2005 SAAB 9-3 Vector Sport from UK and Ireland - Comments

I have a 03 93 Vector Sport and am pleased overall.

My brother has a 03 Audi Quattro 2.0t 6-speed and that it is not.

The only problem I have is the stereo, but speakers can be replaced. I just turned 40k and no other complaints.

I've got a 2005 (05) Vector 1.9TiD Sport (150 BHP)

In short AVOID. We had 6 SAABS in a row. This is surely the worst and the newest. I gave my wife my 1998 9-5 2.3SE which has 130k on the clock, my 9-3 has 30k on it and feels like it's 230k to drive :- (

The build quality isn't bad to be honest. It's the design quality that is. As other people have mentioned this is down to building on the cheap re GM. There seems not to be a single thing on the car that is screwed together. Everything, including the rattling dash is push to fit and will and does eventually drop off!!!

Mine just had a sump gasket oil leak fixed. Knowing a bit about cars, but not touching this SAAB approved baby decided to have a good look underneath. Most of the underside of the engine shielding is held on with cable ties -- I thought this was the dealer, but no look carefully and it's designed that way. I've had bangs and rattles when pulling out on motorway roundabouts. Now I know why. If you're looking to buy one reach under the front bumper and tap upwards on the plastic shield under the sump. You won't believe it -- trust me. One massive sound board. It's like a double bass under there. Next get in the car. Look at the gearbox tunnel (if you're the driver where your left leg is). Try tapping the plastic -- another sound board. Shocking isn't the word for it. It's designed to be like that. Not shoddy build.

Good points (few)

* Engine -- built by FIAT also found in Alfa's etc.

* Fuel ecconomy -- I get 56mpg on the motorway

* Looks nice -- everybody who hasn't driven it thinks it's great

* Handles like it's on rails

* Lots of poke 40-80mph

* Loads of airbags which might be nice in a crash

* AA bloke who came for an oil leak (SAAB AA) showed me the computer in the van and to be fair there isn't a lot that goes wrong mechanically, i.e. stuff the AA know about (they collect and collate their own data)

Bad points (loads)

* Dangerous -- try pulling away sharpish on said motorway roundabout... 150bhp are you kidding? Every other car will leave you for dead (also see below)

* Gearbox -- entirely unsuited to the UK. 6 gears yes, but 1st is a joke, the ratios are too low. No point in having 5th as you can easily go from 4th to 6th only pulling about 3,000rpm. Very strange ratios indeed!

* Turbo lag -- truely shocking. Try pulling away on a steep hill. Floor it and nothing then whoosh about a second later you're off. Very unpredictable and useless at junctions. Once you get going 1st to 2nd will stuff you as will 2nd to 3rd. Do it quickly and the whole car will bang and crash about like it's about to blow up :- (

* Gearbox -- basically 1st is unavailable unless you're at a standstill. 2nd will stall the car. Great in motorway jams.

* Gearbox -- 1st is a nightmare if the engine is cold. The whole gearbox in the winter is a joke. Mine been in to the deals who keep adjusting it -- the last time they said all 6 speeds are tight -- erm two hands to get 1st?

* Clutch -- think of the clutch and gearbox as belonging to a 1950's Russian tractor and you won't go far wrong ;-)

* Seats -- not good ergonomically. Also abrasive. I've got the leather textile ones. As a test rub your fingers across the textile bit... hurt much? Not supportive, poor adjustment, no thigh pads, passengers not the same adjustment as the drivers.

* Heater -- in the winter it can take 5 miles before anything hot comes out. Not a whiff of hot until the engines warm and boy dos that take some time. There is no pre-heater in this car. Also even when you have the heater on it still cools the air first with the aircon (read the manual for a laugh -- it's a feature)

* No room in the back. I'm 6'2" and have the seat reasonably back. Not all the way by any means. There is 4" between my seat and the back. Even the 10 year old twins complain -- which is bad

* No room in boot. Went to the US for work. We got two cases (med size) in the boot and the third on the back seats. As previously mentioned it's the same platform as the Vectra -- tons of room in them. What gives?

* Steering wheel -- won't adjust to an ideal position for me -- I hit my legs when I change gear

* Rear demister -- or not with mist/wet on the screen. To be fair OK with ice

* Lots and lots of wind noise on the motorway

* Stereo designed by a deaf mute (I've got the mid range one) -- god only knows what the base one is like?

* I could go on, but at least you know what to consider/look for...

General

Some fool paid 24k for my car two years ago (I paid 12.5k @ 24k mile). Once the 12 months SAAB approved is up I'm either going to pay for another 12 months or get rid. First MOT coming up and will prob cop for a service too. Not too worried as it's covered.

Again as mentioned the dealers seem overwhelmed. Takes weeks to get one in and get a courtesy car. They seem a little depressed when you speak to them as well.

I really liked to car when I test drove it. Again as others as mentioned it only starts to drive you nuts when you live with it for a bit. I don't think my car is a lemon -- I've driven quite a few 9-3's (all types now) some with 200 miles on the clock and some are worse than mine!

I really like SAABs or I did anyway. Yes previously I've had petrol turbos -- the turbo nutter Aeros ones, 2.3 ecos down to 2.0 inj with no turbo. In the US SAAB is dead -- like no sales. Remember in many US states they have lemon laws (so you can reject it even after 3 years). Plus in the US you get crazy warranties, i.e. long and cover a lot.

In short either after 12 months or 24 if I extend the SAAB approved cover it will be going bye bye. The AA bloke who came out to the oil leak recommended Skoda. Best car for the money and the dealers app are top notch. Might even go Japanese, e.g. Honda, Mazda... Not keen on BMW unless series 5 upwards. Hate Mercs with a passion.

So in short take a long test drive if you want a 9-3. The sport is hard suspension wise and is also on low profile tyres with 17" rims. A lot of people complain about the ride. It's v. v. hard. Running over a pebble and you'll feel it. I'm not too worried about that to be honest as that makes the handling good :-)

If you look at one tap on the sounding boards I mentioned. Drive over English roads (pot holed). Drive it to work as a test. Turn up the stereo... maybe not because it'll rattle the car to bits.

If they'd have spent a bit more thought and test time this car would have been great. They could have dropped 2 of the crazy number of air bags, used a few screws on the trim rather than push fittings, upped the quality of the trim/plastics and hey presto a better BMW series 3. It all went so horribly wrong somewhere. Mind you the adverts look nice all Ikea style.

Just been stuck in mine for 4hrs due to flooding in York. Hence even less amused than normal driving it!!!

I always find it interesting to compare the two great Swedish brands, Saab and Volvo.

Both owned by large American conglomerates, but run and managed completely differently.

Ford have given Volvo a lot of independence, and therefore Volvo still sell cars that are recognizably Volvo. OK, there's some platform sharing, but the platforms themselves are excellent, and what is built on the platform is pretty much up to Volvo.

GM have foisted corporate parts bins and bean counter engineering on Saab, and ruined absolutely everything that made them special. GM is a company that builds some of the worlds most white goods-a-like cars, and it's come through too much on the Saab. The quality, quirkiness and engineering excellence has gone, and been replaced with one of the most cynical pieces of badge engineering in motoring.

I have a 2001 Volvo S60 with 130,000 miles on the clock that barely feels run in, just like the Volvos of old. It still has those wonderful orthopedically designed seats, and the doors that clunk shut with the solidity of a bank vault. I seriously doubt a Saab 9-5 would achieve the same with its Vectra underpinnings and cheapened down finish.

If the seats aren't right, you know they've interfered too much. I remember a 1986 Saab 900 Turbo being even today one of the most comfortable cars I have ever driven. And these things really could breeze 250,000 miles! A proper Saab.

I disagree with what this article says. I am a proud owner of a 9-3 and I've had it for a little over a year, and the only thing wrong was the oil, which had to be changed, and a set of new tires. people whom think they drive Saab do not know what the Saab experience is all about. you have to drive it for over one month to really appreciate it!

I own a 2003 Saab 9-3 & it has been the best vehicle I've ever owned.

The Saab 93 Vector I have owned for nearly a year has been so far a bit of a disappointment.

This is my third Saab, and the most expensive, the previous being a Saab 99 two door coupe, and the second which my girlfriend now owns is a 93 two door Coupe 2.0 s.

These two previous cars where pre GM and the best two cars I have ever owned. So what has gone wrong Saab!

The build quality has definitely dropped. I only have to put the girlfriend's Saab and mine side by side, and it sticks out a mile! Mine has done 43000 miles, the other 77000 miles, and the older car is quieter with no squeaks or rattles, compared to my car which has quite a few.

It's such a shame as I have been a big Saab fan, but when I go to trade in next time, I will be looking at other options, unless I can be convinced otherwise! So come on Saab, sort it out!!!

One thing I will say my local dealer has so far been very good and appreciates that the new generation Saab just does not cut it when compared to its older relatives.

To the poster of 14 Nov, a '93 Saab would have been made under GM's supervision, although it was designed and engineered before GM bought into the company.

The sad fact remains that had GM not bought into Saab, Saab would be history and a defunct make by 1990 as it was bleeding red ink profusely and had no resources to come up with any new models to meet tougher compliance regulations.

To the poster of 23rd Jan 2008, 17:05...

This review is 100% completely accurate! I agree 100% with everything that is said about this model. I have the 55 9-3 Vector Sport 1.9TiD 150 BHP and was over the moon when I bought it second hand. Now I'm disappointed because of the cheap build quality.

The rattle that comes from a cheap bit of plastic that covers a fuse panel at the side of the glove box is absolutely disgusting!

I cannot find a suitable driving position by adjusting the chair and steering column, and I've had the car for 4 weeks now. I'm 6ft 3" and there is no room in the back behind my seat for an adult to sit. We have a infant car seat behind the passenger seat, and my wife's legs are almost touching the dash and she is only 5ft 3".

Coming from a 99 Volvo C70, the seats are 100 times better and more comfortable.

The gearbox and turbo lag on the 9-3 are shocking... try to pull away in first at a junction and you will go nowhere, then 2 seconds later you will have boosted across the road into oncoming traffic... completely deplorable.

I was planning to keep the car for many years, but I'm seriously considering getting rid of it after only 4 weeks driving it.

Fuel consumption is great and the acceleration on the motorway is fantastic, but it seriously lags (pardon the pun) about town.

The bluetooth is useless as it cannot be paired with your mobile, you can only use it to transfer contacts to the system. Pointess if you ask me. I understand this is now possible in newer models though.

To anyone thinking about buying one... yes they look nice... but think again.

I own a 2005 Saab 93 1.9 TiD 150 Bhp bought second hand in 2008 at 85000 miles, and we are at 110000 miles now.

I read all the comments above, and I have only a single thing to say: you should learn to drive a turbo diesel. It's not the car that is bad, the drivers lack the ability to use it at its best. I could participate on a rally with this car and do it honorably.

A short hint: use it within couple (between 2000 and 4000 rpm that is). If you co-operate with the gearbox, you'll be stunned of how sporty this car can be.