I BOUGHT THE CHEAPEST SAAB 9-3 AERO!

I bought a Saab 9-3 Aero Convertible for just £1,200!

[mathijsdevries]

So, you’re part of the Saab Universe now…
I own a 1998 9-3 convertible and it’s the car I had in my possession for the longest period (by a long stretch) of all 30 cars I once owned. I keep it as a second for the summertime and I love it to death! It’s so amicable (as you mentioned) easy to maintain and very fun to have, also because of the large Saab communities that exist all over the world.
The Dutch Saab Convertible Group managed to assemble around 100 (!) Saab convertibles (so no ordinary Saabs, just the topless ones) at the same time in one spot last year!
Realising the brand has been gone for well over ten years now, i think this feat definitely underscores the enthusiasm so many people still have for the brand…
Congrats on your purchase! 👌🏻

[rezaq]

Had about 16 SAAB over the past 5 years. Currently have three 9-3 Aeros (one facelift V6 manual wagon, a rare Hirsch 252 Turbo Performance pack saloon, and a lime yellow Aero convertible like yours). I also have a 290PS manual 2005 9-5 Aero manual. Oh, and a 1998 V70R.

I love these things. I’ve heavily renovated all of them. The lime yellow cab I’ve just rebuilt all the suspension with shocks, H&R springs, mounts etc you name it. It also wears 18” ALU65 alloy wheels and I’ve just treated it to a full stainless cat back Maptun exhaust and new down-pipe over Xmas. It’s a manual as well, and handles superbly once it’s rebuilt and set up correctly. Just fitted an uprated intercooler with all new Maptun boost hoses, then it’s off to Karl at Noobtune for his stage 1 250PS/370Nm upgrade.

My baby is the Hirsch, though. They are ballistic with the full Hirsch package, but I’ve totally rebuilt it with Bilsteins/Eibachs, all poly bushes, nut and bolt rebuild of everything I could get new. I’ve also added to the performance with a do88 oversize alloy boost pipe kit, a Scanifab 3” 200 cell sports cat, and a Scanifab 3” downpipe. I had a BSR Optiflow intake which sounded amazing but started to get on my nerves, so just a Pipercross panel filter now. Ridiculously quick, quicker than our E46 M3.

I’ve also started treating them all to custom leather interior pieces from my trimmer in Latvia. For example; the interior door handle pulls, the dash SID computer cover, the glovebox trim, and the gear shift surround are all now in black nappa leather the body coloured matching stitching. Looks and feels amazing!

Try a V6 if you get a chance. Mine is a manual 6 speed wagon and a facelift, so £730 Road tax! But, who cares; the engine is out of this world. I’m over 199k miles as well and totally original throughout mechanically (obviously it’s on uprated suspension etc). The engine is the most turbine like engine I have ever driven.

Enjoy it, modify it, and stop banging into other cars with it!😊

[michael.davides]

Nice mate! I had a 2006 9-3 Aero Sportcombi with the 2.8T. It was a fantastic car and I loved it dearly. Such a great distance cruiser, just ate up miles on the highway like it was nothing. Also, the front seats were still some of the best I've ever felt in a car.

[nicholasdavis]

As someone who has had several Saabs and now owns a 9-3 convertible similar to yours, I think you have summed them up well - Saabs aren't the most dynamic cars, they don't have the best handling or performance. But they are comfortable, fast enough, look good and offer something a bit different from other cars. They are very easy to live with.

I also have a 2007 Jaguar XK, which is a better car in every way, but often I find myself using the Saab, just because I really like it.

[andrewharrison]

I bought one of these just over three years ago. I wanted a jaguar XK8 convertible but budget wouldn't stretch just then. So I bought the Saab aero convertible automatic. Mine is a 2004, with sat nav and colour screen which no longer works properly but looks nice and retro, heated seats and electric seats and auto chrome mirrors. The heated seats are great but the electric seats are very slow and I noticed yours are manually operated which is probably better. Mine is called silver but looks like mint green metallic. The Saab engineers have reduced power in first and second gear to control torque steer which makes performance seem muted, until in third and on boost but for overtaking on the road is great. Oh and the car has a kind of passive rear wheel steering which tightens the turning circle in a bend when pushed. Handling is much improved once bushes are renewed but it's still front wheel drive and front heavy. Think of this as a great sports saloon type road car, which can be a bit of a GT. Now I've kind of fallen for the Saab 9-3 aero convertible I've abandoned the idea of the Jag convertible, but I have bought a X350 XJ 4.2 to scratch that itch. You need a wind deflector though it transforms the comfort especially when it's cold out, making it a genuine all year round convertible. Oh and shout out to Abbots racing for all your Saab service and restoration needs they are great and they are about to work on my jaguar too. Great choice of car the Saab is really underrated, get one while you can they are cheap and there's no new ones coming!

[jamesmoirano]

Have owned a 2006 Aero Vert for 11 years and counting! Reliable, versatile, good looking, great value and swift. Also own a 1988 16s and let’s just say I have the best of both worlds!

[higginsroy]

I had a 55 plate Aero convertible manual and I absolutely loved it. It was my daily driver and my road trip car for 3 years and it never let down regardless of the season. I was disappointed when you guys were bashing into it. A UNDERSTATED CLASSIC.

[AutoShenanigans]

Speed W means "Speed Warning Alarm" If you do over 145mph you'll get an audible sound to tell you. This figure can be reset to anything you like but usually "off" is preferred. Good car, shame about the auto but on the plus side the blue roof is a rare find.

[jonburnell]

20 years on and it's still a beautiful car. A timeless design!

[ftbymikeD]

Glad to be following Joel again. I had lost a bit of interest since his time with Z4 ended. I currently own an '06 Saab 9-3 v6 Aero convertible & love it quirks & all. Cyclone Cid here on youtube has many DIY videos on the care & feeding of our Saabs!😁

[RedheadLady]

My mum had one of these in silver for many many years. She bought it before Saab went out of business and for about 4 years after and then she started getting door issues so she went to an Audi soft top.
I have fond memories of trips out in the Saab and always go oooo SAAB when I’m out and see one now. My mum had the heated seats. They were decent.

Also I regularly have my top down on a sunny winters day. In fact 2 years ago in January when a Bentley tried to kill me and the Zed my top was down. It simply has to be done!

[paulharris]

Hi Joel, I’ve been enjoying your channel for quite some time. I used to own a 2006 Saab 93 convertible in cerulean blue with cream interior, very similar to yours. It was a beautiful car. You asked for some quirky information. If you look at the front grill where the word Saab is written, it was designed to look like aeroplane wings flying towards you. SAAB was of course originally an aeroplane company, and SAAB stands for Svenska Aeroplan Aktiebolaget.
Keep up the good work.
Paul

[connor]

I bought my first Saab at 18 and I’m on my 3rd. My parents owned two 9-5’s and a 9-3 convertible. Great cars, shame they went bust.

[motorhead]

Welcome in the Saab world and never forget that we greet each other like biker's.
We have a 900 NG and a 9-5 from 07 station Hirsch Performance with a bigger Garrett. ;)
Best regards from Denmark.

[forrestrobin]

My late dad got me into Saabs, he had a 1984 900GLi, a 1989 900 Aero (stunning car!), 1999 9-5 2.0t.
I inherited the 9-5 and when it died in 2022 I contunued the tradition with a 2004 9-5 Aero estate. It cost me £1150, I did a Maptun remap on her so she'd run on E85, gave her a full service before driving her home to France. Absolutely love 'em.
When Saab went bust, Riders Saab in Falmouth were selling off brand new 9-3 convertibles for silly prices because they had no warranty. I wished I'd had the money to buy one at the time!
I'm hanging onto the 9-5 but if I see a good one of these at this sort of price I'll be very tempted. I quite like the idea of having two Saabs 😂

[mountainbikemayhem]

I had an 06 Aero 2.8l 4 door sedan. Absolutely loved that car. It was the same blue as what you have, but had 2 tone seats and steering wheel. I bought it slightly modified, and continued to mod it for the next few years. The only thing negative to say is that Saab’s are a bit of a bitch to work on…especially anything to do with the #5 cylinder IYKYK.
Couple of things for you to know…If you press the Saab logo on the key fob, pull on the key ring, it will release a physical key that you can unlock the doors with. This is good for when you want to warm up the car in the winter. (Start with the Fob, leave warming up with doors locked, unlock the door with the physical key). Also the driver side mirror controls has a button that when pressed will adjust both side mirrors to look at the back wheels which is helpful when parallel parking. Because the turbo’s located near the ECU, (mine at least) Saab’s aren’t a big fan of hot weather or being parked in the sun. Often in the summer, I would just leave it idling and use the physical key trick to run in a store quick, rather than shutting it off. Because when you shut it off, a cooling fan comes on to continue moving coolant and oil through the turbo until it’s cooled down enough. Finally, IMO the tail lights have a really badly designed plastic piece that holds the bulbs (you will see it if you remove the cover in the trunk). These were a definite source of irritation for me at least.

[digger-]

Had a 04 with the 6 speed manual absolutely loved it for 6 years never missed a beat.

[FlynnBellamyCars]

Genuinely love Saabs, very sophisticated and underrated! It was a great addition to the Christmas Special! ❤ Hope you enjoyed your holiday!

[RobIpswichUK]

Speed W on the dash is the Speed Warning setting. It will bong madly at you if you exceed it. Set that high by owner to stop it ever bonging!

[JacobTheRipper-wpdq]

My brother have this 9-3 with factory turbo timer, viggen wheels, heating oil pan, webasto and chains for wheels in the boot! Good cars in Swiss weather