2001 Saab 9-3 consumer reviews

If you want a Honda do not buy a Saab. I bought the base 9-3 5 door with the manual transmission 4 years ago with 58k miles on it and now I am taking it in for the 90k service. There have been no serious mechanical problems and the car has been a pleasure to drive. The trunk is huge allowing us to avoid buying a wagon for now, and it gets over 30 mpg on highway driving. The vehicle requires synthetic oil (changed frequently if you do a lot of city driving) and premium gasoline. I am careful about who I let touch it. A good mechanic who knows Saabs is a necesity for this car if you do not want expensive trouble. The car is great in all weather (traction control) except for snow over 6 inches. I love the car and I hope to drive it for another 90k miles. The back seat is not huge, but is adequate for short to medium drives for an adult, our infant car seat fit behind the driver or passenger without trouble. The driver information screen gradually stopped working after 75k miles (don't spill drinks into the dash). The estimates to replace it varried from $800 to $200 with a lifetime replacement. My wife has expressed annoyance that the manual transmission is not as or pleasurable to shift as her old Honda Civic, but she has learned to enjoy the turbo whoosh on the highway and the strong acceleration when merging into busy traffic. Best features- Strong turbo engine, big trunk, good fuel economy, all weather capable. Worst features- Unforgiving maintainence schedule, easily can become expensive to maintain.

I love my Saab. I have a 2001 9-3 SE fully loaded, leather, sunroof, heated seats, dual power seats, tcs, and on-star. Great features and awsome performance! Like i said I would buy another one in a heart beat! And F.Y.I. Saab is owned by GM not by Ford.

I love this car. I know that's a strong word, and usually I am pretty utilitarian or pragmatic when it comes to cars. However, I did always want a convertible. This is great. granted there are oddities about the Swedish car that some don't like--not great stereo options, buttons in wierd places, bad cupholders (can't drink while driving in Sweden)--but get over it. It has more power and braking ability than any car I have had. Handling is superior. Try and beat me off the line when I am in sport mode--no can do. It has a great trunk for a convertible, and actually a nice and comfortable back seat. the top is triple insulated, and the car is designed to have great traction in snow. After all, it is built for the Swedes. This makes it one of the few convertibles that makes sense for northern climates. However, I always drive with the top down. You will LOVE it.

The nitpicky things that go wrong with this car will drive you crazy: molding coming off, the little knobs on the AC vents breaking, short circuits on the electrical displays, sensors going bad, and leaky doors. But there's been plenty of big stuff too; most recently the transmission completely cratered at not quite 70k miles, before that the brake calipers went askew. Ford has taken this brand and basically ruined it. I would not buy another Saab.

I bought my 9-3 SE in 2001, and have driven it on highways, in snowstorms, on unpaved rural roads,--you name it. It is the GREATEST car to drive--it's like a little rocket, and has been incredibly dependable, and really fun. I'd buy another one in a heartbeat. I wish Saab would reinstate the hatchback--it has a great cargo capacity, and I love the style. Sitting in the back seat, however, isn't all that comfortable if you're taller than 5'6".

This is the most dependable and fun car I have ever owned. I now have 238,000 mile on my base 9-3, will buy Saab again without looking at anything else.

A wonderful ride, great in traffic with lots of performance for passing or flying on the highway. It was a perfect vehicle when I was single, dating and on the town. Being a four seater allows company to join you when you want it. A tow hitch lets you make great use of the bike trail and look good when you arrive. The heated seats and front wheel drive is great in a light snow and the insulated roof makes for a quiet ride.

A lot of hi end features for low end budget. Suspension isn't the greatest, seems like it could be a bit tighter when going over railroad tracks or little pot holes. Kind of loose. Have a VW and it handles great over those areas. O/A the Saab offers smart design and layout. Safety first - throw the car in reverse and the side front lights light up so that you can see the curb; if your whipers are on and you put the car in reverse, the rear whiper automatically goes on to see.