Used 2003 Saab 9-3 Sedan Consumer Reviews
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sweet
2 weeks old love it
NO REGRET
I can go on an' on what made me buy a Saab, but I don't want to take all day...Bottom line: I LOVE THIS CAR !!! My previous cars were Acuras and Bimmers and I used to have a 900 turbo hatchback in my teenage years and that car was a blast so when I first saw the pictures and specs. of the new Saab 9-3 last summer in Europe I thought:"give it a chance"...and BINGO.
- SE ConvertibleMSRP: $4,995133 mi away
- SE ConvertibleMSRP: $3,495318 mi away
- SE ConvertibleMSRP: $11,500465 mi away
Lets hope it keeps up
I plan on racking up miles fast so it will be interesting to see how she holds together. I plan on being in it for the long haul, so we shall see how we look in after six years and 150,000+ miles. The first 500 miles have been a delight and a refreshing change from the 3-series BMW I traded in. There is a learning curve to go through with the many functions, but it is user friendly. I suggest learning these functions in your driveway and not on the road Thus far the experience has been great.
So Sad
My first luxury car loved it but it was in the shop every couple of weeks for the first four months. Undiagnosed stalling, clutch lost pressure, wouldn't restart. Dealership tinkered and replaced the turbo. After almost a year it still has stalling/restarting problem. A beautiful piece of art but I need a dependable ride. Fun to drive but I can get C-class Mercedes for the same - I'm out of here when lease is up.
Read this before you buy!!
This is my second review of this car on this forum. I'm now up to 8200 miles and the car has spent a total of 7 days at the dealership for different electronic glitches and engine issues. Also, I got into a minor fender-bender and it took five weeks to repair because Saab couldn't provide a tie- rod. Needless to say, parts can be difficult to get for this fairly new model. By far, the least reliable car I have ever owned. I took off the standard 16" Pirelli tires because they were terrible and upgraded to 17" Sumitomos. Big improvement. Please email me if you'd like any other info. on this model. There are much better cars out there.
awesome
new styling and very fast. I love the way this car performs.
State of Independence
I have owned this car for two months now. I love it. It has plenty of power in any gear. The exterior styling is gorgeous. The leather seats feel like butter. The car handles great at any speed. SAAB has done a excellent job designing and building this car.
100% Mistake
This car seems to have spent as much time being fixed as being driven. It is now in the shop for oil leaking from a vacuum pump and a broken bolt that was supposed to hold the sway bar in place. Just replaced the blower motor for the heater two days earlier. In the time we've owned it, we must have gone to the dealership at least 20 times. All I can say is if you ever buy a Saab voluntarily, you have just made the worst mistake in your car buying life.
Excellent SAAB!
Ive had my 9-3 Linear with the launch package (inc 16" wheels with Pirelli P6s) for about a week and I like it more with every drive. I had a 2000 9-3 convertible and this is such a fundamentally different car: outstanding handling (sans the awful torque steer of the old car), excellent turbo boosted acceleration, nice redesign on the interior, top- notch fit and finish, loaded with technology, and handsome looks. With the incredible financial incentives offered by SAAB, one has to consider this car. Despite what some of the old guard thinks, this car is true to the SAAB tradition of building incredibly safe, well-built cars that are fun to drive.
New Saab 9-3
If you are like me wondering wich car to get ( a Passat, a Volvo S40 or a Audi A4) do not get confussed this is the car.It has an agile response with a steel ,but sensitive feel of total control.The CBC, ESP,ReAxs & ABS work together as a symphony.Beware: this car is highly addictive.Almost a bet of you try it,you buy it.... Only minor:Get the 150 infotainment system (at minimum,you won´t regret,the 75 is not good as the car) if you get the 16¨ alloy wheels expect to get a 35 psi front and 32 psi rear wheels at least( making it little bumping),but who cares if you are having a car like this!!!
2003 Saab 9-3
I love my Saab 9-3. It is solidly built, with no shakes or rattles. Pick up is quick thanks to the turbo. Fit and finish is top notch and equivalent to BMW and Audi. Interior design is such that you feel comfortable and not crampt. Service is top notch, a step above my previous Japanese and American service experiences. My 3 year old said it best, "Cool car Dad...I like it"
Great car
I have had my Vector for nearly 5 months and 11000 miles. It handles great, has wonderful acceleration and great style
buying 9-3 linear in one month
I just got home from test driving the 2003 Saab 9-3 linear. I was very impressed with the drive and comfort. I was receiving plenty of looks from good looking girls on and around my University campus. This car made me feel good when driving. I felt more confidence within myself. It's amazing how driving a car can make you feel, and the Saab 9-3 made me feel great. I am currently an Audi owner. For the price the Saab is a much better deal. Looking forward to hearing other's comments!
Likes to visit its birth place often
The first five months were great with only the On-star malifunctioning. I have recently experienced a dead battery, two oil leaks, static in the radio, sticking window, and transmssion issues. I am paying for a car that is at the dealership more than leaking in my driveway. Before you rate this car a "10" for reliability, drive it for 10000 miles. I hope you feel the same way. The best comment I can say is that it looks good in the dealership's lot when waiting for the next problem to be fixed.
Quick Review
Simply put--this is by far the best GM sedan on the market. Moreover, when I matched it against the stiff entry- level luxury class, it was by far the best value for the luxury offered. But,I did have the GM discount--a whopping 3400.
Nice Car
I've really enjoyed the new 9-3. Very comfortable, lots of features, and a great looking car.
Sporty Fun
Great vehicle. Very fun to drive. Handles extremely well.
'03 Saab 9-3 linear
this car has offered a nice contrast to the 10 year old Camry I have been driving for about just as long a time. The Saab offers a firm ride,excellent handling,only average pick uproads of Ithas plenty of gidde-up after 40m.p.h.as it wants to eat up the roads as they come at you. The brakes aree excellent and the stick 5 speed feels precise with an easy throw. However, off the line, you can't get it out of first soon enough. So far so good, I am happy with my puchase. This car has offered a nice change from the vanila feel of japanese cars. For not a lot of money-I feel I got into the sports sedan category. Let's see about reiliability
Still Get Compliments on the Car
I did have some fairly minor mechanical problems the first year, all of which were covered under warranty--nothing since. The car still turns heads after all this time--people assume I paid a lot more for it than I did. The ride is a little stiff and the model has improved since 2003. I still enjoy it and never had some of the mechanical problems that other '03 owners seem to have encountered. I enjoy driving the car and will probably buy a 9-3 again but hope to be able to keep this one going another few years at least--I don't use it much more than 7,500 miles a year and if I can avoid any major problems expect to hold it until it dies.
Too Much Fun
My Laser Red SAAB 9-3 Vector is an outstanding Sports Sedan, a joy to drive through twisting mountain roads or cruising on the interstate. The car is poised, well balanced, sure footed and nimble, while still delivering a smooth and quiet ride with a sport suspension and 17" wheels. The engine is always happy to rev, but a huge torque band makes high rpms a choice instead of a necessity. The interior is cool, swedish understatement: a designer original for SAAB owners only. Luxury? Yes, but a sleek, modernist luxury, with all the comfort features you could want. The exterior is eye catching, a real head turner with perfect proportions.
THIS CAR IS GREAT!
The new Saab 9-3 is a great car. Its handles wonderfly and I dont have to worry about safety either. It has saftey features out the wazoo, along with all of the performance feature, which really make it a fun car to drive.
Bad Decision
After I purchased my 9-3 I have had nothing but problems with it. I have had to replace the tires twice in 2 years. I only drive it 7500-8000 mi a year. I have had a check engine light come on several times which three Saab dealers can't come to a conclusion on. I have had my power steering shut off while driving with my young sons in the back seat. Other than the MPG and turbo this car is not a good decision to purchase. I WILL NOT be looking at purchasing another Saab anytime soon!
What high hopes......What a mistake!
I searched for a used Saab to replace my 02 Passat and found an '03 9-3 Linear w/Touring Package. The car was beautiful, and had all the difficult to find bells and whistles I was looking for in the Linear. However, as we all know, looks aren't everything. The car has been at the dealer 10 times in 5 months. It takes forever to get parts and the techs are terrible at diagnosing problems. Saab North America could care less about customer service, their reputation, or dealer service standards. Tomorrow, the Saab is going away in favor of the 06 Passat. Word of advice, stay away from used or new Saabs until they start building quality w/ a decent residual
Great Car
Just picked the car up a few weeks ago. Great vehicle. Looks like it's Bye Bye BMW
Blast to drive
I have always wanted a Saab, and finally bought the newly designed 9-3. I could not be happier with the handling, acceleration, comfort, gas mileage and roominess. The main problem has been the computer system. I have had to take it in 4 times in 8 months for computer malfunctions--mostly ONSTAR related. A recall softwear update seems to have fixed this problem, finally. Now my parking brake is hard to release.
Lots for the Money
Leased the ARC model after looking at the Acura TSX and others. Saab is a ton of car for the money. Acura was too bland. The Saab blows the Acura and BMW away in driver information and features. Saab's 210 hp and 221 lb/ft torque make the car feel more like 250hp b/c turbo acceleration. Lag is noticable but present only under 2000rpm, above 2K rpm it is strong. Our's is a week old and Onstar registration of the car is the only issue. Buy an Arc rather than a loaded Linear (cheaper that way). Dealer experience was good and I expect more of the same in the future - all service covered is a plus (not so with Acura).
The opposite of Zeke
Critics calling this car bland need to drive the car first. The new car has barely any turbo lag, unlike the old 9- 3, No torque steer, unlike the horrible torque steer in the previous car. Add in comfortable seats, fresh styling, more interior room for passengers, no body roll , great brakes, better interiors, and improved safety. And it costs thousands less than before. Unless your lifestyle involves carrying 36" TV's on a regular basis, the sedan is useful enough for most. the old 9-3 came in near the bottom in most sport sedan comparisons for a reason. The new 9-3 is a big improvement.
From Slaab To Saaahhhhbbb
Have owned it for 1 week and am so glad. We test drove the BMW, Audi, Honda, anything and everything. This is by far the best for the money. The lease special that Saab ran was one of kind. Like the saying goes "most who test drive a Saab, buy a Saab" and we were one of those.
just average
the 9-3 is OK but I expected better handling and more responsive pickup. i just hope it doesnt wind up in the shop too many times.
Nice low profile sports sedan
After over 3 years and nearly 60,000 miles, I have no complaints about the car other than the poor resale value vs its competition. It handles nicely with the sport pkg, feels safe on the road, looks great in red, and always gets compliments. It has had a few minor electrical glitches but all were fixed under warranty, and one was fixed out of warranty due to a recall. Sure, they're not Hondas, but they do stand behind them. This is just about the safest affordable vehicle on the road when you factor in handling, braking, crash tests, curb weight, airbags, etc. Road noise is a little higher than some luxury brands, but it's not bad. A great used car bargain due to low resale value.
AERODYNAMICS EXTREME
Just can not get out of my car! It is wonderful! My friends who have BMW, Mercedes, and Lexus cars all respect my ride and wants to exchange cars for a day to see what all the hype is all about. Not a chance! They better go get their won. I like a competing growing car with an interesting history. SAAB never dies, literally!
2003 Arc
smooth ride and impressive accelarion with the 3 and 4 gear.
Too much GM -- really a SAAturn 9-3
The SAAB 9-5 is a great car, while the more I live with the 9-3 the more disenchanted I become. The stereo is horrible, it sounds like it is from a Cavalier rental car, and for this reason alone I would NOT recommend this car!!!! This cheapness / poor quality is found throughout the interior, which has the cheap look and feel typical of GM products. Instead of feeling like I'm driving a quality Euro car (as I did with the 9-5) I feel like the 9-3 is a glorified Saturn, or should I say SAAturn!
Unique & Fun to Drive
A distinctive car on the streets of Boston: uncommon, elegant & sporty. Fast but not that fast: Good acceleration, but sometimes slow to take off. Very effective overtaking at 80mph. Handling is precise and very enjoyable to drive. 6M gear box is OK but often grates when changing, even with clutch fully down. No fix from Saab. Mileage is great. And you're talking to the guy who got 17mpg out of a PRIUS. Mental driving = 25mpg/35mpg when cruise set to 65mph coming back from VT. Outstanding. Good in snow with new Continental tires. Clean looking interior design but front door panel inserts rattle. Would I buy again? Yes absolutely. No regrets just fun
THE CAR?
test drove the japanese and german rivals. saab feels and rides better. great acceleration in manual but need to concentrate on first gear. good overall car. some reviewers trash saab, i'm not sure of their validity! i'm a proud owner, test drive it and make your own opinion. ps. other competitiors have similar performance but you have to rev the engine v high, saab has great low end torque!
My new 93 Saab
The SAAB 93 Vector is a very fun car to drive. Just loving it!
The Saab 9.3 is a blast
This is my first Saab and I am impressed. The handling is precise. The car can be pushed into tight corners fast with complete confidence and predictability. The exterior design is pleasing carrying a sense of motion even when parked. The interior materials are a bit disappointing. The plastic fascia on the instrument panel looks cheap. However the seats and door panels are simple and pleasing. But, I bought the car for the engineering and handling, and boy am I happy with what they put into this car. My wife ends up driving it the most. I want one of my own!
Totally New Car
Unlike any Saab I've ever driven. A true premium entry level luxury sedan. Holds its own and then some compared to the BMW 3's and Audi A4.
Never Again
HUGE MISTAKE! Infotainment system has malfunctioned every three to four weeks requiring another visit to the dealership and a vacation day from work since they aren't open evenings or weekends. The parking break release broke, leaving my car stuck and needing a tow. The multifunction computer (distance to empty feature) seldom works. Horn stopped working just 6 months after purchase. I traded in a Passat GLX for this car...I can only plead insanity? Dealership has repaired all malfunctions free of charge and provided me with a loaner (in which I noticed the same problem for which my car was being serviced).
Be careful...
After 1800 miles a new transmission unit was installed because the last one caused a loud grinding noise when shifting into second gear. At around 4300 miles, the same EXACT problem with tranmission happened again. The second time my car was worked on, the problem was actually worse. The problem only occurs when the engine is cold. In addition, "engine malfunction" light has come on twice. Power seats didn't work properly. The radio has messed up. A headlight has gone out. All this with less than 5000 miles.
My poor SAAB
My saab is the funnest car I have ever had. But there is a problem, it has been in the shop one out of every eight days ive had it.
Great car!
I bought this Saab-Certified car about four months ago and am very happy so far. The fuel economy is great, 33 mpg hwy and runs on regular fuel. There is a little more road noise than I care for and the stereo could be better, but these are minor issues. Not quite a 3-series or A4, but priced thousands $ less. Overall, this is a fun to drive car and is very economical. I would buy another one.
Don't buy one Because....
There are many problems with the 9-3 that are unfixable, especially if you live in a hot climate like Texas. The Fuel injextions system has many problems that the manufacturer is choosing to ignore, causing many of these cars to be irrepairable, but these problems are not showing up in statistics b/c the manufacturer is repurchasing the cars from the owners without having "Lemon Law" suits filed. The car looks great and is fun to drive, but don't be fooled. Many problems need to be fixed with this car.
Great, fun car!
I've had my Arc almost 2 months now (3k miles). I love driving it more and more every day. Handling and grip are awesome for a sedan! Acceleration is very brisk, despite slight turbo lag off the line. I love the design, the comfort (great seats!), the on- star system. We'll see about reliability -- suffered minor stalling problem at very low speed, now apparently corrected by dealer reprogramming the computer; homelink garage opener doesn't work (for anyone, apparently); otherwise, no problems. Great value for the money and reeaally fun to drive.
It's Criminal - Worst car decision
Best car to drive Ive had in my 45 years but notoriously unreliable. Its too late for me. My only hope in posting is the satisfaction I get in saving another person the aggravation and expense of owning this beast. I was the sole owner, of a 2003 9-3 Linear. 50K after 5 years, and $2,475 in repairs since 9/07 including both front window regulators, O2 sensor, cabin temp. control malfunction, back door latch malfunction. Add these to the list of failures including radio volume control, sunroof malfunction, headlight assembly and 4 recalls, among others. This is more than a shame. This is downright criminal that an auto manufacturer of a $30K + vehicle
Guess I've been lucky
I've owned this car for 5 years and it's the most comfortable car I've ever driven. And everyone loves how it looks. The biggest negative is the cost of repair. I haven't had many (knock on wood) but those that I've had are expensive. Then again, it's less expensive to than an Audi or BMW. Second big complain is that the wheels are held on my bolts, not lugs. All five need to be at proper torque for the wheel to balance. Also, the wheel hub and bolt are softer metal, so I've already had to re-tap one wheel twice due to electric wrench happy mechanics.
03 9-3, 4th Saab in 20 yrs
Best built, handling Saab ever. How was torque steer and turbo lag finally eliminated? Very cool looking in 16"launch/touring + 5 speed manual. Not a rocket, but plenty fast, and will keep you out of trouble. Larger then expected inside, head room galore (i'm 6'4") and with ease of seat fold down/ski pass through, don't miss the hatch back. Unsure why they aren't selling! Waiting for 2nd key, onstar installation and fixing one minor defect (source button on steering wheel upside down). after 3 weeks, I love the car and value, and unique look. I happily pass scores of A-4's and 3 series bmw's each morning!
Excellent Choice
After looking at all the competition, the Vector is by far the best value and the most fun to drive. It looks great and performs well ahead of more expensive competition.
9-3 Arc
This car is so much fun to drive. I look forward to merging on to highways because the power band is exactly where it should be. That range between 20-80 is exhilirating. The steering on the car is impeccable. It cuts through turns at high speeds with ease. The interior appointments are rich and comfortable. The gadgets are cool. Bottom line is that you'll have your friends drooling and asking you where you got it and how much you got it for. Its a really unique car in its class. Why be like everyone else?
93 is an over-priced Passat!!
I've been shopping for an entry-level lux cars for about two weeks, and just test drove 93 recently. This skinky car shouldn't even be mentioned with the likes of Lexus IS300, BMW 3s, and Audi A4. Simply put, this car lacks power and its interior looks dirt cheap (like GM Cavaliers). To aggrevate my already disappointed experience, its sleazy salesman told me that you CAN NOT get an automatic transmission option without getting Launch package first, and quoted a price of $31K!!?#. I bet those people who gave 93 a 10 pts, didn't even test drove BMW or Lexus, or must be insane! Get Lexus like I did.