It’s alright Jay, as you grow older, your body will start to change and you’ll begin to have urges and feel emotions. This is perfectly normal and part of life 😂
I learned to drive in my dad's '08 9-3 aero, and all through highschool me and the guys would spend hours screaming through the backroads! I always thought that thing was a race car. dad would have killed me. lol. I dont think the best cars need to be the prettiest or the quickest, theres just something about them you never forget.
@@kingofohio5689 It was swedish goverment who krash all saab have buyer but some idiot spoiled all in goverment, beacous they think one are gangster fro russia!
I’ve got a V6 wagon with all the Hirsch performance bits fitted. Including the Bilstein B8 dampers and Eibach springs fitted. And I really love it. I think you’ve got to just “Get” the Saab way. It took a while, but slowly and surely my car got under my skin, and now I’ll be gutted when the time comes to sell for a more economical car when the new house comes along.
i’ve owned my 9-3 wagon for 3/4 months now and it’s brilliant, only the 120hp 1.9 but it’s nippy enough pulls well through all the gears. just got back from spending a week down in bude from the midlands and was perfect on the motorway and even on the little cornish back roads
Hello. I've owned many cars, and among them, my Saabs were the best, and the safest.. they saved my life. I'm glad you sold your's.. to someone who can apreciate it.
Each to there own I guess. But I owned a 9-3 for almost 5 years, and loved every minute of owning it. Mine was the single turbo vector model, with 150bhp and 16v 1.9 diesel engine. There is also an 8v 120bhp diesel, which I would avoid because of the lack of power. But unless you throw thousands at it to uprate the suspension, shock absorbers, bushes etc, it will only ever be an "all rounder" but an accomplished, comfortable all rounder it is. And if you maintain it regularly, and dont rag it about, it will get you to your destination without so much as a whimper. I only got rid of mine because the turbo was on its way out. But not bad going for a 12 year old car with 92k miles to still be on its original turbo. It was a very reasonable car to run. I now have a Volvo V50, 2.4 D5. And that is a lot of fun to drive. But it is only a 5spd auto, so I miss the extra gear of the Saab. But I do love the way the Volvo kicks down, with 500 extra cc's, it is much more agressive.
@@Cloud007. It was leaking oil I think, so may have been a cheapish fix to fit new seals and innards. But tbh, I wanted an estate for practical reasons, and searched for months to find a 9-3 estate with everything I wanted, full cream leather, auto box with paddle shifters, 80k or less miles, and blue or grey paint. But all the ones I saw were either tatty unloved ones with more than 100k miles, or just over priced ones from trade sellers. So I bought a Volvo instead. Its took a bit of money to get it all sorted, but I'm almost there. Just the cam belt, discs and pads, and possibly a new engine mount. Then the rest is just superficial cosmetic stuff. 👍
The TID's are probably the worst engines for the NG9-3 and it's from Fiat, even has issues with flywheel and clutch, the B207 2.0t are amazing aluminum engines and overall the most reliable Saab engine ever, with regular maintenance they can still feel like new after 500k kilometers and the 2.8t can make up to 330hp from the factory.
@@dimmacommunication hi, would you go with diesel again? i can get the most basic 1.8i (non turbo) and Im tempted as the car shell is the same and i dont care about speeding so much.
I have a 2009 Saab Aero 9-3 1.9TTid I have it 4 years and never a days trouble with it. There is 225,000 miles on the clock now. I put 115,000 miles on it. Thanks to Saab
I have a Stage 3 2001 9-5 Aero. There were only 163 of these in the silver with a manual gearbox. I'm sure there are less than 100 on the roads now. Never getting rid of it.
Great to see a full review of this on the channel, sir! I remember the privilege of seeing the car in person. I couldn't believe something looked so purposeful could have such low fuel bills, and a Saab of all things! Thanks for this...
Looks like a great car. I had a F30 BMW 330d and it was absolutely brilliant. RWD, 8 Speed ZF, flappy paddles, ~250Bhp, 0-60 in ~5.5s, relatively luxurious, great handling and over 40MPG! The offer still stands to try my 435d BTW.
Best car ever made. Better than BMW Mercedes. i Know what im talking about. I buyed almost all models and had also Benz E220 from 2002 and 2008. I sold it and drive now Saab 9-3 2008 year. Its driving better safer. To bad that they quit
Saabs are bloody brilliant! I love mine! And this particular one is absolutely beautiful and sounds amazing! How you can say it doesn't do anything for you just winds me up 🤣
It's very, very, very bland. Why is the interior so plain for example? The nice tan Momo leather interior of a Alfa Romeo GT is so much more stylish. I feel like even an old Honda Accord Type R has more "passion" than this SAAB somehow.
Owned my 2004 9-3 Aero 2.0T for 4 years and it's a lovely car that's needed only the usual consumables replacing. It's never let me down and is comfy on long journeys. It's plenty quick enough as it's been remapped from 210 bhp & 300nm to 250 bhp and 370nm. It certainly gives people a surprise on the motorway when I either leave them for dead or they can't pull away from me. The handling isn't great as it's a Vectra chassis underneath, but it's not as bad as some people make out.
I've driven nothing but SAABs since 1972 and couldn't be more pleased with my choice Right now I have a V-6 9-3 Turbo-X with Haldex X-wheel drive that I bought new in 2008. In a few days it will be 12 years old. It's still a rocket that's the most fun to drive of any SAAB I've owned. Essentially trouble free too. I just had a rear brake job and replaced a tie rod but other than maintenance it's been GREAT...
Been running Saab's, since 2012, had a Vector sport, Linear SE, now on a TTiD Aero, and my next will be a Stationwagon (as I plan on getting some dogs). I am firm believer that they still stand out from the crowd (especially in black with the Aero trim) and the cabriolet is just timeless. As has been said there is something you can't quite put your finger on, as to what makes them so special, they get under your skin like no other car (certainly true of any car I've had in the past) and once your bitten that's it. I agree they are not for everyone, but they are undoubtedly a clasic timeless car (just look at the prices good ones are still fetching). Such a shame that no one thought them worth saving, RIP Saab.
As a man who has 2 saabs, they are most certainly not rolls royce, not even a little bit. They're made well, but don't follow the same philosophy at all.
@@ACERASPIRE1 My 9000s blew away my Jags for comfort & space. Still to this day the best leather seats in any car I've been in and the car that got the most compliments from anyone who rode in them. The GM Saabs however... Meh.
Aged 28 I bought a 93 it was a 2008 model in 2013 and I loved it, looked awesome. Ten years on I'm hunting high and low for a perfect 95 but would settle for a 93
I had a 2004 9-5 aero manual and was the best all round car I have owned at the time I was doing a lot of courses and using company 275ps 3.0D Jaguar XF’s around 2012 MY and the Saab done everything they done easily
Got a 1994 Saab 900ng convertible 2.0t stage 3 tuned, wich is quite fun. Hilarious handling with 260-270-ish hp. Got a 2nd 900ng convertible wich just had to be saved from the scrapyard (because the roif wasnt working anymore... Fixed that) And most recently I've bought a 2005 Saab 95 2.3t with an auto gearbox. As cruisers, i really do like them. For the more fun roads, I still have my Corrado vr6, wich is the complete opposite of the 2.0t convertible.
I think that was actually a quite positive review! Just selling my Saab 9-3 2.0T Aero, 2007. Love the car, had a previous 9-3 diesel and loved that too, only selling the Aero as I can get a cheap new car from my employer. Would highly recommend a 9-3 as a cheap and usually reliable cruiser, plus they're a bit different from the norm.
Cheap (to run) daily? Look no further than a high mileage manual(has to be a manual) BMW E60 530d get it ecu-tuned and daily in a stock 290HP, 720NM glorious car. You might dislike the styling of the E60. I love it. Try for a hard to find white one, otherwise a silver one. You'll thank me later.
@@MylesHSG As a previous owner I can tell you that it has two design elements that are less desirable. 01- side view of the nose, it is too round. Modern bmw's have a more square nose. 02- also side view and that is the piece of the shell above the fuel cap. It's a large area where nothing is happening. 2 minor things. When I see a titan silver E60, I just get feelings all around my body. Upgraded to a e92 335i, because only in the States was the E60 sold with a N54 engine. 535i.
James it's the oil seals in the oil gallery they go hard and they don't hold pressure so much that's probably the reason bit like a BMW behind the megatronix you have a bunch of seals
As someone who owns a 9-3 that has upgrades gas ,250 hp and all the other stuff, your review is fair. It does lack emotional thrill. My old school 1989 900 turbo was more fun , but as I live in Quebec, Canada it is a great winter car.
13:30 9000 does that too, it's so good on straight and a bit of long bend, but it will always goes "nope, don't do that" to you when you have too much fun. rofl
2006 Saab 9-3 SC 5MT B207r. 3 inch intake to turbo compressor mouth, with new vacuum lines to the wastegate actuator. Preload on the wastegate with vacuum nipple on intake larger than stock leads to a steady reading of 15 psi via OBDII and a mechanical gauge reading vacuum and pressure off the manifold (Bosch gauge reading 30 vac max 20 boost max). Intercooler and intercooler boots replaced, stock 25" core Valeo intercooler with a 2006 VAG Audi 2.0 7" by 8" by 3" side mount sitting behind the main grill. Lag with the intake and intercooler is non-existant. Welded catback exhaust sticking with a 2.5" bridge on the resonator and stock 2.25 all the way back to a 2.5" perforated through body muffler and 3.5" tip. Hangs on stock hangers, meets with stock flex pipe. Replaced 16" 5 spoke "Open" wheels (16x6.5 41offset) to the 17" 10 spoke "Aero" wheels (17×7 49offset) with 8mm hubcentric spacers. Goodyear Eagle LS2 Runflats (205/50/R17) with 400 treadwear come in at -0.8% of the original wheel setup circumference. It is unnoticable. It is lightyears in terms of enjoyment from stock, but I think I might attempt a BSR stage 1 tune. No one local can use Trionic 8, and im too afraid to flash my stcok ECM as this vehicle is my daily. Old saabs never get slower, just louder...
@@stevenhickenjr The higher spec C5 came with the Hydractive suspension, my Dad has just purchased a 63 plate C5 Tourer with the clever suspension, he loves it.
Jay try a MG ZT or a 75 1.8 Turbo extremely comfortable good on fuel and decent power I've got myself a v6 75 and I can't help it but fall in love with it the way they eat up miles is really impressive and they are not bad in corners either
I have a 2010 convertible version of this, in black, with the Hirsch upgrade. Bought it to have summer fun.....three years ago! I love it! Ticks a load of boxes!
Every time I see one of these 9-3 saloons I am reminded of how the 4 door 99 might have developed. Its all there is the sizing progression, proportions and design details.
Had a 9000 2.3T Carlsson with a mild AMS breathing on. Took it to the Ring in '02. Much hilarity on track and on the A-Bahn but sat on the 149mph limiter a fair bit.....
My 1988 900 Turbo just had its 390,000km (242k miles for you heathens) service. 5 speed manual, air con, power steering, cruise control, heated seats, power windows, power mirrors, power sunroof, rear window demist, etc. All what you'd expect in a modern car, sure, but for back then that's a list you'd not have found in many cars. Mine runs about 15lb boost and it goes brilliantly. My favourite car to drive and I don't know I'll ever get rid of it unless I have to. Interestingly, the specialist who looks after it doesn't rate the 9-3 at all by comparison. Regardless, aren't many cars everyone will love.
I've got a SAAB 9-3 Vector 1,8t myself. Lower end in terms of power, but as far as cars go it's a luxury car in terms of comfort, handling and is deceptively quick and nimble. It holds acceleration speeds to compare to an Aero cabriolet that tried to outrun me.. but failed, until I let him because I wasn't all too keen on doubling the speed limit on a highly surveillanced road. But beside that it feels like it has all the bells and whistles that you need to pay through the nose to get today. I've driven taxis, which in Norway tended to be the more expensive Mercedes and all other manners of brand spanking new cars, that felt less modern than my 2005 9-3. I probably won't ever find a car that rivals this one. The end result might be that I make it a hobby car while tuning and seeing what kind of power I can get from its original engine. I'll have no desire to push it to limits of breaking it, but just making it a proper grand tourer.
Honestly, if you are looking for a comfortable daily I have to recommend a ford mondeo. Though granted it is bigger than the 9-3. I have owned my 2010 mondeo titanium S 2.2 tdci for about a year now and I absolutely love it. Getting about 50-55 mpg with a light foot on long journeys.
I'm not massively into Saabs but my uncle had a 2.8 9-3. I believe he lowered it on eibach springs and Bilstein b8's. He said the strut brace made a difference to the handling too. Here's his thread if you want to see what he did to his: www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=1536914
I really enjoy this channel. Came upon it the other day and I'm just binge watching your channel. Helps that I just picked up an 07 Exige S 😁 You need more subscribers! You should already have more!
So, what car with manual transmission - which will 'waft'along and be nice and comfortable on motorway journeys - would you get? For 'waft' an earlier Citroen might be good, maybe?
Just to give you some context on the Renault Clio RS, i owned one for 6 years. After doing a Decat, the average fuel consumption went from 12l/100km to 8l/100km. Also, they are high revving motors, so at 4000rpm at motorway speeds, they are extremely settled and silent. But being at 4000rpm means they are ready for attack at a moments notice. I honestly think a Clio RS will be the closest experience to your Lotus
I guess you need a Turbo-X. I have a 2010 9-3 XWD petrol, 6 speed auto. I too am a manual guy and tried to find a 6 speed manual XWD but they are very rare! I love my Saab’s! I also have a 2007 9-3 6 speed manual, that gets 33MPG! Amsoil synthetic in both of them!
I have MY 08 9-3ss 2.0t with maptun stage 1, maptun XT series lowering and gas struts, 8 years almost i have been driving this car, this car drives like its on rails, perfect for very twisty road, boost is also very good, plenty of power, and AS Saab is, the sweet spot is 90km/h and up, where it really goes like a madman, iv beaten all sorts of cars with the Saab, where other loose theyr Pull, Saabs keep pulling
I owned a 2.3 Aero a few years ago and it was an absolute beast! I own a mk2 ST3 now and the SAAB was drastically quicker, especially when the Turbo kicked in, I know you didn’t get yours for that reason but I reckon you should find a 2.3 Aero petrol and review it 👍 I guarantee it will rearrange your organs 😂 good vid btw
Main issue with Saab is that GM didn't let them make anything that wasn't FWD until it was way to late. I have a 2005 9-3 with a 2.0t engine and now that spring's upon us, I can't but help to feel how wonderful it is to drive. It's quiet and smooth, yet powerful. While I know it's FWD, I can't really feel it when I chuck it around the corners of the Swedish countryside. It instills me with a level of confidence that I don't feel when driving other FWD cars, neither of the same vintage or newer. It's such a damned shame that Saab never made a 4WD coupé, because that would've been the ultimate dream car for me.
I have just purchased an 06 plate 1.9 TiD with moon miles, literally. Price was more than fair. Drives beautifully currently 👌 engine does need work and interior is tatty but, what a lot of car for the money. Effortless motorway cruising. Always liked them. Old 900 turbos...sad they're gone.
Had a CD carlsson years ago, one of two cars that I really wish I'd never got rid of. The 2.0t was a cracking engine, was running about 250 bhp at 1 bar and really shifted for what it was. Embarrassed my mates wrx so badly that he wished he'd never bought it lol. Also, those old saab heated seats were sooooo comfortable and they worked!
That's how I felt about my 9-5... Indifferent. Which bummed me out because it's such a cool, unique brand, and the car was a highly optioned, really cool looking piece of kit. It just did very little to make driving an enjoyable, and/or memorable experience that I looked forward to. So when my fuel pump went, the Saab went.
I'm currently having to do 500miles per week and I normally daily an MR-S so I did consider a cheap diesel Saab or something similar and even looked at a Clio 182. However in the end I just couldn't do it as big heavy diesel saloons just don't do it for me so I've stuck with my MR-S as it still does the job better than anything else than I can think of at that price (around £2-3k). I'm getting 39mpg commuting and it's really nippy both in town and on the motorway and it's a blast on a B road with the roof down. As well as being frugal on fuel as it's light and has tiny frontal area the maintenance and insurance costs are tiny. On a long run the seats are really comfy and the standard suspension is pliant enough (I also own an MR-2 with rather firm coilovers for attacking B roads at the weekend) and it easily still fits all my luggage for a week away. Most people seem to think you need a big car for long commutes but unless you're transporting furniture or a gallery of passengers it's just not nesscessary. Go for the fun option as cheap and frugal doesn't have to be boring.
My first car was a Saab 9-3, 1.9 tid and my average MPG was 62, even driving like a muppet it barely dropped below 60 and on motorways it'd be in the 70s! Actually now I wish I'd never sold it, but hey, I've got a Saab 900 T8 Turbo now and a 900 16v xsi, So I'm happy... wallet is empty due to fuel costs, but happy xD
Fingers crossed some ex-SAAB Aerospace engineers restart the SAAB auto company, and build some legit weapons (cars) for civilian consumption, their cars are literally fighter jets in car form. :0 🤞
i have a 93 from 1999 chipped with program 1 and feritta out more than 225 horses. real villian. sleeper! very funny to drive cause no one knows what they are up to.
It’s alright Jay, as you grow older, your body will start to change and you’ll begin to have urges and feel emotions. This is perfectly normal and part of life 😂
The design of the 9-3 ages very well. It is sort of timeless and doesn't come across as old as it is.
Right! The 9-5 didn’t age very well, the same year model and it looks a lot older than the 9-3
@@AnythingGasoline The 2011 9-5 looks brand new still though, crazy good design
@@eldafint yes I forgot about that model 9-5!
Yesssss I love mine ❤️
I learned to drive in my dad's '08 9-3 aero, and all through highschool me and the guys would spend hours screaming through the backroads! I always thought that thing was a race car. dad would have killed me. lol.
I dont think the best cars need to be the prettiest or the quickest, theres just something about them you never forget.
That's why I've kept my 06 Saab 9-3 - for my son to learn to drive in a proper manual. Hopefully this summer
Saabs are awesome - shame GM ruined them
GM ruins almost any brand, except chevy.
@@kingofohio5689 It was swedish goverment who krash all saab have buyer but some idiot spoiled all in goverment, beacous they think one are gangster fro russia!
I think the later 9-3s are just Vectras, Vectras weren't bad cars but they weren't a Saab kinda car
The 2007 Saab 9-3 aero has the 2.8 liter turbo gm engine and happens to be the fastest Saab from year to date so you can't entirely blame gm alone
@@brettmorris4082 which company was responsible for turbo charging and tuning that engine?
SAAB
My 1999 Saab 9-5 has 217k on her. Runs strong, currently modified a little. Very well built car.
I’ve got a V6 wagon with all the Hirsch performance bits fitted. Including the Bilstein B8 dampers and Eibach springs fitted. And I really love it. I think you’ve got to just “Get” the Saab way. It took a while, but slowly and surely my car got under my skin, and now I’ll be gutted when the time comes to sell for a more economical car when the new house comes along.
Just get a smaller house, you'll be grand.
I’ve got the lowest output 1.9 TiD in 6 speed manual estate form. Love it. Still goes well. Especially on the motorway.
I would love one of those 120 hp models
i’ve owned my 9-3 wagon for 3/4 months now and it’s brilliant, only the 120hp 1.9 but it’s nippy enough pulls well through all the gears. just got back from spending a week down in bude from the midlands and was perfect on the motorway and even on the little cornish back roads
Hello. I've owned many cars, and among them, my Saabs were the best, and the safest.. they saved my life. I'm glad you sold your's.. to someone who can apreciate it.
Each to there own I guess. But I owned a 9-3 for almost 5 years, and loved every minute of owning it. Mine was the single turbo vector model, with 150bhp and 16v 1.9 diesel engine. There is also an 8v 120bhp diesel, which I would avoid because of the lack of power.
But unless you throw thousands at it to uprate the suspension, shock absorbers, bushes etc, it will only ever be an "all rounder" but an accomplished, comfortable all rounder it is. And if you maintain it regularly, and dont rag it about, it will get you to your destination without so much as a whimper.
I only got rid of mine because the turbo was on its way out. But not bad going for a 12 year old car with 92k miles to still be on its original turbo. It was a very reasonable car to run.
I now have a Volvo V50, 2.4 D5. And that is a lot of fun to drive. But it is only a 5spd auto, so I miss the extra gear of the Saab. But I do love the way the Volvo kicks down, with 500 extra cc's, it is much more agressive.
@@Cloud007. It was leaking oil I think, so may have been a cheapish fix to fit new seals and innards. But tbh, I wanted an estate for practical reasons, and searched for months to find a 9-3 estate with everything I wanted, full cream leather, auto box with paddle shifters, 80k or less miles, and blue or grey paint. But all the ones I saw were either tatty unloved ones with more than 100k miles, or just over priced ones from trade sellers. So I bought a Volvo instead. Its took a bit of money to get it all sorted, but I'm almost there. Just the cam belt, discs and pads, and possibly a new engine mount. Then the rest is just superficial cosmetic stuff. 👍
@@Cloud007. I might buy a 2011-12 9-5 when the price is right, cos they are gorgeous cars.
The TID's are probably the worst engines for the NG9-3 and it's from Fiat, even has issues with flywheel and clutch, the B207 2.0t are amazing aluminum engines and overall the most reliable Saab engine ever, with regular maintenance they can still feel like new after 500k kilometers and the 2.8t can make up to 330hp from the factory.
I bought many cars, but the best one was Saab 9.3 2007 , 1.9 Tid Diesel ... thanks to Saab for best type of cars ..
I have the 2008 saab tid at home , very nice
@@dimmacommunication hi, would you go with diesel again? i can get the most basic 1.8i (non turbo) and Im tempted as the car shell is the same and i dont care about speeding so much.
@@viliamgajdos5917 With the gas saab you will spend a lot on gas , diesel is better :)
@@viliamgajdos5917The diesel one is faster and better ;)
Saab wanted to build better than GM was thinking, thats why their teamwork didn't work for a long :C Saab
I have a 2009 Saab Aero 9-3 1.9TTid
I have it 4 years and never a days trouble with it. There is 225,000 miles on the clock now. I put 115,000 miles on it. Thanks to Saab
Hey do you still own the Saab, how’s it running? Thinking of buying the same spec as yours with 110k on the clock.
I have a Stage 3 2001 9-5 Aero. There were only 163 of these in the silver with a manual gearbox. I'm sure there are less than 100 on the roads now. Never getting rid of it.
Your mistake was buying a auto diesel, saab 93 aero 2.0T or 2.8T is a legit weapon 🔫
Specially the 2 8t
@@jamesfoye9665 I used to prefer the V6 when I was younger but now a true saab has a turbo 4cyl to me
@@PierreColombo900 i have the 2007 saab 93 2.0l T and it is a beats, i can rip down the streets while getting 24mpg ahah
@@razark1435 My dad used to have an NG900 SE and now got a 2011 93 aero so I know what you're talking about man 😉
9000 Carlsson then the Aero 2.0T. Very fond memories.
Great to see a full review of this on the channel, sir! I remember the privilege of seeing the car in person. I couldn't believe something looked so purposeful could have such low fuel bills, and a Saab of all things! Thanks for this...
Looks like a great car. I had a F30 BMW 330d and it was absolutely brilliant. RWD, 8 Speed ZF, flappy paddles, ~250Bhp, 0-60 in ~5.5s, relatively luxurious, great handling and over 40MPG! The offer still stands to try my 435d BTW.
Saab is amazing I’m looking to buying my 5th saab 3 second generation saab 9-3 and 2x Saab 2008 9-3 I am an enthusiast and I love them
SharksLivesmatter I have a saab 9-3 aero xwd 2008 black for sale
Owned Saab cars for 40 years.. all brilliant and reliable. On my last 9.3 tddi. 200,000 on it and still going strong.
Baba Narr, as proved on Top Gear, you know how expensive a Saab is when you survive a crash in one!
9-5 Aero is where it's at 👍
2.3 turbo? if yes agreed
9-3 viggen is cooler
Gripen is where it's at
2.8 V6 for me 😎
Best car ever made. Better than BMW Mercedes. i Know what im talking about. I buyed almost all models and had also Benz E220 from 2002 and 2008. I sold it and drive now Saab 9-3 2008 year. Its driving better safer. To bad that they quit
You mentioned many cars in this clip but none of them beat SAAB.
Compared to an Alfa Romeo, say the 156 or 159, the SAAB lacks style and design flair IMO.
Saabs are bloody brilliant! I love mine! And this particular one is absolutely beautiful and sounds amazing! How you can say it doesn't do anything for you just winds me up 🤣
It's very, very, very bland. Why is the interior so plain for example? The nice tan Momo leather interior of a Alfa Romeo GT is so much more stylish. I feel like even an old Honda Accord Type R has more "passion" than this SAAB somehow.
Owned my 2004 9-3 Aero 2.0T for 4 years and it's a lovely car that's needed only the usual consumables replacing. It's never let me down and is comfy on long journeys. It's plenty quick enough as it's been remapped from 210 bhp & 300nm to 250 bhp and 370nm. It certainly gives people a surprise on the motorway when I either leave them for dead or they can't pull away from me. The handling isn't great as it's a Vectra chassis underneath, but it's not as bad as some people make out.
did you have any issues with your clutch slipping after remap
I've driven nothing but SAABs since 1972 and couldn't be more pleased with my choice Right now I have a V-6 9-3 Turbo-X with Haldex X-wheel drive that I bought new in 2008. In a few days it will be 12 years old. It's still a rocket that's the most fun to drive of any SAAB I've owned. Essentially trouble free too. I just had a rear brake job and replaced a tie rod but other than maintenance it's been GREAT...
I dunno, its just a daily driver. Does it really have to be that exciting for that role?
(considering you do have other fun cars)
Been running Saab's, since 2012, had a Vector sport, Linear SE, now on a TTiD Aero, and my next will be a Stationwagon (as I plan on getting some dogs).
I am firm believer that they still stand out from the crowd (especially in black with the Aero trim) and the cabriolet is just timeless.
As has been said there is something you can't quite put your finger on, as to what makes them so special, they get under your skin like no other car (certainly true of any car I've had in the past) and once your bitten that's it.
I agree they are not for everyone, but they are undoubtedly a clasic timeless car (just look at the prices good ones are still fetching).
Such a shame that no one thought them worth saving, RIP Saab.
I bought a new Saab 9-3 TTid aero in 2010, it is still in the family and now has done 93K. I like it.
Saabs getting rare and collectable people starting to appreciate them. You get alot of bang for the buck, poor man's rolls Royce. 💪😎
That would be a jag then!
As a man who has 2 saabs, they are most certainly not rolls royce, not even a little bit. They're made well, but don't follow the same philosophy at all.
PMSL @ 'poor mans 'Rolls Royce' what a muppet
Nahh Rover 75s are the poor men Roll Royce/Bentley
@@ACERASPIRE1 My 9000s blew away my Jags for comfort & space. Still to this day the best leather seats in any car I've been in and the car that got the most compliments from anyone who rode in them. The GM Saabs however... Meh.
Aged 28 I bought a 93 it was a 2008 model in 2013 and I loved it, looked awesome. Ten years on I'm hunting high and low for a perfect 95 but would settle for a 93
Just bought my turbo x from my cousin. He had his fun for 5 years. Now is my turn. Haha. And Canadian winter is coming. I am going to have fun.
I had a 2004 9-5 aero manual and was the best all round car I have owned at the time I was doing a lot of courses and using company 275ps 3.0D Jaguar XF’s around 2012 MY and the Saab done everything they done easily
Got a 1994 Saab 900ng convertible 2.0t stage 3 tuned, wich is quite fun. Hilarious handling with 260-270-ish hp.
Got a 2nd 900ng convertible wich just had to be saved from the scrapyard (because the roif wasnt working anymore... Fixed that)
And most recently I've bought a 2005 Saab 95 2.3t with an auto gearbox.
As cruisers, i really do like them.
For the more fun roads, I still have my Corrado vr6, wich is the complete opposite of the 2.0t convertible.
Had 2 saabs both been great
that car is gorgeous tbh
I think that was actually a quite positive review! Just selling my Saab 9-3 2.0T Aero, 2007. Love the car, had a previous 9-3 diesel and loved that too, only selling the Aero as I can get a cheap new car from my employer. Would highly recommend a 9-3 as a cheap and usually reliable cruiser, plus they're a bit different from the norm.
So sad to hear that you are relinquishing your Saab. Shame.
I am a Saab fanatic. I love it :D
Cheap (to run) daily?
Look no further than a high mileage manual(has to be a manual) BMW E60 530d
get it ecu-tuned and daily in a stock 290HP, 720NM glorious car. You might dislike the styling of the E60. I love it. Try for a hard to find white one, otherwise a silver one.
You'll thank me later.
The E60 is one of those cars that has looked better the more it's aged.
MylesHSG especially as the F10 is so ugly and less reliable apparently
@@MylesHSG As a previous owner I can tell you that it has two design elements that are less desirable.
01- side view of the nose, it is too round. Modern bmw's have a more square nose.
02- also side view and that is the piece of the shell above the fuel cap. It's a large area where nothing is happening.
2 minor things.
When I see a titan silver E60, I just get feelings all around my body.
Upgraded to a e92 335i, because only in the States was the E60 sold with a N54 engine. 535i.
James it's the oil seals in the oil gallery they go hard and they don't hold pressure so much that's probably the reason bit like a BMW behind the megatronix you have a bunch of seals
I would really really really love it!!
As someone who owns a 9-3 that has upgrades gas ,250 hp and all the other stuff, your review is fair. It does lack emotional thrill. My old school 1989 900 turbo was more fun , but as I live in Quebec, Canada it is a great winter car.
13:30 9000 does that too, it's so good on straight and a bit of long bend, but it will always goes "nope, don't do that" to you when you have too much fun. rofl
"Sorry mate I've got shit loads of editing to do"
Doesn't edit out the phone call
2006 Saab 9-3 SC 5MT B207r. 3 inch intake to turbo compressor mouth, with new vacuum lines to the wastegate actuator. Preload on the wastegate with vacuum nipple on intake larger than stock leads to a steady reading of 15 psi via OBDII and a mechanical gauge reading vacuum and pressure off the manifold (Bosch gauge reading 30 vac max 20 boost max). Intercooler and intercooler boots replaced, stock 25" core Valeo intercooler with a 2006 VAG Audi 2.0 7" by 8" by 3" side mount sitting behind the main grill. Lag with the intake and intercooler is non-existant. Welded catback exhaust sticking with a 2.5" bridge on the resonator and stock 2.25 all the way back to a 2.5" perforated through body muffler and 3.5" tip. Hangs on stock hangers, meets with stock flex pipe. Replaced 16" 5 spoke "Open" wheels (16x6.5 41offset) to the 17" 10 spoke "Aero" wheels (17×7 49offset) with 8mm hubcentric spacers. Goodyear Eagle LS2 Runflats (205/50/R17) with 400 treadwear come in at -0.8% of the original wheel setup circumference. It is unnoticable. It is lightyears in terms of enjoyment from stock, but I think I might attempt a BSR stage 1 tune. No one local can use Trionic 8, and im too afraid to flash my stcok ECM as this vehicle is my daily. Old saabs never get slower, just louder...
What's the torque and hp look like on that set up?
Have you ever thought about getting a Citroën C5? The hydropneumatic suspension works beautifully and the 2009MY still looks new today
The Citroën C5 has hydropneumatic? I thought that was just the C6
@@stevenhickenjr Hydractive sorry, thanks for that :)
@@stevenhickenjr The higher spec C5 came with the Hydractive suspension, my Dad has just purchased a 63 plate C5 Tourer with the clever suspension, he loves it.
Cool car! I wish we had this trim in the U S!
Jay try a MG ZT or a 75 1.8 Turbo extremely comfortable good on fuel and decent power I've got myself a v6 75 and I can't help it but fall in love with it the way they eat up miles is really impressive and they are not bad in corners either
Just saw this older video and must say you've come a long way. This was good your new ones are even better. Cheers!
I have a 2010 convertible version of this, in black, with the Hirsch upgrade. Bought it to have summer fun.....three years ago! I love it! Ticks a load of boxes!
I work in a motor trade for a very long time Saab cars were the best going back 80s 90s 2000
Every time I see one of these 9-3 saloons I am reminded of how the 4 door 99 might have developed. Its all there is the sizing progression, proportions and design details.
It is true that saab do still exist they make jet fighters for the sweedish airforce
Different company. The SAAB that makes aircraft sold the SAAB that makes cars in 1990.
Jabber 1974 did not know that 👍
When nevs wanted the saab name to their new cars the swedish airforce said no because it belongs to the airforce, fun fact.
@pseudoswitch True the government cucks itself if there is a economic gainage.
Saab still exist but make jet engines
Had a 9000 2.3T Carlsson with a mild AMS breathing on. Took it to the Ring in '02. Much hilarity on track and on the A-Bahn but sat on the 149mph limiter a fair bit.....
I have Saab 93 2,2tdi from 2003 they are really good cars.
I have stage1 of this model im very impressed TBF! how much for stage2?
had many Saab’s.
93 diesel sport is great. liked 9-5 too. saved my life in a rear end. accident. yes they are made of granite.
I had a pre face-lift 2.8t 9-3
My 1988 900 Turbo just had its 390,000km (242k miles for you heathens) service.
5 speed manual, air con, power steering, cruise control, heated seats, power windows, power mirrors, power sunroof, rear window demist, etc.
All what you'd expect in a modern car, sure, but for back then that's a list you'd not have found in many cars. Mine runs about 15lb boost and it goes brilliantly. My favourite car to drive and I don't know I'll ever get rid of it unless I have to.
Interestingly, the specialist who looks after it doesn't rate the 9-3 at all by comparison.
Regardless, aren't many cars everyone will love.
I've got a SAAB 9-3 Vector 1,8t myself. Lower end in terms of power, but as far as cars go it's a luxury car in terms of comfort, handling and is deceptively quick and nimble. It holds acceleration speeds to compare to an Aero cabriolet that tried to outrun me.. but failed, until I let him because I wasn't all too keen on doubling the speed limit on a highly surveillanced road. But beside that it feels like it has all the bells and whistles that you need to pay through the nose to get today. I've driven taxis, which in Norway tended to be the more expensive Mercedes and all other manners of brand spanking new cars, that felt less modern than my 2005 9-3.
I probably won't ever find a car that rivals this one. The end result might be that I make it a hobby car while tuning and seeing what kind of power I can get from its original engine. I'll have no desire to push it to limits of breaking it, but just making it a proper grand tourer.
Honestly, if you are looking for a comfortable daily I have to recommend a ford mondeo. Though granted it is bigger than the 9-3.
I have owned my 2010 mondeo titanium S 2.2 tdci for about a year now and I absolutely love it. Getting about 50-55 mpg with a light foot on long journeys.
I love an old Saab...!!!
70s to 90s...😁👍
they are okay. Not a fan of the styling or headlights. I have a 2008 9-3 aero
I’ve just bought a 2ltr petrol stage 1 map tune anyone know what is the best springs to lower it and any other mods I can do under the bonnet cheers
I'm not massively into Saabs but my uncle had a 2.8 9-3. I believe he lowered it on eibach springs and Bilstein b8's. He said the strut brace made a difference to the handling too.
Here's his thread if you want to see what he did to his: www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=1536914
Perhaps an older Merc like a C class or E Class, great for long miles and good on fuel economy. Plenty of different body styles to go for as well.
This also puts me in mind of the fact you can get that small Cadillac on that same Vectra platform. An interesting alternative Iike this SAAB
I really enjoy this channel. Came upon it the other day and I'm just binge watching your channel. Helps that I just picked up an 07 Exige S 😁 You need more subscribers! You should already have more!
I couldn't agree more!
Are you sure the head unit is oem?? I think thats aftermarket since it doesnt look like the ones saab did...
It's not OEM
So, what car with manual transmission - which will 'waft'along and be nice and comfortable on motorway journeys - would you get? For 'waft' an earlier Citroen might be good, maybe?
Citroen for sure!
Honestly I think if you kept it longer u are just afraid that you'll fall in love with it
Yes,we all have a dozen ABBA tracks on a hardrive somewhere.
@@alittleodd1 also a Swedish car
I like the way he talks takes a call half way through filming, that's classic 😎
Just to give you some context on the Renault Clio RS, i owned one for 6 years. After doing a Decat, the average fuel consumption went from 12l/100km to 8l/100km. Also, they are high revving motors, so at 4000rpm at motorway speeds, they are extremely settled and silent. But being at 4000rpm means they are ready for attack at a moments notice. I honestly think a Clio RS will be the closest experience to your Lotus
SAAB FOREVER ❤️
I guess you need a Turbo-X. I have a 2010 9-3 XWD petrol, 6 speed auto. I too am a manual guy and tried to find a 6 speed manual XWD but they are very rare! I love my Saab’s! I also have a 2007 9-3 6 speed manual, that gets 33MPG! Amsoil synthetic in both of them!
I have MY 08 9-3ss 2.0t with maptun stage 1, maptun XT series lowering and gas struts, 8 years almost i have been driving this car, this car drives like its on rails, perfect for very twisty road, boost is also very good, plenty of power, and AS Saab is, the sweet spot is 90km/h and up, where it really goes like a madman, iv beaten all sorts of cars with the Saab, where other loose theyr Pull, Saabs keep pulling
I find the mondeo is a brilliant mile muncher. Sat in a Mondeo everything is where you expect it and the ride is super smooth.
I think you're over thinking this.
The 93X with the 2.8 turbo V6 is surprisingly fast, and hilarious, have you driven one jay?
93 Turbo X. Because 93X is only a wagon with "allroad" plastics with either XWD 2.0 gasoline on 1.9TTiD FWD.
Both are enjoyable though :)
Damn, yes PLEASE 😍
I owned a 2.3 Aero a few years ago and it was an absolute beast! I own a mk2 ST3 now and the SAAB was drastically quicker, especially when the Turbo kicked in, I know you didn’t get yours for that reason but I reckon you should find a 2.3 Aero petrol and review it 👍 I guarantee it will rearrange your organs 😂 good vid btw
I tried a 9-3 aero last week totally stock and it was amazing too drive very confy.. Your look shaky.
Main issue with Saab is that GM didn't let them make anything that wasn't FWD until it was way to late.
I have a 2005 9-3 with a 2.0t engine and now that spring's upon us, I can't but help to feel how wonderful it is to drive. It's quiet and smooth, yet powerful. While I know it's FWD, I can't really feel it when I chuck it around the corners of the Swedish countryside. It instills me with a level of confidence that I don't feel when driving other FWD cars, neither of the same vintage or newer.
It's such a damned shame that Saab never made a 4WD coupé, because that would've been the ultimate dream car for me.
I have just purchased an 06 plate 1.9 TiD with moon miles, literally. Price was more than fair. Drives beautifully currently 👌 engine does need work and interior is tatty but, what a lot of car for the money. Effortless motorway cruising. Always liked them. Old 900 turbos...sad they're gone.
Old Saabs were awesome drives, especially the turbo variants.
Who has that car now? I'd love to have it off them when they've had their time with it, that's perfect to me!
All you needed was a petrol manual.
What car did he buy after this? I have been considering one of these also looking at an e90 330d
That was an unusually long rant about you buying a car you didn't like. You bought the bastard of SAABs and got punished. Diesel is not for SAAB.
Maybe check a V70 T5. Wagon goodness, manual, softer and 5 cylinder sounds.
Had a CD carlsson years ago, one of two cars that I really wish I'd never got rid of. The 2.0t was a cracking engine, was running about 250 bhp at 1 bar and really shifted for what it was. Embarrassed my mates wrx so badly that he wished he'd never bought it lol. Also, those old saab heated seats were sooooo comfortable and they worked!
That's how I felt about my 9-5... Indifferent. Which bummed me out because it's such a cool, unique brand, and the car was a highly optioned, really cool looking piece of kit. It just did very little to make driving an enjoyable, and/or memorable experience that I looked forward to. So when my fuel pump went, the Saab went.
The 9-3 is a different kettle of fish, having owned both, 9-3 is far better as a drivers car, especially with XWD
I love my Maptun stage 6 9-3 2.0T
I get late 20’s mpg from my 130, their is the temptation to give it the beans but for performance you pay at the pumps.
I'm currently having to do 500miles per week and I normally daily an MR-S so I did consider a cheap diesel Saab or something similar and even looked at a Clio 182. However in the end I just couldn't do it as big heavy diesel saloons just don't do it for me so I've stuck with my MR-S as it still does the job better than anything else than I can think of at that price (around £2-3k). I'm getting 39mpg commuting and it's really nippy both in town and on the motorway and it's a blast on a B road with the roof down. As well as being frugal on fuel as it's light and has tiny frontal area the maintenance and insurance costs are tiny. On a long run the seats are really comfy and the standard suspension is pliant enough (I also own an MR-2 with rather firm coilovers for attacking B roads at the weekend) and it easily still fits all my luggage for a week away. Most people seem to think you need a big car for long commutes but unless you're transporting furniture or a gallery of passengers it's just not nesscessary. Go for the fun option as cheap and frugal doesn't have to be boring.
'Woulda, shoulda, Couda .....' that's what age & experience gives ..... Looks-wise at least, I think it's great!
My first car was a Saab 9-3, 1.9 tid and my average MPG was 62, even driving like a muppet it barely dropped below 60 and on motorways it'd be in the 70s! Actually now I wish I'd never sold it, but hey, I've got a Saab 900 T8 Turbo now and a 900 16v xsi, So I'm happy... wallet is empty due to fuel costs, but happy xD
Fingers crossed some ex-SAAB Aerospace engineers restart the SAAB auto company, and build some legit weapons (cars) for civilian consumption, their cars are literally fighter jets in car form. :0 🤞
i have a 93 from 1999 chipped with program 1 and feritta out more than 225 horses. real villian.
sleeper! very funny to drive cause no one knows what they are up to.
Damn that thing sounds like a jet. Need my saab to sound like that its stage 3 just need an exhaust
A good comfy long ranger and well handling car is the GTC. I took one right across Europe.
Promised myself I would get one when a get the opportunity
nice Hirsch frontbumper, turbo X exhaust?
the gear change lag on the autobox is pretty slow
That's a really cool daily sleeper 👍👍