Saab 9-3 Vert or BMW E46 Vert ?
Discussion
Hi , i want to buy a convertible for my wife & the kids, but can't decide between an E46 or Saab 9-3 the newer ones 2004 onwards i think they are. Obviously i could get a newer 9-3 for the same money but what do they drive like & are they reliable ? Not too fussed about handling & speed as i have a M3 Evo to play about with & the main family car is one of the later V70 R awd 6 speed manual Volvo's which is quite brisk but it would be nice to have a vert for the summer & not have to use the Volvo as much. I really like the look of the 2004 onwards 9-3 verts but worried about build quality.
Whats this colour called on the one for £10990 blue one,fantastic colour and seems quite rare.
http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-uk/www/cars/SAAB...
Cheers Simon.
Whats this colour called on the one for £10990 blue one,fantastic colour and seems quite rare.
http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-uk/www/cars/SAAB...
Cheers Simon.
Why do you say that ? I couldn't careless if the kids dirty it up inside but one is 8yrs & over the height for a booster seat so no probs their but the other is 4yrs & still uses booster seat. I've had loads of BMW's so just thought a Saab would be a change. Although i like my Volvo's & have had a couple i really only have one because its a great estate car. Not to keen on the looks of the C70. Maybe the C70 is better in terms of safety ?
Simon.
Simon.
cosworth330 said:
Whats this colour called on the one for £10990 blue one,fantastic colour and seems quite rare.
http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-uk/www/cars/SAAB...
It's Cerulean Blue.....and yes it very nice.http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-uk/www/cars/SAAB...
Interior build quality isn't up to Audi standards, but they are very good value for money at the moment, depending on spec you are after. Engines are good though and the top is very good. Audio can be crap unless it's the top spec version.
I have an 05 Aero rag top with Hirsch susspension and power up grade.
If I were to be critical about the rear seating, your legs point slightly inwards towards the centre of the car due to the extra steel suports that I believe were inserted to get the car through the 5 star safety tests. I believe the 1st rag top to achieve such a safety standard?
That said, I have an 8 and 10 year old, and for the last 2 years we have taken it down to the South of France with no complaints from the kids.
9-3 rag tops certainly offer good performance and value for money!
We go to the South of France most summers but in a V70 & even thats packed out, how on earth do you get 4 of you & all your stuff for a holiday in a 9-3 vert !
What year was the interior facelifted ? The shape i'm interested in is from about 2004 onwards when they look more modern on the exterior. See i really no nothing about Saab's but i think the 2004 on Aero vert's are a great looking car for the money.
What year was the interior facelifted ? The shape i'm interested in is from about 2004 onwards when they look more modern on the exterior. See i really no nothing about Saab's but i think the 2004 on Aero vert's are a great looking car for the money.
cosworth330 said:
What year was the interior facelifted ? The shape i'm interested in is from about 2004 onwards when they look more modern on the exterior. See i really no nothing about Saab's but i think the 2004 on Aero vert's are a great looking car for the money.
The interior and exterior were facelifted for MY08 (about Sept 2007 onwards). They were relatively unchanged from introduction in 2003 (when they replaced the old 9-3 vert) up to that point.Edited by aeropilot on Monday 22 December 21:38
Edited by aeropilot on Monday 22 December 21:45
We used to go to the South of France in a 9-5 estate, took loads of things we didn't really need, brought back loads of booze that wasn't as cheap as it used to be, but decided it was worth 'traveling light' to have the rag top to enjoy all that lovely sunshine!
I think the model I have came out in an 03 plate, and as Aero pilot says, the latest face lift was in 07. At a quick glance not much change, the interior is practically the same, the rear light clusters have changed slightly. The main change is that the bonnet is now a true 'Saab' bonnet, which goes the full width of the car, ie the front wings sit under the bonnet rather than coming up each side (if you can follow my explanation!
My dad had a lot of electrical problems with his 9-3 vert, drove him nuts and never got sorted properly and he got shot of the car eventually.
Electronic steering lock, door locks, that sort of thing. In the queue for a ferry going on a European holiday it refused to believe the door was closed and wouldn't let him start it. On several occasions it wouldn't lock and he had to leave it unlocked overnight in hotel car parks or at hospitals. He'd have to wiggle the wheel and try to start it 20 or 30 times sometimes before the steering lock would disengage. Various electronic modules were replaced at great expense which didn't totally fix the problems.
Mechanically it was OK, but his was a disaster electrically, and IMHO it doesn't have the character of even the old shape 9-3
Electronic steering lock, door locks, that sort of thing. In the queue for a ferry going on a European holiday it refused to believe the door was closed and wouldn't let him start it. On several occasions it wouldn't lock and he had to leave it unlocked overnight in hotel car parks or at hospitals. He'd have to wiggle the wheel and try to start it 20 or 30 times sometimes before the steering lock would disengage. Various electronic modules were replaced at great expense which didn't totally fix the problems.
Mechanically it was OK, but his was a disaster electrically, and IMHO it doesn't have the character of even the old shape 9-3
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