2006 SAAB 9-3 Linear Sport 1.9 TiD from UK and Ireland - Comments

Nothing at all - which is to be expected, as the car is still only 3 weeks old.

The 9-3 Sports Saloon doesn't get a very good rep on these pages. However, I was in the market for my first company car - leased - and I felt that the 9-3 TiD merited a further look, mainly because the lease deals are exceptionally good at the moment. I suspect this is because GM wants to grow SAAB's market share. Certainly there seem to be quite a few on the roads these days.

I will state that the SAAB was not my first choice - that was the Skoda Octavia vRS, but I couldn't reconcile the 36mpg 'thirst' with my driving needs, and the 170bhp TDI model was still to be released at the time I needed to make my choice. Of course, I also checked how much a BMW 320d would be - the clear class leader - but a comparable (SE-spec) model would be £100/month, or nearly 30%, more... the 118bhp 318d SE, more comparable to the 9-3 Linear Sport 120bhp 1.9 TiD, was still £75/month more. Of similar cars, only the 1.9TDi 115bhp Audi A4 SE and Jaguar X-Type 2.0D Classic came close, with the Passat SE 140 TDI and Skoda Superb 2.0TDI Elegance also contenders.

Please note that I didn't drive any of these other cars, so I'm in splendid isolation with my thoughts! I spent the previous 3 years and 60k miles in an old-shape (1999) Honda Accord 2.0 auto - yes, the new Accord 2.2 CTD-i Sport was a real contender, but as it would have been my fourth Honda, I decided to change.

Overall in my short time with the car (but high mileage for that period), I am very, very pleased. The bugbear of 9-3s - rattling interiors and poor bass response from the stereo - do not appear to have affected my 2007 model.

The dash has been slightly redesigned for this model year, losing the computer display in a hooded panel on top of the dash - it has now moved to the instrument panel. There is not a rattle or squeak to be heard. I actually think the interior plastics are OK - not as nice as the 3-series or A4 to be sure, but not unpleasant, and my car exhibits no rough mouldings, not even the column stalks! Even the handbrake is pretty easy to use once you've got used to it.

The specification of the Linear Sport takes some beating for the money - quiet, efficient and intuitive dual-zone climate controls (with much nicer rotary dials this year, instead of the buttons and weak LCD of the earlier version), rear parking sensors, cruise control, trip computer, remote boot release from the keyfob, 16" alloys (with a simple 10-spoke design which is easy to clean), half-leather seats, plus the usual electric windows all round, remote locking, heated electric mirrors, traction control etc.

It's a handsome car, too. I chose black - because you don't pay extra for it - with cream seats. Definitely one of the better-looking mid-range execs. Hopefully the 'designer' of the 2006 9-5 facelift will never get his hands on the 9-3...it's also sensibly-sized, with decent legroom front and rear. The seats are supremely comfortable - right from the start - although the Vector and Aero seats have better lateral location. The rear windows also roll fully-down...a rarity these days.

I also find it excellent to drive. The steering is nicely-weighted and has pretty good feel - much better than the A4's from experience of a pre-facelift model - and the ride is firm, but not jarring. Brakes are reassuringly powerful - hopefully I'll never need the multiple airbags (7 in total, I think!) this car has. The gearbox is a bit notchy with a long lever (and clutch) throw, but otherwise OK. 6th is best left for motorways only - at 60mph the engine is only turning at 1,500rpm.

What of the engine? Well, it's no ball of fire given that it has a mere 120bhp and isn't yet fully run in. However, it has a very quick glow-plug time when starting from cold, and is smooth (for a 4-cylinder direct-injection diesel, anyway) when warmed up - there's a slight vibration through the steering wheel when cold. It does take a quite a time (20min) to get up to operating temperature, although the only driveability issue when cold is a lack of very low-speed torque, i.e. best to slip back to 1st from 2nd if rolling up to a junction at walking pace.

Incidentally prior to making my choice, I took a 24hr test-drive of a TiD 150 (the 16-valve version; the 120 has eight valves) which had been chipped by Hirsch to 180bhp. A real rocket! However, my goal was economy and low CO2, so I chose the 120. Having said that, I heartily recommend the Hirsch upgrade to 150 owners (I saw 44mpg average, with a lot of heavy throttle, over the 200 miles I ran the car), and if I buy my 120 from the lease company after the 3 years are up, I will consider an Abbott Racing chip for more oomph.

Economy? The first tankful got 46mpg, and is increasing from there - the current tankfull should hit the 50mpg barrier, with a high of 53.2mpg recorded on the 'average' trip computer display. This is from standard diesel (I must try BP Ultimate...), and a split between urban and extra-urban of 40/60, observing all speed limits (including 70 on the motorway), but not accelerating like a nun.

On the debit side - storage space isn't great - no dash cubbys apart from the centre console, no pockets on the rear of the front seats, the door pockets are very shallow (as is the glovebox), and no tie-downs in the boot;

Only 4 speakers and a single-disc CD from the standard stereo is a bit cheap (and yes, the sound quality isn't great...but at least you can connect an MP3 player now);

The cruise control release button is fiddly to operate;

It's very hard to go through the radio presets if one is out of range (it will bring up 'PI Seek' and pressing again takes you back to preset 1);

The trip computer isn't a patch on the VW/Audi/Skoda version (for example, it doesn't have an instantaneous MPG readout and only records increments of 0.6-0.9 MPG on the average calculation);

Some of the original launch spec has been deleted through cost-cutting (e.g. seat heaters, central rear headrest, fancy cupholders front and back).

Let's just hope the car stays as good as it has been for the first month...

A well written review, thank you!

I would be very interested to see an update posted here in a

few months time...

Hi, I own a 2005 9-3 Tid (150) Sport, now approaching 27k miles. It's been OK I suppose, but it now feels and drves like a car three times it's age.

In the 1st 6 Months or so, I could'nt fault it infact I LOVED it so much I always found an excuse to drive it, but as time passed, irritating problems started mainly with interior rattles and noise, premature wear on the leather, electrical faults on dash display and plastics falling off!!

The engine has not missed a beat and continues to perform well, but I feel this car was almost built on the "cheap" and doubt it will go the distance.

It is very comfortable and looks fantastic, but cost cutting is very evident.

Mechanically very reliable and impressive economy.

Not bad, not great just average sums it up from me!

When did yours start to exhibit rattles and bits falling off? So far (3,500 miles now - not such a busy couple of weeks) there's still none, but obviously I'm aware that there is every likelihood (from other reviews) that it might begin! Just interested to know where they begin and if anything can be done, I'm still enjoying the novelty of a car with no rattles...

Took a trip to Norwich the other weekend, 360 mile round trip at average speed of 58mph and 54.3mpg. Not bad at all.

One further problem though - it's been quite easy to stall from rest if you release the clutch too quickly. There was me thinking that, with the torque, it was impossible to stall a diesel! Oh, and it's picked up it's first stonechip, which is annoying, but hey-ho.

Problems with car started developing around the 8k miles mark, not major issues at first, mainly dash rattles and creaks from the seats (no, I'm only 12.5 stone!).. lots of interior noise, audio speakers just vibrated in the door bins, even at modest volumes.. plastics marked and scuffed

around the door handles etc.. At 12k miles, the SID started playing up, sometimes the audio would not work, or functions not displayed as they should, infact, many times the display just stopped working altogther.. all intermittent, which made diagnoses very difficult!.. The flimsy dash cup holders just snapped (holding a can!)..and dash control knobs fell off!!. I would point out that the car is well used, but not abused, and these problems were not a result of neglect or heavy handy work!

But no problems at all with mechanicals.. the driving experience, handling, mpg, performance and exterior bodywork have remained faultless and consistent!!

My car may have been a Friday afternoon job, but it seems many on these pages report similar issues.. As I said, a great car that becomes just average...

Just waiting for someone to call you a "Naysayer" or "Nimrod" now hey?.. What you write is perfectly accurate, represents the many similar comments in parallel and very valid!

Hi Just up to 3K Miles now in my 93Tdi Vector Sport and its only 4 weeks old! Generally happy, but some things annoy me which I would welcome feedback on.

Display on Radio goes blank when phone cuts in... really miss having the clock display.

Steering wheel buttons not very functional anymore.. compared to my old 93.

Seats different...can't pin it down, but they are not as comfy.

Looking to get the ECU upgrade as mentioned in the first comment... BUT my insurance company want 25% loading on my policy!! Does the upgrade save any fuel?

My old 93 Tdi Hatchback did me well..176000 miles in 5 years, 1 clutch, rebuilt gearbox, couple of injectors and 2 turbos and that's it for all those miles!!

I like my new one, but it lacks character... but IMO driving is becoming really boring these days... crazy cops and too many cameras!!

Safe driving and any comments welcome.

Mark.

Original poster here, up to just over 6k miles and still running well. No rattles!

Have worked out how to change radio stations without getting caught out by the 'PI Seek' function - press the 'Fav' button and it cycles through each bank of 6 presets. Much easier!

Engine is beginning to loosen up - 250-mile trip to Birmingham and back at 90mph or so on the motorway showed 50.4mpg, even with two major traffic jams! It seems to help to keep the engine spinning at 2,000rpm when cruising, so use 5th on A-roads.

Seats are supremely comfortable. A bit of bass distortion identified now I have started listening to CDs, but otherwise still very happy! Although black is not the easiest colour to keep clean in the weather we've been having...

Hi.

Thought I would do an update on my posting from 25th January.

My 6 week old 93 SS Vector Sport Tdi is now up for sale! I simply could not stand the poor seats, indifferent controls, appalling gear change (everyone now wants auto 93's!) low seat belt, tiny boot, low head room (always banging my head on the hand grab) etc etc.

Why did Saab make so many bad “improvements” on the old 93?

I’m lucky in that I can change this car, but its going to cost me £6000 if I “sell” it back to the dealer I bought it from, interesting depreciation on a brand new car!!!

My replacement? A 5 year old 93 SE hatchback, being built for me by a Cambridge based specialist, new engine, suspension mods, brakes etc, can't wait for it!

Mark.

Bad head room? I'm 6'3 and I find my 9-3 extremely comfortable and easy to get in and out of. And as far as the annoying interior problems, I don't know about your dealership, but mine always takes care of the most minor blemish, granted it does take a week to order the part from Sweden. I'm happy thus far and love my Saab 9-3! The best part is, here in Southern California, nobody has a Saab!

Original poster here... now up to 13,000 miles. Still no rattles, although I have broken the ashtray mechanism so that needs to be fixed, I will get it sorted at the first service at 18,000 miles.

Otherwise, no problems whatsoever. Economy could still be better though, I'm averaging about 45-47 at the moment, and that's with a lot of motorway work keeping it at 70. A way off from the combined 53.2 quoted, but hey ho. A nice, comfortable, stylish car... but if I ordered another, I wouldn't have a cream interior. Too difficult to keep clean! Or I would go for full leather.

Hi.see comments 26th Nov, to continue:-

I have just parted with my Vector Sport 150tid, as my total frustration and various issues with it led to a sad, but not reluctant conclusion.

The replacement, A Vectra SRI 150cdti!!, yeah I know, but believe me, disappointed I am not. Considering the 9-3 shares the same Epsilon platform, power plant & many mechanicals, GM seem to have got it right with this "repmobile", everything the 9-3 frustrated me with, this car does not! Apart from the badge and rear electric windows (arrgghh), the Vectra is (in my opinion) miles ahead in all these areas: build quality, road handling, comfort, storage, standard kit, gear change, drive ability, road noise, seats, audio & nav, and the most pleasurable... speed! Identical power unit, so can't see why, but it is!

So, if my brand new SRi is almost £4k cheaper at list GM, please justify the 9-3 with the same quality and total package as this car, and may be I won't be so disappointed or have cause for complaint with your marketed "executive" saloon!

I am currently driving a 2007 Saab 93 1.9 TID which has now covered 5000 miles. I must say that I am very disappointed by the manual gearbox on this vehicle as it is notchy and very often fails to engage sixth gear without either double clutching or serious struggling. The car will not engage first gear unless the vehicle is at a complete standstill, this makes moving off from junctions when moving too slowly to use second gear a real pain.

The dashboard on the passenger side now exhibits lots of rattles and is constantly creaking when driving in town. For some strange reason the key can sometimes get stuck in the ignition requiring me to start the car again before attempting removal - this can be a real pain especially when you are already in a hurry to make a quick exit!!

I was initially very pleased with the sound quality from the stereo as it played most genre's of music very capably, however, more recently the bass sounds very distorted and one might almost hypothesise that one of the speakers was damaged or torn!! I sincerely hope that this is not the case particularly considering that the car is barely six months old!!

Despite having treated the interior with kid gloves, I have noticed that the temperature control knobs fall off very easily as does the blanking cover for the handbrake recess.

My perception of Saab had always been that it was a quality make comparable to the likes of BMW and Mercedes, but this car is plagued with problems that are simply unacceptable on a nearly new car.

There is no denying that the car offers very good fuel economy averaging 45 - 47 mpg, and handling and performance are very good considering that this is a family saloon. However, I cannot help, but get the feeling that Saab have taken a lot of shortcuts in producing this model and unfortunately this is evident from the fact that this nearly new car feels like something which has done close to 100,000 miles!!

I love my 05 plate Saab 93 Vector 1.9 Tid (120bhp.

My Boyfriend persuaded me to purchase the Saab a few months ago.. Uh Oh a women driver!! It has 19k on the clock. It has style, is comfy, economical between 43 and 51 mpg. I really feel safe in it too with my 2 kids. Loads of Air bags!!

The only negative thing I would say is that the Warning message on the clock display kept coming on saying water in fuel system, contact service provider. It would constantly stall when cold. So I changed the fuel filter and the problem gone!1st & 2nd gear can be a bit notchy, but OK when warmed up. I would say 10 times better than my last car I had, a BMW 320 Tdi saloon 53 plate. The turbo packed up on it, the Manifold Valves seized on the car. It was not cracked up to what I thought BMW should be?

My overall gut feeling about the Saab is that it is a lot of car for the money. I hope it lasts and lasts and lasts!!!

Having test driven 2 Brand New Saab 9-3 TiD's there appeared to be a rattling from the dashboard in front of the passengers seat. I wanted to buy the car, but following nearly a week of negotiations and talks with the sales staff and a Service Manager there seemed nothing anyone could do. Following further investigations five out of six Brand New motors had the same rattle!

I was informed that this ‘rattle’ on a brand new high spec’d car was a ‘characteristic’ of the car ….

This is one characteristic I can do without … needless to say I did not buy the car and never will look at Saab 9-3’s again …..

Sydney Australia We have just purchased a Saab 9-3 Linear 1.9TiD Auto Sport Combi 2007 model on the 20th January 2008.

Our selection of this Saab model was made after a great deal of research as my family intend moving to Ireland for work later this year.

In Ireland a new vehicle Tax will soon be based on the vehicles emission levels. A large component of my research involved selecting a car that would have model compatibility and have low C02 emission levels.

Our selection criteria was to save money on road tax costs as well as having a car that does not devalue excessively due to high annual road tax costs.

However it has just come to our attention that C02 figures issued by government authorities here and overseas publish are a higher C02 figure of 194g/km.

Our purchase was based on the understanding that Saab web sites indicate the Saab 9-3 Linear 1.9TiD Auto Sport Combi has a C02 level of 189g/km or less (2007 & 2008).

Since this C02 issues has been brought to our attention our investigation confirms our concerns are very serious. We are highly concerned as the Saab websites could be be interpreted as misleading concerning the 'CO2' claims made in the advertising of this Saab vehicle.

We require a Saab 9-3 Linear 1.9TiD Auto Sport Combi that is at least under 190g/km without compromising performance levels and eagerly await your official confirmation of this matter.

SAAB AUSTRALIA SAY TOUGH LUCK SUNSHINE. THE FIGHT IS ABOUT TO BEGIN.