Date: Wed, 22 Jun 2005 07:54:17 -0400 From: "Tex" <texnospamm101.org> Subject: Re: New 93:So how is it?
"stagman" <astagnospamcom.com> wrote in message news:42b87565$1_1nospaml9-west.superfeed.net... > Just wondering - now that the new 93 has been out for a couple of years, > how do owners feel about it? > I havn't been on this site since I sold my '94 900S in '03 and I'm curious > as to how well it has been received. > Is it better than the previous generation re: reliability, performance, > cost of ownership, etc. There is a huge difference between the new 9-3 and the old 9-3. In fact, I don't think nary a single part was carried over from the old 9-3. The reliability/quality leave much to be desired. I had a number of initial quality "bugs" all of which were quickly resolved by the dealer. However, as Dan mentioned, the passenger seatbelt warning indicator does come on in hot weather. My guess is they used a heat sensor and not a pressure sensor in the seat. This is fairly minor. One other unfortunate quirk is the number of squeaks, rattles and buzzes in the interior. This is one thing engineering should have paid more attention to, as it does distract somewhat from the overall experience. Afaik, they have not addressed this as yet (as of 2005 model). Having owned Saabs in the past, this is one thing that unfortunately has carried over. (although I did notice the 9-5's have utterly silent interiors, aside from a noisy 6). There are a number of owner web sites that detail how to fix these noise issues on your own. The dealer actually did fix at least one squeak for me (the ACC fascia was squeaking like hell from day one). The performance is incredible (having had the opportunity to really thrash one around (not my own) I gained an immense appreciation for the car's features and performance). The cost of ownership, if new, is 0, given the warranty/scheduled maintenance. If you hold tight, the 2006 9-3 lineup (due in Sept) will add the sportwagon (Combi) plus a new 250hp v6 (holden/gm global v6) engine option for all 9-3s. Saab claims 0-60 mph acceleration of 6.9 seconds, with the V6. If you're looking for the 6-speed manual gearbox, wait for the 2006s, as you won't find a single 2005 with one (supply issues). - tex
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