Fantastic car. I have loved it. The equipment and build quality is fantastic and the confort is very good. At 6 foot 6 I often struggle with comfort but this is perfect.
The engine is excellent. The lower power turbo for the 2.0 engines so badged as 1.8. Develops 150bhp which is adequate without being staggering.
Handling is very good and the ride is low.
Does have noisy suspention, which is really the only downside I can think of.
Luxury driving, Great space, ideal family car. High depreciation, low mpg. Great value for money at used prices.
For anyone interested in a saloon, there is a lot of choice on the market. From BMWs to Mercedes Benz, there's a huge array of cars that can give you exclusivity, luxury and presitige. I decided, however, to go for the alternative saloon, the Saab 9-3 Sport.
Saabs are usually bought by people who like something different, something with a bit of pizzaze. I've never regretted the decision; the kids love the 9 3, as does the wife and the neighbours. It's not the best looking saloon ever made but it is very well made and very well engineered.
I'd highly recommend a Saab 9-3 - especially if you have kids - as it is very safe and very strong. It'll easily absord bumps and help to keep you secure during a crash. It's just a great family bus.
On paper, the Saab 9-3 sounds pretty impressive - mine boasts an engine of 220bhp, a top speed pushing 150mph, very low CO2 emissions at around 194g/km. It also looks pretty good - a distinctive and proud sort of appearance, with great interiors. But when you start it up and actually try to go somewhere, it feels like a bit of a let-down.
The steering is damp and boring, and the suspension feels completely inadequate, leading to the car bumping about all over the road. This stiff suspension is particularly annoying in Britain, which is full of potholes and cracks in the road. I've had numerous problems with it and I see that this is reflected in a lot of consumer surveys which generally rate the Sabb 9-3 pretty low in terms of reliability.
It's not as though it's a terrible car, it just feels like Saab haven't really put the effort in - which is a shame as there is a lot of potential. But for the money you have to spend buying a 9-3, you might as well start looking elsewhere.
My 93 convertible is almost 2 years old now, although I have only been the proud own for 1 year I can say I have enjoyed every minute.
Being a soft top convertible the roof line isn't as dynamic as a hard top but it is fine to me and with the roof down the body lines are fantastic. Inside there is room for 4, even if those in the front seats are 6 foot. The leather give a plus feel and overall it feels very solid, all of the controls are conveniently placed and dials clear and precise.
As you would expect with a convertible the ride can have a little wallow but this is more than acceptable and doesn't stop you pushing it a little more through the bends.
As I have the 2.Ot (rather than the 1.8t) it has the 6 speed manual, which has the ratio's well placed and helps with fuel economy. On a combined trip I get between 29 and 30 mpg with that rising to 35 - 37 mpg on a pure motorway run as long you don't over do the speed.