[aerayab]

i currently have a POS nissan that i wish to get rid of and i have been looking around online and found some nice looking saabs in my area for pretty decent prices.

the ones i am liking is the 2003+ 9-3 and the 9-5.

i like that the 9-5 has a double din stereo wich i can replace unlike the 9-3 but i am more concerned about quality. ive never owned a saab before.

so i wish to ask all of you saab owners on your personal opinions.

wich model is better?more reliable? is there any major problems i should look into before buying? how should they run when test driven?

any help is appreciated. because i just bought a nissan lemon wich is having millions of problems that are all common with the model.

thanks all!:cheesy:

 

[PaulOliver]

From what ive gathered, get an 04 9-3 onwards, the 03 had alot of teething problems.

As for stereo, the 9-3 is a pain to upgrade as it uses fibre optic wires to its amps, try and look for the 7 speaker system minimum if you want to stay stock (going aftermarket will require a whole rewire of the system). If you get a 7 speaker and still feel it isnt enough, there is the 9 and 13, and decent how to guides as to how to make it sound better for all of the systems its very easy.

Build wise, they are fairly nice, they suffer from noises at the front from the anti roll bar bushing (mainly happens in the cold, fixed with lubrication/replaced bush if worn too much). Interior noises come from rattly window switches, lack of soundproofing in the doors and theres also a dash rattle to contend with. Again, there are how to guides to fix these simple problems.

I have had my 9-3 a month now, and have sucessfully sorted nearly all my problems with minimal fuss and love the car, its awesome

 

[JonV]

The much mentioned teething problems were the early launch model linears....

 

[PaulOliver]

Ah, my bad, from what i had read it seemed to describe all 03s. Ignore me on that one then!

 

[aerayab]

From what ive gathered, get an 04 9-3 onwards, the 03 had alot of teething problems.

As for stereo, the 9-3 is a pain to upgrade as it uses fibre optic wires to its amps, try and look for the 7 speaker system minimum if you want to stay stock (going aftermarket will require a whole rewire of the system). If you get a 7 speaker and still feel it isnt enough, there is the 9 and 13, and decent how to guides as to how to make it sound better for all of the systems its very easy.

Build wise, they are fairly nice, they suffer from noises at the front from the anti roll bar bushing (mainly happens in the cold, fixed with lubrication/replaced bush if worn too much). Interior noises come from rattly window switches, lack of soundproofing in the doors and theres also a dash rattle to contend with. Again, there are how to guides to fix these simple problems.

I have had my 9-3 a month now, and have sucessfully sorted nearly all my problems with minimal fuss and love the car, its awesome

oh i dont mind speakers because i can easily replace speakers, i was just concerned about the 9-3's small deck that seems to be attached to the AC near the guages.
the 9-5 has a seperate double din stereo that i could easily swap out and put a 2din dvd system.

and i dont mind noises in the cars either. as long as they are built with quality parts and engineering and wont break down on me.

i usually maintain my cars well. change the oil and filters myself every 3k.
ive just never had a saab and like them because they are more rare than your average bmw or audi or mercedes that you see every day on the roads.

do they perform and last as well as they look?

the current car i have has major issues like :
oil burning. burns about 1qt of oil a week.
also coolant dissapears sometimes.
and i have to refill the whole thing in one day.
and the engine makes a clicking sound when i drive a sertain speed.

i hope these saabs im looking at wont have any big problems

 

[PaulOliver]

Coming from an audi a4 (b5 chassis 95-01) and a bmw 3 series (e36 i think 93-00) the saab has terrible handling considering its age and pedigree when you compare it. The saabs not exactly bad, but when you really push it, it loves to understeer. I have recently fitted 2 new vredestein sessana tyres upfront and they have improved it greatly, but i still yearn inside for my audis handling. I have the vector model (10mm lower than standard, same as aero) and the suspension is rather stiff but then the car doesnt wobble all over the place like a softer setup.

I dont know about the car you are looking at, but my 9-3 has a double din sat nav unit above the climate control unit. I would have thought other 9-3s would have a similar setup space wise

 

[aerayab]

Coming from an audi a4 (b5 chassis 95-01) and a bmw 3 series (e36 i think 93-00) the saab has terrible handling considering its age and pedigree when you compare it. The saabs not exactly bad, but when you really push it, it loves to understeer. I have recently fitted 2 new vredestein sessana tyres upfront and they have improved it greatly, but i still yearn inside for my audis handling. I have the vector model (10mm lower than standard, same as aero) and the suspension is rather stiff but then the car doesnt wobble all over the place like a softer setup.

I dont know about the car you are looking at, but my 9-3 has a double din sat nav unit above the climate control unit. I would have thought other 9-3s would have a similar setup space wise

heres the 2004 9-3 interior. it looks like you cant fit a double din in that small space.

 

[aerayab]

also ive heard audi's are really bad and have alot of problems. especially electrical problems. maybe some models are worse than others mechanically ?

 

[PaulOliver]

It seems pretty tall to me, i can measure it for you if you want.

My parents have the b6 chassis a4, and its been faultless apart from needing a new cabin fan (a ultra common problem on 9-3s) and an auxilary belt tensioner. They have had it nearly 3 years now, id say thats fairly impressive! My a4 only had to have new shocks and springs (hit 160k by then on originals!), rear bushes, front lower wishbones and 2 rear wheel bearings. That was after just over 2 years of owning it, again very impressive considering it was a 14 year old car with seemingly no love from the previous owner.

If i had the extra money, i would have gone for an a4 again, but there wasnt anything new enough locally. All cars have problems though, and whatever forum you look on you will only see bad things cos otherwise thered be no point in posting As a general rule of thumb, anything VAG is going to be a safe bet.

 

[aerayab]

It seems pretty tall to me, i can measure it for you if you want.

My parents have the b6 chassis a4, and its been faultless apart from needing a new cabin fan (a ultra common problem on 9-3s) and an auxilary belt tensioner. They have had it nearly 3 years now, id say thats fairly impressive! My a4 only had to have new shocks and springs (hit 160k by then on originals!), rear bushes, front lower wishbones and 2 rear wheel bearings. That was after just over 2 years of owning it, again very impressive considering it was a 14 year old car with seemingly no love from the previous owner.

If i had the extra money, i would have gone for an a4 again, but there wasnt anything new enough locally. All cars have problems though, and whatever forum you look on you will only see bad things cos otherwise thered be no point in posting As a general rule of thumb, anything VAG is going to be a safe bet.

what do you mean by VAG?
and also ive looked all over the internet for a dash kit for the saab 9-3 and i cant find anything, they only sell a double din dash kit for the 9-5 and the 2007 9-3.

and around here. i have found saab 9-3's for as little as $4,000 to as high as $12,000/
and audi a4's around year 2003 for under $9,000

i may consider an audi but i was just always told they have many problems and cost a whole lot more to fix than your typical car.

my nissan is cheap to fix because there are many aftermarket parts for it.
but when it comes to the whole engine failing, its never cheap.

 

[Rennsport1]

'06+ 9-3 should be good, '07 models and on have do not have fibre optics to worry about and a much cleaner (easy to use at speed) modern dash and double DIN radio unit(big plus+++!!for upgrading). You should be able to find a nice '07 2.0T for well under 20k, of course I recommend the Aero, I've had both, the 2.0T is very nice, the Areo is AAAWWWEESSOME ! :cheesy:

Regards and welcome !
R.S.

 

[Skipshot]

I've got a 9-5 and 9-3 2.0T and the cars really can't be compared to each other since they are meant for different driving styles. I like the 9-5 because I drive like grandpa and it has a much smoother and quieter ride than the 9-3. The 9-3 is sportier and bumpier than I like for everyday driving, but it is fun to drive. Both cars have lists of standard features that are options or not available on most other cars, and SAAB has spoiled me.

9-5s from 1999-2003 have their faults, but once you know what they are and know what to do about them then the element of Surprise! won't be so bothersome. Just check the 9-5 forum's FAQ for a list of common ailments. 9-5s from 2004 on seem to be very reliable, and the 2008 wagon puts my ability to judge Wants versus Needs to the test.

Since I'm new to 9-3 I'll defer to the others here, but one factor in my decision to get a new 2009 9-3 was the lack of complaints about later models on this forum.

If reliability is your hot button then a well cared for SAAB should be high on your list, especially for the price for which they can be had. Three different SAAB mechanics have told me mechanically SAAB got it right with the 9-5 4-cylinder cars. The V6s give their owners headaches.

Like you, before I bought a SAAB I didn't care one way or another about the brand, but a test drive made a believer out of me.

 

[meekles]

I've had a 2003 9-5 Linear and now a 2006 9-3 Aero, and although I miss some things about my 9-5 (sound quality and punchy 4 cylinder turbo), I definitely love my 9-3's head-turning looks, value, features and, thus far, reliability.

Maybe it was bad luck or just that dang 2003 year model, but my 9-5 was a problem child. Fortunately/unfortunately, that was taken out of my hands by a 19 year old girl rear-ending me going 60mph while I was stopped at a red light.

On that note, though - DAMN my 9-5 could take a hit! I actually did one upside-down rollover when she spun me around, and I came out without a scratch. I even went to work the next day with no whiplash at all. The paramedics couldn't believe it. I already loved my Saab, but after that, I knew it was the car for me. I figured there's a good chance it saved my life... I just made sure to upgrade with the money from her insurance. ;D

Not trying to derail the thread, but if you're curious about what a 9-5 can take, I have pictures from before and after the accident:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=72768&id=835866869&l=7f29a5d996

 

[stamonkey]

what do you mean by VAG?
and also ive looked all over the internet for a dash kit for the saab 9-3 and i cant find anything, they only sell a double din dash kit for the 9-5 and the 2007 9-3.

Your not going to be able to replace the factory stereo in the 9-3 from 03-06. As mentioned above, the 9-3 uses fiber optics to transmit signal. A few people on the forum have replaced the stereo, but its a lot of custom fabrication and wiring IMHO not worth it. You can still easily replace the speakers and even add a sub, but that's really about it.

 

[aerayab]

so from what you all say...

if i go with saab, to go with 2004+ models. (both for 93 and 95)

i would love a 2007 9-3 but i cant afford that
so i may look for a 2004 9-3 and just forget about stereo mods lol.

 

[Rennsport1]

so from what you all say...

if i go with saab, to go with 2004+ models. (both for 93 and 95)

i would love a 2007 9-3 but i cant afford that
so i may look for a 2004 9-3 and just forget about stereo mods lol.

Try to get the Bose(TM) system then, I like mine quite well, not sure what years it's available on before '07 though.

 

[stamonkey]

so from what you all say...

if i go with saab, to go with 2004+ models. (both for 93 and 95)

i would love a 2007 9-3 but i cant afford that
so i may look for a 2004 9-3 and just forget about stereo mods lol.

For either the 9-3 or 9-5, look for an Aero.

 

[aerayab]

yeah i like how the aeros look.
they have a more sporty look to the body.

i saw a 2007 9-3 today and it looked nice.

one thing i love about saabs' is the location where they put the
ignition.
you got to turn the key by the stick shift haha. thats such a rare
comodity


i heard GM bought saab and jaguar along with other companys.

how would you all compare a 2003 saab to a 2003 jaguar s-type?

reliability and labor wise? i know both are pretty expencive to repair/find parts.

 

[Skipshot]

one thing i love about saabs' is the location where they put the
ignition.
you got to turn the key by the stick shift haha. thats such a rare
comodity

SAAB claims it's located there for safety. In collisions knees have been known to strike ignition keys in the steering column.

i heard GM bought saab and jaguar along with other companys.

how would you all compare a 2003 saab to a 2003 jaguar s-type?

reliability and labor wise? i know both are pretty expencive to repair/find parts.

GM took full control of SAAB in 2000 and sold it three weeks ago. Ford owned Jaguar but has since sold it, along with Range Rover and Volvo.

I can't compare the SAAB to a Jaguar, I don't know Jags. Parts for SAABs aren't difficult to find since GM has pretty good production volumes, and you are correct SAABs can be expensive to repair, but that's what this forum is for - to save dough on repairs. This forum has saved me over $4000 on repairs to my 9-5, for a cost to me of $300 in parts plus three hours of my labor. So you could say I'm in debt to the guys here, and they kept the car running for 30,000 more miles and going.

 

[aerayab]

im no mechanic but im sure i could fix a thing or two.

ive so far replaced the (+) and (-) cables on my car with thicker gauge wire.
and replaced the alternator myself.
but its a nissan. is saab much harder to work on?
or is it the same thing just different car?

i think i might go with a 2003-2004 9-3 aero i found some for 8k here