2006 SAAB 9-3 ARC review from North America
"Pretty good car, but could be excellent if the interior materials quality was improved"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Nothing has gone wrong with the car so far, either mechanical or electrical.
The principal weakness on this car rests on the interior rattle noises and buzzes. There are a number of them particularly coming from the interior door trim, dash, and sunroof. These noises have either been resolved by the dealer or myself to an acceptable level.
General comments?
Car runs very smoothly.
Very good acceleration from start with relatively low turbo lag.
Some torque steer as in most front wheel drives.
Outstanding acceleration from constant cruising speeds in either city or highway driving.
Relatively good handling on curves and bends.
Radio/speakers not up to current standards in audible quality, however, listening to audio Cd's is acceptable.
Comfortable seats and very good climate control.
Poor quality plastics especially around dash area and surrounding controls, ex: turn signal and wiper control.
Superb breaking capability and control.
Dash controls and displays are quite confusing at first - but you will get accustomed to them over time. Fair amount of tunable settings.
Recommended reviews
| Excellent reliable car for the price |
|
| Ups and Downs, but definitely worth it |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Don't Know |
| Year of manufacture | 2006 |
| First year of ownership | 2006 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2006 |
| Engine and transmission | 2.0T Automatic |
| Performance marks | 9 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 9 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 9 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 8 / 10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 0 kilometres |
| Most recent distance | 5000 kilometres |
| Previous car | Audi A4 |
| Date of Entry | 8th November, 2006 |