Saab 9-3

Won't be our last Saab!

By Frontheadlock (Carrollton, TX) on Sunday, September 20, 2009

"We have had our 2004 9-3 Arc Turbo Sedan for almost a year and we love it! It is the BMW without the price, my wife says. The responsiveness is phenomenal. Despite the 4 cylinder engine, it has as much acceleration as my V6 Accord! I could go on and on for days about how great this car is, but that's not exactly what everyone wants to hear. I will tell you the Con's we have ran into with this vehicle. Some are common sense, but they are not to be overlooked. First, despite the fact that the cost of this vehicle is in the 10-15K range, it's the extras that catch up to you. Oil changes are normally 70-80 dollars (although since you have to use a rare type of synthetic oil, you only need to do it +/- once a year). The Pirelli tires are at least 100 dollars to replace, per tire. The brakes & rotors cost around 400 dollars if you have to replace the front ones. You have to use 91-93 Octane fuel (usually 20-30 cents higher than regular unleaded). For people who want to add certain features like in-dash DVD or Navigation, it's very difficult and not customizable after-market. You normally have to go to a Saab dealership and pay their egregious prices. I am a very large and broad man, and I can fit into the front seats with plenty of room to spare. However, there is little to no way I can comfortably fit in the back sea without the front seats being all the way up. It's also difficult for average sized people to sit behind me when I drive. The in-dash cupholder is meant to hold cans of Soda or small bottles of water. If you try to put a large fountain drink, it will break. It will cost around 180 dollars to repair. Found that out the hard way. The center armrest in the front seat slides back and forth with minimal pressure, and while this might be a convenience to some and novelty to others, after a few months, it's just an annoyance. That is about all the cons I can think of. Like I said, despite this seeming like a negative review, it's actually very positive. The car is the nicest one I've ever had and I have had cars that I paid a lot more for than this one. The vitals (acceleration, handling, fuel economy) are off the charts in the positive. This is just some of the details that caught our eye during our time with the vehicle."

32 people out of 32 found this review helpful

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Very sophisticated car

By Taabs (New Orleans, LA) on Friday, February 27, 2009

"I have a 2004 Saab 9-3 Acr Convertible with 2.0L turbo engine. I have enjoyed everything about this car especially the gas mileage. It gives me the performance of a sports car with fuel consumption of a small compact car (28mpg hwy). The driver side mirror control switch does not work and should be recalled but that's it. Saab has the most intelligent on board computer I've seen in any car. It also has safety features to protect driver, all passengers and the car itself, including the electrical systems. In the past years the Saab was known for having the most electrical problems but now they have one of the best systems in the business. It is an awesome value at any price. This car competes well with any German or Japan Import and offers an outstanding driving experience. Saabs are under-rated; you get much more than what you paid for. Saabs are engineered to perfection in every way."

25 people out of 25 found this review helpful

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Love this Car

By Saab Lover (Atlanta, GA) on Friday, September 12, 2008

"I've been driving the Saab 9 series for 15 years. I recently bought a 2003 93 convertible, the last year for the genuine Saab Convertible (not GM) and I love it. This car is the most fun to drive ever. It's handles very differently from the "GM" Saab, which, I understand, sits on a Chevy Malibu chassey. I drove it and it's not the same. My grandmother drove a Malibu (smile). Really. Just know that the electrical system for this car is housed in the radio. You're going to have some electrical glitches, at times, but this is just the quirk of a high performance car. Make sure you have a Saab certified technician (they can plug into a diagnostic machine). Keep up the maintenance and this car will give you many miles of enjoyment. My last one had 180,000 miles and ran great! Once you drive this car, you'll never want to change. SAAB (original) FOREVER!!!!"

9 people out of 9 found this review helpful

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