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Re: Test drove a 2003 Saab 9-3 Sport Sedan...
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Posted by Jason (more from Jason) on Sun, 6 Oct 2002 12:41:37 Share Post by Email
In Reply to: Re: Test drove a 2003 Saab 9-3 Sport Sedan..., johnw, Sun, 6 Oct 2002 08:17:39
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Yup, overall, I really liked it, but there's no way I'm trading in my Aero for one of those, I'm a hp/torque junky :-)

This is perhaps the most refined-feeling SAAB I've ever driven. The primary controls such as the brakes and steering felt as good as those in a BMW 3-series.

I think the dash looks better in real life, but as I wrote earlier, some of the plastic bits felt kinda cheap, like the handbrake. But the switchgear (buttons, knobs) was all very good, with a precise and accurate feel, and the knobs rotated with the same satisfying feel you get in a current Honda/Acura product.

The dash is quite bewildering at first, but I got used to it quickly. Then again, I'm a bit of a propellerhead :-)

Most of the controls need not be adjusted after you set them. I suppose the earlier 9-3's and 900's had a simpler dashboard, but my 9000 had a very busy center console, littered with lots of tiny buttons for the ACC, radio, and graphic equalizer! I suppose this is the antithesis of the BMW 7-series single-knob iDrive system?

Anyhow, the important controls, such as radio volume, seek, etc., are located close to the driver, with redundant controls on the steering wheel.

You're right about the manual climate control, it looks like it's out of a Focus, but it works well, and the automatic ACC version looks quite handsome on the website. There's a bit of disparity between the upper part of the dashboard, which contains high-quality controls and displays, and the lower, with the manual climate control. I suspect most of the 9-3s will be equipped with the automatic ACC anyway.

Anyhow, the car drove great, and it was very quiet at speed. VERY stable in abrupt manuevers. NVH levels are way down. A very modern-feeling car.

Overall, a "two thumbs up"!

Jason


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