Comments on: Review: 2008 Saab 9-3 2.0T sedan

By: sirgeo

sirgeo — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 04:36:26 +0000

Just bought a 2008 Saab 9-3 2.0T yesterday. The dealer knocked 8.5 K off of the MSRP. The only options on it were 17″ wheels and the cold weather pkg. I was looking at the Cobalt SS but I couldn’t get over the poor build quality despite the fact that it has Brembos, Limited Slip Diff and awesome performance. The Cobalt had a sunroof that was not aligned correctly and squeaked upon opening and closing and a dashboard that had dangling fascia and a few rattles here and there. If I were still in my “Tuner” years I would probably have gone with the Cobalt

The Saab has longevity written all over it. I think it’s perfect for my cross-country trips to Boston.

The ride quality is excellent, well dampened but firm. I had to turn the speed alarm on because it feels like it’s crawling at 80 MPH. Excellent road manners on the freeways around Detroit, even the choppy ones. Very little wind or road noise.

At 26.5 K out the door, I think it’s well worth the money. We’ll see how I feel about it in a year or three. But for now… It’s a recommended buy.

By: Vosotros

Vosotros — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 13:34:52 +0000

You guys don’t seem to know what a clamshell hood is. Andrew is right. It’s a hood that bisects the top of the fenders like a clam shell would. It curves down at the edges. The old 900s had a clamshell, the 9-5 has a clamshell and the new 9-3 has a clamshell. The old 9-3 (03-06) did not have a clamshell hood.

A clamshell hood doesn’t have to be hinged at the front like the old 900 hoods did (or the E30s).

By: JohnnyBlazE

JohnnyBlazE — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 13:23:41 +0000

Ahh inline6, my ‘90 E30 3 series has ye olde hood as per your 89 900 would have had!

By: audifan

audifan — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 12:59:33 +0000

boaring the saab designers keep on producting the same car,over and over again, good car but for people who think they are slightly better off and better than everyone else, has no character

By: amac

amac — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 05:48:09 +0000

Yawn… looks like a ‘98 Corolla.

By: beatusmongous

beatusmongous — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 04:44:57 +0000

I’m loving that interior. Very nice. Hmm… I might go down and test one of these out.

By: global_lightning

global_lightning — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 03:57:33 +0000

Saab’s involvement with GM has definitely been a mixed blessing. Yes, without GM Saab would be history. However, it’s lost a lot of its character as they’ve absorbed more and more of the GM parts-bin.
Another problem is they seem to lose marketshare to other GM brands. Saab continues to bump against Cadillac, especially when Caddy’s expanding into Europe and they share the same dealerships in the U.S. Also it’s very ironic Saab developed the Ecotec yet doesn’t have the awesome LNF in their cars. Instead you can get it in a Chevy commuter car.
Last problem is their cars are getting OLD. The 9-5 has been around since Clinton was president, and the 9-3 won’t get replaced until next decade. In a market segment where 4 year old models are considered obsolete, this is unexcusable.
Overall, Saab is the only GM brand that really interests me. However, they really need to get back into their old form and bring out some new sheetmetal soon if they want to survive.

By: DeansterTJ

DeansterTJ — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 03:55:59 +0000

Good review Andrew. I never knew the Cobalt SS and 9-3 shared the same engine roots. I have to hand it to GM, they’re capable of some very decent stuff. Why can’t the interior design cues from the CTS and Saabs make their way around all their offerings (ie. Chevy, Pontiac)?

By: maxcar

maxcar — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 02:21:30 +0000

motor and engine are fully interchangeable in the remaining english speaking world. it’s just americans that have this specificity.

By: saabyurk

saabyurk — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 02:09:59 +0000

F3INT))AP3X:
Funny thing, I just looked up “motor” on Merriam Webster and it says “internal combustion engine” among other things. Who knew. Hey, maybe that’s why we have terms like “motoring press” and why the automobile is called a motor Vehicle.

Andrew:
Great unbiased review. You’re now on my favorites list. Thanks.

By: bigp

bigp — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 00:59:31 +0000

mice but needs better interior

By: Fromes

Fromes — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 23:51:44 +0000

hey, if you get one of these for about 25 grand with the employee discount I’d say thats about the best deal for any car out right now

By: F3INT))AP3X

F3INT))AP3X — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 21:51:12 +0000

“F3INT))AP3X… ah, semantics. In a strict sense, you’re right. But the motoring press has made using the two terms interchangeably a common practice. You know what we meant. Now go on enjoying LeftlaneNews.”

Ignorance is bliss I suppose, next thing you know we’ll be using sink as a mirror term for toilet.

By: Andrew

Andrew — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 20:22:47 +0000

inline6, Saab USA refers to it as a clamshell hood. Admittedly, it’s more of a pseudo-clamshell than your 900 had, but it still splits the fender horizontally like a clamshell should. The top of the fender is the hood.

Regardless, it still covers the engine/motor/hamster on wheel underneath!

By: inline6

inline6 — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 20:06:57 +0000

It’s also worth noting that your picture of the engine bay clearly shows that the hood opens the conventional way.

By: inline6

inline6 — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 20:06:13 +0000

Right, but Saab has a MUCH higher take rate with manuals than anyone else. Anyone happen to know what it might be?

Also, Andrew, what about that claim that the new 9-3 has a clamshell hood? It doesn’t. I know. I opened one on display at the local auto show because I thought it would be clamshell style like my ‘89 900’s is. It wasn’t.

By: RaineMan

RaineMan — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 20:04:03 +0000

I think the trend away from manuals is sad. Give me a clutch any day.

By: Andrew

Andrew — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 19:58:02 +0000

F3INT))AP3X… ah, semantics. In a strict sense, you’re right. But the motoring press has made using the two terms interchangeably a common practice. You know what we meant. Now go on enjoying LeftlaneNews.

RaineMan… That’s pretty interesting. I’d guess that GM tapped into the Saab team’s experience with turbocharging. Glad to see that global development of market-specific models is alive and well!

johnnycanuck… We get what we’re given out of a manufacturer’s press fleet. Usually these fleets represent what the market buys. Ten years ago, about 50 percent of Saab’s sales were manuals; that’s no longer true.

By: brassmonkey

brassmonkey — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 19:39:41 +0000

Saab sure knows how to make ugly cars.

By: johnnycanuck

johnnycanuck — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 19:38:07 +0000

Andrew or melias: at the risk of sounding like a broken record, why do you rarely seem to test the manual version of vehicle that offers a 3 pedal setup? If I’m not mistaken, the 9-3 2.0T comes standard with a pretty slick 6 speed. I’m guessing you don’t have a choice in the matter.

By: RaineMan

RaineMan — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 19:32:50 +0000

Now here I’m gonna show how much of an Ecotec nerd I really am. GM’s line of forced-induction Ecotecs (LSJ and LNF included) were actually developed by the boys at Saab. The LSJ in my Cobalt is actually stamped “SAAB” right on the block. So while the 2.0T may share components with the regular Ecotecs… it was brought to perfection in Sweden.

By: F3INT))AP3X

F3INT))AP3X — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 19:21:52 +0000

“The 9-3 gets a heavily revised variant of GM’s Ecotec line of motors.”

“Drive a 9-3 and a Chevrolet Cobalt SS (also turbocharged, albeit direct-injected and featuring variable valve timing) back-to-back and you’d never know the motors were related.”

“You’re a Saab purist disheartened by the GM-sourced motor and platform.”

You know for a site that touts itself as source for automotive information and news, it sure isn’t confidence building when you call an ENGINE a MOTOR. A motor runs purely on electricity and an engine runs on a combustible fuel such as petrol but I am sure you guys knew that already that’s why you report the news and not us eh?

By: melias

melias — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 18:50:06 +0000

Down here in West Palm Beach, the local Saab dealer is selling 9-3 2.0T models in the area of $25,665 or so. (Part of the GM Employee Discount program)

By: RaineMan

RaineMan — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 18:06:00 +0000

Andrew –> Thanks. It’s not a bad review overall… I’ve always liked the looks of a Saab… and you can’t go wrong with a turbo-4… they’re just a little too expensive for my tastes… and other people’s too from the looks of it. I drive right by the Saab dealer every day on the way to work… and it’s always the same cars sitting in there.

By: howsmydriving

howsmydriving — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 17:54:54 +0000

What is the sound of one hand clapping?
If Saabs vanished, who would miss them?

By: ktulu

ktulu — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 17:22:12 +0000

I wish i had a fgrirlfriend named Inga

GM shgoois keep sam at ards distance.

the 9-7x is an abomination. In this Oba,ma nation.
Just 145 days until the Obamster scends 2 his throne!

da BMW 3-Series, Audi A4 and Mercedes-Benz C-Class R all good cars, as R the Volvo S40/V50 models
Acura sucks
da Subaru Legacy is real nice but has 0 brand cachet. Is it related 2 da 9-3/

I like cheap vodka.

I like Saab key placement

This review wants 2 make me buy this car. Makes me want 2 buy this car.
I think there’s only 1 Saab dealer in my state

By: inline6

inline6 — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 16:58:55 +0000

I definitely think that the 9-3’s recent updates (’07 interior, ‘08 exterior, ‘09 mechanicals) make it an incredible car. However, one thing disappoints me about the new hood. Contrary to what this article said, the 9-3’s hood is not a clamshell design. It’s hinged at the back, just like most cars’ are. They just gave it a wrapover effect to make it LOOK like the classic 900.

By: Vosotros

Vosotros — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 16:37:15 +0000

Enjoyed the review, thanks. Seems like LLN has some of the most fair but not damning reviews on the ‘net these days… Mayer Ray: From what I’ve heard (I’ve been kinda contemplating buying one), the 2007+ 9-3s with the GM radio are way, way more reliable. They got rid of the fiber optic wiring in the 03-06s. They had a cool radio setup before (I prefer it to the GM radio), but from what I hear, if your CD player went out, your sunroof would stop working and so would you right blinker (etc).

I’m waiting to see what they’ll do with the next-generation 9-5 first. I want a 9-3 Sport Combi wagon… but I’d wait to see the 9-5 wagon. My little one knows Daddy likes the wagons and he’s constantly pointing them out when we see them. “wagon, daddy!”

By: mayer_ray_nagin

mayer_ray_nagin — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 16:28:59 +0000

I like the 9-3s quite a bit but I still have reservations about reliability as well as service availability.

By: Andrew

Andrew — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 16:27:18 +0000

RaineMan, I’ve made a clarification in the text. The point is that while GM shares parts between various domestic and European lines, the commonality doesn’t necessarily water down the character of a brand as much as many critics might think. Thanks for your commentary!

By: RaineMan

RaineMan — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 16:06:57 +0000

Just for the record… comparing the 9-3’s old-style turbo Ecotec to the LNF just isn’t fair. The 9-3 lacks direct injection and VVT… which makes a huge difference in performance.