2003 SAAB 9-3 SE Convertible review from North America
"Very nice convertible with plenty of style and power"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Am reception was poor due to bad antenna.
Fixed by Saab dealer.
General comments?
I love the vehicle thus far.
Time will tell how reliable it is.
The performance of the 2.0 Turbo is amazing.
I'm astounded how much performance Saab has gotten out of the 2.0 liter four!
Very smooth & quiet, both with the top up or down.
The interior is well appointed. Quality materials are used throughout.
The seats are very comfortable. I can't wait to take it on a long trip!
The vehicle handles wonderfully.
Very nice sound system, but CD's tend to skip a bit over road irregularities.
Although it does exhibit a bit more cowl shake over rough roads than my old VW Cabriolet, it really is not bad at all considering the VW has a built in roll bar. I've driven Chrysler Sebring Convertibles as well as the Volvo C70 convertible and older Saabs that exhibited more cowl shake.
You have to get used to the reduced rear visability with the top up, but it is really no worse then most convertibles (with the exception of the VW Cabriolet).
It does ride much more comfortably than my VW.
It is a very well put together and a very comfortable convertible. The fit & finish is excellent (which it should be on a vehicle that had an original MSRP of over $42,000). I certainly hope that the Saab/GM marriage doesn't diminish the quality & character of this wonderful European marque.
It is very tight, not a drop of water entered the passenger compartment when I took it through a touchless car wash.
I also looked at the Volvo C70 convertible, which was very nice, when considering this purchase, but I preferred the power & handling of the Saab.
Recommended reviews
  | Would only trade it for an AERO |
| Worst car I've ever owned in any price range |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Model Year | 2003 |
| First year of ownership | 2006 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2006 |
| Engine and transmission | 2.0 turbo Automatic |
| Performance marks | 9/10 |
| Reliability marks | |
| Comfort marks | 8/10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 10/10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 5/10 |
| Distance when acquired | 30800 miles |
| Most recent distance | 31200 miles |
| Previous car | Volkswagen Cabrio |
| Date of Entry | 4th August, 2006 |