2000 SAAB 9-3 SE from UK and Ireland - Comments

Oil pump went at 114,000 miles.

Computer display has started to play up.

205bhp under your right foot makes this baby fly, there is not another car that I have found that can out accelerate this car - yet!!

Comfortable enough to be classed as an executive car, but punchy enough to be rated as a serious contender as a sports car - definitely the ultimate 'hot hatch' with all the toys that the guys love. Everything available at the touch of a steering column control stalk i.e. cruise control, stereo, 6 stack CD with the heated seats and A/C controls centimetres away on the dashboard, with the power to take on an M3 and an SLK200 and beat both.

Not for the faint hearted as you get serious amount of torque steer when accelerating heavily and the steering becomes light and wanders immensely, tend to use the power in 3rd,4th and 5th only to eliminate this problem as 1st and 2nd disappear in a blur when booting it anyway.

Spacious interior at the front although I would not recommend a strapping 6' get in the back as he/she may be somewhat cramped.

Unique ignition position in the centre console with the reverse gear lock attached to the ignition so that all 4 wheels are locked when parked, certainly eliminates somebody towing it away, whether legally or illegally.

Oil pump blew at 114,000 miles and took the engine with it, fortunately it was under warranty and the garage replaced it with an engine of 65,000 miles and to be honest there is no difference in power at all.

One downside is that it will 'eat' front tyres with all that power so expect a heavy tyre bill quite often.

Good review and I can understand beating an SLK 200 as it's slow, but an M3. A Saab 9-3 aero cannot beat an M3 period.

I must agree. You are telling porkies about beating an M3.

If you beat an M3 from lights or something, its unlikely - but none-the-less possible that it was being driven by some old lady borrowing her sons car to run down to the shop for a tin of Horlicks; or a new set of knitting needles. She almost certainly would not have been aware that she had c. 100 horse more than you PLUS rear wheel Drive, and therefore would not have tried to show you rubber - which you would have seen had I been driving (the M3). Siigh!

These cars are quick, BUT sharing its chassis with a vauxhall, the handling is awful with too much torque steer.

My daughter is planning on buying a 2000 9-3 this week. It has 100000 miles on it, you're in the same boat as far as mileage goes, are you still happy with the car? Anymore problems since your last blog?

We had the a few 9.3s on our company car fleet, 2001 and 2002 models. As they were the last of that model type they were highly specced and we got good deals on the cars. However, they were troublesome in terms of mechanical reliability, the general build quality and handling. The turbo charged engines are simply too powerful for the chassis to handle which can make the car quite unsafe. In addition there were issues with clutches, engines, air-con, computer displays and instrument panel failures. GM, it would seem, has ruined SAAB quality and dependability and I believe that the current 9.3 is even worse. This is certainly not a car to compete with the german execs and it's a pity.

I couldn't disagree more with the comment that the turbos are too powerful for the chassis.

What a load!!!

I have just bought the 185 bhp model and its one of the most comfortable cars I've owned, it seems to handle OK, I find the torque steer quite fun, I was looking at imprezas and t5 volvo's, but the fuel consumption figures quickly changed my mind, the insurance is £600 as opposed to £1200 for the impreza, yes the scooby is an all round much faster car, but I'm a family man and don't need to fly round country lanes like a nutter, the saab best fits my needs and will see off 85% of cars on the road anyway.

I had a 2000 93 SE, great car but one down fall is the oil pump pick up screen is so tightly spaced that it clogs easily, causing eventual engine failure. But if you change the oil every 3000 miles it shouldn't be a problem.

Before the 93 I owned a 89 900T, with some mods, which I regret doing, that caused the #1 piston to fail during a race against a Mustang at 110 mph, up hill in 90F, wasn't too smart.

That classic 900 went through snow like a shark in water, damn I miss that car!

I'm presently looking for 97, 98 9000 or 99, 2000 9-5, but not sure on which model?