at the "Saab Real Life Road Test" on Long Island today.

Smooth! Very solid, much quieter and much more refined than the outgoing 9-3. It didn't feel underpowered despite the fact that it was the low pressure version (Linear) with an automatic. Car had the 6 disc in-dash changer (I believe this is included in the "Launch" package?), bi-xenons, park assist, headlight washers, and more. The dashboard is beautiful, very modern-looking, and ergonomically correct. The power unlock/lock switches are located near the front door handles, where they should be. No weather band on the radio, but I feel that SAAB could have easily included this; when you press BAND, a menu pops up on the screen for "FM1, FM2, AM"... they could have added a WB option there.

I didn't notice a winter mode switch nor a sport mode switch for the automatic transmission, maybe I missed them. I do know that the "manumatic" gate will allow you to select third gear from rest. The automatic was very smooth, and the car felt very nimble. The steering was nice and light during parking maneuvers, but didn't feel overboosted at speed. The brakes were strong and easy to modulate. No slop in the brake pedal, and no slop in the suspension, even in abrupt manuevers. Very precise feeling car.

All in all, I couldn't really find anything to dislike... well, perhaps the small single cup holder aft of the ignition key. I thought the new 9-3 had one of those newfangled pop-out cupholders in the dashboard, like the 9-5? Maybe I missed it..

Took some pictures; enjoy!

Jason
'02 9-5 Aero




posted by 24.46.48...

• Test drove a 2003 Saab 9-3 Sport Sedan..., Jason, Sun, 6 Oct 2002 03:07:35 <-- Viewing This Message
  • Winter/Sport mode for Automatic, Doug Blank, Mon, 7 Oct 2002 12:58:16
    • Sport mode, Jason, Mon, 7 Oct 2002 18:29:45
  • SAAB's got a hot seller on their hands, and we haven't, Richard P., Mon, 7 Oct 2002 11:18:46
  • Hey, I am on Long Island, where was this??, Alex Athanasiou, Sun, 6 Oct 2002 19:25:58
    • It was in Roslyn, next weekend: Westchester/Rockland, Jason, Sun, 6 Oct 2002 19:45:54
  • Like Overall, 2 Caveats, Dan W, Sun, 6 Oct 2002 17:47:29
  • Must have been pre-prod. vehicle..., Intro, Sun, 6 Oct 2002 13:35:55
  • Thanks ...., J, Sun, 6 Oct 2002 11:59:38
    • Re: Thanks ...., Jason, Sun, 6 Oct 2002 12:24:30
  • Re: Test drove a 2003 Saab 9-3 Sport Sedan..., johnw, Sun, 6 Oct 2002 08:17:39
    • Climate knobs def look better than current 9-3's..., Alex Athanasiou, Sun, 6 Oct 2002 19:43:50
    • Re: Test drove a 2003 Saab 9-3 Sport Sedan..., jimbobjoe, Sun, 6 Oct 2002 16:30:52
    • Re: Test drove a 2003 Saab 9-3 Sport Sedan..., Jason, Sun, 6 Oct 2002 12:41:37
  • dashboard, Jason, Sun, 6 Oct 2002 04:54:23
    • How could you not like that dash compared to curr 9-3.., Richard P., Mon, 7 Oct 2002 11:15:14
  • Thanks for the nice picts Jason, KB88900T, Sun, 6 Oct 2002 04:26:36
  • Wow! Thanks for pics, Jason! I NEED that car! n/m, Adrian, Sun, 6 Oct 2002 04:05:51
  • side view, Jason, Sun, 6 Oct 2002 03:33:45
  • rear view, Jason, Sun, 6 Oct 2002 03:26:15
  • steering wheel, Jason, Sun, 6 Oct 2002 03:24:44
  • storage compartment under the armrest, Jason, Sun, 6 Oct 2002 03:21:58
  • mirror, Jason, Sun, 6 Oct 2002 03:20:43
  • closeup of ignition key and keyhole, Jason, Sun, 6 Oct 2002 03:18:47
  • ashtray, Jason, Sun, 6 Oct 2002 03:16:49
    • no ACC? n/m, Aero'ed, Mon, 7 Oct 2002 12:47:27
      • Re: no ACC? n/m, Doug Blank, Mon, 7 Oct 2002 13:03:52
  • center section, Jason, Sun, 6 Oct 2002 03:13:44
    • one side is ebrake, what is other side? n/m, Phil, Mon, 7 Oct 2002 23:11:10
      • just a cover... (+), Jason, Tue, 8 Oct 2002 01:39:38
        • It's a place for special things!, Stephen Goldberger, Fri, 18 Oct 2002 20:50:47
  • rear cupholders, Jason, Sun, 6 Oct 2002 03:11:41
  • engine, Jason, Sun, 6 Oct 2002 03:09:57
    • Re: engine, compaqted, Mon, 7 Oct 2002 08:39:54
      • Don't wonder ... subscribe to NINES :-), Stephen Goldberger, Fri, 18 Oct 2002 20:48:32
      • Don't be fooled - it is not the same., Doug Blank, Mon, 7 Oct 2002 13:01:45
  • Re: Test drove a 2003 Saab 9-3 Sport Sedan..., Jason, Sun, 6 Oct 2002 03:08:46

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