2007 Saab 9-3 2.0T [With Pics!]

[mgescuro]

Well, my Saab's very sick at the moment, and will be in the shop for more than a couple of days.
But in turn, the dealership loaned me a car for a couple of days -- a pretty new 9-3 2.0T. So I get to have some extensive time in the 9-3.

Some initial comments. Fit and finish is decent in some areas and completely off the mark in others. The side mirror controls are wobbly and actually loose. it feels like I could wiggle it out of its slot. The lack of electrochromatic mirrors is really annoying.

I did some quick comparisons with my G6, and you can hear just how much more solid the 9-3 is compared to the G6. Try shutting the trunk in the G6, and it has a tinny sound. Shut the 9-3's trunk, and it's a thunk. but the G6 trunk lid has a better design, as the shocks don't intrude into the trunk area; however, the 9-3's hinges don't jut into the trunk area and way off to the side a bit.
The Cruise control On/Off switch is very finnicky. I'd just barely tap the signal stalk, and I'd turn it on. Very weird. What was a really nice touch is the Resume button on the stalk is rubberized. It's a very nice touch and provides great tactile feel.
I still don't like the center stack. It's a sea of grey. And the base stereo system isn't the most intuitive right off the bat. The pixellated display is tough to read, and I find it's placement a bit too high.

Performance is more than peppy. Turning radius is far tighter than any other Epsilon I've ever driven. The car is very well isolated from the road. The car rolls over road imperfections without any loss of control or reverberations or any odd clunks from the wheel wells.

Detailing on the door is impressive, but the material is not. it can be much better than it is.

The 9-3's impressive. I'll post more later as I drive the car more.

So... here are a few pics I took...

The Steering wheel and the IP






Center Stack and Center Console










Back Seat




Door Panels




Other Details

[ChevroletRevived]

Thanks for posting! The 9-3 is a cool car. How you handling that corporate radio in there? LOL

[mgescuro]

Originally Posted by ChevroletRevived

Thanks for posting! The 9-3 is a cool car. How you handling that corporate radio in there? LOL

I think the font is very unsophisticated and reminiscent of something you'd find on a VT100 terminal.
It's the wrong look for Saab. It's something GM needs to just flat out remove from their cars.

It's tacky.

[ChevroletRevived]

Originally Posted by mgescuro

I think the font is very unsophisticated and reminiscent of something you'd find on a VT100 terminal.
It's the wrong look for Saab. It's something GM needs to just flat out remove from their cars.

It's tacky.

Ah, that's the mgescuro I'm used to. Expected you to say something about it pretty soon. I agree though that it was cooler with the other radio.

[PrenupTB]

God that center stack is nasty looking. Other than that, the car looks great.

[1BadPig]

I still like our 2005 center stack better.

[throwback]

I have to agree about the radio. I have a 2005 9-3 Linear with the base radio, it stinks. I have also experienced the "upgraded" radio, it also stinks. Poor sound quality and poor reception. I have to say it is the worst aspect of the car. The interior materials are holding up well (2 years 65K miles) as is the whole car. It is still very solid with no squeaks rattles or loose trim.

[montrealvue]

One of the nicest cars on the road today...but I'm not biased......lol

[BigAls87Z28]

I like the design of the black-tie radio, just not that tabbed look of the radio controls.

[BusyBody]

I love the 9-3. Its really a great little car, and your assessment of it was dead on. I really like the Parchment interior, the slate gray is too dull, IMO. My next car will most likely be a Saab 9-3 or the new Caddy CTS.
Edited to add, the cup holders really do suck. This was a major deterant for me. The exterior is cramped, but I didn't care so much about that.

[Quickening]

I'd take my interior to that anyday. And it looks a little odd to have the aluminum accent at the glovebox, but wood everywhere else.

[DuSpinnst]

My Dad has the 2006 Interior, and I have the 2007 Interior. After using both extensivly, I like mine MUCH better.

[DuSpinnst]

Originally Posted by Quickening

I'd take my interior to that anyday. And it looks a little odd to have the aluminum accent at the glovebox, but wood everywhere else.

In the Aero it looks fine since everything is aluminum.

[psece]

VT100 Display made me laugh. As someone who has used many terminals in his lifetime, I understand the negativity towards the colors and the font.

How is the handling and ride compared to your G6? Engine and Transmission?

[mgescuro]

Originally Posted by psece

How is the handling and ride compared to your G6? Engine and Transmission?

Are you kidding? LOL
Absolutely no comparison. While the G6 thunks reverberates over bumps in the road, the 9-3 takes it without a shudder.
Powerband in the 9-3 is better than the G6's V6, and the 9-3 only has 10 more HP.
The transmission is more responsive in the 9-3, and the position of the manual shift gate is better in the 9-3. In the G6, to shift to manual mode, you need to move the gear selector to the right, making it further away from you and less convenient to shift. In the 9-3, the manual shift gate is on the left, making it closer to you and therefore easier to shift.

While the G6 is a fairly decent handling car, it doesn't hold a candle to 9-3. The 9-3 feels light and nimble (almost too light actually), and it wants to take the curves and corners hard and is quite happy to do so. The G6 doesn't want to take the curves and corners at speed. Control becomes sketchy at that point, and confidence goes out the window.

So yeah. The 9-3's pretty impressive, to say the least.

But there are things about the 9-3 that still make me wonder. Like why the main headlights are projector and the high beams are standard halogen. It casts a very questionable light pattern and bugs me. The lack of auto-dim mirrors in the US market. The corporate radio.