The Best Car I Ever Owned!

I’ve had a few excellent cars. My 1992 Subaru SVX combined power, all wheel drive (AWD) and unique looks to make an impression (good or bad depending on taste) wherever I drove. My 2000 Toyota Celica GTS looked striking, handled superbly and had great braking that distinguished it from the crowd. Nevertheless my 2005 Saab 9-2X Aero is my favorite. It combines a strong turbo charged engine, AWD, excellent balance, dynamic handling and superb braking in a package that is distinct, attractive and more utilitarian than any other car I have owned.

I like cars that are fast, handle well, and are not that common. (Sadly, state troopers like them also-easy to spot…so drive carefully!) The Saab 9-2X is a very special car. The design and mechanics were new to Saab and were discontinued after 2006 for a total of only two model years. The 9-2x was created during a brief partnership of General Motors (parent company of Saab) and Subaru, in which GM had an investment. The 9-2X Linear and Aero models were the fruits of that short lived investment. (GM then sold its Subaru stake and with it went the right to share technology.)

The 9-2X was based on the Subaru Impreza wagons and then “Saabified”. The cognoscenti termed it “Saabaru”. The Aero model that I own is based on the celebrated Subaru WRX. It has the same turbocharged 4 cylinder boxer engine with 227 horsepower and 217 lb-ft of torque. It’s a reliable wagon that reaches 60 mph in about 6 seconds.

What Saab wrought with the 9-2X Aero was a better car than either manufacturer managed separately. It was the best of the WRX along with sharper styling, plus many features unavailable in the Subaru; two-toned leather heated seats, HID Xenon Headlights, heated mirrors and wipers, and improved steering. The AWD and excellent balance make this car feel like it rides on rails! The Saab’s performance competed well with much more expensive cars, especially in bad weather—in a package seating 5 and leaving room to haul some gear—or to sleep in—should the need arise. This Saab offered one of the best combinations of style, handling, speed, comfort, features and convenience for any price.

Not only is the model out of production, but Saab just announced bankruptcy. All Saabs may go the way of the 9-2x. That is sad because they offered style that few others could match and some quirky innovations that set them apart.