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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

Road Test Reports Says 3.5 star rating Full Report
saab

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 9-5 Saloon

3 stars - average customer rating
Average driver rating ( based on 7 reviews )

Saab 9-3 Sport Saloon

3.5 stars - average customer rating
Average driver rating ( based on 7 reviews )


Saab 9-3 Convertible

4 stars - average customer rating
Average driver rating ( based on 6 reviews )

Saab 9-3 SportWagon

4 stars - average customer rating
Average driver rating ( based on 2 reviews )


Saab 9-5 Estate

3 stars - average customer rating
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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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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