Reliability of 9-3 2.0T

[thescreensavers]

I saw the 9-3 2.0T yesterday at an auto show and I like it. It has good crash ratings but I need to know about reliability. Like. Sensores failing. Engine problems, Any thing that has to do with able to drive it or anything that has a problem.


Thanks

[mbodo]

Consumer Reports or another reputable magazine would give you a better idea than this board would - usually people come here to lodge their gripes against shakes, rattles, and other gremlins. No one ever stops by to say "Hey everything is working fine, just thought I'd let you know!"

[SMHarman]

Generally good, the 2003 launch models had some electrical gremlins due to the new fibre optic computers that were running the show, but these are fixed with software patches (the Saab 93SS is like windows, it needs updates occasionally).

Interior trim is moaned about for rattles, but most owners would probably tell you it is reliable, has not let them down etc.

The other thing that is becoming more prevelant is coolant / transmission fluid mix that can require a new auto gearbox costing $$$. Covered by wwty to 60k or saab approved used wwty up to 100k. Manuals don't have this problem.

[ctrlz]

Originally Posted by SMHarman

Generally good, the 2003 launch models had some electrical gremlins due to the new fibre optic computers that were running the show...

Fiber optics really only impact the audio system and OnStar in the 2003-2006 models.

I think a lot of the original problems attributed to the 2003's reflected the dealers' inexperience with the new model. I say this because no one here has yet shown a significant design change that would explain, say, why a 2005 model rattles less than a 2003. Everybody just has a better idea now where to look if there's a door rattle. The parts did not change. And I don't think the inexperience problem has completely gone away. As the number of computer modules increases in cars, you need a tech who is both a good mechanic and comfortable with computers.

My 2003 has been very reliable. I think the 93SS is very dealer-dependent when it comes to troubleshooting. So I would not recommend buying one if your nearest dealer is going to be more than 30 minutes away.

EDIT: There were some fix-kits for specific issues, like the sticky parking brake.

[kilo]

Well mine is fine as one other thread pointed out: which car doesn't have it's ghosts. So what? lets love it for it's qualities. I say U like it "go for it"

[SMHarman]

Originally Posted by ctrlz

Fiber optics really only impact the audio system and OnStar in the 2003-2006 models.

Issues might, but the fibre system runs everything from the throttle information being passed to the engine management system to the brakelights being told to be turned on by the brake pedal, they are on different fibre loops / busses but it is all still fibre.

Originally Posted by ctrlz

My 2003 has been very reliable. I think the 93SS is very dealer-dependent when it comes to troubleshooting. So I would not recommend buying one if your nearest dealer is going to be more than 30 minutes away.

I'd concur with that

[zznalg]

I just posted a thread titled '06 Troubles which lists my substantial and growing list of issues. There is also another thread regarding issues with '06's.

[stryker]

18 months, 35K miles (55K kms), driving 100 and plus mph (160+ kmph)on the autobahn and enjoying the twisties as much as I can - NOT A SINGLE THING WENT WRONG WITH THE CAR. It maybe early to talk though, but feels like it will run forever.

[needashower]

My 2003 Arc has been great after 43K miles. Minor issues all fixed the first time under warranty. Plus its a blast to drive.

[DavidMorgan]

Excellent car go for it.
Like all cars you might have little problems covered by warranty.
And don't be discouraged by those on this forum that come to cry for 2 weeks and then disappear.
Bunch of good people here at SaabCentral to help if you need any more info.
Cheers
David

[zznalg]

Originally Posted by DavidMorgan

Excellent car go for it.
Like all cars you might have little problems covered by warranty.
And don't be discouraged by those on this forum that come to cry for 2 weeks and then disappear.
Bunch of good people here at SaabCentral to help if you need any more info.
Cheers
David

Get the whole picture. The 9-3 is a beautiful driving, fast, good handling, safe, efficient, comfortable and great looking car. That is why I bought it. But for many people the problems are real. There are people on this board who love their Saabs both rationally and irrationally. That is great. It's kind of a cult car. But if you want a vehicle that statistically has great reliability the 9-3 may not be for you. If you need a car that goes without trouble week in and week out, again, many peoples' problems in this regard are real. The reason people cry and disappear after 2 weeks is that they often get fed up and sell their cars. I am close to that myself. There are cars out there with better reliability and owner satisfaction ratings that are at least as good sport sedans. Take a close look.

[bwik]

Originally Posted by zznalg

Get the whole picture. The 9-3 is a beautiful driving, fast, good handling, safe, efficient, comfortable and great looking car. That is why I bought it. But for many people the problems are real. There are people on this board who love their Saabs both rationally and irrationally. That is great. It's kind of a cult car. But if you want a vehicle that statistically has great reliability the 9-3 may not be for you. If you need a car that goes without trouble week in and week out, again, many peoples' problems in this regard are real. The reason people cry and disappear after 2 weeks is that they often get fed up and sell their cars. I am close to that myself. There are cars out there with better reliability and owner satisfaction ratings that are at least as good sport sedans. Take a close look.

This is a very balanced comment.


The 9-3 has a high lemon ratio, we can say that. But have we become too ruled by statistics? Some cars are not perfectly reliable. The Lamborghini Miura for example. That does not mean it is a bad car.

[dzlsabe]

The US 93s also have a high auto trans ratio. Is that related to the lemon ratio?

[wallabyguy]

From someone who sells them I can safely say that the new cars are very, very good (2005 onwards). I have seen more trouble with 2003's and to a lesser extent, 2004 MY cars. The new ones seem to be holding up very well.

[1sweet2.0]

93 auto's are known to have issue's... I have a 03 vector manual and it's been great.

[brianl703]

Originally Posted by SMHarman

Issues might, but the fibre system runs everything from the throttle information being passed to the engine management system to the brakelights being told to be turned on by the brake pedal, they are on different fibre loops / busses but it is all still fibre.

The only components connected with fiber (O-bus) are the Entertainment Head Unit, the CD player and amplifiers, and the Infotainment Control Panel.

The Infotainment Control Panel serves as a gateway between the fiber bus and the P-Bus and the I-bus.

The P-Bus and the I-Bus are both CAN (controller area network). I believe the P-Bus appears at the OBD-II connector and is used for diagnostic and configuration purposes. The P-Bus is a high speed bus, the I-bus is a lower speed bus (and is used, among other things, to convey data between the steering wheel switches and the EHU. It would be possible to make a device that automatically selected "AUX" as the input when the car is turned on by sending the appropriate data to the I-bus).

[SMHarman]

So what cable connects the components together on the P bus and I bus? Cat5/5e/6 Coax? This is a serious question BTW. I thought all 3 were fibre.

[brianl703]

Originally Posted by SMHarman

So what cable connects the components together on the P bus and I bus? Cat5/5e/6 Coax? This is a serious question BTW. I thought all 3 were fibre.

I bus is simply connected with a single wire that is nothing special. It operates at a low data rate (under 50kbps as I recall). The wire gauge is likely 18-20 AWG.

P bus is definitely a twisted pair, just one single twisted pair. It operates at a higher data rate, closer to 1mbps. This data rate does not require a cable that is twisted as tightly as Cat5 and so I would expect that it is much closer to Cat3 in terms of twists per foot. The wire gauge here again is also likely 18-20 gauge--Cat5e is 24AWG.

The O-bus operates at 25mbps and is primarily used for transport of audio data (digitized sound).

[johnc_22]

My major disappointment with the car is the durability of the interior and the poor sound isolation from the road. I've had a few warranty issues (door handles faded, sunroof screwed up at factory, dead driver's window reg, passenger seat belt sensor too sensitive, dead battery, bad front shock at 30K) but I have a good dealer in Atlanta and that minimizes how bad it is to deal with these issues - this makes all the difference in the world. I made the decision to not purchase an extended warranty because I feel in another year as I approach 50K miles I'll be ready for a change. I hope the 9-5 redesign will be out and a winner but I will likely look harder elsewhere if not. If my Aero is rock solid I may just keep it OOW and see how it goes until something comes out that I just gotta have.

But today was one of those awesome Fall days in Atlanta - blue skies, no clouds, 70F and driving it like I stole it - it's days like this that make me realize how much fun it is driving this car, and while there might be cars with better, quieter interiors, or better reliability, SAABs just have a certain feel to the way they handle that makes me happy.

[johnc_22]

Originally Posted by bwik

The 9-3 has a high lemon ratio, we can say that.

Based on what? Postings here? Just curious how you arrived at this conclusion.