Originally they were manufacturing airplanes, the company sought ways in which to diversify its business and in the late 1940s started to manufacture Saab Automobiles. The automobile division was based in the city of Trollhattan. The first car from the Saab stable was the Saab 92001 on June 10, 1947. The company very soon developed a reputation for reliable automobiles, with a notable competition history. The cars had a reputation for safety and crash-resistance.

Saab is an aviation and defense company based in Sweden and founded in 1937 in Linkoping. Its name was an acronym for "Svenska Aeroplan AB," where "AB" stands for "aktiebolaget" ("limited company"), thus written as 'SAAB'. Since the changes in company ownership in the 1990s, the company name is now Saab AB.

When you sit in a 9-5 and it is still very much a Saab. Fears that the essentially quirky character of the Swedish manufacturer would be ironed out by General Motors have, thankfully, not materialized. You are still faced with a sheer wall of dashboard, the ignition key still slots home just ahead of the hand brake, and the bonnet is still of the original clam shell style. The fascinating styling of Saabs not so distant past has mellowed, and the 9-5s is a far cry from the quirky 9000 shape.

The pick of the 2.3 liter cars is definitely the Aero, and 1999 V plate models are dipping below 6.150. Opening price for V6 engine models is 4,900 for a 1998 R plate car, whilst ?6,300 will net a 1999 T registered 3.0 V6 estate model. Airflow models attract a premium of around 500 over their less overtly sporting brethren.

Tips for buying used SAAB cars

Only few other manufacturers share Saabs reputation for longevity. A well-maintained 9-5 should be good for at least a quarter of a million miles; so do not be afraid of higher mileage cars. Just be sure that they have been given regular doses of main dealer TLC. One area, which is worth checking, especially on the aero models, is front tire wear.

As with any powerful front wheel drive car, expecting the front tires to cope with the demands of steering such a weighty beast and transmitting that entire horsepower to the ground is a serious task. A heavy right foot can see front tires waving the white flag within 5,000 miles, dependent upon make.

It is obvious where raids from the bargain GM parts bin have taken place. Certain items are dirt-cheap. A clutch assembly is in the region of 175, and brake pads are 50 a set.

You can find more tips on buying used cars at http://www.usedcarx.com