I just sold my house, got a little extra cash burning a hole in my pocket so
I thought I'd treat myself to a new car. I've been researching the
luxury-mid luxury market - everything from BMW 745i to Lexus ES to Infinity
G35 - and settled on the G35 as the ideal combination of style,
practicality, safety, economy, reliability. Before shelling out $25-$30k for
a low mileage 2005 G35 sedan my practical side decided to do the numbers and
compare it to my 93 9000.

mileage:
G 35 19/26; Saab 20/32 US mpg  (my experience)

interior:
G 35 adequate room, up to date styling & features, almost new car smell;
Saab adequate room, very comfortable

cargo capacity:
G 35 14.8 cu ft; Saab 23.5 cu ft!!!!!!!!

performance:
G 35 0-60 6.1; Saab 7.0

reliability:
G 35 It's an Infinity; Saab It's a 13 y/o 180k miles Saab

So, I got to thinking. The Saab still runs like new, all major components
have been serviced or are in excellent working order, with the turbo I
really enjoy driving it. Do I really need to spend $25. for worse fuel
economy, marginally better performance, somewhat better handling (I can't
remember the last time I was at a race track), a lot less cargo capacity and
a nice new interior??? In the end I decided to keep the 9000, spruce up the
interior (the front seats need restiching), get a new stereo, shampoo the
rugs, Lexol the leather, wash and wax it, invest the $25k in commodity
options (gold, silver, oil, uranium - you heard it here last) and save the
environment by consuming less. Once again goodness prevails. Now all we have
to deal with are hunger, poverty, global warming, oil depletion,
environmental degredation, "terrorists" and corporate whore/war criminals in
charge of the largest pile of WMDs in the world.