2004 Saab Wagon
Good points:
Power, cargo capacity, safety, warranty, gas mileage, seats, warranty
Needs improvement:
Pricing, interior appointments, resale
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 $35,000 (US) 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 $30,000 (US) 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.