and is a fantastic good car. The B235R engine that was standard from '06 on (and available in the Aero every year except launch) is a beast, and though the car was dated by the time it left the market, it was also…

Good luck finding the Maserati with a stick, though. Those are not exactly common.

I used to drive an '01 Corolla CE (it was my grandfather's—but before you knock his auto choices too much, note that in his younger days, he had a BMW 2002 back when they were brand new). It was beige on beige, with steel wheels (with metal hubcaps), no ABS, crank windows, manual locks, no intermittent wipers (in…

Yep, and even saw a Citroen XM in Ballard the other day. Wonder if people will look at Saabs the same way in about 10 years...

Yeah, the Mondeo wagon is gorgeous. If it (or the hatchback) were sold here, I'd be on it in an instant the day I have to replace my Saab.

Agreed, but only in hardtop versions. The drop-top feels like a wet noodle. It's easy to find low-mile 'verts, but you have to look carefully to find good hardtops—for good reason. I'll drive my '01 SE 5-door until it falls apart. I love having a light, narrow car with oodles of space that's still fun to drive.

It's prettier than with the spoiler; the spoiler isn't bad, but looks like a last-minute addition, not part of the original design. I've never gone as high as 110; I'd rather have one without. You can have all sorts of fun below 110...

Agreed. The first-gen TT is gorgeous and timeless. While I understand why a family member bought a Z3 roadster (wanted RWD and the silky-smooth I6) instead, the TT's looks will age far better (coupe—the drop top didn't do much for me).

Sad but true. I know of a loaded '08 9-5 that almost got totaled by the insurance company because of a rear-ending—all cosmetics, no structural damage.

Totally. My mom's insistance on another Volvo after her 240 was in large part due to its seats.

The wagon looks great. But the sedan seems less compelling to me—my 12-year-old Saab has more cargo space and better performance numbers. Regardless, I'd love to see them in the US—too bad VAG has cheaped out in the US.

Hej, jag är din svenska kusin! Jag är Saab 9-3 Viggen. :)

I think that can be applied to European cars in general. I remember that the first-gen Volvo S60 had its cupholders perfectly aligned in the center console so that a shift into 2nd/4th gear would slam the driver's elbow into whatever was in the cupholder...to say nothing of Saab's brilliant idea of making sure that…

A good read, thanks! It hit home in multiple directions for me, as my father's first car was a Lancia (Flavia), my mother's an MGB, and mine a Saab.

An OG 900 SPG is awfully hard to skip...

Oh, she had a T6? I'm sorry—those (and the first-gen S80 with the same engine) got the lousy 4-speed GM transmission that would routinely blow up because it couldn't handle the torque. Pity, because it's a nice engine. Still, I wouldn't touch one of those cars with the T6 under any circumstances.

Yep, excellent choice. I drove an '01 CE with a manual (only options on the car were A/C and the digital clock; manual windows, locks, no ABS) for several years starting in high school. It's easy to drive, the transmission/clutch is very forgiving on a newbie driver, and it'll put up with a lot of hard use without…