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Saab Road Test Reports And Car Reviews
Saab 9-3 Convertible Full Road Test Report
2.8 Aero V6 - Saab are the most experienced designers of four-seat, four-season soft-top cars, they have been doing it for twenty years. Distinctly Saab and extremely safe, the 9-3 is a solid and well equipped convertible.... read more
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As a direct competitor to the likes of Audi, Mercedes and BMW, the Saab automobile manufacturing company, based in Sweden, is more than holding its own. Saab is an acronym of Svenska Aeroplan Aktie Bolaget (The Swedish Aeroplane Company) and until 1990 was part of a conglomerate with SAAB Aerospace. The company can trace its roots back to 1937 when it was established to build aircraft for the Swedish Airforce. Its first car was the Saab 92, a two-door saloon, built around the end of the Second World War. Today Saab offers an impressive range of executive vehicles with the 9-5 and 9-3 ranges having been introduced in 1997 and 1998 respectively and still going strong to this day.
Saab 9-3 Sport Saloon
Average driver rating ( based on 10 reviews )
Saab 9-3 Convertible
Average driver rating ( based on 7 reviews )
Saab 9-5 Saloon
Average driver rating ( based on 7 reviews )
Saab 9-3 SportWagon
Average driver rating ( based on 2 reviews )
Saab 9-5 Estate
Average driver rating ( based on 1 review )
Saab Consumer Car Reviews
The latest Saab driver reviews and road test reports. The views expressed do not reflect the thoughts and opinions of ReallyGoodDomains.com
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Christopher Wee, England
Saab 9-3 Convertible Vector 2008
Have been driving my 9-3 convertible (Vector) for a couple of months now. It’s a real attraction on the roads and am pleased with my purchase so far. Very quiet with roof up and good torque.
Submitted: 23/10/2008 09:30:19
Ron Baker, Durham
Saab 9-3 Sport Saloon 2005
Test drove it today only gave it a 4 star rating because nothing is perfect. I have had BMW/Mondeo/Audi all top spec but the 9-3 just beats the hell out of them; maybe not in price new but a used car price is very good. As soon as I sat in the car I knew it was something special; drop it from 6th to 4th on overtaking and it does bring a smile to your face. Yes, a little noisy but I am from the old school off driving and like to hear the engine revs. Everyone to there own; BMW owners and the rest will say they hate Saab’s but so did I until I test drove it - admittedly I was only out for 1 hour in it but all the reviews I have read; guys in the trade I have spoken to; and the test drive did it for me. I pick it up on Tuesday. Verdict - don’t slag any car of until you have owned it or test driven it. Well, that’s what I learnt today.
Submitted: 29/09/2008 10:52:15
Mark Sayer, Norfolk
Saab 9-3 Sport Saloon 2.0 turbo aero 2003
My first Saab and wow - I’m well impressed - I’m used to Impreza’s, GTIs, BMWs, this however is all of them in one package , handling could be improved a tad but with better front suspension and a front strut it would be a top car, better petrol consumption than the others as well, get the silver on with the better alloys. What a head turner!
Submitted: 24/09/2008 10:28:44
Mark Spence, County Antrim
Saab 9-3 Sport Saloon 1.9tid 150 Sportswagon 2006
In many ways an excellent car for many purposes - fast enough, economical enough but not the best at either of these. Where it does create its own space against competitors is in seat comfort, interior space and control layout, each of which is far superior to the over-engineered run-of-the-mill German choices out there (and I include the latest C and A4 which I have driven extensively and none of which make me want to leave my Saab). Areas of improvement/disappointment: loose small bits of trim but nothing fundamental - tyre wear - looks, although addressed in the ’07 facelift. Overall this car will not let you down and will leave you feeling relaxed and fresh after any journey.
Submitted: 24/09/2008 10:23:04
Matthew, Cambridgeshire
Saab 9-5 Saloon Vector Sport TDi 2007
Second hand you get a lot of car for your money - but watch those residuals! I got mine at 7 months old, 6k on the clock and £10k less than the new price and this from a Saab dealer. This will soften the blow on the trade in a bit - and I had intended to run the car for a few years. The good points - feels roomy, safe, and comfortable. Great sound system (9 nine speakers and plays mp3 CD-Rs - who needs a disc changer?). Engine is great: I average around 48 mpg, and it can average well over 50 mpg on long motorway journeys if you stick to the speed limit. Acceleration is excellent - all the overtaking power you need in the 40 - 70 mph zone. The bad points: some cheap plastic and rattles let the car down. I have had two replacement clutch master cylinders in 3 months - the connecting rod to the pedal having broken. There’s nothing like being stranded by the side of the road to make you hate your car! Plus I have a sticky rear passenger door that doesn’t always unlock. These breakages and little faults leave me feeling disappointed with the overall quality of the car. Starting to wonder if I should have gone with a Vauxhall. My dealer experience has been great - they are helpful and attentive. The various other Saab’s I have driven - mostly variations on the current 9-3 feel better to drive and better finished as well. The automatic is not to my taste - and is not so economical. So it all comes down to what you value. From the from the front car has a road presence (back end is pretty ugly) it’s not a BMW (which to many people is a plus) and there are many dedicated Saab fans out there. It is an OK car - but I have doubts about long term durability, and this lack of confidence is reflected in the extremely low residual price. You could get a bit of a bargain second hand, but I can’t see any argument for buying new.
Submitted: 19/08/2008 09:56:23
John Harris, Essex
Saab 9-3 SportWagon 1.9TiD 2006
This is the fifth Saab I’ve owned, and the first diesel. It does over 40 mpg overall and as much as 55+ on the motorway but I won’t get another diesel - this has confirmed all my prejudices about noisy dirty smelly engines which lack the bite, precision and control of the engine that I’ve had with every other Saab I’ve owned. It’s very comfortable, practical, has an excellent boot, air con system and stereo. It’s quite fast but has horrible turbo lag - put your foot down at the lights and there really is a full second where nothing happens and then you’re propelled forward at a hell of a rate. In petrol form this is probably a damn good car, in diesel it reminds you that while Saab’s are still a sensible and different alternative to the much over-rated Germans they’re not quite as well built or different as they used to be. I also have a 15 year old classic 900 convertible and for all its age it’s still a lot more fun to drive than my 9-3.
Submitted: 02/07/2008 10:12:49
Steven Watt, Scotland
Saab 9-3 Convertible 1.8t linear 2005
I have had this car since new and love it. My wife wants another as this ones lease runs out soon. Very practical, fast and good mpg (average 33mpg). Had a 9-5 before this and both were faultless. Get one and you won’t be disappointed. The only thing that I have noticed is the idle is a tiny bit lumpy when waiting at the lights. Not bad complaint for three years motoring.
Submitted: 26/06/2008 16:25:26
Hendrik Jackson, Hampshire
Saab 9-5 Saloon 2002
Very nice and convenient car, all that I expected. So far - 120,000 miles and no unusual problems.
Submitted: 26/06/2008 08:53:50
Jay Stevens, London
Saab 9-3 Convertible Linear 2005
I’ve enjoyed my Saab 93 Convertible. It’s a great car both in looks and performance. I’ve only had one real problem. The roof has recently started leaking where it meets the driver side window. I’m now looking for a new car but I really don’t like the Saab’s new look. I think it’s ugly. I’ll miss the drop top but, I may buy a BMW next. I’d go back to a Saab 93 Convertible in the future, but, only if they changed the design again to a sleeker looking model because it really is a good car.
Submitted: 17/06/2008 10:27:11
Iain Macdonald, Hertfordshire
Saab 9-3 Sport Saloon 1.8t Linear Hirsch 194BHP 2003
I’ve had this car nearly 5 years from new. The Hirsch performance upgrade makes this an extremely fast car (limited to 146mph). In recent months I’ve had to have the water pump changed and some replacement front suspension parts, not too bad for a car thats been driven hard for 136,000 miles. The only other fault I’ve had is a windscreen wash sensor. There really is no point buying an Audi or BMW because they’re slower, thirstier and far less comfortable.
Submitted: 04/06/2008 08:28:48
Stephen McNally, England
Saab 9-3 Sport Saloon Vector Sport 150 TiD 2004
Actually it handles great and has plenty of oomph as a diesel. Lovely car when it works. Had a bucket of reliability issues though - I was a VW owner before this and all three cars together were in the garage less than this baby. Possibly an acquired taste - certainly not for everyone - and (in retrospect overpriced). The high-end diesel Mondeos are - sadly - better cars.
Submitted: 30/05/2008 08:36:35
Brian Saunders, Devon
Saab 9-3 Sport Saloon Factory Chipped 2006
This is my second SAAB, having had a BMW 5 series and a Mercedes C200 in between. Excellent and easy drive, all the equipment you need from leather seats to dual climate control. The chip makes it very quick [when you need it] and the comfort on a long run is excellent. I tried it against thew new 9-3 TTDi, "NO COMPETITION!" I have the all round sport trim, which makes it look a very smart car, when compared with basic trim. Would I buy another one? Having tried the new C class and the 3 series, YES.
Submitted: 14/05/2008 09:04:20
Greg Smythe, Leicestershire
Saab 9-5 Saloon Linear 2.2 TiD 2007
I’ve always had a thing about Saab’s, always wanted one. When the time came to buy a new car I thought that I should finally give in to the urge and make the dream a reality. Unfortunately the reality was a disappointment, the saloon is very noisy and lacking in refinement. I was also unimpressed by the Saab dealership, they were unhelpful and surly. The car seemed dated by modern standards and after only 16,000 miles I had to replace the front tyres. The cost of any service on the car is extortionate! I wanted to get rid but have since found out that the 9-5 is now only worth 40% of it initial cost price and this is dropping every time I drive it. I have to face up to the fact that I made a mistake and bought with my heart rather than my head. I also did not do enough research before buying, I strongly recommend that any buyer purchases a couple of magazines and has a look at the residual values plus looking at driver’s opinions on sites such as this before making a costly financial mistake similar to mine. I will never buy another Saab again. This was a case of a dream turning into a nightmare.
Submitted: 02/05/2008 14:14:45
Chris Razzell, Hampshire
Saab 9-3 Convertible 2007
I have had a totally faultless year. The car looks good and drives superbly and I would recommend the car to anybody.
Submitted: 25/04/2008 13:49:07
Andy Moth, Yorkshire
Saab 9-3 Sport Saloon 1.9tid (150bhp) 2008
Enjoyed the drive, quick but not with the harsh suspension my BMW has. The BMW suspension is great to drive round corner but is annoying in everyday life. Saab brings a very good blend of both and without the yob-ish image when pulling up to see customers.
Submitted: 21/04/2008 15:48:39
Nick Marshall, London
Saab 9-5 Saloon vector sports Tdi 2008
I have driven Toyota’s for seven years, but the 9-5 salloon vector sports Tdi is the most wonderful car to drive. The leather seats are so comfortable and the seats can be heated at the touch of a button. On the motorway the 9-5 is a pleasure to drive and the headlights are very effective. I would have given the 9-5 Vector sports 150 Tdi an even higher rating if the interior was not let down by saab using too much plastic. The glove box is quite flimsy. Nevertheless the car represents great value for money. I am also confident that after driving 700 miles my lower back will be fine. Congratulations to Saab on producing a car that presents the right image in a challenging market place.
Submitted: 25/03/2008 10:06:57
John Hawkins, England
Saab 9-3 Convertible Vector 93 2008
I’ve just got my Vector 93 Convertible and the new shape is a real looker. A great drive, comfortable and fun; a great car.
Submitted: 17/03/2008 10:46:24
David Smith, Cheshire
Saab 9-3 Convertible 2008
I rejected the Saab 9-3 Convertible after two months and sent it back. It had a series of electrical faults to the side lights, air bags, windows and stereo, then the engine didn’t start. The dealer and Saab said that the faults were not recorded in the car’s computer, so there were no faults to fix. How convenient! Saab are building an unreliable, cheap and nasty car and selling them for £26K. You’d be better off with a Kia Picanto for £6K - at least they start. We’ve just ordered an Audi A4 Cabriolet instead and gone with a real premium brand this time. Our other car is a Jag X-Type which is fast, economical, great to drive and utterly reliable. Would never get another Saab.
Submitted: 11/03/2008 09:40:56
Bob Lightfoot, Oxfordshire
Saab 9-5 Saloon SE 150 tdi 2007
I have had the 95 for a week now, it only had 100 miles on the clock when the delivery driver left it at my office.The spec was good with all the safety functions you need including parking sensors as standard, The seating was excellent not to firm with great manual adjustment, on the road the torque was impressive with power on tap even at low speeds in 5th gear, GM have a good motor here which they use in the Saab and Vauxhall range. The computer display function is not the best but works okay once you have a handle on the buttons. Driving steady on normal roads and in traffic the car was returning an average of 39mpg once on the motorway ths car is a real class ride, low wind noise, and very stable, driving at quite high speed with the cruise control on the car was still returning over 42 mpg which for a new car which was very tight could only get better. I did not like the electric window switch position being in the centre but got used to it after a while, also when you stop you have to select reverse to get the ingnition key out, it is then impossible to move the gear lever as it is looked in until you start again. If you want space, comfort and good mpg the 95 would be a good choice.
Submitted: 23/11/2007 09:14:35
Michael Gee, London
Saab 9-5 Saloon 1.9TD Vector 2006
Good car to drive, great on motorways. Diesel is great on mileage but a few too many cheap materials used on the interior.
Submitted: 05/11/2007 09:33:04
Andy Booker, County Fermanagh
Saab 9-3 Sport Saloon 2.0 T Aero 2007
I love it, easily a match for the BMW 3-Series and X-Type but without the price tag. I test drove all three and went with the 9-3 as I felt it looked a smart motor and handled as well as the other two. Grap a bargain!
Submitted: 02/11/2007 17:05:28
Reg Garby, Leicestershire
Saab 9-5 Estate 1.9 TiD Airflow 4dr
I recently test drove this model and found it to be a nice car. Looks great, drive was very smooth and comfortable and handling was responsive. The interior was comfortable but there’s a lot of cheap looking plastic in there. The running cost on this car are very competitive to other estate cars out there but the residual value is unfortunately extremely low. Next!
Submitted: 30/10/2007 10:58:30
Mark Winters, Essex
Saab 9-3 SportWagon 1.9 TiD 150 Airflow 5dr
I’ve only had my Sportwagon for 2 weeks but so far I’m very pleased indeed with my choice of Estate. I’d also looked at the Laguna but decided to settle on this car because I’d heard there are engine problems with the Laguna and the performance of the SportWagon beat it hands down. It’s extremely comfortable to drive and I especially like the dash design. I have noticed some outside noise seeping in when on the motorway but this is only minor.
Submitted: 27/10/2007 21:11:11
Steve Whitehall, Hampshire
Saab 9-3 Sport Saloon 1.9 Tid 150 Vector Sport
This car looks great but unfortunately the handling does not live up to it’s looks. In order to succeed in this sector the car surely has to have both! The Saab is in a difficult position, it’s obviously not a BMW or Audi beater but likes to think of itself as a step up the motoring ladder from the average rep-mobile. With the launch of the critically acclaimed new Mondeo however i’d say the Saab may just need to have a re-think of it’s priorities!
Submitted: 26/10/2007 15:22:22
Dave Phillips, Dorset
Saab 9-5 Saloon
Nice car with a comfortable ride. Lots of space & good specification, but a bit plasticky inside. Not quite as good as some others in this class, but certainly less expensive to buy.
Submitted: 26/10/2007 10:36:43
Victoria, Berkshire
Saab 9-3 Convertible 2.0 Linear
Lovely 4 seater convertible with excellent performance, economy & space. Enjoyed 18 months with my Saab. Only gave it back because my car lease expired.
Submitted: 28/08/2007 10:48:37
Johnny Seymour, Cardiff
Saab 9-3 Sport Saloon V6 Aero
Test drove one the other day. Handled like a cow and everything about it seemed dated. Will not be getting one, my advice would be to stay away from this one. Got a test drive in a BMW 3-series tomorrow, hoping for better.
Submitted: 17/08/2007 09:04:59
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