That aside, the super cushy seats are like aristocratic leather armchairs that just suck you in. However, your attention is pulled away from the colonial luxuries in an instant when the boost gauge clocks the red in second...

But this front-wheel drive turbo holds its composure better than many of the fast FWDs out there — I prefer to keep the traction control on to avoid any unwanted boost induced under-steer in corners anyway though! Other than that it has done us proud in every respect.

Having clocked up just under 11 000 clicks on a trio of excursions to the beach in Durbs, with rally spectating and everyday driving thrown into the mix, it just keeps running in all its glorious might and superbly contrasting features.

The man responsible for the Durban trips, as you probably already know, was my fellow CiA accomplice, Jason. As you may have read, he revelled in the continuity of the car's performance with altitude change — dropping normally aspirated cars that are fast at the coast and then annihilating them when he got back. Hey, it seems we've got a win-win situation here...

The 2.3-litre high-pressure turbo machine seems sedate although possessing unmistakably dashing looks. The turbo is restricted in first to prevent 'know-it-alls' from watching the revs shoot into the red and making an explosion out of a class mill. Hook second and if the surface is flat (contrary to many apparent road laws it seems), you're seriously off like a rocket.

If there are undulations en route, the traction control light merely flickers at you as the weight transfers to the rear in first and second gears. You do however get to where you're going before you've blinked and TSC system frustration promptly falls by the wayside.

Yes, there are a few downsides. That security system clearly comes out of the ark and frustrates driver and passenger alike on trying to shut the thing down and escape. It has been dramatically improved in 9-3 though, so it must be in the 9-5 pipeline.

And yes, we have a problem to report at last — the wiper blade on the driver side came apart, but all it took was a five-minute stopover at the Bryanston dealer to remedy.

By the time you read this, our Total Economy Run preparations for our 9-5 Aero attack should be well under way and our driving habits should see the now lofty 11.6 overall litres per 100km well checked. It must be noted though, that on Woosey's Durban jaunts along the ambush-infested N3, Aero sipped little more than eight-litres per 100km on average...

We are currently running some trick data logging kit that slots into the ECU to check how our driving input affects economy output, but that's just the start.

Catch up on developments next issue...

So, as you must have ascertained, the SAAB 9-5 Aero remains very much the flavour of the month — every month at Cars in Action, depending of course on how you can fit in your shopping trolley. Our baby has done and is doing a splendid job under the careful yet critical auspices of our publisher and editor, Michele.

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