Comments on: 2008 Saab 9-3 SportCombi review

By: Stephen

Stephen — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 11:46:07 +0000

I’ve got a MY07 93 Vector Sport and love the car!! This is my 4th SAAB, prev one being a 2001 95 Aero (black beast & awesome performance & great stereo. Never had big issues with any of my SAABs. This one will sit on 150km/h, but feels like you are doing 100km/h. How about using 6.7L/100km on the highway @ 120km/h in real life. Not everyone wants a SAAB, and that’s partly why I like the brand. I don’t want a BMW 3 series, or Subaru like everyone else. Also, look how out of date 5yr old Jap cars look. Give me a SAAB anyday.

By: Frugal-One

Frugal-One — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 00:03:07 +0000

2 Things

1.The VE Comm. ute is not avail. witt a BENCH SEAT

2.They should NOT own SAAB.

Thats about it!

Cheers

F-0

By: Duck

Duck — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 23:51:30 +0000

Frugal One, whats wrong with GM?

By: andy

andy — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 06:46:47 +0000

Hi Guys

Ive owned a saab before (900 aero). Great car but very expensive to repair. Just test drove the new 9-3 aero wagon on the weekend and am going back next week to look again. Now if your purley a BMW fan then dont read this next part cause it will only upset you. This car made the BMW three series look like a toy. All bmw can say is we have near 50:50 weight dis so it’s a drivers car. But to get a three series thats decent then you will need a second morgage. But the saab actually handled better. Acclerated faster (not 0-100 but from 40-100 my goodness).It really is a personal thing but groing up in FWD cars i just think the RWD’s are a handfull. I have to say this though. A subaru libety better than a 93 taking the price into accouant then i aggree…..But i’m not giving my money to the Japanese until the learn that killing wales whilst lying about it is wrong. Go hunt them just stop bloody lying about it.

By: Flying High

Flying High — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 02:38:48 +0000

I test drove a SAAB 9-3 back in 2004, but I bought a Suby Liberty GT. The Suby was cheaper and a FAR superior vehicle in almost every regard save for the 300 function trip computer you find in the SAAB. No SAAB for me thank goodness, Suby over SAAB anyday.

By: Ebbot

Ebbot — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 18:29:56 +0000

I must agree with all of you who recomend a test drive. And dont make it a short one go for a trip an test the car. (You should do this with every car you thinking of buying)

Complaints aboit this car being a vectra are silly. Most cars today share platform but differ a lot.
The Saab in my opinion give you a lot. Foolproof handling, acceleration that is better in real world than on paper (se review), quite goog fuel economy and smart engenering that helps your everyday motoring.

Most importan its the safest carmaker on the market. The 9-3 has superb rating for sedan, combi and vert. No other has that. The 9-5 also have the highest standard and that is achieved with 10 year old construction. BMW are the even close?

People who test drive – usually buy one…

says it all

By: washaero

washaero — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 13:27:27 +0000

Whoever is considering a Saab, I highly endorse the mark. I’ve had four and presently own a ‘92 900 Turbo ‘vert and an ‘06 9-3 Aero Sportcombi, which has been nearly flawless in my nearly two years with it. Had an ‘02 9-5 Aero Sportcombi that was a fine car as well.

Can’t say that about VWs I’ve owned…will never do that again. VWs continue to have significant quality issues — a well documented fact.

However, drive a Saab for yourself. Don’t let others influence you — it’s YOUR decision afterall!

By: Flying High

Flying High — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 11:01:04 +0000

The only way to buy a Saab is go and test drive it, listen to the Sales man gaff about what a great car it is – mention you want all the options it can possibly come with watch the sales man smile and then say you will think about it and walk away. Guaranteed the sales man will call you back three times and eventually offer you a ridiculously low price as compared to the first price you were offered.

If you buy it, then expect to hold on to it till it dies 20 years later, because no one will ever buy it from you.

By: Frugal One

Frugal One — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 10:23:50 +0000

Wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy to expensive, underdone, poor resale, FWD, owned by GM, to many little problems/faults etc etc should i go on?

Wake me when its back and owned by Swedish hands again

Cheers

F-0

By: Ethan Silk

Ethan Silk — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 08:56:30 +0000

Good review…

i did drive the 9.3 and the 9.5….

what a piece of shyte they were…

tarted up vectra’s!!!!

over priced and under delivered…

if there is one thing i can commend them on, it would be their safety record… simply they are one of the most safest cars you can drive, more so than Volvo!

but seriously i’d rather have a slightly underpowered but ultimately a better put together BMW 3 series than an over priced tarted up vectra!

i also drove the current 3 series in manual guise and oh my god does it handle and i mean insane driving… the saabs cannot compare… period!

By: Duck

Duck — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 08:40:39 +0000

Should be a six speed auto for the price. You get that in a Holden SS ($46,990) or cheaper Skodas

By: Duck

Duck — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 08:36:32 +0000

^^^^^^^^^^^^^Meant 0-100km/h times

By: Duck

Duck — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 08:36:01 +0000

They just didnt want to show of with there 1-100 times……….thats all!

By: SteveR32

SteveR32 — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 05:59:21 +0000

Agree Jaycar.

Was a very painful 15k mistake.

Don’t do it guys.

The R32 was worth it tho! :)

By: jaycar

jaycar — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 05:30:48 +0000

I nearly baught a Sportcombi. They are a great drive, and it feels very safe, and the features are well above its competitors in the same price range. But the RESALE – if you lease one, you are lucky to get the residual back if you do 20K’s a year. Saw a 2003 model with 115K’s for $18grand. That stopped me signing the contract. And the insurance is at least $500 more, and the service costs are huge compared to an Audi, or Subaru for that matter. They are for the person who doesent mind pouring money down the drain for individuality…

By: Duck

Duck — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 05:10:04 +0000

Never knew it was based on the GM Vectra platform, but hey u learn something new everyday!

It looks terrific on the outside, just wonderful!
Would be nice if there was more power!!!!!!!!!!!!

And yes as we all know the dash looks pretty old, takes u back to 1999 or 2000!

By: James F

James F — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 05:10:02 +0000

Last post: sorry – didnt finish the sentence with 911… I meant to liken the saab to 911 in that both cars have kept the fundamental shape for 30+ years!! thats all..

By: James F

James F — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 05:09:00 +0000

Great article (very thorough)..

Personally, ive never liked the aesthetics of the Saab – in and out.. The exterior is a little like 911 in that over 30 years – its a distinctive look (one which Ive never liked for Saab). I am not a fan of the interior either for this new one.. sorry..

For me, I would rather buy the Liberty GT as you mention even though Saab technically has the better name.

I think Saab need to look forward to give us (the driver) more!! my pennys’ worth anyway.

By: Mofo

Mofo — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 04:56:36 +0000

dont believe Swade, Simon

he works at a bloody Saab dealership

By: Swade

Swade — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 04:06:56 +0000

Simon, do it.

i.e. go check it out. Not enough people do. Make up your own mind, but that 2.0T engine is well worth a look, the new look is a killer and whilst some will criticise the handling compared to the lauded BMWs, I guarantee that one run through some twisties would have you hard pressed to believe you’re driving a wagon.

Just check it out, then buy what you want.