CD Article: 2008 Saab 9-3 2.0T sedan

[CD_Editor]

Test Drive:


"It bugs me that Saab has lost a lot of the weirdness that used to be the brand's hallmark," says Contributing Editor, Chris Chase. However, "taken on its own, there's a lot to like about the 9-3," he admits.

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Read the article | View the photos | All The Test Drives

[Dave E]

Chris,  
You have compared the tester 9-3 vs Cadillac CTS.  Check your specs, make sure you are working apples vs apples.  SAAB has full leather, last time I checked, CTS base had simulated leather (I stand to be corrected on this point if the spec's have changed).  SAAB is FWD, CTS is RWD.  
The 2.0t you had spec'd to the same level as the Aero (2.8 V6 turbo), at a price point that corresponds to the Aero.  
I would encourage you to go drive the Aero, with all the optional equipment you had as standard, for a base price that is similar.  With the 6 spd manual, you will be impressed at the difference in performance.  It may make the CTS not look like the bargain you think it is.

[Railton]

"It bugs me that Saab has lost a lot of the weirdness that used to be the brand's hallmark,"
C. Chase

Can you imagine their (SAAB) sales numbers if they hadn't?
Railton

[Mitlov]

A Saab 9-3 2.0T is only a good deal if you leave it relatively base.  Start checking options, and it turns into a bad deal real quick.

The Saab 9-3 Aero is a better deal than the CTS if you dislike RWD (say, for winter performance, or for fuel economy reasons, or for how it eats up rear seat space).  The CTS is a better deal than the 9-3 Aero if you think RWD is an asset, or if you value interior quality.

Here's to hoping that the next-generation 9-3 sees the same interior quality upgrade that the second-generation CTS received.

[sailor723]

Sounds to me like Saab has become just another GM "brand"....Is it fair to say that Ford has left Volvo alone to be Volvo to a much greater extent than GM's treatment of Saab?

[Mitlov]

Sounds to me like Saab has become just another GM "brand"....Is it fair to say that Ford has left Volvo alone to be Volvo to a much greater extent than GM's treatment of Saab?

No.  The S40/V50/C30/C70 mkII platform-shares with the Euro Focus, just as this platform-shares with an Opel.  Exact same thing.  Plus, Ford made Volvo quit advertising the reinforced roof on the XC90 (because it made the Explorer look bad), which I find a far more insidious form of corporate meddling than simple platform-sharing.

The 9-2X and 9-7X are embarassments, but the 9-3 and 9-5 are no more and no less Swedish than Volvo's P1 (S40 and pals) and P2 platform (V70 and pals) cars.

[Spheric]

The 9-2X and 9-7X are embarassments, but the 9-3 and 9-5 are no more and no less Swedish than Volvo's P1 (S40 and pals) and P2 platform (V70 and pals) cars.

Saab production moves from Sweden to Germany this year.

http://car-reviews.automobile.com/news/saab-to-produce-vehicles-in-germany-next-year/2787/

[Mitlov]

The 9-2X and 9-7X are embarassments, but the 9-3 and 9-5 are no more and no less Swedish than Volvo's P1 (S40 and pals) and P2 platform (V70 and pals) cars.

Saab production moves from Sweden to Germany this year.

http://car-reviews.automobile.com/news/saab-to-produce-vehicles-in-germany-next-year/2787/

...and the Volvo P1 cars, which account for half their lineup, are made in Ghent, Belgium.  I'm not saying that GM doesn't interfere with Saab, but I really don't think that we should be holding up the Ford/Volvo relationship as a better alternative.

[Bullet Blue]

A Saab 9-3 2.0T is only a good deal if you leave it relatively base.

Or if you wait a year or two for the depreciation to kick in. Makes it one hell of a used buy.