1998 SAAB 9-3 S coupe review from North America
"Great car and one of a kind, but beware of unexpected problems"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
The head gasket blew out at 76,000 miles.
The climate control unit and knobs have broken twice.
The S.I.D. display has become so fuzzy that it can't be read.
A sleeve on 5th gear broke, as well as the slave cylinder and throw-out bearing.
There seems to be an excessive amount of corrosion on the undercarriage of the car.
General comments?
Even though I am the third owner of this car it was in immaculate condition and came with a full Saab service history when I purchased it. It has had a few strange and major problems within the last 10,000 miles which turned out to be rather pricey.
Despite all of the headaches, this car is still exciting to drive. There is no other car that feels like it.
The steering is questionable, the shifter is a little sloppy and the handling leaves something to be desired, but once the turbo spools up all of the imperfections are forgotten.
Recommended reviews
| Good car |
|
| Love Hate Relationship |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Don't Know |
| Year of manufacture | 1998 |
| First year of ownership | 2002 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2003 |
| Engine and transmission | 2.0 turbo Manual |
| Performance marks | 6 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 7 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 8 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 8 / 10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 74000 miles |
| Most recent distance | 85000 miles |
| Date of Entry | 1st October, 2003 |