Saab 9-3 Saloon (2002 - 2011) 2.0T Aero 4d (2004/04) Owner Review

What does this car say about you?

Has some imagination and didnt buy an old BMW or an Audi. This is something a little bit different.

What do your friends / family / neighbours think of the car?

Everyone I meet seems to have a soft spot for a Saab. There is something about them that people seem to admire.

Would you buy this car again and why?

Yes. You get more "bang for your buck" than anything else. To buy the equilvalent BMW you would have to go for a 330i and this is a bit austenacious and is vastly more to buy and for what extra? Two extra cylinders and a substantially larger insurance bill, perhaps not.

What are you likely to buy next?

Another Saab 9-3 but a post 2007 facelift with the 2.8V6 and AWD. I have fallen for the the model but this would really push the edge of the envelope.

Type of dealer you bought from?

Independent

Did you buy this car new?

No

What price did you pay?

£995

When did you buy the car?

February 2014

Did you get a good deal and why?

Yes it was a good deal. There were a few minor issues with the car when I bought it, hence the price was so low. The drivers side window didnt work and the bodywork had a few chips in the paint. It also came with no service history. However being a practical person I had these all fixed in a week for next to nothing thanks to a touch up kit and a new window motor from the local scrap yard.

Is there any special reason why you bought this car?

Styling and perfromance.

What was the dealer like?

To be frank the dealer was a fool. He knew nothing about cars except that he could sit on the right hand side and be in control. The car even ran out of petrol half way through the test drive.

What's it like to drive?

For a front wheel drive car it is good. It rarely torque steers and grips in the corners. The ESO will cut in occasionally but you barley notice. The suspension is stiff and my girlfriend has said it is too "jiggly" for town driving but she soon changes her tune when we she takes it for a spin on the B roads. The car is putting down 300 Nm so make sure you have a decent set of tyres, non of the eco saver stuff, something nice a sticky so you can use all of the power and torque. The brakes are good and the chassis isnt half bad. Great motorway cruiser and fantastic on the winding B roads thanks to the low down torque.

What's it like to park?

It is a 4 door saloon. It is ok. I have parked cars with less visibility and some with more. Yo do get used to it quickly but do remember that the bumpers are lower to the ground than some curbs.

Have you had any problems with the car?

I have had the balance shaft chain drive snap. This is not a critical chain drive and is unrelated the to the timing chain. This chain drives two counter rotating shafts that counteract many of the vibrations from the engine and give the car supreme NVH (Noise, Vibration and Harshness) qualities. The engine just started to vibrate more than it used to. Though no change in power delivery or fuel consumption. Eventually took it to a West Midlands Saab who diagnosed the problem in under 10 seconds. Did a brilliant job and for a reasonable price. At this point the car had down 155,000 miles and the mechanic informed by that this was to be expected after that length of time.

What's most practical about your car?

It has a huge boot and fantatsically comfy seats. On long motorway journeys it is amazingly comftable. Recent drove a previous model style to Romania in a day with a friend and it was fine. Also fantastic legroom in the rear, even behind me when im driving and I am 1.88m (6ft 2 for the unmetricified).

Favourite gadget, option or accessory?

Well the cupholder is a bit of a show off when it opens but it thats is hardly a gadget. The nightpanel button has impressed a fair few of my friends as climate control and ESP are nothing unusual these days. For those who are unaware this button will turn off all the dashboard lights and dials except for the speedo. It is fantastic for night time driving as both inside and outside the car is dark. Thought it was a bit of a gimmick at first but I am now a convert. If a dial needs your attention it will reillumionate. For example when the fuel guauge hits reserve.