Saab 9-3 value model?

[IAMCANADIAN]

I was looking at the saab 9-3's in europe, they offer less powerful engines but at a lower price. I was thinking, saab should offer a value model that's a lot less than a linear model. It would come with the 2.0L ECOTEC Turbo that has 175 HP. It would come with basic amenities like power group, manual a/c, cloth seats (europe has them and canada offered them until 2004 as a no cost option, we have them instead of the leather, the base would of course offer leather as an option) abs w/traction control (stability control would be optional) front and side airbags and a 4 speaker stereo instead of the 7-speaker linear models. It would come of course with the saab DIC that's on top of the dash near the windshield. transmissions would be 5-speed manual, 5-speed sentronic automatic. It would also come with the high tech security system, it's a good feature and worth it, our 9-3 linear has it and the car is virtually impossible to steal or even break into. What do you guys think, would you like to see an affordable saab 9-3, my model is essentially like our 9-3 linear just with a few less horses, 4-speaker stereo and just has regualar traction control, we have cloth seats and they are quite good.

EDIT: Since 2006 won't have the 175 HP Linear Model, I'll make that the engine on the value model instead of my original Euro-spec 1.8L 155 HP ECOTEC Turbo

[1BadPig]

From what I've read at www.saabcentral.com the Linear designation is going away in the near future. I think the 9³ is a great value already, given that GM is offering incentives. It is fun to drive and distinctive in the sea of 3-series and C-class around town. I'm not sure if SAAB is interested in offering a cheaper 9³ though since it has the 9²X already.

[IAMCANADIAN]

Originally Posted by 1BadPig

From what I've read at www.saabcentral.com the Linear designation is going away in the near future. I think the 9³ is a great value already, given that GM is offering incentives. It is fun to drive and distinctive in the sea of 3-series and C-class around town. I'm not sure if SAAB is interested in offering a cheaper 9³ though since it has the 9²X already.

Sadly we don't have tons of incentives out here in Canada, unless the dealers offer something, only the 9-5 usually gets a discount.

[mgescuro]

There will only be 2 models of the 9-3 the coming model year in the US.
- Base 9-3 -- 210HP (using the current Aero engine)
- Aero 9-3 -- 250HP HF V6.

And there's only 1 model of 9-5.

[IAMCANADIAN]

Originally Posted by mgescuro

There will only be 2 models of the 9-3 the coming model year in the US.
- Base 9-3 -- 210HP (using the current Aero engine)
- Aero 9-3 -- 250HP HF V6.

And there's only 1 model of 9-5.

Right, I remember that, thanks for posting the info
The linear with auto is quite fast, but the 210 HP certainly helps, plus the audi's 2.0L has 200 HP, so this makes the 9-3 more competitive.

[mgescuro]

Originally Posted by IAMCANADIAN

Right, I remember that, thanks for posting the info
The linear with auto is quite fast, but the 210 HP certainly helps, plus the audi's 2.0L has 200 HP, so this makes the 9-3 more competitive.

Oh I know the LInears are fast. My buddy's sister has one, and she raves about it. And my buddys says the linear is "faster" than his Audi A4 2.8T. So... 210HP should be sufficient as a "value" model in the US. 250HP will be more than enough for the 9-3, even if the 0-60 numbers are a bit on the high side. Everyone who's driven a Saab knows that 0-60 isn't where the Saab excel... but 60-100 or even 0-100 is where they'll but "better" cars in their place.

[IAMCANADIAN]

Originally Posted by mgescuro

Oh I know the LInears are fast. My buddy's sister has one, and she raves about it. And my buddys says the linear is "faster" than his Audi A4 2.8T. So... 210HP should be sufficient as a "value" model in the US. 250HP will be more than enough for the 9-3, even if the 0-60 numbers are a bit on the high side. Everyone who's driven a Saab knows that 0-60 isn't where the Saab excel... but 60-100 or even 0-100 is where they'll but "better" cars in their place.

The Saab 9-3 V6 is supposed to get like a 0-60 in under 7 seconds, it's like the fastest saab ever R & T said

[mgescuro]

Originally Posted by IAMCANADIAN

The Saab 9-3 V6 is supposed to get like a 0-60 in under 7 seconds, it's like the fastest saab ever R & T said

See... I could have sworn teh 9-3 Viggen numbers were better than "under 7." In fact, I think it was closer to 6. But who knows.

And "fastest saab" ever? They're all limited at 155mph....

[IAMCANADIAN]

I dunno whether it's under 7, I thought I heard it was like 6.7 for the manual, 7.1 for the auto, not sure, we'll have to wait and see

[mgescuro]

Originally Posted by IAMCANADIAN

I dunno whether it's under 7, I thought I heard it was like 6.7 for the manual, 7.1 for the auto, not sure, we'll have to wait and see

Oh defintiely. Maybe I'll trade in the G6 for the 9-3 Aero.

[IAMCANADIAN]

You can get a 4-cylinder Arc for dirt cheap right now, we're thinking of going down to the US and buying a 9-3 Arc and importing it up here, it's difficult though, we love our linear but we want leather, the whole package, cloth is okay and quite a rarity since only limited amounts of cloth models from Sweden came to Canada in 03 and 04. If the 9-3 is too much of a hassle, we might just buy a G6 'Vert or a solstice. If we buy a solstice then we'll buy an affordable 4-door car incase we need more than a 2 seater cuz my alero coupe's backseat is comfortable but hard to get into the back.

[mgescuro]

Originally Posted by IAMCANADIAN

You can get a 4-cylinder Arc for dirt cheap right now, we're thinking of going down to the US and buying a 9-3 Arc and importing it up here, it's difficult though, we love our linear but we want leather, the whole package, cloth is okay and quite a rarity since only limited amounts of cloth models from Sweden came to Canada in 03 and 04. If the 9-3 is too much of a hassle, we might just buy a G6 'Vert or a solstice. If we buy a solstice then we'll buy an affordable 4-door car incase we need more than a 2 seater cuz my alero coupe's backseat is comfortable but hard to get into the back.

I wonder what the cost is to import to Canada??
I'd definitely get leather in a Saab. Cloth is ok. My G6 is cloth.

How about getting a base G6 AND a Solstice??? And get rid of the ALero.

[IAMCANADIAN]

Originally Posted by mgescuro

I wonder what the cost is to import to Canada??
I'd definitely get leather in a Saab. Cloth is ok. My G6 is cloth.

How about getting a base G6 AND a Solstice??? And get rid of the ALero.

well the alero's my car and I ain't giving that up lol, my mom has the saab, my mom loves the solstice and she says she doesn't want to waste money on 2 new cars when she only needs a 4-door occasionally, so she's just going to buy a cheap used car only a year or 2 old, you also save money that way since it's done the big first year depreciation. The cloth we have is the eurospec which was available as no cost option in Canada instead of the leather, I wonder since it's a rarity that the cloth would bring up the value lol. We'll have to wait and see, the only reason we'd get a cheap 4-door is since my alero is a coupe, it's hard for my grandparents to get in, and that's mainly why we need a 4-door is so they can get in.

[mgescuro]

Originally Posted by IAMCANADIAN

well the alero's my car and I ain't giving that up lol, my mom has the saab, my mom loves the solstice and she says she doesn't want to waste money on 2 new cars when she only needs a 4-door occasionally, so she's just going to buy a cheap used car only a year or 2 old, you also save money that way since it's done the big first year depreciation. The cloth we have is the eurospec which was available as no cost option in Canada instead of the leather, I wonder since it's a rarity that the cloth would bring up the value lol. We'll have to wait and see, the only reason we'd get a cheap 4-door is since my alero is a coupe, it's hard for my grandparents to get in, and that's mainly why we need a 4-door is so they can get in.

Oohh.. the Alero's yours.
THey just get the Solstice. That's what I'd do.

[IAMCANADIAN]

yah, I just got a 2002 Alero Coupe GLS, FULLY LOADED!!! sunroof, leather, 3.4L V6, Monsoon Stero etc.