Saab 9-3 Saloon (2002 - 2011) 2.2TiD Vector 4d (6) (2003/53) Owner Review
Want to know everything there is to know about this car?
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Summary
What does this car say about you?
Trying to be different - good option instead of Merc or Beemer. I put 75k thousand miles on it in just under 5 years.
What do your friends / family / neighbours think of the car?
Wife and kids loved it to drive about - but too small inside for a family - boot poky.
Would you buy this car again and why?
No - I have recently parted with it for a BMW 525 touring - mainly becuase I need the space - but I would have considered a SAAB had they not gone defunct - feel sorry for anyone who's bought one in the last 2/3 years.
What are you likely to buy next?
Aleady bought a 2005 BMW 5 series touring for the space - but I do miss my old friend - that just got too long in the tooth too early.
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Buying experience
Type of dealer you bought from?
Franchised
Did you buy this car new?
No
What price did you pay?
£9,500
When did you buy the car?
May 2007
Did you get a good deal and why?
I traded my old Mercedes 220 Kompressor flying machine which was showing it's age and getting very thirsty - so ended up paying £5500 from a screen price of £9500 - which was ok at the time.
Is there any special reason why you bought this car?
To be a little different.
What was the dealer like?
The mian dealer was good at the time - the car came with a full no quibble 12 omnth warranty whihc was just as well as after three months turbo needed replaced - would have cost around £1600 otherwise.
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Driving it
What's it like to drive?
Fabulous to drive, cornered like a go-kart - comfortable on long journeys.
What's it like to park?
Easy - good all round visibility.
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Living with it
Have you had any problems with the car?
Apart from turbo - mechanically the car was faultless - I wasn;t really aware of what teh car was when I bought it but oce the 12 onth period was over I used an independent SAAB specilaist in Edinburgh who is a SAAB nut and he explained the engine adn underpinnings were basically made by IZUZU and put together by SAAB and is indestructable - inside was a different story the trim was nicked from the Vauxhall parts bin and everything started to fall to bits until this year when nothing worked anymore - cupholders wont open, CD player packed in, bonnet opener stopped working etc etc -.
What's most practical about your car?
Diesel engine is fab - even after a relatively hard life still regulary returning 45 mpg.
Favourite gadget, option or accessory?
My favourite thing about the saab was the driving postion - so comfortable.
