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Removing 99 Windshield & 9-3 Comments
Posted by Gary Stottler (more from Gary Stottler) on Thu, 18 Nov 1999 09:37:23
In Reply to: , Kok Chen, Sat, 17 Dec 1988 12:00:00 

Am in the process of parting/scrapping a 1978 99 Turbo.  The donor has,
among other items, a good windshield which I would like to save.  As it's
been a number of years since I removed one (and if I recall, I broke that
one), I'd like some advice on how to get it out in one piece.  Of course, I
could just take a utility knife to the gasket, but I'd like to save that
too - I can just imagine the price of a new one if they are even still
available....

My 2 cents worth on the 9-3 (my motto: 'with Gary's opinion and just 1$,
you can get a cup of coffee almost anywhere!)

Our base 9-3 5-door manual is much more entertaining than the '97 900S that
preceded it, but it's also had more problems.  The handling is better, but
still not great - doesn't have the straight ahead stability it should, and
(apologies to Steve), it DOES torque steer.  Ride is good, but it is
noisier than the 900S - I suspect some cost savings were had in the sound
insulation system.  Speaking of cost savings, both the seat fabric and the
carpet are noticeably 'cheaper' looking and feeling than they were in the
900S although my only functional complaint is that they are both lint
magnets - no amount of vacuuming seems to get the fuzz out.

As for 9-3 equipment level, I have had the opportunity to sample several
dealer loaner 9-3s...

WHAT YOU NEED on your 9-3:
The sport exhaust is easily worth the $350 or so.  I doubt you can tell the
claimed 7 HP without a stopwatch, but the enterainment value of the sound
is huge - makes the stock exhaust sound 'drony'.
The rear mud flaps make it much easier to keep it clean.

(A moment of silence....it appears that the entire Saab lineup for 2000 
includes not one single mudflap!)

WHAT YOU DON'T WANT on your 9-3:
The automatic trans totally smothers the character of the engine.  It 
requires that torque be limited in 1st and 2nd gears for durability, not to 
mention always seeming to be in the wrong gear and then shifting with a 
bump.  I'll give the benefit of the doubt on possible improvements in the 
2000 cars with T7 as the 9-5s I've driven are much better behaved.
The uplevel wheel/tire packages (including the SE) serve to increase noise 
and harshness and do little for handling.  Save your money.
I guess leather is a matter of taste, and it smells good, but why spend 
$1100 or so to improve your chances of frying in summer, freezing in 
winter, and sliding around all year?

All that said, the 9-5 is nicer as a transportation module (haven't tried 
the Aero) and the 4-cylinder automatic trans package works quite nicely (I 
really couldn't see that much performance difference with the 6).  The LPT 
5-speed package takes a little getting used to as you really don't get a 
lot more out of the engine by revving it more.  The base 5-speed 9-3 is the 
fun ride of the bunch in my book, and won't break the bank!

Gary Stottler
<stottlerno39sdcx6spamx782tir.com>

'64 GT850 92K
'78 99 Turbo 199K
'78 99 Turbo 78K (parts....)
'99 9-3 13K (Heater knob broke, but as of 11/1/99 the control panel was 
available)
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