Used 2005 Saab 9-3 Sedan Consumer Reviews
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Sold on SAAB!
I have had the SAAB 93 Linear with manual transmission for about six months and I love it. The pick-up is great! The ride is so smooth that crusing at 85-95 is like driving 55. I have to remember to check the speedometer or it would easily break 100. Considered buying a comparable Volvo, but the handling on the SAAB to the Volvo was so dramatic that Volvo was eliminated on the first test drive.
Great sport luxury value
Coming off lease of a MB C230K coupe/hatch, I wanted 4 doors, a real trunk, front or AWD (for winter), and lower price while retaining as much of the sportiness and luxury car experience as possible. In my first few days with the 9-3 Linear, it reminds me a lot of the C240 4Matic that the MB dealer often gave me as a service loaner. My impression of that car always was "not as fun as the C230 but a bit more practical and very livable." Now I have the same benefits for $10k less than a new C240 and $4k less than I paid for the C230 almost 4 years ago. Pricing is more comparable to Accord or Camry but with more safety equipment, free maintenance, premium dealer experience and smaller exterior.
- Arc ConvertibleMSRP: $2,750180 mi away
- Linear ConvertibleMSRP: $3,590835 mi away
- Arc ConvertibleMSRP: $6,995905 mi away
disappointed in build quality & service
Took delivery 11/29/04 - after having the car for 26 days it had to spend 11 days at the dealer for repairs (steering wheel lock). The acceleration is very slow for surface street driving and hesitates badly. Service also a disappointment. Car has been in three times to get reprogramming offered by Saab completed.
Excellent Car
I have owned my 2005 Saab 9-3 Linear for 7 months now and like it more and more everytime I drive it. Usually when I buy a new car, I start to notice little things about it, that I don't like within a month or 2. That has not happened with my 9-3. In fact, the opposite has happened. I have started to find little things about the 9-3 that I like more after driving it awhile. The suspension and handling on this car are unbelievable. My friend owns a 2005 BMW 325i and after driving my car, wishes he had purchased a Saab 9-3 instead. It is a little cramped in the back seat, but is fine for kids. Or 3 adults in back for short drives. I will always buy Saab now and can't wait for my 9-7x.
Fun to Drive
Just drove to Long Island, NY from Michigan and it was great. Handling, driving performance - especially on curves was excellent, a fun car to drive. Gas mileage was 35 mpg.
love it!
This car was purchased during the incentive period of 2005. Had not thought much about a Saab at the time but was unimpressed by any of the GM, Ford, Chrysler cars. The incentives made the Saab affordable for us. Extremely happy with performance and design. This car has brought back the fun in driving. Have almost 4000 miles on the car and like it better each day.
2005 Saab 9-3 Linear
Car drives like it is on rails. Very fast and accelerates quickly. Turns heads everywhere. BMW, Audi, and Mercedes don't compare for the cost.
Solid Design, Excellent Value
This is one great car! I like the engineering, the ride, the sound system, and the overall look of the car. The vehicle comes with a great set of standard safety and security features. The car is truly fun to drive. The car has been truly reliable.
highlands
I bought this car in central Mexico in the city of San Luis we are 6000ft or more over sea level like all the region, in these highlands the turbo shines, my first option was a BMW325 but for ten grand less and a better financial offer I get this one. The testdrive - _ cant believe the huge diference in response between both cars the turbo is fast and has a killer gas milleage. The BMW is more refined but not for the $10k gap in a similarly equipped car. The Saab for me has a very unique personality and performs like an a wolf in a sheep clothes. The quality - I only have a minor problem with a coolant drop that was corrected under warranty, good buy.
Finally Did It
I hesitated to spend so much money for this car but my dealer made it easy with a great lease and, of course, the GM Discount. This car is much better than my old 9-3 even without the hatch back. I don't even miss it. My new Arc has a quality look and feel and power when I need it. And it is a head turner with its Chili Red metallic paint, parchment interior and the 17" wheel option. I should have done this sooner. I look for any excuse to get out and drive it.
Can't stop driving....
I had a great car before - a 300HP V6 Infiniti - and this 210HP inline 4 is more fun. Pure excitement when the turbo kicks in as the power band is just awesome. Wait till you hit about 40 mph and then you will fly - much quicker to 80 mph than one would think! I LOVE the interior - not as Saab as the past - but still Saab, Swedish simplicity and minimalism. I admit to having a few rattles and the brakes emit a squeal in reverse. But my enjoyment of my 9-3 is pure.
Mixed Bag
Excellent gas mileage. 34+mpg on long trip from FL to OH. Electronics seem to fail often: Check engine light for fuel cap, intermittant failure of traction control, poor explination and exceution of customizable features (door/truck lock options, etc.) Local dealer (ohio) very poor service. Great value considering GM Employee Pricing Event when purchased. Suspension too soft, handling plows a little.
9-3 Arc
Overall great value, excellent design, needs a stiffer suspension. Also, has a little lag on the turbo.
After a year. . .still in love
I have had my Saab for a full year and over 24000 miles, and it still performs as if I had bought it last month. My regular commute takes me on highways, city streets, and curvy backroads and my Saab handles each with alacrity, even in poor weather conditions. I am attracted to Saab for the trifecta of great performance, ample trunk space, and comfortable passenger room; it is rare to find all three in a single vehicle! As far as reliability issues, I have had only two minor issues in a year: a torn door gasket (which was my own fault) and a faulty sensor on the external temperature guage which did not hamper performance. My dealership fixed both promptly and under warranty.
Very pleased at this point
I got a leftover 05 Arc with auto, heated seats and s-roof. So far is the car of my dreams. Plenty of power, comfort and quiet on the road. Wonderful hwy driver. On interstate trip of 213 mi. at 70 to 80+ mph I got 34+ mpg. Mixed is 25/26 and mostly town and short trips is 22/24.
Can't Rave Enough
I bought this car because the price was right and my dad, a longtime Saab enthusiast, suggested it. Three months later, I am nothing but thrilled with my new Saab 9-3 Arc. The turbo and pep are incredible. Every so often I look down at the spedometer and freak out because I somehow got it up to 80 without realizing it. The seats are very comfortable and the smooth but tight ride surpass anything I anticipated. After a roadtrip through New England, my boyfriend confessed he liked my car better than his Audi. People that questioned my purchase have all done 180's once they have a chance at the wheel. Plus, you don't look like every other generic car on the road.
Great car, does not hold its value!
This has been a great car. We received fantastic and professional buying experience from the dealer. Car has been getting awesome gas mileage (32 MPG highway), has been relatively reliable (3 burnt headlights in 14 months but other then that perfect) and is very comfortable and fun to drive. One thing I would like to caution is maintenance after free period becomes very expensive. My biggest complaint is this car does not hold its value at all. I have received offers of less then half the original purchase price from several different dealers, including original dealer, for trade in. The car is only 14 months old and is in showroom condition. It lost 13K in 14 months. GM discounts :(
Starting to regret my lease...
I just recently leased the first 05 Arc my Saab dealer received. The lease expires in a year by the way. While the car looks nice and drives nice, the interior leaves something to be desired. The night panel function is lovely but theres too many buttons and cheap plastic everywhere! I'm also not impressed with the build quality. The doors have a junky, tinny feel to them.
Saab Shoots - Saab Scores!!
I picked up my 2005 Linear (w/8200 miles) on 2/27/07, and put about 1800 miles on it in three weeks. Sweet performance, smooth shifting, and terrific comfort and mileage are all part of the package. Even with "only" 175 horsepower, it has pickup aplenty. The control layout is excellent, and I love the Night Panel, manual transmission and console-mounted ignition. Those who whine about the ignition should drive one for three weeks, and they'll get used to it. Besides, who wants a key in their knee in an accident?? All in all, I LOVE my Saab.
Best Car I've Owned
I have purchased some 40 cars in the past three decades - everything from large Buicks to SUVs to a Mercedes- Benz. Among those 40 cars were eight Saabs - one of the old ones we still own, purchased new in 1989. But... this 2005 9.3 Linear is the best one yet. Having just come back from a 2500 mile road trip, I can report fantastic performance, 33 mpg for the entire trip - at speeds up to 100 mph, and absolute comfort. The A/C is finally terrific in Saabs. And, the Saab seats eliminate fatigue like no other. This is a great, quiet, smooth machine. I am really glad I bought it.
Great Car, Great Value
I was just looking for an affordable car with good gas mileage. After two years, I've been pleasantly surprised at the overall comfort and performance and haven't tired a bit of the design.
Fun to drive, but mostly to the mechanic
A great car to drive! Unfortunately, much of that driving was back and forth to the dealership for constant minor repairs. The engine was generally reliable and the handling was great, but the interior was cheaply built and little things kept breaking. I am convinced that the electrical system was possessed; I had problems with the taillights, the stereo, the alarm, the dome lights, and the dash display, all within a 6-month period. All things considered, this is NOT a car I would wish to keep after the warranty expires.
Just a Nice Car
My 9-3 has been very reliable with the only problem a couple of burned out headlight bulbs. The car is quick, quiet, comfortable, safe, nioe looking and extremely fuel efficient. My complaint is the handling. This is NOT the sport sedan Saab makes it out to be. The steering is too light, the suspension is too soft, the car leans excessively in turns and loses traction over any road irregularities. There is plenty of torque steer as well. "Born from Jets", I don't think so.
Saab 9-3
Never thought about owning a Saab until I drove one. Fell in love with it the moment I drove it. Was comparing a Saab 9-3 to an Acura TSX and Mazda6. Saab won hands down.
Review of my 04
I am very satisfied my Saab 9-3 Linear.It gets unbelievable gas milage, better than the 21/30 suggests.I've actually been getting 33-36 on the road.The engine is very smooth and quiet.My wife has an 01" 9-5 and you can really feel the sporty nature of the 9-3 when comparing the two. Oh yeah, Very comfortable seats.
A blast to drive, but at a cost
I had fond memories of my '83 Saab 900. That car was a tank and simply refused to be driven into the ground. My '05 9-3 has all the gutsy handling the old models did (and then some!), looks great, is quite comfortable and is surprisingly roomy for a car of its size. For a little 4-banger, it really zips along once the turbo kicks in! However, I've had the car in the shop REPEATEDLY for random electrical and mechanical problems that simply should not happen at 30K miles. Some of the interior finish is cheaply done and parts have decided to fall apart at random. This has left me so disappointed that I plan to trade it in as soon as possible.
Luv my 9-5 Arc!
This car is the best ever. The ESP feature is great. What a ride.
Saab surprise
After selling my old 900s, I looked at VW (Passat), Volvos and Audis. The 900 was okay, but I don't miss it. Then I saw that GM was getting generous with its cash back program, so I decided to give Saab another try. I was glad I did. The interior quality and the handling were better than the Passat or the Volvo v40, and on par with the Audi A4, but 5k cheaper than the Audi. And after cash back, only about 2k more than a VW. The interior and the trunk are larger than any of those competitors, which is great, given the baby seat we recently had to install. The 9-3 offers 99 percent of the quality of a BMW 3 series or Audi A4, but for a lot less money. This car is a steal.
The SAAB
This is really a great car. The turbo charged 2 liter engine moves it down the freeway with no strain. SAAB incorporates many safety features, some of which would cost you extra on other cars.There is an active head restraint system built into the front seat headrests that I don't think any other car maker includes at all. I am a car nut and I was very impressed when I drove The SAAB for the first time.
1BDSAAB
The car handles like a dream. Plenty of power and takes the mountain turns and hills like they are flat roads. Great gas mileage for a turbo. I average 30 MPG city and highway 50/50 split. Very reliable, dependable vehicle. Drives well in all conditions. I would not trade it for a Beemer/Benz/Audi. Every bit as nice as those cars but without the bloated price.
Amazing Value
I bought my first Saab two weeks ago and couldn't be more impressed with a car in this price range. After a year-long search I found a low mileage black Aero model with a parchment interior. It's quick (especially at highway speeds) and has a firm, but comfortable ride quality. I absolutely love the 9-3's styling and relative anonymity on the road.
Another Saab
This is the second Saab I've owned. Once you own one of these things you will never let go. Everyone who sits in it is blown away. I'd take it in a heart beat over all of its competitors, 300c, Audi A4, Volvo s40, this car is way more fun to drive than anything else out there. Until my first time driving this car I had never seen a smile on someones face from driving, or riding in a car before. Now I grin every time I sit in my car, and so does everyone else, literally.
Great car
Very nice clean interior. Runs very well on the highway. If you drive in a lot in traffic, get the auto. It also has great a/c. The more options you get, the more confusing the driver controls become but for 07 they have simplified everything with a new dash and radio. The car gets better mpg than its rated mpg on the highway. Great all around car.
Great Car and Fun!
Throttle response especially at low rpm is amazing, handling and braking is also most most impressive. Communting fuel economy often is 30 mpg plus.
Great car for the money!
All around great car. Gas mileage is higher than expected. I average 26/35 with very good passing power. This is the first Saab I have driven and it impressed me so much that I bought it on the spot.
Excellent
This is a wonderful car. It is safe and fun to drive- not 2 characteristics that usually come hand in hand with a sedan. I love the design and it handles well in winters of Buffalo!
Great Saab!
Car handles much better than previous models. Dealer incentives make this a tremendous lease / purchase.
So Far, So Good
Love the ride, the eurocar-snobs like to put this car's ride down because it is front wheel drive, but do they all live in California where it doesn't snow? Front wheel drive is so much better in snow and wet conditions, I won't buy a rear wheel drive car because of this simple fact. I like the handling, and I am most surprised at how much power this turbo 4 cyldr car has, makes for a fun driving experience.
We love this one
This is our second new car in as many years and we cant be happier.
WOW!!!!!
This is the most fun car I have ever drove in my entire life. I am leasing this car and am having the time of my life. The pick-up is better than my Eclipse, and top speed i havent even been able to hit. I would recommend this car for anyone, its a family sports car.
OK
Alot of turbo lag unless you are going 60+. For the price does not come close to the audi or bmw. Spend the extra 5- 7k and stick with an audi or bmw. Terrible winter vehicle. Salespitch noted "this car is made in sweden". Must have made it in the summer.
Jim
Absolultely incredible vehicle. The drive/ride is superb; the handling is absolutely the BEST and the safety is above all others. The interior electronics are far superior to any vehicle in its class and all controls are within easy reach. We checked at least 10 other supposedly comparable brand-names before visiting Saab and we were convinced the Arc was THE BEST after 30 minutes of explanation on its safety features and a test drive.
Doens't get any better
I love this car so much. It handles like it is on rails and feels as solid as a bank vault. The 210 horsepower inline-4 is more than enough power. This car is wonderful at about 85-90mph (quiet and is only reving about 2200 rpm)
Nice car
We enjoy our new car, it is responsive and fun to drive.
Boring
The electronics in the car don't seem to be all that reliable, but everything else is aesthetically nice and comfortable. One specific problem I found is the new rotors they installed in the '03 and newer are too thin andneed to be replaced much too often. Very fun to drive though, especially the 6 speed.
surprised, fun, quick
I am surprised how much I like this car. I had always had cars with larger engines, so I was pleasantly surprised at the spunk of this 2.0 liter 4 cyl engine, I guess it's the turbo. I enjoy the pick-up, the agility, and the nice handling. contrary to the reviews, the stereo is just fine, and I prefer a front wheel drive car, especially in the northeast USA, where we have snow, and a rear wheel car is never a good idea.
I love my Saab!
I have nothing but positive things to say about this car. It is reliable, and great fun to drive. For years, I drove nice GM cars, and although SAAB is a GM brand, it by far superior to any I have owned. I get great miliage, and these days that is quite important.
2005 Saab
I just purchased an 05 Saab Linear. I am really pleased with sporty look and power the turbo produces. Whats great about this vehicle is the gas mileage. It says 30 on the highway, but it's actually 36. I get 27 in the city. Great vehicle!
Wife's Saab
Good fun car to drive. Looks good and handles great. Gas mileage is out of this world! Safety headrest can be uncomfortable, but overall we love this car!
SAAB!!!
Let me start by saying that I also drive a BMW X5. I've had the car for 3 days, I am thrilled with the Saab 93 Aero!! This car looks great, feels great and it is fast! Why doesn't anyone talk about that? I even like the fact that I don't get that much attention, like I do in the X5. Still this car is beautiful. I love the details in the care. Did you see the in dash cupholder? The seats? The wheels? I drove others, like the BMW 3 series, Acura TL. The Saab just has character. Just test drive it, feel that turbo kick in. Right now when I drive around, I notice that I don't see other Saab 93 Aero in Nocture Blue and you know what? I LOVE THAT!!