2003 SAAB 9-3 2.0t review from North America
"A good car with some growing pains that needs better dealerships in the US"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Within the first 1500 miles, the emergency brake froze up in cold weather. Fixed under warranty.
Stereo system, specifically the CD changer, has been replaced twice due to skipping and freezing up.
At 20,500 miles the front suspension needed major work due to crunching and popping noises. Dealership was unable to give me specifics regarding the cause.
All door exterior door handles had to be replaced in the first year due to serious fading.
Power sunroof will, often, not close all of the way with the on-touch feature. There is an override by holding down the power window lock button along with the sunroof button, but Saab has no permanent fix yet.
Amplifier (under drivers seat) has been replaced twice due to noise distortion. This has been fixed under warranty.
Drivers side window has, twice, fallen into the door while driving.
General comments?
On the negative, I was surprised by all of the quirky little issues I had with this vehicle within the first two years I've owned it. Window not staying on track, sunroof not closing, parking break freezing up... All of these issues would have been palatable had the dealership been a little more accommodating (and nicer) during my numerous visits. When I go in there, I get the "what's the problem now" treatment and am quickly shuffled to the Enterprise Rental office where I'm given, not another Saab, but whatever little Pontiac Grand Am they can scrape together.
On the positive, I've really grown to like the cars performance in the mountains (I live in Denver) and the way that it handles weather conditions. There is some lag with the turbo off the line, but when it kicks in, it really pays you back. The interior seems to be made of sturdy materials, and none of the breakable items (knobs, cup holders) have disappointed me yet.
Recommended reviews
| I think I will paint it yellow so that it looks more like the lemon that it is |
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| Would only trade it for an AERO |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Don't Know |
| Model year | 2003 |
| Year of manufacture | 2003 |
| First year of ownership | 2003 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2005 |
| Engine and transmission | 2.0 turbo Manual |
| Performance marks | 9 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 7 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 7 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 2 / 10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 6 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 56 miles |
| Most recent distance | 21200 miles |
| Previous car | Acura Integra |
| Date of Entry | 2nd June, 2005 |