2003 SAAB 9-3 t

Summary:

I love this car

Faults:

Massive amounts of brake dust, and turbo lag when trying to accelerate rapidly.

General Comments:

I would like to know if anyone has replaced the brake pads to eliminate brake dust.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 5th February, 2005

30th Jan 2006, 22:56

I am going to be purchasing a 2003 Saab. I am just curious if you still feel as happy as you did at 25,000 miles.

Let me know how things are going.

After reading the negative reviews, I am nervous about my Saab.

Any thing to help ease my worries would be appreciated.

11th Apr 2007, 11:22

I'm not the original person who wrote this review, but I'd say go for it. I just bought a 03 9-3 a month ago and I love it. Its been to the dealer three times, but for cosmetic stuff I insisted were fixed under warranty. It just takes time to order any of the parts because they have to come all the way from Sweden. I'm sure once you drive one, you'll be hooked as well. One of the best parts is that nobody here in So Cali has a Saab so it turns heads, I like that. Good luck!

21st Sep 2007, 00:32

I agree it does turn heads cause no one has them!

27th Dec 2007, 19:16

I have a 2003 Saab 93 Arc and I had the dealer put on dust protectors which work great. That costs about $150.00 but it is worth it.

2003 SAAB 9-3 Linear 2.0 turbo

Summary:

Irrational exuberance meets real value and unsurpassed safety

Faults:

Hand brake wouldn't disengage at 2,000 miles. Fixed under warranty.

General Comments:

Seats are very comfortable.

Adult passengers (some rather large) have insisted that three are fine in rear, though I doubt they'd be happy for hours. Cargo space is also very good, with convenient, innovative rear seat releases.

Some interior plastics don't feel as solid as they should, but overall quality and thoughtfulness are quite good. Console cup holder is perfect fit for wine bottle.

One might expect a better standard audio system. It's fine if you listen to NPR/BBC Radio 4, not if you like your techno loud.

Heating/cooling is superb. Just make sure you buy heated seats--I forgot and regret.

Car has very good acceleration, normally. There have been a few times, when I've been certain that I'm in the appropriate gear, where it didn't respond quickly. Gas mileage has been 27-31 with 80% city driving and lots of idling--impressive for class.

Shift isn't as nice as Fords and VW I've had, but still fine, except it stalls easily--without a warning stammer it simply stalls.

As time has gone on, I keep finding pleasant touches: When intermittent wipers are switched for increased frequency, they wipe immediately, as though to understand that the reason for need for increased wiper frequency means you need it to wipe now.

Rear fog light is very handy and surprisingly effective for having tailgaters back off.

The safety features, crash test results are unsurpassed. This is my first car with an anti-skid system, a nice feature to have in Michigan. Testing it, I hit the cul-de-sac on which I live going 30 mph on ice and snow. Without tapping the brakes, the car broke and corrected the skids to circle the cul-de-sac rather than endear me to my neighbors by driving over their front yard.

Brakes are tremendous.

If stolen or totaled, I can't think of a better value or suitable alternative to another Saab 9-3. It makes me smile nearly every day.

This will have been the last car actually engineered and designed by Saab (not Vauxhall/Opel) engineers and designers (who have all been dismissed) : Very sad news indeed.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 19th September, 2004

21st Jan 2005, 09:47

Why do you have a wine bottle in your cup holder, are you a raging alcoholic?

2003 SAAB 9-3 vector 2.0 turbo

Summary:

I think I will paint it yellow so that it looks more like the lemon that it is

Faults:

Within the first 18,000 miles the On-star computer needed to be replaced three times, I discontinued service so I don't know if it works now.

At around 14,000 miles my steering wheel became loose and the steering column was replaced.

At about 15,000 miles the drivers window would not stay in the closed position, the dealer replaced something in the door and now it just rattles.

At about 30,000 miles my sunroof was not closing properly and I am waiting for parts for that still.

At 32,000 miles the left rear door would not lock electrically.

At about 33,000 miles the left rear window stopped working as well they replaced a computed for that issue.

At about 34,000 miles the passenger seat would not move in any direction, which required another computer to be replaced.

Around 35,000 miles my front wheel bearings needed to be replaced.

I have been in the dealer three times for oil consumption, At 35,000 miles I am waiting for a new engine to come in so they can replace that.

While I am waiting on my engine at 35k and some change I noticed that my car is making front end noise when I turn It sounds like a ball joint, but I have not had that looked at yet.

General Comments:

This car is a fantastic driving machine, I just wish I didn't have to visit the dealer at least once a month.

SAAB customer service is great the people are courteous and helpful, I however would rather not know them so well.

SAAB electrical parts are terrible it is an electrical nightmare.

I am so glad I have a warranty because the dealer probably puts about $500. a month in parts alone in just my car and also pays someone to do it.

I enjoy the 9-5 as well I seem to drive the loaner almost as much as my own.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 20th July, 2004

17th Aug 2004, 15:00

I just had the engine replaced at 36k and it drives like new again. I just hope it didn't come from the same shelf as the original engine.

27th Feb 2008, 12:58

I purchased a 1995 Saab convertible to sell from my car lot 3 years ago, but when my wife saw it, she confiscated it and won't give it back.

The car has been a fantastic daily driver. She loves everything about it and has not cost anything other than normal maintenance to own it.

I know that cars are like fingerprints... no two the same, but Saab seems to have it pretty well figured out.

None of these cars are made in Heaven, but these just don't commit as many sins...

Rick Lab.

14th May 2009, 00:49

See the thing is you can't really compare the 95 Saab to the 03. 03 was the year GM started manufacturing them. Previously they had all been shipped from Sweden. It clearly shows, even the price tags back it up. Some of the 02's are more expensive than the 03's.

19th Aug 2010, 13:11

To 00:49

All Saabs including the new style (since 2003) 9-3 are manufactured and assembled in Trollhattan, Sweden. The 9-3s had more GM influence than the same year 9-5s, however, there were GM parts in the 2006 9-5s, and only in 2007 did GM start using their crappy radio in the 9-3.

In any case, GM reliability on this vehicle is crap, and if you want to own a Saab, buy an older 90's version that is more Saab than GM, and you'll probably have better luck.