Ok, I just bought one car. But I am suddenly impressed with Saab, which I had never seriously considered before. I drive pickups and this will be mostly my wife's commute vehicle, but I still get my hands on it on weekends and for the occasional road trip.

The Saab 9-3 is all-new for 2003, dropping the familiar hatch design in favor of a traditional sedan layout. Saab fanatics may not like it, but I think the car looks better and I know it is improved in just about every other area.

The 9-3 comes in three forms. Vector, the sporty version. Arc, the luxury version which is still just as sporty, and the Linear base model. All 9-3's use 2.0L turbocharged engines for power. The Linear version is a low pressure .5 bar unit making 175hp. The Arc and Vector models get a medium pressure .8 bar version that produces 210 hp. Until March, the lower powered 175hp Linear model is all that is available.

For the rollout of the car, Saab is offering a special Launch Package that adds many of the features of the higher end cars to the base Linear model. I purchased a loaded Linear model because we wanted the car now, not in 4 months, and were willing to trade a little power for the cash savings and the car is essential similar to a Vector minus things like wood trim, memory seat for the driver, power passenger seat, and some stereo power.

Here is my review of the car.

EXTERIOR: What first attracted me to the new 9-3 was its styling. Low slung and muscular, with clean lines and a wide stance. Just the type of car I like. With the optional 17" sport wheel/suspension package, it looks great. Note that most ads feature photos of the Vector version of this car, which has more pronounced front bumper, side, and rear aero cladding. After seeing a Linear launch package, though, I actually prefer the more conservative look to the more outlandishly sporty Vector look, which is still great. As part of the Launch package, the Arc's body colored lower side trim is included, which greatly improves the look over the base flat black lower trim. What also attracted me to the car was the great looking paint, solid European look, and the fabulous Saab trademark sloping front grill area. We chose Laser Red, but the car looks great in just about any color. Saab charges $495 for metallic paint, so if you want anything but white, red, or black, you will have to pay extra for it. The car reminds many of the BMW 3 series, but I think it looks even better and more substantial. The 3 is good looking, but tends to look a little like a small economy car from some
angles.

INTERIOR: Again I was impressed. I'll start with the seats, the single most important element of a car's interior. If you aren't comfortable, nothing else matters. And Saab makes seats that fit me great. They're not heavily bolstered, pic a Vector model if you like that. But I'm too broad in the back to fit in those type of seats and like the Linear model's just fine. The driver is provided with power seats that adjust in several dimensions, allowing the driver to fine tune a comfortable position. You will have to make do w/o memory seats and your passenger will have to make due with manual seats on this model. The Arc and Vector add a power passenger seat. The leather looks and feels substantial, unlike some of its competition in this price range. Saab offers two interior colors. Gray and Parchment. We chose the Parchment, feeling it lightens up the slightly drab interior and the contrast black dash/parchment seats looks great.

The dash is well laid out, if a bit busy with buttons. But everything feels right and having driven BMW's, I am prepared for less-than-intuitive controls that require a quick read of the manual. Plastics are good, but not great. But for this price range, they are fine for me. The steering wheel manually telescopes and tilts, which is a must-have feature for me. I have trouble reaching the wheel in some cars without this feature. The Saab offers a really neat "infotainment" stereo/cellular/information system that is too complex to go into here, but it has a trip computer, can be customized, has Onstar features, and is really fun to play with. Since Onstar isn't ready yet, they will retrofit your car at no charge and give you two free years of service in return for your inconvenience. The stereo is decent, but not stellar. Audiophiles will definitely want to choose an Arc/Vector model, as they offer 300 watts and additional speakers vs. the Linear Launch 150 watts.

Interior space is bigger than the big competitors, BMW 3 series, and Audi A4. I am 6 feet tall and 200 lbs and feel comfortable driving. Rear seat space is closer to BMW 5 series, and a quick check of dimensions showed that it nearly matches (within an inch) of that "bigger" class vehicle in shoulder, head, leg, and rear leg room. I like that the 9-3 feels light and small, but looks and has the space of a midsize car.

PERFORMANCE: The Linear model is not going to win any drag races, but it is deceptively quick for a 4 cylinder car. The availablity of lots of low rev torque helps. The car produces 195 lb ft of torque at a low 2500 rpm, making it quicker than a 175hp normally aspirated 4 would be. 0-60mph comes in about 8 seconds with the 5 speed Sentronic automanual, and it feels quick. The transmission makes smooth, crisp shifts. I haven't tried the auto shift function much, but I really consider it of use only for situations where you are anticipating passing, not constant use. In contrast to the previous Saab 9-3, there is very little turbo lag, and I found it to have much less than the Audi/VW 1.8 turbos we drove. There is an available 5 speed manual, but I did not drive one. Expect 7 second 0-60 times with that transmission. Arc and Vector models will feature a 6 speed manual. For the price, this car is quite a performance value among European cars. The 4 cylinder turbo is a little coarser than a 6 when pushed, but it is a pleasant grumble, not harsh. I found it refreshingly fun to drive vs. the almost overpowered and over-smooth feel of the BMW 540i V8 we had recent experience with. It's more than adequate for daily use, and the Vector and Arc models should satisfy most sport drivers. You can spend $10,000 more and get even more power with other makes, but other than for bragging rights, the occasional thrill, and the track, that kind of power isn't all that useful on the streets.

Handling in this car is very satisfying. I recommend the sport wheel/suspension package to level out the slight body roll base models have, but it's not a must-have. It is nimble and feels light and tossable. It is a very confidence inspiring feel. Steering is precise and quick, with great feedback for a fwd car. There is virtually no torque steer, again eliminating a previous 9-3 vice. I really have had fun driving this car. There is some road rumble and tire noise transmitted into the cabin, but less than in the Infiniti G35 we tested. And much less wind noise than the Infiniti. This car is not quite as refined and quiet as a BMW, but it still does a great job of making you comfortable while giving you satisfying handling. The way most people drive in real life, front wheel drive is not a problem in this car.

Braking is great, with one online review showing a 117 ft 60mph-0 test. Wow. Saab adds a stability control system, traction control, brake assist, and braking control. This is a very safe handling car. Front wheel drive will be helpful for winter drivers in Northern climates.

SAFETY: This is just about the safest car you can buy for less than $50,000. In European tests, the Saab received a rare 5 star rating in front/side impact tests, including a perfect score in side impact testing. Of cars available in the US, only the Mercedes E and C class cars equalled this 5 star rating. The 9-3 comes with side, front, and curtain airbags, ABS, stability control, traction control, brake assist, and Saab's award winning headrest design which helps avoid whiplash in rear impacts. You really can't get a safer car when you factor in Active (handling, braking) and passive(crash protection) safety. It also offers the safety features of Onstar, which alerts help when you have a crash, and offers a way to get help when you have a mechanical problem.

DEALERS/RESALE/RELIABILITY: This is the big question mark on the Saab. Saab has had some problems in recent years, and the dealer network is undergoing a shakeout because of it. But I believe the new 9-3 will mean more profits and more stability. My purchase experience at two different dealers was first rate. Very professional and low-key. They also seem very committed to service after the sale with free loaners for ANY service visit. Saab seems to really want to double sales this year and they know they need happy customers for good word-of-mouth. 3 year, 36 month free scheduled maintenance is a plus also. A 4 year, 50,000 mile warranty is pretty standard for the class.
Since GM owns Saab, there is 0% 36 month financing available. This is a nice plus, lowering the effective price of the car even further vs. its competition. We also got there "zero/zero/zero" offer, with nothing down, no payments for 3 months, and 0% financing. Again, nice.

One negative of Saabs in recent years was less than great resale value vs. the competition. I feel that was because the cars themselves were nothing special, and didn't deserve it. Well, the new 9-3 is a really great car, and if they prove reliable, I think they will have solid resale value. Especially since I suspect they are priced low to get sales volume up, and that future models will see significant price increases. This will only help resale of current models down the line. Saab reliability has ranged from bad to excellent, with the current 9-5 considered very reliable. So if that trend continues, the 9-3 should be a solid car by European standards. Buy an Accord if you want a bulletproof but bland driving experience.

INTANGIBLES: At $32,810, the MSRP on a nearly loaded Saab 9-3 Linear undercuts the BMW 325i and is similar to the Audi A4 1.8t, two cars very similar in concept and performance. But what I like most about this car is that it seems special because it is so rare, and that it carries little of the luxury car baggage that I got so tired of with our BMW's. You will also be able to negotiate a good discount on these cars vs. a BMW. There is just something unique and yes, quirky, about the Saab that really appealed to me once I drove one. I look forward to driving it for many years. We have switched vehicles often in the last several years because we were never completely satisfied with the cars we had to choose from, but even though it's certainly not the ultimate in sport sedans, there's really nothing I don't like about the new 9-3. We were looking for good looks, comfort, safety, handling, decent power, and a positive sales/ownership experience, and this car delivers on all.

UPDATE: After a year and a half of ownership, we still like it. The stereo was weak on bass but I was able to figure out an upgrade for about $200 in parts and 4 hours of labor and it's pretty decent now. No more mechanical problems, either. There is now a software upgrade available in the aftermarket that delivers 208hp and 228 lb ft of torque, and reports are it significantly improves performance on both 2.0t and 2.0T models. They are deeply discounted with rebates now, so a modestly equipped Linear costs about the same as a high end Accord. Which to get? No doubt about it, the Saab is the choice if you are a driver and not just in need of a reliable appliance to get you where you're going.


Update: 9/04: At 36,000 miles still no mechanical problems. I will say, however, that it has recently felt "looser" than previously. Not bad, but definitely not as solid as before. The transmission and steering both seem to have slightly more play in them than before, though I doubt anyone but an owner would recognize it. Due to the complexity of this car and the marginal faith I have in Saab dealers and their future, we will probably be selling it at 50,000 miles. Tired of the turbo lag too, I don't need a race car, but it's nice to punch it and get into traffic when you need to w/o waiting for the lag to end.

Update: 9/05 Other than a dead battery which I just replaced myself, it's still going strong at 53,000 miles. We now have a new BMW 325i as well, and on long trips I prefer the Saab for the better seats. The steering feel isn't what it is in the rear wheel drive car, but it's still fun to drive. Resale is poor, and probably the only reason I wouldn't buy an '06 Aero with the new turbo V6.
Amount Paid (US$): 34000
Condition: New
Model Year: 2003
Model and Options: 9-3 ss linear, sport, auto