The Saab 9-3 is a compact luxury car produced with three- or five-door hatchback and two-door convertible bodies. 9-3 shares its platform with the Opel Vectra and with the Cadillac BLS. This is the smallest Saab except for the short-lived model 9-2X, which was built on a Subaru Impreza base. This model was the last Saab to have a H-series engine developed by the company. The first-generation 9-3 is essentially a refurbishment of the last-generation Saab 900. Externally, the changes have been very minor, but improved vehicle handling and significantly improved safety with the now standard side-impact airbags and head protection. Both the Saab 9-5 and Saab 9-3 were the first cars in the world to score the highest score in Euro NCAP tests in a side impact. Later, the Volvo S40 turned out even better. The 9-3 was also produced with a new low-pressure turbo engine, and for the first time Saab received a diesel engine borrowed from Opel Vectra.
The Saab 9-3, along with the Saab 9-5 and the Volvo S70, were the first cars in the world to score the highest score in the Euro NCAP side impact tests.
A special version of the Saab 9-3 Viggen was produced named as the previously produced Saab 37 Viggen fighter. The Viggen developed 230 hp (172 kW) at a turbine pressure of 1.4 bar (Mitsubishi TD04-HL15-5 turbine). New Viggen buyers in the U.S. received two-day driving courses and had the opportunity to dine with Saab U.S. dealers. The program was called the Viggen Flight Academy and later evolved into the SAAB Aero Academy.
The car was voted one of the top ten in 1998 and 1999 (according to Fortune Magazine).
In two and a half years, the failures did not go away, only the current ones were done - brakes, lubricants, belts. The suspension is quite comfortable, but at the same time stable in turns. The cabin is comfortable, the seats are soft, and almost all the possible advantages of that time have been added. Annoying little things - the steering wheel only adjusts from front to back, not up and down. Loud-working wipers - quite noisy descends and hits the bottom. And the biggest downside for me is that it?s not a coffee cup holder. Everything else was super and met my expectations. Before buying SAAB, everyone was intimidated by the costly repairs, but so did not find out how much it costs. And the current ones do not differ in any way from the prices of ordinary Germans - A4, Vectros, Golf.
Performance
Reliable, only tends to lubricate through the upper gasket. As masters, changing gaskets doesn?t pay off because they just don?t hold a few thousand miles more. If you have already chosen such an engine, then reconcile that it will not look nice.
Reliability, running costs
Depreciates quite a bit, because already now these cars are not expensive (probably due to a design that is not acceptable to everyone)
Recommendations to buyers
As with any car, having it checked by a workshop is highly recommended.
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