Saab Reviews

First it's the Ferrari Scaglietti test drive in bucketing rain, when the legendary sports car would have coped better with the weather if it had been a 4WD.Then, after a short break in the deluge, the Saab Convertible arrives just in time for another showery period.Fortunately, the fabric roof effectively repels the rain, which is to be expected given the Saab's near-$70,000 price.And the electrically operated hood goes up in about 20 seconds, even when the car is moving at up to 30km/h.This is Saab's latest Convertible and follows on from its ancestors by offering drop-dead styling and topless allure of particular interest to female buyers.The new model is a bit more rounded, a bit quicker, has better handling and, in the Linear 1.8T model tested, is more affordable.After the rain, the sun came out. Not too harsh, because summer in Perth will bake an unprotected driver.Although Saab calls this model a 1.8T, it is actually a two-litre. I don't know why.Under acceleration, it's a bit slovenly for the first few metres, but is a delightful performer in the mid to top-end bracket.From about 2500rpm, with the turbocharger just starting to sing, it wakes up and becomes a different animal.The engine is from the General Motors stable because GM owns Saab, but while the Convertible gets a good powerplant, it seems this component sharing is all one way.Wouldn't it be wonderful to have a Saab dashboard in a Holden? It is simply the best dashboard around as well as being communicative.The trip computer is simple to use and comprehensive, the night-light panel dimming is a brilliant feature for long-distance night driving, and the sound system is so easy to operate that it makes BMW's look like the switch panel in NASA's Space Shuttle.My daughter says the Convertible's seats are some of the best she's tried, though the lever that flips the front seat forward to access the rear is a bit awkward.There's sufficient room for two adults in the rear and the boot is a lot bigger than some convertible rivals.Roof down, the buffeting is minimal and the view unreproachable. It's best a night, when people can't see me and the cool air brightens my disposition.If you work late at night, coming home topless — the car, not you — in one of these is quite refreshing.In its latest guise, Saab has stiffened up the chassis to rid it of the minor scuttle shake that reared its ugly head in the previous model.It handles well — with confidence through the bends — and is especially rewarding in the country, where the undulating roads and sweeping corners suit the car's strong mid-range powerband.But it's not perfect. The visibility with the roof up is poor, especially to the rear three-quarter areas.The handbrake, stylishly incorporated into the centre console, can nip at your fingers when retracted.The Saab is also beautifully built — in Finland, not home turf Sweden — so it's quite expensive.But in ideal weather, it's a magic car to drive.

A two model line-up, the 9-3 and 9-5, adds to slow sales of this quirky car maker.Sales activity remains lukewarm as Saab struggles to win more friends and generate growth here in Australia.The latest push to stimulate growth is by chopping some gear out of the 9-3 convertible and lowering the price entry point.A basement 9-3 Linear convertible is $6000 cheaper at $66,900, with the largely unwanted manual transmission — unwanted because about 90 per cent of convertible buyers go for the automatic with the sequential shift.A reduction in import tariffs introduced at the start of the year has contributed to Saab sinking the price.The 9-3 Linear is quite comfortable up and down the highway.It cruises along well and handles the stop/start traffic without a hitch. The ride becomes a little bit of a chore on bumpier roads but is quite compliant running down the freeway.By no stretch of the imagination is it a sports car, and the 110kW of power feels a little underdone off the mark.But it does gather pace with surprising diligence once it's up and running.There is the usual bugbear of body flex, a trait inherent in a lot of open top cars.This ragtop car is pretty noisy and the roar of nearby vehicles and tyre noise reverberates on some stretches of concrete on the M1 between Brisbane and the Gold Coast.Toiling up and down that freeway on a five-day test, the Linear was quite cosy — the seat warmers came in handy for cold take-offs on some crisp dawn morns.On the safety front, the Saab convertible is fully loaded, coming standard with ABS anti-lock bakes, EBD (Electronic Brake-force Distribution), MBA (Mechanical Brake Assist) and TCS (Traction Control System).The only safety feature which is an optional extra is ESP (Electronic Stability Program) which is standard on the higher specification Vector and Aero variants.What was surprising was the fuel range —on this run the 58litre tank was good for about 700km.The onboard computer calculated consumption to be slightly more than 10litres/100km for most of the trip, before it dipped underneath double figures and settled on 9.6litres/100km over about the final 150km of this 700km run.This Linear, which costs $69,400 in standard automatic trim, came with the $4000 luxury pack that also is available on the Vector model.For that you gain a six-stack dash-mounted CD player, both front seats with power adjustments, the driver's seat adds a position memory for three different settings, parking assistance sensors and an anti-theft alarm.In summary, the 9-3 convertible is a capable cruising car, meant to take in scenery on weekend road trips rather than tackling a point-to-point run with any pace.

New-car buyers have never had such a wide choice of open-top cars, whether they are called convertible, cabriolet, cabrio, roadster or good old sports cars.This autumn, I've been driving the 2005 version of the Saab 9-3 Convertible, one of the most popular four-seat convertibles for many years.It is a magnificent start to the day on a fresh, clear morning to switch on the heated seat, put on a scarf, hat and jacket, maybe some gloves, turn on the heater to the footwell and set off.You hear the birds chirp, enjoy the aromas of a fresh morning in the countryside – or even the town bakery – as you pass. Yet all cosy and warm. Only a lick of cold air tickles the ears to remind you you're sitting in the open.(Sorry, back-seat passengers: being less protected by the windscreen than the front occupants, you get hit with more air – and your seat is not heated.)Provided the car is kept on the move, you can drive with the top down in light mist. Should that turn to rain – in the Saab, slow to less than 30km/h – press the button on the dashboard and the roof will emerge and lock itself into place even as you go slowly along.Saab now offers its 9-3 Convertible in three versions, introducing an entry-level model Linear, from $66,900 in manual transmission and $2500 more for the automatic (the car we drove) which is a five-speed with sequential manual shift mode. Its engine is called a 1.8T but it does have the same two-litre motor as the other variants, albeit with a lower pressure on the turbocharger. It produces 110kW of power and 240Nm of torque. Not enough to give jack-rabbit starts in the 1596kg car but having more than enough performance for a boulevard cruiser. The turbo works strongly on hills, enabling a good speed to be maintained when other four-cylinder cars would be falling back.The Linear convertible comes with leather seats (for four), 16in-diameter alloy wheels, the automatic opening and closing roof (it can be opened from the key fob while approaching the car), heated front seats, cruise control and rain-sensing wipers.Even this entry-level Linear variant gets a five-star occupant protection rating in EuroNCAP crash tests. It has pop-up rollbars at the rear should the car start to tip, as well as anti-lock brakes, front airbags and head-thorax side airbags for front occupants.Next up is the 9-3 Vector Convertible at $73,900 manual and $76,400 automatic, its turbo getting more boost to give 129kW power and 265Nm torque. It has 17in-diameter wheels, electronic stability program, sport steering wheel with Sentronic shift buttons if it's the automatic, dual-zone climate control and extra driving lights.Linear and Vector buyers should consider the $4000 Luxury Pack. It gives electrically adjustable front seats (with position memory for the driver's seat), anti-theft alarm, six-stack CD and rear parking assistance. The last item is important. Convertibles are notoriously hard to see out of to the rear when their roofs are up, so the parking sonar is well worth having.Top of Saab's range is the 9-3 Aero Convertible at $89,900 manual with six-speed gearbox and $92,400 in automatic. It is tweaked to 155kW power and 300Nm of torque and has a sports suspension with lower ride height, exterior aerodynamic and dress-up bodywork, two-tone power adjustable front seats, auto-dimming mirror – plus the items from the Luxury Pack are standard. Linear gets an on-off switch for the heated front seats. Vector and Aero versions have a choice of off, 1, 2, and 3 settings for seat heat.Rear-seat space is tightish but tolerable for adults, provided the front occupants don't have their seat shoved right back. The front-seat backrests easily fold forward to allow access to the rear.If the roof is up, there's more luggage space in the boot (352 litres) compared with the area taken when the top is down, leaving only 235 litres.The 9-3 Convertible retains Saab's ignition switch aft of the gearshift. One still marvels at the articulation of the pop-out cup holder.Scuttle shake is negligible. The slightest tremor is detected at first but after that it is not noticeable, this car being more rigid than earlier models.Lift the bonnet and you can find evidence of General Motors ownership of Saab, with some GM parts.On the road, the automatic eases along at 2200rpm at 110km/h. The trip computer showed less than nine litres of fuel being used for every 100km travelled for much of the time, although our manual calculations showed a very good 10.2 litres/100km at the end of our time.Going topless in winter can be comfortable as well as fun.

9 Feb 2004 Saab convertible impressesFind your own Saab 9-3 ConvertibleSee the Saab 9-3 Convertible Specs 

07 July 2006 Quick Squiz: Saab 9-5 Linear SportEstateFind your own Saab 9-5 Linear Sport EstateSee the Saab 9-5 Linear Sport Estate Specs  

But Noosa isn't playing the game. Instead of being beautiful one day, perfect the next, brushed aluminium skies occasionally sprinkle on Saab's parade of 9-3 convertibles at the launch of its expanded model range.And to rub salt into the wounds, the Noosa parking attendants have placed infringement notices on some vehicles and the picnic cooler provided by Saab to each driver doesn't fit in the boot when the top is down.But that's the convertible experience for you.You gamble with the elements and you put up with the niggling inconveniences for the excitement of open-top driving.Stevenson, previously of new owner GM, enthuses about the experience of driving through the country and smelling the pine in a forest, hearing the birds in the trees and feeling the cool air as you cross a bridge over a country creek. All experiences he has also gleaned from his other love – motorcycling.But he's preaching to the converted here in Queensland.While Saab sales floundered elsewhere in 2004 during the nation's record new car sales growth, the Sunshine State held on strongly and gave the company their only sales growth.In particular, convertible sales were up spectacularly with increases of more than 30 per cent on the Gold Coast, and more than 10 per cent in Brisbane. And now big dealer Zupps Brisbane has been added to the Saab dealership list.The new Saab 9-3 Convertible model line-up hopes to bridge the yawning price void between Astra and BMW/Audi four-seat convertibles.The strategy is simple.Drop the turbo power, lose some features (such as climate control and fog lights) and trim $6000 off the price of the Linear, now costing $66,900 in manual and $69,400 for the auto.Then slot in a mid-spec model, the $73,900 Vector ($76,400 for auto), between the Linear and the top-of-the line Aero at $89,900 for manual and $92,400 for auto.Basically the Vector is about the same spec level as the previous Linear.Stevenson says this makes the Linear an aspirational carrot for Holden Astra Convertible buyers wanting to extend themselves, even though it would be cannibalising the new parent company's market and almost a $20,000 leap from a top spec German-built Astra.However, the standard Linear equipment still includes leather-trimmed seats and steering wheel, 16-inch twin five-spoke alloy wheels (Vector and Aero have 17-inch wheels), remote and on-the-move opening roof (up to 35km/h), automatic expanding boot (when the top is up), body-coloured lower front and rear bumpers and side sills, pop-up roll bars, heated front seats, cruise control and rain-sensing wipers.Now, the "base model" comes with a two-litre low-pressure turbocharged engine, despite the fact that it is misleadingly badged 1.8t on the boot.While this smaller mill develops only 110kW of power at 5500rpm, Saab is emphasising torque."A lot of people talk power, but they drive torque," says Stevenson who has come across from parent company Holden last month.The Linear develops constant 240Nm of torque from 2000rpm to 3500rpm which compensates for the lack of top-end power.This means it won't baulk at hills and it can carry more than a picnic cooler without labouring. But don't dice with trucks when entering a roundabout. It lags down low.Yet spirited driving through the Sunshine Coast hinterland recorded fuel consumption of just 9.5l/100km on the trip computer's average economy readout.The mid-spec Vector features a 129kW two-litre turbo engine with 265Nm of torque, while the Aero claims 155kW and 300Nm, unchanged from the 2004 model.Stevenson expects about 50 per cent of buyers to choose a $4000 luxury pack available on Linear and Vector models. It includes electric front seats (driver with three-position memory), anti-theft alarm, parking sensors and six-disc CD changer.New exterior convertible colours are Chilli Red and Parchment Silver.Saab claims a 50-50 split between male and female buyers, but expects to attract even more females in future.Stevenson said his experience in fleet sales in GM would be helpful in getting young execs into the convertible through novated leases.Cheers for Saab which now has full-size spare wheels in all models, except the 95 Aero, and has a maximum 5-star crash rating by EuroNCAP for the convertible.But boos for its poor resale value which Stevenson admitted was an obstacle.However, he did stress that poor resale value was more of a perception than reality.

Few people are aware but the famous Swedish aircraft and car manufacturer is wholly owned by Holden's parent company General Motors.However, until recently, the two companies were permitted to operate as separate entities – at least in Australia.That all changed from the first of January, when Holden took charge of the show and installed its own general manager.Together, the new leaner meaner team sink or swim.The decision was a global one, but follows on the heels of declining sales over the past three years in Australia, with the number of cars sold falling 14 per cent in 2004.Saab sells just three models here: the 9-3 sedan, 9-3 convertible and larger 9-5 sedan and last year sold a total of just 1848 cars.It's biggest seller is the 9-3 convertible popularised by actor Rebecca Gibney in the Halifax FP television series, which accounts for 40 per cent of sales.Consequently a lot is riding on the success of the "new" 9-3 Convertible, a car which is not so much new as revised, with a third and cheaper model added to the lineup.In Australia the two biggest selling four-seat convertibles are the Saab 9-3 and BMW 3 Series.The Saab commands 45 per cent of the market while the Beemer runs a close second with 40 percent, followed by the Audi A4 with 17 per cent in third place.It is not surprising then that the price of the entry level Linear model has been pegged at $66,900 – exactly the same price as the BMW 320Ci.Other models are the 129kW Vector priced from $73,900 and 155kW Aero priced from $89,900.Saab is hoping the Linear's lower more attractive price will draw customers from the cheaper cars like Astra and Peugeot 307 convertibles.It is also hoping to "leverage" fleet sales from Holden which has access to some 350 fleets across Australia.Saab is also looking to bolster sales in Sydney where it has only two dealers at present.Of course much depends on the quality and appeal of the car and there is no doubting the 9-3 Convertible is a sexy looking thing.It's a car that appeals equally to men and women.The Linear model is powered by a 2.0-litre four cylinder turbocharged engine that produces 110kW of power and 240Nm of torque.A five-speed manual transmission is standard while a five-speed tip-shift style auto is a $2500 option.Standard equipment includes: leather seats and steering wheel, 16-inch alloys, body-coloured bumpers and side sills, pop-up roll bars, heated front seats, cruise control and rain-sensing wipers.The 9-3 has one of the fastest opening and closing roofs in the business, an honour it shares with the BMW 330Ci.It's a soft, thickly insulated fabric roof unlike some competitors which now offer hard top convertibles.The roof has no retaining clamps and can be opened at the touch of a button in 20 seconds, either remotely or via a dash mounted button.It can also be operated on the fly up to a speed of 30km/h.Unfortunately, the roof on our test car was temperamental, refusing to fully close at times.This happened on two or three occasions but persistence paid off and the roof eventually responded.Although the engines of some competitors produce more power, none but the more expensive and soon to be released Mercedes CLK 200K produce as much torque.The more torque, the more driveable a car is and the more easily it goes up hills.Other than niggling problems with the roof, the car performs flawlessly.There's sufficient power there for top down cruising, with the the auto providing the option of changing gears manually for more spirited driving.Linear misses out on electronic stability control but remains sure footed even on dirt roads, with ABS, traction and corner brake control standard.Economy is excellent with our test car returning an average of 9.3 litres per 100km over the course of about 300km, using standard grade unleaded.The 9-3 scores a maximum five stars in European safety tests, with four airbags and front active head restraints.A full-size spare wheel is fitted.

As most of us trade the pool and beach for the doona and heater, there are many drivers scooting around town with the roof down. Are they mad? Are they warm-blooded freaks? Or are they just posers?It was time to test it out and the Saab 9-3 Aero convertible was the guinea pig.The information display reaffirmed the chill factor -- registering 12C outside.While the engine warmed up, the seat warmers did the trick and my back and legs instantly thanked the inventors of such a wonderful device.The dual-zone climate control airconditioning, which can reach up to 65C, directed the warm air to my face, feet and body by a turn of a knob and push of a button and immediately took the chill away.Then it was time to drop the top and experience the joy, or insanity, of driving a convertible in winter. My finger momentarily wavered as it headed towards the roof release button but 20 seconds later as the Aero's 155kW of power and 300Nm of torque were employed to full use, I could hear the winter leaves flutter above.Wind interruption was minimal and I felt more like I was in my lounge room snuggled up in front of the fire than cruising the streets in a convertible on a wintry afternoon. The new Saab 9-3 is a vast improvement on the old model. The Aero model is even more of a delight with more guts than its base-model counterpart, the Linear, and has a few extras inside.With all convertibles it is rigidity that makes or breaks the car.Saab says the body rigidity of the new 9-3 is 300 per cent stiffer than the old model and this makes it substantially more resistant to skuttleshake or flexing.The improved suspension soaks up road bumps nicely although there was a bit of body shake on rougher suburban roads while playing dodge the pot-hole.The automatic transmission took a little while getting used to. Saab's low-boost turbos mean you don't have to work them hard to get a result. It is easy to get caught out in a higher gear with nothing there, only to surge forward when the boost comes on, creating a rather rocky and inelegant ride display. It is just a matter of getting used to this power surge. The automatic gear shifting, generally, is quite smooth. The two-litre turbo is well matched to the car, not too heavy but not too light.While the 9-3 doesn't really look that much different from the outside the interior benefits from more space.But while four average-sized females fit quite well, four average-sized blokes have a little more trouble.The interior design reflects the flowing lines of the exterior and the driver is greeted by the Saab Information Display (SID), which is positioned high up on the fascia near the base of the windscreen, as close to the driver's field of vision as possible.The SID reveals time, outside temperature, radio settings, warning signals and information from the profiler function and the car computer.This display requires minimal distraction from the road and the clever design of the main instrument panel, which arcs around you, shows everything clearly.However the numerous buttons on the centre dash display, which make a driver feel as if they have mistakenly jumped into the cockpit of a jumbo, seem unnecessarily cluttered.The 9-3 has plenty of safety features including dual front airbags that inflate according to the severity of the crash, side air bags, whip-lash reducing head rests, roll bars that pop up in the event of a rollover, anti-lock brakes and a slide control system.The winter convertible experience is pleasant and takes the versatility of the drop-top a little step further.

The questions are simple and easy. Is the 9-3 any better with more value, and has it been trumped by any new arrivals?The easy answers are yes and no. It is better and there is nothing newer and classier to jump in front of the Linear.But that doesn't mean the elegant Saab is at the front of the pack jostling for sales towards the bottom end of the prestige new-car scene. We described the 9-3 as a Swedish Camry when it first arrived, and it's still more like a Camry than a Bentley.The 9-3 Arc was rated as a four-star car when we sampled it as a total newcomer, while the sporty high-boost Aero turbo got three out of five. We have changed the test scale since then, to make it more informative and split cars which would have shared the same stars but not the same ranking, and the Linear rates a 16-from-20 score against rivals including the benchmark BMW 318i and Audi's A4 on 17 and the cheaper Honda Accord Euro on 18.The difference for the Linear is that Saab isn't asking too much for a car which is solid but not a standout, and that's what should make the latest 9-3 a more sensible choice for a lot of shoppers. We would even put it ahead of some of its siblings.It also lines up impressively against the Audi A4, which was Saab's target. The Swedish company accepts that it's unlikely to win business from BMW or Benz buyers, but believes Audi shoppers are each-way voters who can be tempted by a value deal.The Linear comes with a low-boost turbo engine which Saab calls the 1.8t, even though it has a full two litres of lung capacity, and a price that's been trimmed by $1000. That makes the bottom line $47,900.The rest is unchanged, which means a solid, safe sedan body that won a five-star crash rating.

Gone also is the messing around with latches and hooks and the need for a strong wrist to yank the handle on the roof forward enough to clasp the hook when putting the thing back up.Lined, mechanical roofs have become the way to go and they are not only convenient and effective, but provide a robotic-like entertainment for passers-by as various bits lift, fold, stretch and finally settle.One of the best displays is from the latest luxury drop-top from Saab – the 9-3 cabriolet which sells from $72,900..Press a button and the top, with its heated glass rear window, is out of sight within 20 seconds. And you can drop the top on the move up to 20 km/h which was particularly convenient when I had to move off at the traffic lights midway through a roof closing due to a quick but solid rain shower.When the roof is stored away, there is still room for bags and bits and pieces in the boot but it would be pushed to fit a large golf bag and clubs.And while on space, the roominess of the cabin is welcoming. There is ample leg room up front and even if you retract the front seats as rearward as they can go, there still seems to be stretch room for taller shapes in the two backseats.Access to the rear seats from this two-door car is no hassle. Drop the top and it does get blustery in the back with the wind swirling around the cabin. Hats and or scarves are a prerequisite. It is even windy up front so it would benefit from the optional wind deflector.When the roof is up there is a feeling of being in a fixed top car partly due to the rear glass and also because the roof lining is so well done.With its wedge-shaped profile the 9-3 cabriolet is a gorgeous looking car whether the top is up or down and there is no question about it getting admiring second glances.The good looks continue inside. Leather seats (with heating) and Saabs own jet-inspired dash and centre console design which these days is considerably modified compared to the pre-GMH days looks impressive and is also effective.So is the airconditioning with its large vents.Cruise and audio controls are on the three spoke steering wheel, theres a single CD player with the six-stacker adding $750 to the price, information display, plenty of storage and front cup-holders.And, safety-wise, there are pop-up roll bars hidden behind the rear passengers and a strengthened A-pillar if the car is involved in a roll-over.Other safety features include front and side airbags, active head restraints and seatbelt pre-tensioners.But the cabriolet is not only looks. Saab is quick to point out that this car was designed with the driver in mind.It is three times more rigid than the car it replaced which adds to the driveability and handling as well as working towards minimizing any shakes and rattles.Under the bonnet sits a two litre lightly turbo-charged four cylinder engine that develops 129kW of power and 265Nm of torque and guides the cabriolet along with enthusiasm especially considering it has to carry around more than 1600 kilograms.Right from the moment you take off the car feels strong and solid without losing refinement. The test car was mated to a five speed automatic transmission with a tiptronic-type mode (Sensotronic to Saab) so that gear changes could be made manually simply by flicking the lever forward or back.It is great fun to use but the gear changes work well with smooth shifts when it s left in automatic mode as well.Fuel use ran at about 10L/100km from the 62 litre tank in a mix of city and freeway driving.The suspension on the 9-3 cabriolet is light years ahead of the car it replaces. Gone is the floundering floater with more than the occasional squeak and rattle to be replaced by a much firmer, neater and just plain nicer, ride. It takes bumps, tram tracks and ruts in its stride without losing comfort and composure.This is a car to drive confidently and if things go a bit awry there is a range of driver aids to help like anti-lock brakes, traction control, stability program, cornering brake control, brake assist and electronic brake force distribution.All up there is little to criticize in Saab's latest offering. Perhaps there is a tad too much wind noise even when the roof is up but it is not difficult to live with.The price is well inside the ball park, especially with the equipment levels and, after all, it is simply a really attractive car to look at and it is fun to drive.