USE CODE: IK8Y48VL - This Amazon Pick is Recommended by Saabnet.com!
Site News - 7/11: No New News Today | 5/10: Members: Log In to See Fewer Ads!
[General | Members | C900 | 9000 | NG900 & OG93 | 93 | 95 | NG95 | 99 | Sonett | Vintage Models | Clubs | Other Cars | FAQs | Gifts | Member Photo Galleries | Member Directory | Classifieds | Manuals | *Buddy Registry | *Mileage Registry | Polls | What's New | Raffle | Photo of the Month | Sponsors]

9000 Bulletin Board
1985-1998 [Subscribe to Daily Digest]
(Search Author's Posts: e.g. Keyword:username)*Members Only

[Main 9000 Bulletin Board | BBFAQ | Prev by Date | Next by Date | Post Followup ] Member Login / Signup - Members see fewer ads. - Latest Member Gallery Photos
Re: I need to ask the 9000 folks what they think of the 9-3
Like This Post: - Subscribe to Daily Digest for this Bulletin Board
Posted by Ari [Email] (#2847) [Profile/Gallery] (more from Ari) on Thu, 27 Apr 2006 05:44:48 Share Post by Email
In Reply to: I need to ask the 9000 folks what they think of the 9-3, Mike Johnson, Wed, 26 Apr 2006 15:13:49
Alert me when someone posts in this thread:
Members do not see ads below this line. - Help Keep This Site Online - Signup

A couple of years ago we were looking to replace our aging '88 9K, and we looked long and hard at the 9-3. I've also been test driving the various NG900 and 9-3 models through the years - basically doing a pre-pre test of soon to be used cars. Call it research.

The 9-3's I last drove ('00-'01) were nice enough. Not quite as comfy as our 9000, and not as big inside. But then again, it's a smaller car. A more upright seating, and the seats are closer together. Seeing as we were comparing it to the available 9-5 stock, the hatch is really nice - great access without going to a wagon.

I liked the 9-3 with two exceptions. The first is minor - I find the gas pedal is in the wrong place - too close. To get comfortable with the rest of the controls (like the steering wheel thingy), the gas pedal put my leg at an uncomfortable angle. And it seemed the gas pedal to brake pedal move was awkward, which I don't consider to be exactly safe.

The second was the killer - there is a large 'pod' on the underside of the steering column that restricted knee room. When moving my leg from the gas to the brake, I had to concentrate not to hit my knee on it. Because of the way my wife sits in the car (seat position/angle), this was a major issue - she nailed her knee a couple of times on the test drive.

Those two are very individual - it depends on how you fit in the car. It may not be an issue at all for you. But I recommend you see how you fit when driving, with the seat set to your (and your co-driver) preference.

Other than that, it's a great highway car. Like most Saabs, big on the inside and small on the outside. A different feel than a 9000 - it feel a little smaller on the road, and maybe a bit more body roll. No major maintenance issues.

Except for our particular knee-hitting-the-bolster issue, we would have been just fine with the 9-3 for an additional car. I can say that because we have a 9000 ('92), so depending on the needs of the trip, we could have tailored the car choice. A quick day trip - take the 9-3. A big shopping trip where we're going to be carrying a lot? The 9000 holds more.

It turns out we picked up a '97 9000 - my wife's favorite car of all time. That was a personal issue we had - my wife kept comparing all cars to a 9000, and not many cars match up.


posted by 192.249....
Posts in this Thread:
Alert me when someone posts in this thread:
Members do not see ads below this line. - Help Keep This Site Online - Signup
Post a Followup

No Site Registration is Required to Post - Site Membership is optional (Member Features List), but helps to keep the site online
for all Saabers. If the site helps you, please consider helping the site by becoming a member.

Name: Member Login / Signup - Members see fewer ads. - Latest Member Gallery Photos
E-Mail: (Optional)
Re-Enter E-Mail: (Confidential & Secure - Not revealed to other users!)
Note: Please check your spam folder for BB responses.

Subject:

Posting rules are simple - No for sale/wanted ads may be posted here - use the site classifieds.
You may not cross-post your message to multiple BBs.
Not permitted: political/religious topics and being disrespectful (personal attacks, insults, etc...).
 Site Members do not see any red text, inline ad links, bottom of page anchor ads, box ads, or anti-spam check.

Message: (please no for sale/wanted classifieds - post those in the Saabnet.com Classifieds)
Links are now automatically made active, no need for any special code (or use the Option Link field below) - don't put links in () or end with a '.'
To add inline images to your post, use [img]http://www.domain.com/img.jpg[endimg] (or use the Optional Image Link field below).

Links are now automatically made active, no need for any special code (or use the Option Link field below) - don't put links in () or end with a '.'
To add inline images to your post above, use [img]http://www.domain.com/img.jpg[endimg] (or use the Optional Image Link field below).
Optional Link: (e.g. http://www.saabnet.com/)
Link Title: (Optional)
Optional Photo/Image Link: (e.g. http://www.saabnet.com/img.jpg)
Photo/Image to Upload: (Please be patient while file uploads)



StateOfNine.com
SaabClub.com
Jak Stoll Performance
M Car Covers
Ad Available

The content on this site may not be republished without permission. Copyright © 1988-2025 - The Saab Network - saabnet.com.
For usage guidelines, see the Mission & Privacy Notice.
[Contact | Site Map | Saabnet.com on Facebook | Saabnet.com on Twitter | Shop Amazon via TSN | Site Donations]

Random Saabnet.com Member Gallery Photos (Click Image)
This is a moderated bulletin board - Posting is a privilege, not a right. Unsolicited commercial postings are not allowed (no spam). Please, no For Sale or Wanted postings, SERIOUSLY. Classifieds are to be listed in The Saab Network Classifieds pages. This is a problem solving forum for over 250,000 Saab owners, so expect to see problems discussed here even though our cars are generally very reliable. This is not an anything goes type of forum. Saabnet.com has been a moderated forum since 1988. For usage guidelines, see the Saabnet.com Mission and Purpose Page. Please remember that you are not anonymous. Site Contact | Site Donations | Other Sites by SP - Poverty2Prosperity.org | Run Club Menlo Park | ScreenBot


Site Members do not see red text instructions, bottom of the page anchor ads, or box ads.
Click here to see all the Site Membership Benefits!