Edmunds dealer partner, Bayway Leasing, is now offering transparent lease deals via these forums. Click here to see the latest vehicles!
2003 Saab 9-3
This discussion has been closed.
Popular New Cars
Popular Used Sedans
Popular Used SUVs
Popular Used Pickup Trucks
Popular Used Hatchbacks
Popular Used Minivans
Popular Used Coupes
Popular Used Wagons
Comments
The S60 and A4 base around the same as the 9-3.
The base S60 does not give you near as much as the base 9-3.
The A4 is a pretty good alternative. The A4 and the 9-3 are pretty close. It will all come down to driver preference with the two.
It's available in the European market...I can't believe we have to wait for Navigation!
(I didn't hear the whole chat, but I didn't see that BlueTooth was mentioned).
My question: is warranty service for Saab only available at dealerships? Just curious if I'm obligated to bring the car to the dealer for warranty work (not to mention the free oil changes for the first 36 months...)
Thanks!
I know there are some very good Saab specialists in Highland Park and Libertyville. I imagine there are some good people in Chicago itself, but I am not personally aware of them.
One other plus: The new Malibu will share some basic components with the 9-3. While I would not necessarily want a Mr. Goodwrench looking at the turbo, I am sure they will be pretty well versed on the suspension, steering, and the like.
Can you tell me the name of the good Saab specialist in Highland Park ?
rghessel:
I got my 01 9-3 from the Highland park dealer. The service dept is quiet good. There are also a list of Saab specialists in www.saabnet.com. I think I may bring my car to KG AutoWerks in Westmond or SaabTech in Chicago.
I got a 9-5 Linear as a loaner car. Its power seems to be more linear. It may be a nice sedan but I prefer the 9-3. It has more fun factors. I hope the new 9-3 is more like that.
DL
Note: the designer Michael Mauer was hired almost 2 years ago. He designed the Mercedes SLK and C class.
re: 2000 euro crash tests. Both 9-3 and 9-5 got four stars rating. They said "Saab 9-5 is the safest car ever tested".
http://car.kak.net/print.php?sid=491
re: Safety about 9-5 and the old 9-3 convertible (US study)
http://www.xpresssites.com/lee/lacrosse/xpspecialsections/automotive/story_299238.asp
re: another article about american crash test of 9-5
http://www.diskdrive.co.za/safety/enc_bmw_3s(98+).html
re: euro crash test for the new BMW 3 series...
http://www.diskdrive.co.za/safety/enc_saab_9-3('98-'01).html
re: euro crash test for last years 9-3 (old)... better than the new Bmw 3 series. You can imagine how safe the new Saab 9-3 is like.
http://www.diskdrive.co.za/safety/enc_saab_9-5(97+).html
re: euro crash test for the new 9-5
Saab's Reaxs rear wheel steering system is appealing too. It ensures good handling.
Also, the car has very little "electrical wires"; actually it uses optic fibers extensively. I think it is more reliable.
Based on the newest platform, and modified it to ensure saab like quality--fun to drive, safe, and unique.
A superb car!
kirstie_h
MODERATOR /ADMINISTRATOR
Need help navigating? [email protected] - or send a private message by clicking on my name.
Share your vehicle reviews
CarsDirect.com is offering 9-3s at below MSRP until 10/31.
Now, all we need is for GM to include it in its 0-0-0 event.
Market must be really bad.
Traditionally, a Saab does not hold resale nearly as well as the other 3 mentioned cars. They also tend to be offered at good discounts at the end of MY, which is a big reason why the resale is poor...the more you subvent leases and offer huge incentives to clear out YE (year-end) inventory, the more trouble a car will have holding resale.
I would rather own a Saab 9-3 then an S40, given some of the reliability issues the S40 is reported to have (brakes being a big one, changing pads every 10k miles? ouch!). Still, reliability has never been a huge selling point for Saab. My personal history was not blessed either, but I blame it on the previous owner and my youthful exuberance as I do on the car itself.
I think the strong points for Saab ownership have been fun to drive turbo 4s with plenty of luxury features, a quirky but very stylish interior, complete with an Aviation dash and the key on the hump instead of dangling from the steering column. I think Saabs have always had a very distinctive look, which has worked to its benefit and detriment, as the hatchback look is a polarizing thing. Now that they are moving to middle ground with a more traditonal sedan look, it will be interesting to see how the US market reacts.
Personally, Saab's copious carrying capacities has always been a great selling point, and I used that as one of my pillars when I sold them for a short time back in 1991.
So, from a car as depreciation expense formula for the average consumer who keeps a car 3-4 years, an S60/A4/325 may cost a few more dollars a month to rent, but when you trade up, the retained value should even the equation back in favor of the three versus a Saab...with that in mind, a $25k Saab is still going to "cost" the average consumer as much as a $28-$30k car from one of the other more traditionally desired makers.
So, the car has to be appealing to make it worth that trade off. Will the Saab succeed in that equation? It looks good so far. I am excited to take one down the road and see how much the new design improves on an old favorite.
Saab has traditionally been offered at YE with a significant reduction in MSRP. This coming model year may be the first in many (if European demand is any indication) that Saab has so few cars left at YE as to make a rebate not necessary.
It is an easy enough formula.
You plan to sell 30k cars, but hope to sell 35k.
The market has sold 27k cars with two months left to go in model year, you don't need to offer much incentive...your model is moving well enough without. Maybe you add a few options, or a low rate financing deal to make sure that when the new models are on the lot, the lots are empty of old models. Or you add in a big incentive and up production to turn out 32-33k cars, which lowers the per car costs a little. (Overhead gets divided by 33k instead of 30k.) The additional benefit comes down the road with parts.
If the market instead has only sold 20k car with 2 months left to go...oh man, you need to move the 10k cars you have surplus produced to keep your factory at capacity. You hammer out a rebate/incentive package and start force-feeding the cars into the market to move out the left over inventories...it is no good to head into the new year with a 20-30 car inventory (per lot) of last years model on the lots...looks bad to the early-bird buyers, non?
Witness a $4000 incentive on Volvo S40s, and a similar incentive on Mercedes C230 SportCoupes. On the other hand, BMW and Audi are offering no cash incentives that I am aware of.
We all sort of know this, right?
dealer incentive for the 2003 9-3, not the 02 ones.
Not much, but enough to bring price down to about
$500 above invoice (difference between invoice and MSRP is only about $1000 though).
This is in lieu of the 1.9% 36 months financing.
Anyone hear anything along these lines, or just wishful thinking?
http://applications.edmunds.com/incentives/step1.jsp?id=lin9144#manufacturer
and did a ZIP code search. In my area, there's nothing offered on any Saabs. However, in the Washington, DC area, there's special financing. I doubt that page shows upcoming deals, but it might be worth a check, plugging in your own ZIP code or a nearby one.
kirstie_h
MODERATOR /ADMINISTRATOR
Need help navigating? [email protected] - or send a private message by clicking on my name.
Share your vehicle reviews
Once Saab moves old inventory and gets the production of the 9-3 in line with demand, you will see more advertising.
My local SSI dealer no longer sells Saab (not a big market in my area) so I have to travel to see one.
Hope to get more information from real owners soon.
kirstie_h
MODERATOR /ADMINISTRATOR
Need help navigating? [email protected] - or send a private message by clicking on my name.
Share your vehicle reviews
A Saab is the ONLY car my wife has ever looked at and liked. I mean, she never thinks about or notices any cars, but she does like the Saabs. So, after my 25 year old 320i died recently, I've been looking for a replacement. As it happens, one of the people I know haas been a Saab mechanic for many years. He told me that they are great cars to drive and very practical, BUT he said there is a flaw with the spark plugs and how they are engineered in the ingition and firing system. He said that they always cause problems when the cars aren't that old, and it's expensive to fix it. I can't remember exactly what he said it was about the system, but he said it happens to most of them and I would regret getting it. They're great "when you get to drive them" and they aren't in the shop.
my wife still likes them, so I ask, has anyone had lots of problems like this with their Saabs?
I always read that the 9-5 is the best car they ever made...how about the new 9-3?
thanks
cdn driver
I'm 99% certain, though, that this was one of the major fixes on the new 9-3s--each plug has its own DIC. You only have to replace one if it goes bad instead of the whole bank.
Other more knowledgable users may jump in to give you better info, but I'm pretty sure the above is correct.
kirstie_h
Roving Host & Future Vehicles Host
MODERATOR /ADMINISTRATOR
Need help navigating? [email protected] - or send a private message by clicking on my name.
Share your vehicle reviews
Saab 9-3 Chat Transcript.
Countdown -- this topic will close on Monday, 11/04.
kirstie_h
MODERATOR /ADMINISTRATOR
Need help navigating? [email protected] - or send a private message by clicking on my name.
Share your vehicle reviews
DL
kirstie_h
Roving Host & Future Vehicles Host
MODERATOR /ADMINISTRATOR
Need help navigating? [email protected] - or send a private message by clicking on my name.
Share your vehicle reviews