Used 2004 Saab 9-3 Sedan Consumer Reviews
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Best car ever
the only downside of this car is that there's no AWD, which will hopefully be out in 2008. Other than that, I'm in love!
supah fly
its a super duper car
- Aero ConvertibleMSRP: $3,981448 mi away
- Arc ConvertibleMSRP: $3,500513 mi away
- Aero ConvertibleMSRP: $7,994542 mi away
A fun car to drive
This car has lived up to everything I wanted it to. The car is great and the dealership is great. You won't go wrong with this car.
Happy Again
Previously owned 99 9-3. The 04 is a completely different car. Higher levels of refinement from the exterior look to the interior materials and design. This 9-3 has grown up.
SAAB 9-3
Good car. Much better value than a Mercedes or BMW. Could use more power.
Saab 9-3
When I went to the dealership, I was not prepared for what was in store. Just like the commercial states "Those who test drive a SAAB usually buy one." Well, I bought it that night on my first test drive. Handling, performance, comfort & styling... all came together to create a winner.
Love It
So far so good. Great car that seems to get better with age. Real head turner. Style is great.
A true sports car
If you want a cool car thats fun to driver. the SAAB 9-3 is yours.
Really a Premium car
This car is excellent, a litle turbo lag, but if you control the foot, you can made amazing acelerations, is fun to drive, the driver seat is rigth, the stability is correct, the sensations is like a airplane without wings, you feel that you are drive a premium car.
Saab 9-3 2004 model
This is actually my first car purchased on my own since entering college and I think it was one I will not regret. I test drove other vehicles in this price range and Saab had to be the best in my opinion. Even performed better than those with 6 cylinders. This automobile is definitely worth the time to be considered. The dealership I bought the car (Ken Batchelor)from in San Antonio made the car buying experience even better. I hope all Saab dalerships caer to the customer the way these guys do.
Beemers are as common as mosquitos!!!!
Driving the Saab for 1 month now and couldn't say a bad thing about it. Gas mileage is better then expected. With todays gas prices, this was very important to me. Good power and great gas mileage. Classy car with lots of standard features which you will pay extra for in competitors. Ex.. Leather, ABS, Stability + Traction Control.
Watch Out!!!
Had for 3 months,no problems..now its one after the other. Have a noise coming from the front axle that the dealer still cant diagnose have been in 7 times still with no success. I have had the parking brake lock on me 4 times, twice i had to get it towed from roadside assitance because of this. I know roadside assistance phone number by memory(not a good thing) There also is a door rattle that the dealer has "fixed" twice with no success. Not what you would expect in a $30k auto. Buy the TSX unless you want to be disappointed.
Impressed with my 1st Saab
Driving this car in sunny Florida can be summed up in a few words: Quality built car that is fun to drive and eye catching. I am totally satisfied with my first Saab. This car gives you more for the buck. The performance and ride is first class and not to many on the road gives you an edge over the next "common joe".
Saab versus Volvo
This is my first Saab. Have Volvos and love them. Saab 9-3 is so far a really good car. I considered the Volvo S-40 2004 but went for the Saab 9-3 Linear with extras. It's more care physically and with more goodies. The car is fast and quiet (under 3000rpm at 90mph) with stable ride and good road holding. Turbo reacts quicky and smoothly. Great interior with good build.
Turbo for Breakfast
My second Saab. First was 1986 900S. I was afraid the GM take-over would downgrade. But to my surprise, the more I drive it, the more I enjoy the ride. The dealer gave me $5K off the price after a bit of dickering. My Accord friends love the ride, design and performance(I own two hondas too). Impressed with Synthetic Oil only design--let's me know the auto manufacturers are finally acknowledging it's superiority.
Super Saabs
I love my new Saab 9-3 Linear sedan. It has great pick up and looks elegant. Prior to this car, I had a Saab 900 for many years. They just keep getting better. Saabs are a fantastic alternative to Mercedes Benz and BMW without the higher price tag. It is incredibly fun to drive and super comfortable.
New SAAB owners 1 month review
This is a surprisingly good car. The man-transmission w/2t engine is very impressive. Getting after 2,000 miles,29.2mpg. The comfort level is high & base options are impressive, esspecially the 3 yrs scheduled maintenance and great Incentive and dealer that we worked with (Joe P). I compared it too: Passat TDI(ok car,w/nice options,Auto-stick is ok,driving in auto showed major Turbo lag though).No deal since most dealers in town were hard pressed to take $500 off sticker,Mercedes C320Sedan(option packages-over priced),Audi A4-no response from dealer via email,Mazada 6-boring ride to me,Acura TSX-only could get $500 off.
Excellent car!!
This is a wonderful car to drive and own. I have 17k miles and only been to the dealer for regular services (no repairs!!) This is my second Saab I've owned and I haven't been dissapointed yet with them.
A great car
A great car for the price. Fun to drive. Very smooth ride all speeds. I was at 110 and it felt like I was going 60 mph! Great acceleration on the Linear. You must get the upgrade wheels. (16" Pirelli's with the 10 spoke rims) They make a huge difference.
Saab 's GO GO GO
This vehicle corners very well, feels very well in the cockpit, and when the turbo kicks in . . . it goes fast enough to get to through the traffic holes. I never thought, I would ever drive this car, but after 1 drive . . . well I don't encourage my wife to drive this at all. Good job goes to the designers!
Saab star
My 2003 9-3 ARC is my second Saab. Compared to my 2001 9-3SE, it is quieter and more solid than my 2001. The seats are more substantial and the tires are not low proflie and are larger. I do miss the hatchback that I had on my 2001 though. I also think the sound system or speakers in the 2001 sounded better. I miss the weather radio feature that I had in my 2001. Perhaps it's the increased sound proofing in the 2003. I am looking forward to seeing the SUV model that will be introduced in a couple months. I am glad I have chosen Saab vehicles.
not the same Saab story!
I've had my 9-3 Arc for about 8 months. It's been the best car I've ever had! A couple minor glitches with the power window, but who's perfect? It's fast, it's reliable, and it rocks for road trips!
2004 9-3 Arc
Great car! Fun to drive and comparable to the 3 series BMW. The ride is extremly smooth.
love it despite the problems
let me start with problems.sid showed gear box malfunction which was cleared by software update.the car stalled once !! while driving which again was solved by a software update.gear slip from 3 to 4 ,another software update .looks like this car needs more software updates than windows !!!!.few months ago car wouldnt start ,showed immobilizer failure (?),wouldnt jumpstart either ,dealer said dead battery !!!.go figure.on the positive side i love to drive this car ,fun and sporty .safe and stable at high speeds.although iam a little bit worried as my warranty period is running out.
Steps in the right direction
I love the body restyling. I actually have the Vector model. It's really fun to drive. I wish that Saab had taken a few more steps in redesigning the interior. I would like more brushed aluminum trim on the dash and the pedals to make the car even sportier.
Linear is a good bang for the buck
Very nice everyday driver. With a $ 4000.00 GM rebate + dealer dicount my $ 28,500.00 Linear came to under $ 23,000.00 which is an outstanding value. The Aero is nice, but at $30K+, there's better choices.
Swedish bombshell
I have owned my 9³ for seven months now. It been really good to me. I have had some rattles that were fixed when I brought the car in the dealer. The engine is the strongest part of the 9³. SAAB has hit a homerun with the 2.0T. The engine has a large powerband. If you are driving in the city or on the freeway. The power is always there. My last five cars were VW/Audi's. I traded in my 2003 A4 for the 9³. I had to get use to the Swedish layout of the car. I think every button and knob is in the right place. I get way more compliments with the 9³, then I ever got with the A4. I love how there is not a 9³ on every corner like the BMW and Audi.
Noisy Car
This car has 16,000 miles and has been in the shop 7 times for clunks, rattles,brake and electronic problems. It is a "rattle-trap" for a car and the servicers can never figure out the problem.
I sold my 3 series...
and bought the 9-3 Aero. I am pleased with my purchase and the Saab dealership. Looked at another 3 and a Benz C320 before the Saab. Listen folks, if I acted anything like the people selling the beemers or benz when I was a beemer owner, I'm sorry. The Saab is in the same class without all the hooplah.
First new Saab
Leased this car for my wife in Feb. 2003. She is in love with this car. It has every bell and whistle for her and looks awesome. We had room to negotiate with our dealer and came away very satisfied. The car handles as well as any car I've ever been in. This is a keeper when the lease is up.
Henri's joy
Fun to drive.Great audio system and nice interior eguipment and seats with heating system.great brakes
I love my car!
The 9-3 is truely one of the best cars in the class. It is a well balanced vehicle that does most everything well. It is not the best at any on thing, but it does poorly in nothing. To truly understand this car, it must be driven.
Linear 9-3 Saab with Touring Package
New to Saab family and so far loving it. Former Volvo S70 owner and glad that got rid of it. We looked at BMW, VW and Volvo, but nothing came close to the performance and look of the car. I love the fact that there are not many out there. Unlike BMW's. This Saab is great to drive especially when cornering. Exterior is beautiful and smooth. The door handles can be painted or made of non-fading plastic. My 9-3 has the Touring Package upgrade with the 17" wheels which should be a must! I do have the clunking noise when backing of the driveway or just starting to roll when starting the car, according to Saab technician, the noise is due to the self adjusting brake and anti-lock brake system.
Blown away
This car is just like they say in the commercial. If you drive it, you'll want to buy it. I wasn't even looking at cars, let alone Saabs! I wanted to get another truck. But I saw the price that they start at and their look is impeccable and nobody has them. So I test drove it, and I was sold. It drives like a dream, handling every nook of the road with ease. The turbo gives it the performance anyone needs. And since not that many people have them, I'm looked at like I'm driving a ferrari.
Tight Car!!!
This is my third week owning a Saab Linear. It has been wonderful. Handles great, nice power especially at the 2nd and 3rd gear. I like it as much as my old Beamer. Nice car overall.
I cant belive
I'm still amazed thats its 4 banger. The handeling & acceleration are superb.
Great Car
Great Car! Better than the MB Class in the wet.
Money Well Spent
The Saab 9-3 is a crown jewel. After driving this car for the past 6 months, i will never drive anything else. It was designed with the driver in mind (especially the ARC). This car is the perfect balance between a sports car and luxury sedan. The sound system is amazing, acceleration is superb, and interior very sleek. I've had the car for the past 6 months and am also impressed with the handling in poor weather. As for safety, the car is top ranked. Trust me when I tell you that you'll get what you pay for with this car.
Oooh baby!
Just picked this up a month ago. Got a great deal and a lot of options (because of a great cash rebate). Normally would buy a stick but my wife will also drive it occasionally and I got the automatic. The engine purs and the turbo adds lots of push at low end. Who needs the stick? Braking is great. Stereo is fine. Auto driver seat is very responsive and comfortable. Interior is quiet. Dealership is very helpful. Just got a 30 day check- up, they put on my plates, checked the systems, washed the car, vacuumed the interior. It's new all over again. Oooh Baby!
Worthless OnStar
Had the car for two months. If you live in the Northeast, you must buy snow tires. Car would not go forward without them. The OnStar does not work. The problems is the system is analog only and the towers now send digital. I cannot use the phone feature so contacted Saab who will not do anything about it. They keep putting the blame on the dealership and the dealership on Saab. Radio is cheap and not modern. Must keep the button down for memory seats to work. The car is overpriced for what you get. I will not buy another Saab. Saab does not care about their customers.
We love the Saab Arc
Car delivered in flawless condition. No problems at 2K miles. Performance with 210 hp engine is fantastic; torque peaks at 2500 rpm and you feel it. Awesome brakes like BMW, but better and vented all around. Ride and handling with the 16" wheels is just right, not too soft (15") or hard (17" on highway). Interior is like Swedish furniture; Arc is much nicer than the Linear. The Arc is a bargain compared to competitors; looks great in black/parchment. It has more equipment and space than others, and costs much less given the equipment we got. Dealer gave us a great price, treated us very well. Economy is better than the others at 20/30.
This car rocks
We test drove everything and without a doubt the Saab Arc was the most fun to drive.
So far, so good
A great looking sports sedan that performs well. Has all the amenities of its more expensive competitors. I've only had it a short time, but so far I love it. You can't beat the lease deals Saab has right now -- I'm saving over $100/month vs. a comparable Audi A4 or BMW. It's even cheaper than an Acura.
love it
love this car, have had it for a month, well built, better than I thought it would be when I purchased. Only problem is that I wish I had considered Saabs prior to now. Have been driving MB E320, prior to that BMW's & Volvo's - this is the most fun drive of all of them.
Linear Saab
Happy with this car so far. Smooth ride, classy exterior. Upgraded 16 inch wheels are distinctive.
Turbo Power
Just bought a '04 Aero and I love it! Owned a Camry and Maxima test drove the 330i, TL, G35, IS300, and I bought the 9-3. This is car is FAST, fun to drive, looks GREAT, and not found on every corner. The 330i is a great car but the 9-3 won me over. The car takes off like a jet, and before you know it you're flying. It is very easy to be doing 85-100 MPH without noticing it. Once you drive this car, you will want to buy it. I can't say enough good things about this car and how much fun it is to drive!!
More unique than a BMW
Look like a BMW, handles almost as well but you won't seen another at the stop light.
First Time Saab Owner
This is my first Saab....which I've only had for 3 weeks, but have put over 3000 miles on it already. It performs better than any other sedan that I've driven and is as much fun to drive as my exotic sports car. I'm amazed at the fun factor. The standard tires are inadequate for the winter climate....so I've already had to change out tires. And even with winter-appropriate tires, the car doesn't handle as well as I expected in snowy conditions. (afterall, Vail and Aspen both use Saabs for their police vehicles.)
Not like all the others
I was in the market for a "near luxury" sedan to replace my 98 Audi A4. Since the new Audi A4 3.0 is close to, and can exceed $40k, I looked elsewhere. My parents had a Saab in the early 80s and I always liked its uniqueness. The 9-3 Aero definitely has Saab uniqueness. It is surprisingly quick for a 4 cylinder, and the turbo lag is quite minimal. I particularly like the styling and I am glad Saab did away with the hatchback. The interior is very comfortable and the car handles very well. The suspension is stiff, so if you want a softer ride get the Arc.
I love to drive this car!!!!!
I had a short list of the Saab 9-3, Jaguar x-type 3.0, Acura TSX, and Audi A4 3.0. I found the Saab had better performance, better handling, nore confortable interrior, and a better value for the dollar. This car is so high tech ...I'll need a college level class to fully utilize all of it's technology. I am enjoying it more and more with every mile.