Awww thank you man! Love SAAB. Miss them a lot. We had nearly every kind of SAAB in our family since the 1960s. We had so many SAABs in the driveway that occasionally someone would knock on the front door inquiring if we were a SAAB garage as they needed a SAAB mechanic. Yup. It was really something. And we got our neighbors into SAAB also. We were SAAB central on the main st in our town.
one thing I love about saab is that its old enough to be obscure but not obscured to the point of oblivion I daily a Saab 900 sedan and always people ask me what that car is makes me proud of it
Thnaks for this review. As a Saab 9-3 owner I agree 100% all you say (trying to be objective). I was lloking for an affordable saloon car 2 years ago and realized that the 9-3 was much cheaper than similar saloons. Here, in Barcelona, I bought my 2007 9-3 TiD 150hp Vector FAP model with aero package (17" wheels and aero kit) with 165kkm for 4500€. Similar saloons like Accord, A4 similar year and spec were easily above 6500€. I admid I had doubts about it but now I cannot be more happy with it. Zero problems after 20kkm done... such a good purschase! Some people asked why don't I buy a "proper" car... and my answer is "I already have it!"
It's sometimes hard to be objective with these cars isn't it, they just have too much charm 😄 Cheaper, yet more interesting and unusual. It's a win-win. Your Saab is definitely a 'proper' car :)
Interesting, i noted that they are much cheaper than other brands Im gonna look at one on wednesday and i hope, if i buy it, it will run as problem free as yours!
I've got a 1998 4-door 9-3, it's been in the family since new and having recently passed my test I've been fortunate enough to properly get behind the wheel! I can't help looking at the car sometimes and admiring what a gorgeous beast it is. Going down the RUclips SAAB rabbit hole, it's such an amazing feeling to see so many people share the same love for SAAB as I have. Spot-on video, you cover all the stuff I love about my SAAB. Keep up the good work!
Great first car! My dad had a 1996 900 which is very similar to yours I think, and that was around the time I was learning to drive. Really nice car. Thank you!
Great review. I bought my -04 1.8t from a friend 7 years ago and I still drive it. It hasnt failed me yet and when it finally gives in I will buy another one. There are still many around in here in Sweden.
Hi! Turbo X owner here, I must say that it really is something between a canyon and highway cruiser. It's got a lot more complicated machinery than the Linears, being that it's basically an up tuned Aero with their XWD system, which means that there's also a lot to go wrong... It's a magnificent car when it's all working properly, but mine just so happens to have suspension components nearing the end of their life (blown rear auto leveling shocks) so that's always something to consider. Other than that, it's been reliable for the 10,000 or so miles that I've owned it, having around 186,500 miles at the time of posting this. Excellent review, and an excellent first car!
The cubby in front of the center armrest has a flip down bit of plastic that converts it to a cup holder. Not that it makes it much more convenient, but it does hold a bottle a bit better that way.
I have had quite a few SAABs and the thing I love most of all is the ACC...Automatic Climate Control. It works so perfectly. Punch is the temp you want and forget about it. Although there were some engineering things I thought were troublesome, overall, a very reliable car.
Love the Saab. Also agree that early 2000 through about 2015 was the best period for cars where the balance between tech, design and materials was perfect. Basically it all went down hill when they started using cold LED lights in the cabin! PS you should review the previous gen Volvo S60 next. I've been driving my dads 2012 and don't want to give it back!
It’s a shame about losing SAAB as a car manufacturer, they were something different on the roads and they are genuinely nice cars especially the last of the “breed” Insignia based cars. I’ve owned a Saab 99 briefly which was an original SAAB and had its quirks, handbrake on the front wheels, slant 4 engine, and that SAAB key start by the handbrake. That looks a nice cared for example, credit to the owner. Thanks for that interesting review!
@@JJonCars Yes it was one of the last of the 99’s on a B reg 1984 with a derivative of the Triumph 1850 engine that went into the Dolomite. Sadly I don’t have it anymore it was sold on.
@@willswheels283 nice, and I didn't know about the link to the Dolomite. Have liked that car ever since Hammond had a Sprint on a 2000s Top Gear challenge :)
Ah! Thanks for the correction Samir. Something in the back of my mind was ringing alarm bells (did Saab really fit two turbos to that V6??), but I think because of the TTiD diesel engine, I thought - ah yes - it's Saab, they must have done. Twin scroll makes much more sense 😄
We just bought a 4D 9-3 SEDAN 2.0-F-45F/268 Saab car and it is an absolute gem. 2004 and driven 57,000 km. Winters in a warm stable and maintenance once a year. A great car. And a great presentation of the 9-3 model.
Love the Saab... then again that`s probably why I presently own 3! A 9-3 Aero Vert, 9-5 Aero wagon and a facelift 9-3 V6 Aero Saloon. I was hapy with the two but the V6 came up and it was just to good to turn down with having only done 40k genuine miles. Love them all in different ways.
My ‘07 has zero play in the steering wheel and is quite sensitive. Maybe something they worked on in later years but yea they are lovely cars! Plan on getting a whole collection because why not and they deserve more love tbh.
Can I please get assistance, I have a this car and I'm all the way in South Africa its been over 2 years now I can get any parts and I have to resort to selling... Any one who can assist in way please help
I got a 2007 Saab 9-3 Aero Convertible in Electric Blue Metallic as my first sports car 4 years ago and I've loved it since. Its got nearly 100k miles but still drives super smooth, no play in the steering. Fast as hell also thanks to the 2.8L high pressure turbo V6! Cruises on the highway like no other. I feel very fortunate to own it!
Mine's a 2007 Aero with the face-lifted dash. 6 speed manual, passive rear wheel steering. The steering wheel doesn't seem to have any slack in it. The buttons are much simpler. The SiD is moved from the top of the dash to the speedo area. It's been breathed on a bit and is now around 300 bhp and 430 Nm. Apart from the performance improvement, it's more flexible and fuel consumption is very good - around 36 to 37 mpg on a long trip. I've been driving turbo Saabs since 1988 and this is the best yet. I have yet to drive a Turbo-X.
Best car ever. I love my 2.0 9-3, my hubby has one too, my dream is to own a TurboX but it's a very distant dream. ...hate how people compare it to the vectra, it's nothing like it!!!
I've bought mine 9-3 '05 Aero just a few weeks ago with a lot of work but I couldn't stop myself from buying it. This car deserves bringi g back to factory state and this particular exemplar has never been modified by any of previous (2) owners. 212k km for B207R is nothing. Thanks mate for this review and a lot of good words about this cars!
My first car ever was a 6 speed 2005 9-3 Aero and this video just made me regret the day I got rid of it. Loved your personal stories stitched within the car review! Made the video seem genuine
Great video. I have a 2008 Aero, and there's nothing better than pulling onto a highway, the turbo just gets you from 30 to 70 mph almost in an instant
I had a 1.9TiD saloon, and apart from the random fumes entering the cabin, which I never got to the bottom of, the rear o/s door that used to lock itself randomly, and wouldn't unlock until IT decided it wanted to, and the CIM module that controls the steering wheel lock, occasionally not unlocking the steering wheel when you put the key in the ignition. All of those quirks aside, for comfort, ride quality, speed, and general build quality, it was a superb car, delivering economy approaching 50mpg too, on a run, and average 38mpg around town. Mine was also the 150bhp 16valve diesel, so not bad fuel economy for the thrills it delivered.
@@JJonCars I loved mine, despite its quirks. I owned it for nearly five years, and only sold it so I could buy an Estate. I couldn't find a decent 9-3 estate at the time, with low enough mileage and the spec that I wanted, so ended up buying a Volvo V50, which I still own today.
Great review... I've also found SAAB very interesting and I think GM missed an opportunity to bring it back as an EV brand... As with the reliability, I'm one of those people that are a little concerned as the Holden Vectra's here in Australia (or most Opel products) were considered really unreliable and it's pretty rare to see a 2000's Astra or Vectra these days, even though they sold decently well when new... In hindsight, it's a shame that SAAB is gone and it will be greatly missed :(
Thanks Martin. I feel it's difficult to know with Opel/Holden/Vauxhall products if the reliability issues are down to lack of care and maintenance, due to the them being cheaper to buy cars in the first place, and therefore owners without the means or desire to maintain them. I always hear conflicting evidence - people here with Vauxhalls that have done 150k miles and have needed almost nothing, and then others complaining that their car is unreliable rubbish 😄 But yep, it's such a shame about Saab!
@@JJonCars Although the Holden branded Opel's weren't very reliable as they aged, the Daewoo products that replaced it were even worse! The only good car from Holden towards the end was the Commodore, which was a RWD large sedan which had a V6 as standard, or you could go for the V8... They did export Holden's to the U.K, such as the Vauxhall Monaro, VXR8, etc...
@@MartinJones123 I absolutely love the idea of the Monaro and VXR8. A massive V8 in a fairly cheap car? Something that just never really happened in the UK. I hope to drive one one day :)
@@JJonCars Well they were fairly cheap for what they were when new (at least in Australia), though they're quite expensive nowadays on the used car market over here, though I'm surprised that they're still really cheap over in the U.K! Even though Australia has made some crazy V8's, the VL Commodore could be had with a turbo RB (yes that one) and Ford Australia later released turbo 6 cylinder Falcons, which can take loads of HP and in LPG form (N/A), they were used as taxis... I think Hubnut exported an AU Falcon from here (or NZ) and it will be cool to see you guys collaborate! The Australian car industry is very interesting and virtually unknown outside of Australia...
Nissan RB engine? :O Haha, would be fun to do a vid with Hubnut for sure, I've seen his Falcon at a couple of different shows. It is cool you have your own little eco-system of cars over there, I've always (rightly or wrongly) seen it as sitting somewhere in between the US and Europe.
Had a 2005 Linear Sport 1.8 which I really liked. Had it for just over 5 years then I traded it for a 2011 TTiD which I still drive now. It's such a shame that Saab are no more; their cars were different, quirky, comfortable and a little bit cool. There's nothing now that appeals to me in the way that Saabs did / do. Nice video JJ.
@@JJonCars I was thinking of a 9-5 (there are a few 2012 ones, same for 9-3) - the newest I've ever seen listed was August or September 2012 registration. But I've decided against it and will just stick with what I have for a little while longer.
Bought my first SAAB a couple of weeks ago, been looking for a while (9-3 estate) needed a load lugger to fit the dog or just stuff to the tip, I bloody love it, bought it for practicality but really fell in love with it
Very nice review. Thank you. I really miss Saab. It would fit perfectly into the e-mobility age. If we take a look at the Hyundai Ioniq6, there is so much Saab, especially in the back and Polestar is trying to fill a void there. In the end Saab remains unique. RIP
Yes, agreed - the Ioniq6 is incredible looking. And I'd love to drive a Polestar at some point. I wish that Saab had ended up like Volvo, designed and built in Sweden but owned by a company with the funds to keep them going. Shame it worked out the way it did.
Oh wow, a new one, must have been such a nice car compared to a lot of stuff on the roads then. I remember admiring them but having no way of affording one, having only just passed my test in 2005
I’m looking to buy an 03 arc in November. It’s in pristine condition aside from the drivers seat being a lil cracked and rear inner tail light missing. Also I follow this Saab enthusiast on here (Auto Autopsy) he’s done some nice upgrades on his 93 (better suspension, engine work, paint, swapped out his plastic door handles for leather ones and a heated square bottom sport steering wheel) I want to do all of that and add a roof rack. Nice review btw mate ✨
Nice one, the Arc seems a fairly rare version now, seem to be more Vectors and Aeros out there. Be interesting to see how much the car can be improved from factory as there are definitely some areas that can be improved. Thanks mate!
I have a black 1.8t vector sportwagon. I thought I was the only SAAB lover out there. Tried an Audi and BMW before buying and the SAAB was my favourite by far. After watching this I think I will give it a good valet and take pride in my SAAB. Enjoyed this. PS I do technical drawings for a living, need a polar neck now.
LOL - 1 year later and my 2006 9-3 Aero 210bhp vert (Petrol, and mapped, so probably more than the 210 factory spec) has still only done just over 80k miles. I don't recognise the creaky plastics bit, mine seems solid. Mine's a bit odd. It has some of the internal facelift elements, but has the pre facelift exterior (I think that's a good thing), and is, by far, the most enjoyable car I've had in my 42 years of driving. It has cost me over £2,000 in the last year to get some stuff sorted (previous owner had straight piped it, which led to MOT emissions failure, and the clutch had started slipping. so needed to be replaced. Total just for those was around £1,600. Add to that a break calliper rebuild and a couple of new tyres, but I don't begrudge a penny. Unfortunately, reversing the decat was only done last Wednesday, and I can't get it in for MOT until next Wednesday. Never mind, I can go start it up on the driveway, put the roof down, and at least feel like I can still drive it. Roll on Wednesday.
got 2010 turbo edition very quick car has paddle shift on steering wheel in maanual mode150 hp auto fantastic drive just body work lets them down as prone to rust b cause gm vauxhall took over making them
Thank you. I see you have a Cadillac BLS! What an interesting car, I remember seeing it on the old-new-Top Gear, I think Hammond was driving one. Ever since then I've been excited to see one, which is basically never 😂
My neighbour has got a 9-3 estate and I live in Glossop close to a Saab specialist garage. They look such nice cars, I quite fancy getting one before they disappear from our roads
Story : Back during lockdown, I amended my commute home to include the A5 between Gailey and Telford in the 9-3 Aero I still have. One evening, on the A5 which is straight as a die and has perfect visibility, I decided to "relax" my right foot. Not pressing down, but just relaxing it to leave my right foot at a comfortable position. Suffice to say, it was a relaxed three figures on the speedometer.
Great reviews. I think you are 20's (guessing your vintage) something romantic loving these early 2000's cars. I'm completely the same. They are just an edge above the 90's cars with a little more finesse and sophistication but deliver on some styling which has since passed and unlikely to be revisited. I'm driving 2 x e39's and love everything about them. Bought them both combined for under 11K (aud) and can't believe that in their day these rolled out of the show room floor for 80-90K each.
Thank you! I am actually in my 30s and a lot of people my generation will pick 80s or 90s (which I have a lot of love for too of course!) but these 00's cars were new when I was first able to drive. The E39 is a fantastic car (I did a video with one recently) and you're right - so much car for your money. Cheers :)
Saying it is based on a Vectra, is like saying we are all using the same skeleton.....which is about as much as Vectras and 9-3's have in common. Owned 8 saabs so far, and the 93 really is a fantastic package of comfort, sport, power and economy. Imagine an early 2000's gm car that had 210-280hp, luxury interior, loaded, with excellent handling and got over 30mpg on long highway trips, averaging 27mpg mixed for the last 8yrs I have owned them. Nothing gm or any other American car company sold back then, did that. Now imagine if you owned one now, outdoor all it's life, and rust is still not on the rockers and fenders. GM never built anything with that level of metal treatment, but the Swede's car companies have done it for decades.
@@18_rabbit interesting. Yes, American gallons and miles. My 09 sport vert got 34mpg from Detroit to Dayton. Only had 68k miles on it. I use fillup to fillup math, not relying on the mpg gauge. My normal driving is about even split highway and city, averaging 25 if I keep my foot in it, or 27 if I drive easy(rare). I did put a stage 1 tune on them, which I heard actually improves mileage slightly, if you're not a lead foot. lol
Ooh, just looked it up. Absolutely incredible, 10k miles. I couldn't bring myself to drive it, would have to put it straight in a garage/museum and leave it!
interesting review JJ . Im on my 3rd saab. first one an 02 plate SE stage 3 ,then went all economical with a 150 hp 07 diesel sportwagon but missed the extra 127 hp the SE had so im now the proud owner of a low mileage full service history 05 standard aero saloon (for now)😁
Would love to drive one! Not sure the last time I saw one though. I did see a previous generation 9-3 the other day, really nice condition. But not a Viggen!
@@JJonCars I have a 2000 93 2 litre SE which you're welcome to drive. Unfortunately am looking at a newer 93 like this one as I live in Bristol and the clean air zone is making it hard to justify keeping.
@@buildatrap Hey thanks, drop me an email at hello@jjoncars.com, or get me on instagram @jjoncars Bit of a distance to me, but I have friends in Bristol so it could be do-able. Shame about the clean air zone :(
Asi es amigo.. tengo vector 1.9 tid 150,con 145000km,y despues de tener mas coches todos nuevos tanto Gasolina o diesel ..no lo cambio por ninguno 306gti 16v 6v(167) Alfa gt 2.0jts(165) Altea fr 2.0 tdi (170) Saab93 el mejor❤
I have 3, the first gen 93 soft top 2.0t SE, and 2x 95 2.2TiD Estates (one is for sale if interested 🙂). Incidentally, I've found out the 95 2.2 variant is pretty rare now - only 13 left (10 on the road). Both wonderful to drive, and the 95 is possibly the most comfortable car I have ever driven. Also helps that I have a Saab specialist local to me.
Ah, back to a proper car, now that's more like it! I recall that Wheeler Dealers 'did' a Saab many moons ago, and Edd China mentioned that they can have a problem with the bulkhead cracking, and he installed some bracing in the engine compartment, although I don't think he mentioned how you would actually know if the bulkhead was cracked. It's nice to see you down my neck of the woods - Salford Quays is a nice back drop (compared with the very nearby Coronation Street type of housing) and there's also the added fun of tram-dodging!
Yes, been hankering to do a car like this for a while! Interesting problem that, and not something I'd read in my research. I've seen a few WD episodes but don't remember the Saab one, probably worth a watch! Turns out it's quite hard to get the kind of back drop I was hoping for around there - e.g. with the IWM in the background, nowhere to stop! I thought it suited the Saab well though. I'm used to wandering around Manchester, Piccadilly Gardens tram dodging is always a riot!
I come from a 2001 Volvo V70 to a 2006 9-3 2.0T and I dont think the interior quality compares, but it is not a bad place to sit in. It definitely feels a bit of a squeeze at 6'2" :P
Great review JJ! I’m looking for my first car and considering a 9-3/9-5 or E120 corolla. I’m also surprised u haven’t reviewed the 9-5 cuz i’m wondering how does it compare to the 9-3.
Thank you! That is an unusual couple of cars to pick between - the Corolla and the 9-3 or 9-5. I am surprised too haha. As soon as I get the opportunity I will 👍
I have a 9-3 2008 convertable 2.8 Aero best car i have ever bought and will never part from it, not my daily driver because lets face it i don't own a petrol station but it is a perfect car.
I was wondering what that slot was for!! It kinda looks like a CD slot or something, but I thought surely not. Do you know - was there anything else that could fit in there? Thanks :)
@@JJonCars It may have been a cup holder. But it may be me remember wrong since there are a lot of 3D-printing models for cup holders to put there. 😅 I have only seen the ice scraper in person. And to be honest it's more cool than useful...
@JJ on Cars I have just bought a 95ng. To be perfectly honest, I regret trading in my 2011 9-3 Ttdi2. The 9-5 feels like it was rushed through production with sub standard GM parts. I've always ran Saabs since passing my test in 1980. The 9-5 oozes class and is one sexy looking car! unfortunately its all fur coat and no knickers with the effect that I'm disappointed in my low mileage example
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I have a Saab 93 1.8t Vector Bio Power 2008 in Black. If you visit Madrid. Great Car. Great Video.
Hi JJ. I had a face lift 2008 SAAB 9-3 SportWagon Vector Sport 1.9TiD 150bhp Auto before my current Audi. I had the SAAB for 3 years and put 40,000 miles on it and looked after it. Loved it. It had the same seats as the one in this video. Really spacious boot. Very comfortable. Super reliable. Handling was great. It was quick too. Mid range acceleration was quite impressive. I'm not sure if it had sports suspension being a sport model or if that only referred to the trim but I particularly remember the steering was very sharp and precise. When you put the fat bottomed bottle in the space near the handbrake, did you notice if there was a fold out support bracket there? Mine had one. I wasn't keen on the handbrake lever to be honest. Although I do prefer a manual handbrake to these modern electric things, the first time I used the SAAB handbrake lever I trapped my thumb between the end of the lever and the centre console in front of it when releasing the handbrake. I only did it once mind you! You are right, some of the plastics in the car aren't great but the body overall was very solid. I also had an issue in mine where the LEDs strips above the headlights stopped working randomly and independently. I did some research into it and found that because the current pull and resistance from those units is so low, the car's electronic systems can switch off the circuit/s. If you switch off the car and back on again, the LEDs come back on. There is a kit you can get to increase the resistance in those circuits to solve the problem. I never got round to doing that but if anyone reading this has a similar problem it would be worth looking into such a kit as a possible solution. I do miss my SAAB. I check the MoT on DVLA from time to time and I believe it's still going. Great video as always.
Sounds almost exactly like this car then, only facelift and estate :) Interesting about the steering, I am finding it hard to recall how my old Aero steered. I didn't notice any support bracket, though that's not to say it wasn't there (gutted if I missed it haha) I can imagine that with the handbrake, it's got a very flat end and it could easily pinch your fingers in there. Thanks for the great info Mark!
I have had 4 saabs 2 900's, 1 9000 and a 9-3 convertible. I am still here because of the 9000 and the 9-3. Two REALLY big accidents. if I hadnt been in Saabs I wouldnt be watching this video
I have a 9-3 with the big T and am considering the X if the owner decides to sell it (I offered her 5,000€, it only has 55,000 Km and I've known it since it was bought new from Auto Sueca). Blends in well with modern traffic, you say? I'd say it is usually the most beautiful car on the road. Almost all modern cars look like they were built by McDonald's and took a very long time to leave the "factory". I can't think of a car after 2015, aside from the "Exotics", that I would pay to own. Since I know everything about my neighbour's X and it has been so well taken care of I am willing to go to 7,500 (It's a really weird situation, I saw her two days before Christmas and she looked fine for a seventy-something, about six days later, out of nowhere she went blind, only has 10% view from her right eye). Anyway, since her husband doesn't drive, I guess the cars (rarely used) are up for sale.
Well, it was supposed to be a compliment in that it's a well built and modern feeling car. Pretty car too, I agree. Good luck in persuading your neighbour!
Your vehicle is pretty nice but I have to tell you something... I also have a 2006 Saab 9-3 but mine does not sound like yours.. yours almost sounds like you having a slight transmission problem. It should not sound like that and it should run smooth.. I am not talking about the muffler I'm talking about the sound of your... Also when I open my door my handles do not make any sound whatsoever. Not since the day I bought it. You are right about it being a speedy car. Whoever owned it before me didn't smoke or eat in it at all. it's immaculate! When a mustang takes takes off I can stay rate on his behind.. My car does 152 mi an hour not 160 like it shows. I have watched many videos about all the saabs like ours. and I noticed that each person complains about something different on just about every video. I do however have one complaint about the Saab I have..... The plastic on my car in something similar to dry rotted. Three days after I bought it I pressed the button on the shifter knob and it fell apart into three pieces... The black volume knob for the radio brok in half when I try to turn it so I super glued it back together.... Next the plastic on the right hand side of the steering wheel surrounding the buttons just broke into three pieces. Glued that back together also. Then the window buttons on the driver's side broke and fell apart.... They are in my glove box.. I really really really like the fact that my car (our) has air-conditioning in the glove box and I Also use it to keep my chocolate cool and not melt. I redid my headlights with that new ceramic cleaner they sell at Walmart and it works. Beautifully. enjoy your Saab and have someone knowledgeable listen to it. Good luck
I didn't notice any bad noise - but unfortunately it's not my car! So perhaps I don't know what it should sound like. Glad you like your 9-3 though Gerald, you're right about the plastics they are not the highest quality. And the air conditioned glove box is a very cool feature! Cheers :)
You're welcome! It's not the very smoothest ride, I found it could be a bit crashy over pot holes. But on smoother roads it's very comfortable, and the seats are excellent. In all it is a comfortable car.
Would be awesome if you could review Volvo S40. Used to own 53 plate one with an awesome 2.4 l, 5 cylinder engine. It was non turbo but they also have T5 with a turbo.
I've got a 2006 blue vector one, also a BMW 9 years old 320i and I prefer the Saab by far. It's a love for life.
Excellent. I have one too. Amazing cars 🤩🤩
Awww thank you man! Love SAAB. Miss them a lot. We had nearly every kind of SAAB in our family since the 1960s. We had so many SAABs in the driveway that occasionally someone would knock on the front door inquiring if we were a SAAB garage as they needed a SAAB mechanic. Yup. It was really something. And we got our neighbors into SAAB also. We were SAAB central on the main st in our town.
😂 Love it, I bet you probably could have helped fix their car too haha
Excellent 👌👍. 🎉❤
one thing I love about saab is that its old enough to be obscure but not obscured to the point of oblivion
I daily a Saab 900 sedan and always people ask me what that car is
makes me proud of it
Yes, a happy middle ground 👍
I got a 1.9ttid 180hp.
On a 2008. FSH. My first Saab .
Love it
Thnaks for this review.
As a Saab 9-3 owner I agree 100% all you say (trying to be objective).
I was lloking for an affordable saloon car 2 years ago and realized that the 9-3 was much cheaper than similar saloons.
Here, in Barcelona, I bought my 2007 9-3 TiD 150hp Vector FAP model with aero package (17" wheels and aero kit) with 165kkm for 4500€.
Similar saloons like Accord, A4 similar year and spec were easily above 6500€.
I admid I had doubts about it but now I cannot be more happy with it. Zero problems after 20kkm done... such a good purschase!
Some people asked why don't I buy a "proper" car... and my answer is "I already have it!"
It's sometimes hard to be objective with these cars isn't it, they just have too much charm 😄 Cheaper, yet more interesting and unusual. It's a win-win. Your Saab is definitely a 'proper' car :)
Interesting, i noted that they are much cheaper than other brands
Im gonna look at one on wednesday and i hope, if i buy it, it will run as problem free as yours!
When you talked about the loss of SAAB, you really looked emotional. In Sweden, we call people like you a true believer (it's a compliment).
I genuinely was! Thank you, I am honoured to be a true believer.
I've got a 1998 4-door 9-3, it's been in the family since new and having recently passed my test I've been fortunate enough to properly get behind the wheel! I can't help looking at the car sometimes and admiring what a gorgeous beast it is. Going down the RUclips SAAB rabbit hole, it's such an amazing feeling to see so many people share the same love for SAAB as I have. Spot-on video, you cover all the stuff I love about my SAAB. Keep up the good work!
Great first car! My dad had a 1996 900 which is very similar to yours I think, and that was around the time I was learning to drive. Really nice car. Thank you!
@@JJonCars Yeah I seem to remember the OG 9-3 being an upgraded 900 from memory. SAAB had it nailed! Such a shame they aren't around anymore.
Great review. I bought my -04 1.8t from a friend 7 years ago and I still drive it. It hasnt failed me yet and when it finally gives in I will buy another one. There are still many around in here in Sweden.
Hi! Turbo X owner here, I must say that it really is something between a canyon and highway cruiser. It's got a lot more complicated machinery than the Linears, being that it's basically an up tuned Aero with their XWD system, which means that there's also a lot to go wrong... It's a magnificent car when it's all working properly, but mine just so happens to have suspension components nearing the end of their life (blown rear auto leveling shocks) so that's always something to consider. Other than that, it's been reliable for the 10,000 or so miles that I've owned it, having around 186,500 miles at the time of posting this. Excellent review, and an excellent first car!
Thanks! Good to know info. An awesome first car.
Beautiful 😍❤️
I had a 2006 2.8l turbo, manual 6-speed. Sunroof. Sold it in 2020 to an enthusiast. Nicest car I've ever owned. Preferred it over BMW 325 for comfort.
Excellent 👌👍
The cubby in front of the center armrest has a flip down bit of plastic that converts it to a cup holder. Not that it makes it much more convenient, but it does hold a bottle a bit better that way.
Fantastic looking things. Love the estate with the foil effect rear lights. Great video, thanks JJ!
The estate has definitely grown on me over the years. Wouldn't mind one now. Cheers Will!
I have had quite a few SAABs and the thing I love most of all is the ACC...Automatic Climate Control. It works so perfectly. Punch is the temp you want and forget about it. Although there were some engineering things I thought were troublesome, overall, a very reliable car.
Love the Saab. Also agree that early 2000 through about 2015 was the best period for cars where the balance between tech, design and materials was perfect. Basically it all went down hill when they started using cold LED lights in the cabin!
PS you should review the previous gen Volvo S60 next. I've been driving my dads 2012 and don't want to give it back!
Yep! Want to lend me your dads car? Think he will mind? 😂
cold led light?
@@Jonjs99 cool white LEDs
I still can't stand the 100% digital displays, a digital tachometer should be classed as a crime
Imho mid to late 90's was the perfect time for cars
Perfect mix
It’s a shame about losing SAAB as a car manufacturer, they were something different on the roads and they are genuinely nice cars especially the last of the “breed” Insignia based cars.
I’ve owned a Saab 99 briefly which was an original SAAB and had its quirks, handbrake on the front wheels, slant 4 engine, and that SAAB key start by the handbrake.
That looks a nice cared for example, credit to the owner.
Thanks for that interesting review!
Thanks Will! It definitely is a shame. Would love to have a go in an old 99 one day.
@@JJonCars Yes it was one of the last of the 99’s on a B reg 1984 with a derivative of the Triumph 1850 engine that went into the Dolomite.
Sadly I don’t have it anymore it was sold on.
@@willswheels283 nice, and I didn't know about the link to the Dolomite. Have liked that car ever since Hammond had a Sprint on a 2000s Top Gear challenge :)
HEY JJ , just an fyi. The Turbo X came with one turbo not twin turbo. It was single turbo with twin scroll.
Ah! Thanks for the correction Samir. Something in the back of my mind was ringing alarm bells (did Saab really fit two turbos to that V6??), but I think because of the TTiD diesel engine, I thought - ah yes - it's Saab, they must have done. Twin scroll makes much more sense 😄
I have chopped out the word 'Twin' using RUclipss editor. But unfortunately there's nothing I can do about the 'TT' text haha.
We just bought a 4D 9-3 SEDAN 2.0-F-45F/268 Saab car and it is an absolute gem. 2004 and driven 57,000 km. Winters in a warm stable and maintenance once a year. A great car. And a great presentation of the 9-3 model.
Love the Saab... then again that`s probably why I presently own 3! A 9-3 Aero Vert, 9-5 Aero wagon and a facelift 9-3 V6 Aero Saloon. I was hapy with the two but the V6 came up and it was just to good to turn down with having only done 40k genuine miles. Love them all in different ways.
3 of them! Awesome. Great selection of cars.
Saab 3d print makes cup holders that pop out. Saabs were definitely underrated
My ‘07 has zero play in the steering wheel and is quite sensitive. Maybe something they worked on in later years but yea they are lovely cars! Plan on getting a whole collection because why not and they deserve more love tbh.
I'll echo that my '08 9-3 has zero play and excellent steering.
If you can get a collection, please do, and give them all the love you’ve got. These cars deserve to continue to live on
Can I please get assistance, I have a this car and I'm all the way in South Africa its been over 2 years now I can get any parts and I have to resort to selling... Any one who can assist in way please help
@@ratoPtyLtd What kind of assistance are you looking for?
I got a 2007 Saab 9-3 Aero Convertible in Electric Blue Metallic as my first sports car 4 years ago and I've loved it since. Its got nearly 100k miles but still drives super smooth, no play in the steering. Fast as hell also thanks to the 2.8L high pressure turbo V6! Cruises on the highway like no other. I feel very fortunate to own it!
Nice! That engine is so great, remember it fondly
Mine's a 2007 Aero with the face-lifted dash. 6 speed manual, passive rear wheel steering. The steering wheel doesn't seem to have any slack in it. The buttons are much simpler. The SiD is moved from the top of the dash to the speedo area. It's been breathed on a bit and is now around 300 bhp and 430 Nm. Apart from the performance improvement, it's more flexible and fuel consumption is very good - around 36 to 37 mpg on a long trip. I've been driving turbo Saabs since 1988 and this is the best yet. I have yet to drive a Turbo-X.
that's a damn good car
I have had a 2007 9.3 Aero V6 from new and it is still good as new. What a fantastic car.
Best car ever. I love my 2.0 9-3, my hubby has one too, my dream is to own a TurboX but it's a very distant dream.
...hate how people compare it to the vectra, it's nothing like it!!!
I've bought mine 9-3 '05 Aero just a few weeks ago with a lot of work but I couldn't stop myself from buying it. This car deserves bringi g back to factory state and this particular exemplar has never been modified by any of previous (2) owners. 212k km for B207R is nothing. Thanks mate for this review and a lot of good words about this cars!
Hey, no worries! Good luck with your Saab and bringing it back to its former glory :)
I agree with everything you say and wish that they had survived, I have a 20yr old 9-3 convertible and 💖it to bits 🥳🤩💫🎉🎊🌟
Had a 9.3t Vector as a rep car. Best car I ever owned. It made travelling from Cornwall up to Bath an absolute delight! 😢 Sadly missed.
Love the design of the 9-3's. Timeless as the BMW 3 series. I really want to get a 9-3 .
I fell in love with Saab in 1992 and have only owned Saab since.. Currently driving a 2002 95 .. Love it..
I have a 2010 Vector Sport Convertible, 5 years now, and would never give her up! Beautiful car!
Great cars, I'm on my seventh all 93 comfortable quick in Aero form, and very tuneable plus a great buy, thanks JJ
Nice one Jeremy 👍
I have a 2004 9-5 Aero with a 2.3t 250hp. It's loads of fun and super comfortable. It's done 380000km but I got it for 1500 and it's top trim.
Very nice, I love the 9-5 too
My first car ever was a 6 speed 2005 9-3 Aero and this video just made me regret the day I got rid of it. Loved your personal stories stitched within the car review! Made the video seem genuine
Thank you very much, glad you enjoyed it :) What a great first car. Perhaps you could buy another one day - I think I might do!
Great video. I have a 2008 Aero, and there's nothing better than pulling onto a highway, the turbo just gets you from 30 to 70 mph almost in an instant
Yes, turbo power!!
Saab broke every rule laid down to follow the vectra brand..and thank god..and i had a v6 vectra which was nice.
I had a 1.9TiD saloon, and apart from the random fumes entering the cabin, which I never got to the bottom of, the rear o/s door that used to lock itself randomly, and wouldn't unlock until IT decided it wanted to, and the CIM module that controls the steering wheel lock, occasionally not unlocking the steering wheel when you put the key in the ignition. All of those quirks aside, for comfort, ride quality, speed, and general build quality, it was a superb car, delivering economy approaching 50mpg too, on a run, and average 38mpg around town.
Mine was also the 150bhp 16valve diesel, so not bad fuel economy for the thrills it delivered.
They can definitely have their dodgy issues, but besides that they are rather nice cars
@@JJonCars I loved mine, despite its quirks. I owned it for nearly five years, and only sold it so I could buy an Estate. I couldn't find a decent 9-3 estate at the time, with low enough mileage and the spec that I wanted, so ended up buying a Volvo V50, which I still own today.
Great review... I've also found SAAB very interesting and I think GM missed an opportunity to bring it back as an EV brand... As with the reliability, I'm one of those people that are a little concerned as the Holden Vectra's here in Australia (or most Opel products) were considered really unreliable and it's pretty rare to see a 2000's Astra or Vectra these days, even though they sold decently well when new...
In hindsight, it's a shame that SAAB is gone and it will be greatly missed :(
Thanks Martin. I feel it's difficult to know with Opel/Holden/Vauxhall products if the reliability issues are down to lack of care and maintenance, due to the them being cheaper to buy cars in the first place, and therefore owners without the means or desire to maintain them. I always hear conflicting evidence - people here with Vauxhalls that have done 150k miles and have needed almost nothing, and then others complaining that their car is unreliable rubbish 😄
But yep, it's such a shame about Saab!
@@JJonCars Although the Holden branded Opel's weren't very reliable as they aged, the Daewoo products that replaced it were even worse! The only good car from Holden towards the end was the Commodore, which was a RWD large sedan which had a V6 as standard, or you could go for the V8... They did export Holden's to the U.K, such as the Vauxhall Monaro, VXR8, etc...
@@MartinJones123 I absolutely love the idea of the Monaro and VXR8. A massive V8 in a fairly cheap car? Something that just never really happened in the UK. I hope to drive one one day :)
@@JJonCars Well they were fairly cheap for what they were when new (at least in Australia), though they're quite expensive nowadays on the used car market over here, though I'm surprised that they're still really cheap over in the U.K!
Even though Australia has made some crazy V8's, the VL Commodore could be had with a turbo RB (yes that one) and Ford Australia later released turbo 6 cylinder Falcons, which can take loads of HP and in LPG form (N/A), they were used as taxis... I think Hubnut exported an AU Falcon from here (or NZ) and it will be cool to see you guys collaborate!
The Australian car industry is very interesting and virtually unknown outside of Australia...
Nissan RB engine? :O Haha, would be fun to do a vid with Hubnut for sure, I've seen his Falcon at a couple of different shows. It is cool you have your own little eco-system of cars over there, I've always (rightly or wrongly) seen it as sitting somewhere in between the US and Europe.
I have had one for 17 years. Driven it coast to coast of the USA. Great car
Love my SAAB 9-3 convertible 2002 anniversary model, had it since new, still get a kick driving it.
Had a 2005 Linear Sport 1.8 which I really liked. Had it for just over 5 years then I traded it for a 2011 TTiD which I still drive now. It's such a shame that Saab are no more; their cars were different, quirky, comfortable and a little bit cool. There's nothing now that appeals to me in the way that Saabs did / do.
Nice video JJ.
Cheers! It's a shame you won't be able to upgrade to a newer Saab like you did last time. Gotta keep that TTiD on the road as long as possible :D
@@JJonCars I was thinking of a 9-5 (there are a few 2012 ones, same for 9-3) - the newest I've ever seen listed was August or September 2012 registration. But I've decided against it and will just stick with what I have for a little while longer.
@@DingKong That new shape 9-5 looks so good. But yeah makes sense to keep the 9-3 if it's not causing you any issues!
Nice review JJ, enjoy watching your content..well laid out and informative. Look forward to your next one
Ah thanks Lee!
Bought my first SAAB a couple of weeks ago, been looking for a while (9-3 estate) needed a load lugger to fit the dog or just stuff to the tip, I bloody love it, bought it for practicality but really fell in love with it
Nice one! You should check out my latest vid on the 9-3X, which is basically a version of the Sport Wagon / estate 😁
My SAAB is a 93B from 1959 (B=back hinged doors) two stroke engine. A true SAAB through and trough😁 Just the sound is to die for😍
Haha very nice!
Very nice review. Thank you. I really miss Saab. It would fit perfectly into the e-mobility age. If we take a look at the Hyundai Ioniq6, there is so much Saab, especially in the back and Polestar is trying to fill a void there. In the end Saab remains unique. RIP
Yes, agreed - the Ioniq6 is incredible looking. And I'd love to drive a Polestar at some point. I wish that Saab had ended up like Volvo, designed and built in Sweden but owned by a company with the funds to keep them going. Shame it worked out the way it did.
@@JJonCars Well said
Polestar did indeed fill the void in the old Trollhättan factories.
Thanks for the review. I've a 2011 9³ Turbo Edition. Love it. Will keep it as long as it keeps going. Would be great if SAAB came back.
I bought a new 93 Aero around 2006 - absolutely loved that car !
Oh wow, a new one, must have been such a nice car compared to a lot of stuff on the roads then. I remember admiring them but having no way of affording one, having only just passed my test in 2005
I’m looking to buy an 03 arc in November. It’s in pristine condition aside from the drivers seat being a lil cracked and rear inner tail light missing. Also I follow this Saab enthusiast on here (Auto Autopsy) he’s done some nice upgrades on his 93 (better suspension, engine work, paint, swapped out his plastic door handles for leather ones and a heated square bottom sport steering wheel) I want to do all of that and add a roof rack. Nice review btw mate ✨
Nice one, the Arc seems a fairly rare version now, seem to be more Vectors and Aeros out there. Be interesting to see how much the car can be improved from factory as there are definitely some areas that can be improved. Thanks mate!
i Love them, my friend has an NG 9-5 2011 2.0 Diesel and its amazing, 300.000km and going strong!
Great review JJ! :D
Thank you! That's big miles :)
I have a black 1.8t vector sportwagon. I thought I was the only SAAB lover out there. Tried an Audi and BMW before buying and the SAAB was my favourite by far. After watching this I think I will give it a good valet and take pride in my SAAB. Enjoyed this. PS I do technical drawings for a living, need a polar neck now.
Haha, you're the perfect Saab owner :)
LOL - 1 year later and my 2006 9-3 Aero 210bhp vert (Petrol, and mapped, so probably more than the 210 factory spec) has still only done just over 80k miles. I don't recognise the creaky plastics bit, mine seems solid. Mine's a bit odd. It has some of the internal facelift elements, but has the pre facelift exterior (I think that's a good thing), and is, by far, the most enjoyable car I've had in my 42 years of driving. It has cost me over £2,000 in the last year to get some stuff sorted (previous owner had straight piped it, which led to MOT emissions failure, and the clutch had started slipping. so needed to be replaced. Total just for those was around £1,600. Add to that a break calliper rebuild and a couple of new tyres, but I don't begrudge a penny. Unfortunately, reversing the decat was only done last Wednesday, and I can't get it in for MOT until next Wednesday. Never mind, I can go start it up on the driveway, put the roof down, and at least feel like I can still drive it. Roll on Wednesday.
I'm coming across these videos an appreciate Saab more an more each time..thanks for the videos
Don't be fooled by all this bullshit, make sure you have thousands in the bank if you buy one. Pure over engineered rubbish
got 2010 turbo edition very quick car has paddle shift on steering wheel in maanual mode150 hp auto fantastic drive just body work lets them down as prone to rust b cause gm vauxhall took over making them
Great review, the algorithm is finally giving me some Saab stuff after posting several Saab videos of my own 😂👍
Thank you. I see you have a Cadillac BLS! What an interesting car, I remember seeing it on the old-new-Top Gear, I think Hammond was driving one. Ever since then I've been excited to see one, which is basically never 😂
My neighbour has got a 9-3 estate and I live in Glossop close to a Saab specialist garage. They look such nice cars, I quite fancy getting one before they disappear from our roads
I know the garage you mean. I took the Saab I used to own there once, they're pretty well regarded I think.
Nice review. Bought myself one today, licking it up this Friday… hyped.
Nice one, enjoy the car, they're so different :)
I like the essay style to this video. Like your love letter to the 2000s cars, your best videos are essay style
Thanks Adam! That's good as they're the most enjoyable ones to make. So more to come for sure.
@@JJonCars with the knowledge and passion you’ve got, essays are where you shine. Keep em coming!
Another great review of a great car
Thanks Tony!
As an owner of a 2003 Saab 9-3, I have no critique for this video. It's just so extremely lovely to drive
Glad you agree :)
Story : Back during lockdown, I amended my commute home to include the A5 between Gailey and Telford in the 9-3 Aero I still have. One evening, on the A5 which is straight as a die and has perfect visibility, I decided to "relax" my right foot. Not pressing down, but just relaxing it to leave my right foot at a comfortable position. Suffice to say, it was a relaxed three figures on the speedometer.
'The good old days' when no one else was on the road 😄
How relaxed?
Great reviews.
I think you are 20's (guessing your vintage) something romantic loving these early 2000's cars.
I'm completely the same. They are just an edge above the 90's cars with a little more finesse and sophistication but deliver on some styling which has since passed and unlikely to be revisited. I'm driving 2 x e39's and love everything about them. Bought them both combined for under 11K (aud) and can't believe that in their day these rolled out of the show room floor for 80-90K each.
Thank you! I am actually in my 30s and a lot of people my generation will pick 80s or 90s (which I have a lot of love for too of course!) but these 00's cars were new when I was first able to drive. The E39 is a fantastic car (I did a video with one recently) and you're right - so much car for your money. Cheers :)
Currently driving a 2.0t vector sport. One of those cars where you look forward to a drive over to Leeds or Liverpool
Saying it is based on a Vectra, is like saying we are all using the same skeleton.....which is about as much as Vectras and 9-3's have in common.
Owned 8 saabs so far, and the 93 really is a fantastic package of comfort, sport, power and economy. Imagine an early 2000's gm car that had 210-280hp, luxury interior, loaded, with excellent handling and got over 30mpg on long highway trips, averaging 27mpg mixed for the last 8yrs I have owned them.
Nothing gm or any other American car company sold back then, did that. Now imagine if you owned one now, outdoor all it's life, and rust is still not on the rockers and fenders. GM never built anything with that level of metal treatment, but the Swede's car companies have done it for decades.
Exactly! Nice one
27 mpg /imperial, i assume. Many of us yanks get max 26 on hwy w/ the 2.0
@@18_rabbit interesting. Yes, American gallons and miles.
My 09 sport vert got 34mpg from Detroit to Dayton. Only had 68k miles on it. I use fillup to fillup math, not relying on the mpg gauge. My normal driving is about even split highway and city, averaging 25 if I keep my foot in it, or 27 if I drive easy(rare). I did put a stage 1 tune on them, which I heard actually improves mileage slightly, if you're not a lead foot. lol
Saab forever ❤
My dream is to own a TurboX
Drove one for 7 years, loved it…..
Saab's are absolutely stunning cars to look at. Theres a 9-3 convertible on Auto Trader for £10,995 with 10k miles on it. Looks brilliant.
Ooh, just looked it up. Absolutely incredible, 10k miles. I couldn't bring myself to drive it, would have to put it straight in a garage/museum and leave it!
Also, I'd love to know what 'Full Service History' entails for that car :D
First piece of merch should be a t - shirt with "I bloody love a Saab" across it.
You know what, that's not a bad idea at all 😂
„Full of Saab quirks and features.”
The glaring EML light may be the most distinctive of them
Got my 9-3 vector 2007 1.9 TiD (150bhp) on Friday. Turbo feels a bit slow, but I'm coming from an 08 1.9 Tdi ibiza that used to shift.
interesting review JJ .
Im on my 3rd saab. first one an 02 plate SE stage 3 ,then went all economical with a 150 hp 07 diesel sportwagon but missed the extra 127 hp the SE had so im now the proud owner of a low mileage full service history 05 standard aero saloon (for now)😁
Thanks Mark. I do love how tuneable the engines are. I bet once you've tuned one you can't go back 😂
🤣 difficult
Thanks JJ I've watched your Saab videos and it made me go out and buy one and I love it thanks again love the videos keep up the good work.
Nice one! Which one did you go for?
@@JJonCars 2005 2.0lt petrol linear lovely car it was the best one out of the 3 saabs I looked at .
@@RobertSewell-je3me Sweet, enjoy the car!
I have owned three, and still own my 2000 93 Viggen. That would be a fun review if you can find a local one to drive!
Would love to drive one! Not sure the last time I saw one though. I did see a previous generation 9-3 the other day, really nice condition. But not a Viggen!
@@JJonCars I have a 2000 93 2 litre SE which you're welcome to drive. Unfortunately am looking at a newer 93 like this one as I live in Bristol and the clean air zone is making it hard to justify keeping.
@@buildatrap Hey thanks, drop me an email at hello@jjoncars.com, or get me on instagram @jjoncars
Bit of a distance to me, but I have friends in Bristol so it could be do-able. Shame about the clean air zone :(
Asi es amigo.. tengo vector 1.9 tid 150,con 145000km,y despues de tener mas coches todos nuevos tanto
Gasolina o diesel ..no lo cambio por ninguno
306gti 16v 6v(167)
Alfa gt 2.0jts(165)
Altea fr 2.0 tdi (170)
Saab93 el mejor❤
I love my 2006 9-3 conv., 2011 9-3 sedan and even my 2011 9-4x.
I have 3, the first gen 93 soft top 2.0t SE, and 2x 95 2.2TiD Estates (one is for sale if interested 🙂). Incidentally, I've found out the 95 2.2 variant is pretty rare now - only 13 left (10 on the road). Both wonderful to drive, and the 95 is possibly the most comfortable car I have ever driven. Also helps that I have a Saab specialist local to me.
Nice collection. I really want to drive a 9-5!
@@JJonCars You're more than welcome to try mine
@@Saabsandcycles Thank you - if you email me hello@jjoncars.com perhaps we can sort something out!
9-5 vertical cup holder was vastly superior. I always say this, but it could hold a pint of beer!
Ah, back to a proper car, now that's more like it! I recall that Wheeler Dealers 'did' a Saab many moons ago, and Edd China mentioned that they can have a problem with the bulkhead cracking, and he installed some bracing in the engine compartment, although I don't think he mentioned how you would actually know if the bulkhead was cracked. It's nice to see you down my neck of the woods - Salford Quays is a nice back drop (compared with the very nearby Coronation Street type of housing) and there's also the added fun of tram-dodging!
Yes, been hankering to do a car like this for a while!
Interesting problem that, and not something I'd read in my research. I've seen a few WD episodes but don't remember the Saab one, probably worth a watch!
Turns out it's quite hard to get the kind of back drop I was hoping for around there - e.g. with the IWM in the background, nowhere to stop! I thought it suited the Saab well though. I'm used to wandering around Manchester, Piccadilly Gardens tram dodging is always a riot!
Loving the Saab that makes the two of us
I come from a 2001 Volvo V70 to a 2006 9-3 2.0T and I dont think the interior quality compares, but it is not a bad place to sit in. It definitely feels a bit of a squeeze at 6'2" :P
Great review JJ! I’m looking for my first car and considering a 9-3/9-5 or E120 corolla. I’m also surprised u haven’t reviewed the 9-5 cuz i’m wondering how does it compare to the 9-3.
Thank you!
That is an unusual couple of cars to pick between - the Corolla and the 9-3 or 9-5.
I am surprised too haha. As soon as I get the opportunity I will 👍
Have a 2008 9-3 sc biopower i like that car . Owned it since 2019
Oh nice, I don't think we got the biopower one here
I just purchased a2003 -93-2.0T. I'm looking forward to fixing the accelerator cable/pedal and driving it ...
Nice one :)
As an architect that loves SAABs, I appreciate the joke.
Haha, glad someone did 😄
I have a 9-3 2008 convertable 2.8 Aero best car i have ever bought and will never part from it, not my daily driver because lets face it i don't own a petrol station but it is a perfect car.
Haha, I remember feeling like owning my own petrol station would be useful with mine. Struggled to get 30mpg, but what a car!
The first I saw was the check engine light was on when you showed the night panel!
Unfortunately the night panel doesn't turn the check engine light off 😂
@@JJonCars might be an idea to find out why it’s on.
@@foodepedia1373 the owner told me what it was, nothing particularly serious. Faulty sensor or something
@@JJonCars the problem is that you won’t know when there is a serious problem :-) An obd reader would clear this.
A nifty addon was the hidden ice scraper you could buy for the smart slot opposite the hand break handle. 👌
Great video ♥️
I was wondering what that slot was for!! It kinda looks like a CD slot or something, but I thought surely not. Do you know - was there anything else that could fit in there?
Thanks :)
@@JJonCars It may have been a cup holder.
But it may be me remember wrong since there are a lot of 3D-printing models for cup holders to put there. 😅
I have only seen the ice scraper in person. And to be honest it's more cool than useful...
You can slot your cash card in there. While you wait for the petrol pump to become available.
Hope you get your hands on the last gen 9-5, they look really cool.
I hope so too! Love the look of them 👍
@JJ on Cars I have just bought a 95ng. To be perfectly honest, I regret trading in my 2011 9-3 Ttdi2. The 9-5 feels like it was rushed through production with sub standard GM parts. I've always ran Saabs since passing my test in 1980. The 9-5 oozes class and is one sexy looking car! unfortunately its all fur coat and no knickers with the effect that I'm disappointed in my low mileage example
I have a Saab 93 1.8t Vector Bio Power 2008 in Black.
If you visit Madrid.
Great Car.
Great Video.
Thanks Victor - Madrid is on my list to visit for sure. Glad you liked the video
And they have passive rear wheel steering.
Hi JJ. I had a face lift 2008 SAAB 9-3 SportWagon Vector Sport 1.9TiD 150bhp Auto before my current Audi. I had the SAAB for 3 years and put 40,000 miles on it and looked after it. Loved it. It had the same seats as the one in this video. Really spacious boot. Very comfortable. Super reliable. Handling was great. It was quick too. Mid range acceleration was quite impressive. I'm not sure if it had sports suspension being a sport model or if that only referred to the trim but I particularly remember the steering was very sharp and precise. When you put the fat bottomed bottle in the space near the handbrake, did you notice if there was a fold out support bracket there? Mine had one. I wasn't keen on the handbrake lever to be honest. Although I do prefer a manual handbrake to these modern electric things, the first time I used the SAAB handbrake lever I trapped my thumb between the end of the lever and the centre console in front of it when releasing the handbrake. I only did it once mind you! You are right, some of the plastics in the car aren't great but the body overall was very solid. I also had an issue in mine where the LEDs strips above the headlights stopped working randomly and independently. I did some research into it and found that because the current pull and resistance from those units is so low, the car's electronic systems can switch off the circuit/s. If you switch off the car and back on again, the LEDs come back on. There is a kit you can get to increase the resistance in those circuits to solve the problem. I never got round to doing that but if anyone reading this has a similar problem it would be worth looking into such a kit as a possible solution. I do miss my SAAB. I check the MoT on DVLA from time to time and I believe it's still going. Great video as always.
Sounds almost exactly like this car then, only facelift and estate :) Interesting about the steering, I am finding it hard to recall how my old Aero steered.
I didn't notice any support bracket, though that's not to say it wasn't there (gutted if I missed it haha)
I can imagine that with the handbrake, it's got a very flat end and it could easily pinch your fingers in there.
Thanks for the great info Mark!
I have had 4 saabs 2 900's, 1 9000 and a 9-3 convertible. I am still here because of the 9000 and the 9-3. Two REALLY big accidents. if I hadnt been in Saabs I wouldnt be watching this video
Saab were so good about safety, makes you wonder what they'd have achieved in that area now if they were still going...
I have a 9-3 with the big T and am considering the X if the owner decides to sell it (I offered her 5,000€, it only has 55,000 Km and I've known it since it was bought new from Auto Sueca).
Blends in well with modern traffic, you say? I'd say it is usually the most beautiful car on the road. Almost all modern cars look like they were built by McDonald's and took a very long time to leave the "factory". I can't think of a car after 2015, aside from the "Exotics", that I would pay to own. Since I know everything about my neighbour's X and it has been so well taken care of I am willing to go to 7,500 (It's a really weird situation, I saw her two days before Christmas and she looked fine for a seventy-something, about six days later, out of nowhere she went blind, only has 10% view from her right eye). Anyway, since her husband doesn't drive, I guess the cars (rarely used) are up for sale.
Well, it was supposed to be a compliment in that it's a well built and modern feeling car. Pretty car too, I agree. Good luck in persuading your neighbour!
The vague steering is due to worn universal joint on the steering column.
nice review !
Thank you!
Ill take a look at one on wednesday
Im excited
Nice one, hope its a good 'un!
Your vehicle is pretty nice but I have to tell you something... I also have a 2006 Saab 9-3 but mine does not sound like yours.. yours almost sounds like you having a slight transmission problem. It should not sound like that and it should run smooth.. I am not talking about the muffler I'm talking about the sound of your... Also when I open my door my handles do not make any sound whatsoever. Not since the day I bought it. You are right about it being a speedy car. Whoever owned it before me didn't smoke or eat in it at all. it's immaculate! When a mustang takes takes off I can stay rate on his behind.. My car does 152 mi an hour not 160 like it shows. I have watched many videos about all the saabs like ours. and I noticed that each person complains about something different on just about every video. I do however have one complaint about the Saab I have..... The plastic on my car in something similar to dry rotted. Three days after I bought it I pressed the button on the shifter knob and it fell apart into three pieces... The black volume knob for the radio brok in half when I try to turn it so I super glued it back together.... Next the plastic on the right hand side of the steering wheel surrounding the buttons just broke into three pieces. Glued that back together also. Then the window buttons on the driver's side broke and fell apart.... They are in my glove box.. I really really really like the fact that my car (our) has air-conditioning in the glove box and I Also use it to keep my chocolate cool and not melt. I redid my headlights with that new ceramic cleaner they sell at Walmart and it works. Beautifully.
enjoy your Saab and have someone knowledgeable listen to it. Good luck
I didn't notice any bad noise - but unfortunately it's not my car! So perhaps I don't know what it should sound like. Glad you like your 9-3 though Gerald, you're right about the plastics they are not the highest quality. And the air conditioned glove box is a very cool feature! Cheers :)
Thanks for the review!
How does it handle bumps and uneven roads? Is it a soft and comfortable ride?
You're welcome! It's not the very smoothest ride, I found it could be a bit crashy over pot holes. But on smoother roads it's very comfortable, and the seats are excellent. In all it is a comfortable car.
Would be awesome if you could review Volvo S40. Used to own 53 plate one with an awesome 2.4 l, 5 cylinder engine. It was non turbo but they also have T5 with a turbo.
I would love to! Always wanted a T5 model, was on my list to buy for years but never quite managed it 😄 Really rare now, at least in the UK.
needs a new universal joint on the steering,I bloody love Saabs !
Me too 😄
Have a 2005 Saab Aero convertible - safe fast and stylish ❤❤
"Sorry officer I'm in a Saab I didn't know" lmao
Check engine light on always on. Just like mine 😂