Here's Why I Cannot Hate This 2004 Saab 9-3 1.8t Convertible, Even When I Should

In today's video, I am driving a Saab 9-3 Convertible. Coming from a category of car I've never understood - big saloons turned into convertibles, the 9-3 is full of scuttle shake, has a low rent interior and is equipped with a low power engined mated to an automatic gearbox. It is everything a petrolhead should despise, and yet I cannot. Why?

#Saab #9-3

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[stuco]

Is it just me or has that design aged incredibly well? Still looks nice, especially in that colour or the bright blue they were available in.

[kevinsugrue]

I enjoyed owning a new 9-3. The safety equipment was fully tested when a lorry ploughed into 6 stationary cars, including mine, on the M4. My car was written off instantly, as were the other 5. But I got out in one piece, phoned the emergency services and wasn't the unfortunate driver who needed an Air Ambulance that day. I miss my Saab. But I miss it while being unscathed.

[martimartimart]

I’ve got one. 2.0T Aero and I absolutely love it. I bought at a time in my life when I was really struggling mentally and without meaning to sound dramatic that car helped me launch into my recovery. There are better cars, there are better convertibles but there’s something about a Saab that is just a bit different.

[DingDong-tjce]

I own the exact model in metallic black. Owned it for 14 years now. It's never missed a beat. My weekend car and I love it. Why? At first I considered the Merc CLK and Porsche Convertible but in the end it could only be Saab. Saab are unconventional, different, uncompromising and understated. They didn't obsess to compete with the Germans. Saab just did their own thing without compromise and they were great at it. You've got to love that. Those two back seats prove useful too! I look forward to my next 14 years with Saab. I'll never sell it. The car world is a lesser place without Saab...at the risk of sounding like Frank Sinatra...
Saab 'did it their way'...and I love them for it....brilliant!

[iSchmidty]

There’s no possible way to hate a SAAB :)

They’re some of the most beautiful cars on the road, invented a bunch of safety features, fast as all hell, and ultra reliable! I always feel like I’m in a jet when I’m driving my ‘08 9-3 2.0T SS with my sexy Aero steering wheel and loud wooshy turbo

It’s so refined, yet it can crush a 3 series easily! It can cruise comfortably and quietly for hundreds of miles in one go, it can carve canyon roads like a dream thanks to that rear steering, and it makes every commute an absolute joy no matter how much traffic there is :)

My last car was a ‘99 9-3 2.0T 5-door I tuned and restored, and I intended to keep it forever but I lost it in a big crash. I didn’t shop for anything else other than SAABs. It’s the perfect car for me, and I couldn’t manage ever not having at least one SAAB in my garage!

[ChrisFEJackson]

Doesn't matter what the car is or make, I have car types I loathe, but if there is a story behind it, it goes out of the window. People and their lives attached to them can make for great stories and I respect and really like the way you presented this. I hope Valerie gets to see your review. Why can't all car reviews reflect the human dynamic that gets attached? New car reviews are obvious to slate or promote but add a human ingredient and it becomes poignant. I will never look at a Saab again without think of the elderly couple driving to France, thanks Jay a great video.

[Umbertomanens]

I own a Black 9-3 Convertible of 2003.
i’m an italian Saab lover and when i saw her used, parked at the shop in 2017 i ran to the dealer shouting “ i’ ll buy it NOW!!!”.
This little jewel is not a car, it’s just a toy sprang up from our lost youth, it’s a an open vessel for sailing through your soul wrapped in blue skies and green trees with wind cleaning away your troubles all around ❤…everyone should have a Convertible in his family…if you can find a Saab one…then she ‘ll lead you to heaven ❤❤

[Auto.Anorak]

My parents used to own a gorgeous manual 9-3 convertible in dark blue with a cream interior. It was a fabulous car and we actually took it to France. One of my best childhood memories was my dad putting the car through its paces around the roads of the Le Mans race circuit. I’ll always love Saabs!

[davidjb]

My dad had an old 99 2.0L and it was built like a tank. Two other cars crashed into it and were written off (separate events, both whilst the 99 was stationary), but the 99 just needed its bumpers replaced. While Volvo were making a big deal about their crumple zones, Saab put the crumple zone in the other vehicle 😏
Postscript: He did 150, 000 miles in it with zero mechanical issues, and then Saab bought it back for their collection. I wish we'd kept it though.

[mathijsdevries]

I’m one of those people owning a Saab. A ‘98 9-3 convertible it is and I’ve had it for nine years now, mostly as a second car. It’s a 2.3l naturally aspirated engine with about 145HP and it never skipped a beat. I would take it on a road-trip any day without any special preparation! In fact, I am doing so in three weeks time… 😁
The manner in which this car seems to do so many things so satisfyingly makes it one of my favourite cars of all time (having owned about 30 different cars…) and makes me not wanting to part with it. Never giving me headaches or trouble and I’m enjoying myself so very much driving it top down that it really is just the way Jay describes.
Hurray for the 9-3 convertible! 🥳

[johnmoncrieff]

I totally get where you are with this car, SAAB did do things differently to other manufacturers as a matter of principle! Driver comfort and safety were top of their priorities, not the cost of production (which ultimately lead to their downfall)! I was once given the keys of a Saab 900 turbo and told to enjoy my self, on the twisty "B" roads of the Scottish highlands! That car instantly gave out confidence in its ability to go exactly where it was pointed at ridiculous speeds. Its rallying pedigree shone brightly-- If it had been for sale I would have bitten the owners hand off it was that good!

[smilepermile]

Great video James. When I was in school in Tokyo, my half Swedish and japanese friend's father worked for Saab' Aircraft division, so my friend's mother had an identical car to this. When most people in Japan bought silver, white or black cars, this car really stood out with its colour so that we can see from a mile away of who was driving in the neighbourhood - reminded me of the Phoenix Yellow that BMW used for the E46 M3. His dad (called Morgan) is a Porsche and Morgan collector though, having two red speedsters (356 and 930) and a Morgan Plus Six.

[vibingwithvinyl]

Saab is a weird thing. If you don't "get it" then a quick test drive won't change your mind. But live with one for a little longer and you start to understand why they did things in a certain way. They are quite well engineered and you can tell someone has actually put their mind into designing them.

GM cheapened them out quite a bit though.

[ryanfrank]

My mom owned a 2004 93 convertible 2.0T from new for about a decade and I can attest to its crash worthiness. She was rear-ended by an inattentive driver in a Toyota Tacoma one morning while traffic was stopped on an entrance ramp to the interstate. The pickup was totaled. My mom drove the Saab to the body shop with no issue. Saab has been alright in my book ever since. Not the most brilliant chassis in the world but the 2.0T was a heck of an engine. It had a bunch turbo lag but once it was on it, hold on! It was easy to go stupid fast on some back roads with it and made some of the best turbo noises. She replaced it with a Volvo V70 convertible and it's just not a good to drive. I miss Saab. Truly a unique car brand.

PS- My family and I have always referred to that shade of green as 'WaSaabi'. Very cool color.

[blueboy]

Great video James. I recently bought a Vector (one off the top of range) 09 plate 93 convertible. I had always admired them for the timeless classic appearance. Back in early 2000s I bought a brand new MX5 and had so much fun with it. Now I’m older I don’t want to go round corners with foot on floor I want a different experience. The Saab delivered! Your description in the video is spot on! In today’s crazy world of rushing around this car just relaxes you and is so good for the soul. It has Zen like qualities. You cannot compare it it’s rivals because it so different and you forgive the few shortcomings. Like you say, if you want to just ‘drive’ and see where the road takes you on a summer day like people did years ago this car is up there with the best. The seats beat anything I’ve ever sat in and mine are heated 😊 Where else can you get this amount of value from a car at the moment.

[vrsmartin]

James, you bugger! that story just choked me up!

thats such a great thing to do.

love the fact you are still doing normal cars. dont EVER change.

[shand]

It is such a shame that Saab is no longer with us. I loved the fact they were so left field. Cars today are quite homogeneous and I mourn the fact that Saab, TVR and indeed Rover have gone and removed consumer choice. Although admittedly it was consumer choice that not enough people bought these cars.

[AutoShenanigans]

Finally... a proper car ;-) Great video mate. Saab trim levels...It was Linear, Linear sport, Vector, Vector Sport and Aero. With the exception of the Aero spec, you could choose which engine you had as well. 1.8i (Non turbo rubbish) 1.8t (150bhp) 2.0t (175bhp) and with the Aero you could have the 2.0T (210bhp) then after the 93 facelift, they offered the rather peachy 2.8 V6 turbo, even if it is a GM lump. The "Arc" specification came around after my time with Saab but I believe it's a linear with a better interior.. leather door cards. As to each difference on trim levels...there's many but a few examples - linear had cloth seats, 16'' wheels and non body coloured skirts. Vector got half leather seats, 17'' wheels. Vector sport got slightly stiffer suspension, different 17'' wheels and an "upgraded audio interface." Nearly everything was available as an optional extra so if you wanted to spec your base car to have the sporty wheels and what not, you could.

[kristian]

I used to own a 2009 9-3 Aero Biopower Sportcombi. I had it for 5 years and drove about 230000km with it and in all it was a very bullet proof car that only failed on me once due to a blown fuse. The 5 speed automatic gearbox was pretty uninspiring and fuel milage also suffered compared to the manual version. But in all it was a very comfortable and reliable car to drive. The new owner has done well over with it by now and it's still going strong. I've had Mercedeses since then and they're great cars but I do miss the SAAB brand and it's a shame they're not around anymore. To really appriciate and understand the brand you have to drive an old 900 or 9000 Turbo from the era before they were aquired by GM.

[antonywatkins]

i bought a 2003 2litre turbo vector convertible same colour a couple of months ago for the 21 year old son of a friend to use to take his nan out on her 85th birthday. He had promised her 15 years ago that he would pick her up in a yellow convertible, and she had reminded him most years ever since of his promise. Having never had a convertible and never wanting one i fully intended to move it on immediately after he had used it. What a fabulous car, for exactly the reasons you stated. Mine is the manual gearbox, 180 bhp or so. Its got serious go when you want acceleration from 40 to 70 in 3rd and 4th, overtaking a doddle, but its the general driving experience thats wonderful, comfy leather seats, great steering, just a nice place to be, cruising with the roof down. Best £1700 i've ever spent. Driven with consideration its returning 39 to the gallon of petrol and that is with town driving. on a good run it will do well over 40 mpg. I am not selling it, just got to find somewhere to store it inside for the winter, then have it out every summer.