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Used 2001 Saab 9-3 Consumer Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
68 reviews

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5 out of 5 stars

The 9-3 SE is near perfect

bpesh, 02/09/2004
2001 Saab 9-3 SE 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful

I purchased this new, chose this over the 325 and A4, and never regretted the decision... 205 hp and a functional 5- door. My only complaint is that the interior plastics are GM-cheap and I'm concerned the leather may not hold up as well as it did on as my Audi. I've recently upsized the tires to 215s T/As and wow! the grip. Reliable and fun. And the best dealership experience this side of Lexus.

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5 out of 5 stars

VROOM with ROOM

goosaab, 01/20/2006
2001 Saab 9-3 SE 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Excellent car, VERY stylish. Good handling and comes with enough space to actually be useful. Highly recommend it. The cars looks better than most in its class.

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4.38 out of 5 stars

Happy 2nd Saab driver

QWK SWD from Md, 03/10/2006
2001 Saab 9-3 SE 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful

"Smooth" is how my 26 yr. old son describes the drive. Excellent metallic paint, even after 5 yrs. Interior stylish yet reserved, high quality but a bit snug for 4 on board. 31mpg on the highway. Distinctive; you don't get lost among the Japanese nameplates on the road. Well built, very reliable. It doesn't break. An '06 9-5 next?

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3.88 out of 5 stars

They were right

crabby kaiser, 04/23/2006
2001 Saab 9-3 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful

I can't say I wasn't warned. Other Saab owners had suggested that the car would be quirky and that Saab dealers are generally horrible and expensive. They were right !!! The check/engine electronic portion of the car is horrible. The engine is great and the handling is terrific. The biggest knock against this vehicle is trying to get it fixed/serviced. This alone will keep me from buying another Saab period. Fun to drive, great gas milage won't make up for the persistant problems with the direct ignition cassette (now part of a recall) and the terrible service from numerous dealers.

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5 out of 5 stars

Saab's Are Awesome

yertle, 03/10/2004
2001 Saab 9-3 SE 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Saabs are very good cars and are very fast. They are also very comfortable too.

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4.75 out of 5 stars

i LOVE THIS CAR

TOYOTAMAN28, 04/02/2004
2001 Saab 9-3 Viggen 2dr Convertible (2.3L 4cyl Turbo 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful

BUY ONE, YOU WON'T REGRET IT!

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4.75 out of 5 stars

Dependable and fun

tstenger, 06/10/2004
2001 Saab 9-3 SE 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful

I have been very happy with my 9-3, especially for mountain driving in Colorado. The turbo provides plenty of power on steep hills and the acceleration is very smooth. The suspension is good, but could be a bit stiffer for my tastes. The car is fantastic in the snow (especially with snow tires on it). The interior has held up well and is showing negligable wear.

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5 out of 5 stars

Well built car thats fun to drive!

Axis72, 06/21/2004
2001 Saab 9-3 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful

This is a very well built car that is loads of fun to drive. The 4cyl turbo is so smooth one can hardly tell its a 4cyl. The exterior design is beautiful and is different from all the "Cookie Cutter" cars out there. I have had VW's, Audi's, Mazda's, and Toyota's and I would rank this one up there in quality. My car has 40k miles and has had no issues.

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4.88 out of 5 stars

Gonna' Buy It From Lease

esfoad, 07/29/2004
2001 Saab 9-3 SE 2dr Convertible (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful

We leased this vehicle new. We average 12000 miles per year. It's been a joy. Completely reliable, 23 avg mpg since new with 75% local and 25% highway miles. Our dealership is responsive and wonderful to work with. We looked at the new model and while it's impressive, we feel that the residual value of our vehicle makes it too attractive not to buy.

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4.5 out of 5 stars

Uniquely Saab- Seattle

josh, 02/08/2005
2001 Saab 9-3 SE 2dr Convertible (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful

We have enjoyed this car for 4 years. We have never had a problem and don't expect one.We drive it in all weather coditions- No Problem. No better investment then owning a ragtop in Seattle. We are considering replacing it with a new 9.3 conv.. Dealership experience has been exceptional. I scratch my head wondering why Saabs depreciate as they do. They are a great buy for the money.If you are a educated and responsible owner and service your car appropriately, as we have, then Saab is your car.

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3.5 out of 5 stars

Love to hate it

paulsmith94065, 01/12/2007
2001 Saab 9-3 SE 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful

I won't buy a Saab again. The only reason I bought it was the unique style. I bought it new and it has been in the shop MANY MANY times. Now that it is out of warranty, its becoming quite annoying, but it's paid for, and the repairs are cheaper than a car payment. Saab has lost its style. The new ones look just like Audi and BMW. Too bad, unique style was the only thing going for it. Anyway, beware if you buy. Many quirky problems, hard to find & expensive repair shops. Oh, and the car really depreciates which is another reason I haven't ridded myself of it yet... can't bear to take the loss. I would only recommend this car if you have a reliable car to drive while its in the shop!

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4.25 out of 5 stars

2001 9-3 2.0 turbo 4 dr base model

JT, 02/24/2007
2001 Saab 9-3 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Mine has 72500 km/45000 miles. Recently needed almost CDN$900 in front suspension work. Recent problems led to software upgrade for throttle body, dealer warns if problem recurs, vehicle will need new throttle body (cost over CDN$1000 at dealer pricing). Ignition Discharge Module replaced on recall. Various valves and hoses replaced. An oxygen sensor failed around 40000 km. Driver's door handle mechanism failed twice. Interior squeaks. Some pixels no longer light on information display. One headlight wiper motor failed. Blower motor for heater replaced. Received letter from Saab advising 8 year warranty coverage for engine failure due to oil sludge provided certain conditions are met.

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4.88 out of 5 stars

Saab 9-3 Convertible

tsomers1, 04/02/2003
2001 Saab 9-3 SE 2dr Convertible (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful

I've driven this vehicle for 25 months, just under 18,000 miles. The fit and finish were flawless; I have not had any non-routine maintenance performed. This car handles very well in turns, has a solid "quality" feel, carries lots of people and gear while retaining a small sportscar look. Great sound system, comfortable seats, excellent top.

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5 out of 5 stars

I hate cars but I love my Saab!

mcvolvo, 02/27/2003
2001 Saab 9-3 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful

I love my car.

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5 out of 5 stars

Perfect more than 2 years

Sviden, 06/03/2003
2001 Saab 9-3 SE 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful

I own this SAAB for more than 2 years and so far the reliability of the car was PERFECT without a single fix for more than a 2 year. The ride and Handling is outstanding especially the low RPM High Torque which kicks at his Maximum in as low as 1900 RPM!!! High Speed handling is also fantastic. Don't need to mention the breathtaking Stereo which is old Saab tradition. There are a lot other features which I like. To make the story short - This is one Fantastic Car.

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3.38 out of 5 stars

Worst car ever

stacy, 04/11/2008
2001 Saab 9-3 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful

I purchased a used Saab that had 35,000 miles when I bought it. In a 2 yr. period it has had approx. $7,000 in engine work done on it and the problem is still not fixed. It doesn't matter how many bells and whistles a car has if it wont run. I am not sure what kind of aircraft this car was born from but I would not want to fly in it. My advice is run, run far away!

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3.25 out of 5 stars

Saab never again! Maybe a BMW

SergioC, 05/25/2008
2001 Saab 9-3 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful

First the positive on this car. This is a fun car to drive except to the shop or dealing with GM. The turbo charged went bad at 65,000 miles. GM customer service is the worse I ever dealt with it. Now it will cost me over 1,700 dollars on repairs since GM do not want to knowledge of the problem with the turbo charger that it should not gone bad. I am finally give up on this piece of junk and never will buy another GM or SAAB. If you think to buy a SAAB, please reconsider that it's a GM product now not a SAAB.

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4.25 out of 5 stars

2001 Viggen

jay smith, 02/11/2003
2001 Saab 9-3 Viggen 2dr Hatchback (2.3L 4cyl Turbo 5M)
0 of 1 people found this review helpful

Simply a great car.

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