architosh's Full Review: 2004 Saab 9-3 Sport Sedan
EXPERIENCE WITH CAR: I have had my 2004 9-3 Linear for about a year now and I still look forward to driving it home everyday after work. I commute about 45 minutes each way, all highway, so driving my Saab each day is like being an airline pilot. I practically taxi the Saab to the freeway onramp four blocks from my driveway and take off.
-- Highway driving (1-10scale) = 9
-- Country lane driving = 8.5
-- City driving = 7.5
Highway driving is utterly superb, with the only negatives being some wind and road noise. The car engine is very quiet even at high speeds, wind and road noise could be improved with better original equipment tires (comes w/ P6's) and laminated glass.
On a country lane the car is very fun to drive with superb braking, very good steering, cornering and decent body movement even on the Linear. An Aero would be better but possibly worse for city driving.
City driving is a bit harsh if roads are less than perfect -- which they usually are in North America. However, the car is still very pleasant in the city in general, just watch out for road holes!
WHY I BOUGHT THIS CAR: I was considering the Volvo S40, VW Passat and entry level Audi A4. I wanted to be around 30-33k in price. I ended up choosing the Saab 9-3 Linear with several added packages (sport, winter, touring) because the Saab just gave more more features for the money and the other cars just couldn't compete with the Saab's overall design. In particular the Saab 9-3 offered:
-- superior "aero cockpit" interior design (NightPanel function, center console key ignition, logical wrap around instrumentation, SID) = best ergonomics in any car on the planet.
-- Night Driving: car reminds you of peering into a commercial jet cockpit when boarding a plane at night. Utterely enchanting illumination of well over 50 buttons creates an allure of technical sophistication, seriousness -- yet it's all easy to figure out. People always remark about the car at night.
-- Best in Class safety. Even the Volvo doesn't match it.
-- Sexist body with more elegance than VW or Volvo
THE LITTLE THINGS: WHAT I LOVE ABOUT THIS CAR: There is so much packed into a Saab I'm really surprised people don't consider them more. They should! The little details don't seem like much in the showroom or in the mags but once you live with them they are hard to live without. I particularly like:
-- That the Saab 9-3 hits 92 mph at under 3000 rpm's. Meaning that this car's 4 cylinder engine is remarkably quiet at fast highway speeds. Normal highway speeds have the car at just 2400 rpms in final gear.
-- The Sentronic automatic transmission: silky smoothness in auto mode, decent shift speed in manual shift mode
-- Cup holder! It's a modern marvel...and it doesn't put your drink over stuff that shouldn't be spilled on. Now that is smart!
-- Saab's unique air vents could be used by the blind. They are that good! Great for night time drivers like me who get hot or cold often.
-- Glove box is also a little refrigerator with slide of a button. I keep cold sodas in it in the summer...
-- SID: Saab Information Display. This handy baby allows you to set dozens and dozens of computer functions and environmental controls while keeping eyes on road. The Trip Computer is especially good in this car.
-- Stereo volume adjust to speed of car automatically.
-- Car sounds: Blinker sound is deeper tone, not annoying like most cars yet almost in possible to drive without noticing it. Don't ever feel stupid driving down the freeway with your turn signal on ever again. Notifications from the car's central computer sound off with the same "bling bling" that is in commercial jets (fasten seat belts, please...)
-- Turbo! The car has great overtaking speed between 65-100.
THE LITTLE THINGS: WHAT I HATE ABOUT THIS CAR: I haven't found a single little thing that I hate about this car yet, yet some things could be improved:
-- Improve tension on sliding arm rest so it doesn't move accidently.
-- Give buyers a DVD movie explaining car. The car is too sophisticated and loaded with features to read in a technical car manual. Who has the time to read all that stuff?
WHAT WORKS GREAT
-- Turbo charged engine has been great
-- Seats and innovative headrest
-- Innovative Cup Holder
-- Air conditioning and heating system
WHAT I HATE:
-- Rear seats need more padding to be as comfortable as front
-- Better isolation between suspension and car ride. The car rides a bit harsh for an european luxury car. Everything reeks swelt "luxe" except ride comfort.
-- tires that come with car (I replaced mine with Bridgestone Potenza G009)
-- interior build quality of doors (I had a rattle issue on front doors, dealer fixed it though)
-- programmable electronic key system: They gave me 2 keys, one failed within 4 months. Love key, but not reliable. Get extra 3rd key!
-- trunk carpet. Put in real carpet next time.
-- rear air vents are like typical car, not Saab air vents which are so darn nice.
WOULD I BUY CAR OR BRAND AGAIN?
-- In a heart beat!
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 31000
Condition: New Model Year: 2004 Model and Options: Saab 9-3 Sedan
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