New Saab 9-3 road tests
A couple of new Saab 9-3 road tests have popped on to the electronic radar in the last few days.
It’s somewhat baffling that the 2008 Saab 9-3 should be stalling in the US like it is. All of the reviews so far have been quite positive. Witness this one from Royal Ford at the Boston Globe:
We drove the turbocharged 2.0 for more than a week and it returned us to the days of the classic turbos of the mid-1980s, which were some of my favorite cars. They produced so much bang from such a small engine…..
….this cult’s members are aging and it will be necessary for Saab to find a way to appeal to younger, perhaps more aggressive buyers.
This car is a great start, and as power moves up the food chain, the performance only gets better. In addition, the utility of the Sport Wagon model will make it a challenger to Volvo wagons.
And as the all-wheel-drive models - the first from Saab - hit our shores, it will be easier to once again shop Saab against Volvo. The car’s so-called Cross Wheel Drive system is second to none….
….Thanks to its new series of designs and models, Saab should now always be shopped against the European and Asian cars that make up this class.
And there’s plenty more where that came from. Read the full review of the 2008 Saab 9-3 at the Boston Globe.
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What’s even more baffling than the 9-3s struggles in general, is the difficulty the market has in taking up the SportCombi.
It’s freaking brilliant in it’s design and execution and has heaps of load space just like Saabs of old. In 2.0T form would be my current Saab of choice.
Motorweek, an online publication of PBS, recently tested a V6 Aero SportCombi and had this to say:
The 9-3 SportCombi is extremely stable and maneuvers with the utmost confidence. Its ability to corner flatly makes you forget that you’re driving a wagon. Add in standard stability and traction control and there is no better handling front-wheel drive car on the planet than a Saab 9-3.
I’m not being selective here, just economical with my time. Go read it for yourself.
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Turbin’s just alerted me to the Australian coverage of the 9-4x in Carsguide.
In his article, Paul Gower calls the Saab 9-3 ‘underdone’, a comment I could perhaps concur with in terms of the interior finish, but in no other way. And even then it’s a matter or personal preference.
I took a look inside an Audi S4 interior this morning. I prepared myself to be dazzled by a display of high-end materials but for all of Audi’s reputation, found it to be well and truly underdone.
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The 2008 Saab 9-3 has earned the respect it’s getting, should shun the Paul Gowers of this world, and should definitely be attracting more interest in its major markets.
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Why does the 9-3 struggle? As far as most American’s see it, FWD and four cylinders are for little Japanese cars.
They should offer a non-turbo V6 along side the 2.0T.
I think the auto market in the US is a bit cold for the standard-issue Euro Sedan, especially with so many options (domestic, euro and asia) in that segment. For me, it competes well with the status quo, but offers little incentive beyond that. They do look better (smaller) in person than every photo I’ve seen. The Combi is close to a great car for me, wich in the US I could get an Aero-spec with the 2.0T.
I think it has more to do with Americans just not buying cars in general. Let’s not forget too the price went up considerably, and people just don’t see Saab in the same class ad BMW or Audi.
And we are so obsessed with gadgets and technology now, and the 9-3 is lacking in that department.
It’s too bad, because it’s otherwise a great car.
Joemama, apart from Bluetooth, I would not say the 9-3 lacks anything in terms of gadgetry and tech stuff.
I still believe there has been close to zero ad exposure for the new 9-3. The other day I bought a copy of Architectural Digest, which features ads of Lexus, MB, Infiniti, Audi, BMW, VW, Land Rover, Volvo… But no Saab? Aren’t architects per se and artistic people in general supposed to be inclined toward Saab?
Zero advertising only makes matters worse when you have a worsening economy and widespread recession talk at your hands.
Having done a lot of research online I can tell you why the 9-3 doesnt appear to be flying off the shelves. Here in Canada the 9-3 2.0T costs exactly the same as a Merc C230, BMW 323i and the A4 and the lease rates are much higher in the Saab. The Saab is, IMHO, a little overpriced when you compare it to its German competitors and, the Merc in particular, is far better equipped than the Saab with all the latest tech goodies like Bluetooth et al.
Saab has reached a cross road, IMO, and I think the next two years are make or break. Quality must improve as the Saab is built more like an upmarket Chevy than a competitor to its German rivals.
As much as I love Saab’s I just cant see myself investing close to CA$40000 in one - regretfully!
I agree with Korum that exposure is the bigger issue - the vast majority of car shoppers pay no attention to the automotive press. Wagon shoppers see Volvos, Subarus and Audis on the road and in ads all the time, but you have to look hard to find anything about the Saab combis.
I agree with TimJ and Kroum….. there’s is very little advertising for Saab. I’ve only ever seen ads at an airport in Virginia, in aviation magazines and once I saw an add on tv.
I also agree with Zippy… Saabs are amazing cars, but they do seem priced high. Of course, that could be the jealous college student in me speaking
But I think a lot of people look at the price-tag and wonder how a car without the presence/prestige of MB, BMW or Audi could cost so much.
granted I think the German trio’s prestige is a little overboard, but people pay money just to have that name….. I guess the Porsche lover in me is being hypocritical again.
I’ve never seen a Saab commercial, print ad, billboard, radio spot, or sponsership outside of Salomon, and I don’t ski.
THAT’S why they don’t sell. People can’t buy them if they don’t know they exist!!!
The Cadillac BLS got some farily positive reviews in Swedish press, but it still doesn’t sell…
Audi quality - funny, I spend a fair bit of time in a colleague’s Audi Q7 and agrre the interito is neither stylish nor that well executed. But the main difference is that is DOES NOT SQUEEK & RATTLE, unlike my 12 month-old 9-3 SW. That said, I am always glad to get back in the Saab which has better seats, much bigger boot (How can a Q7 be so badly proportioned - there is the highest bood floor I have seen with a low rolling cover - impossible to get more than a couple of squashy bags into…).
If swade and others are right that the ‘07 refit of the 9-3 reduced the fit problems, I am preprared to believe it is on a par.
The cult of Audi interiors must be worshipped by very dull, unimaginative old men IMHO.
“Remember the early Saabs, the ones with grilles that looked like gaping goldfish mouths?” (The Boston Globe).
What is this dude talking about? Those grilles were elegant and classic!
If he says that stupid thing about an old Saab grille go figure what he is going to said about a really ugly Peugeot 207/307 (och så vidare) front grille, well, THAT looks like a shark gaping for air up in the deck of a Japanese fishing boat!
Mark_Belfast, where´s your 9-3 squeaking? Can you point out some specific place? It seems that either I´m deaf, or I´ve been able to make the car quiet.
The only place that has been squeaking was the hatch. At first I thouhgt it´s the interior panels making rattle, but no it wasn´t. It was the hatch door seal itself. Some silicone grease (not spray) and it´s been all quiet since last summer. Other place is the ski opening at the rear backrest. If it is open, it rattles. But this is okay, it´s not open all the time.
Too much bass on audio makes stuff in the door pockets rattle, but it´s normal.
The car (9-3SC1.8t) is now 15 months with 34000km on it. And it definitely does not squeak. Btw, I´ve used silicone grease on a door sealing to avoid them freezing up in a colder days. Maybe it helps too?
“The cult of Audi interiors must be worshipped by very dull, unimaginative old men IMHO.”
New Audis (A5, new A4) have copied the cockpit dashboard shape from Saab. Otherwise so very German. Ugly, but functional.
Swade - Saab South Africa now also has updated their website with the new 9-3 SS, but the model variants is extemely limited. Have a look at http://www.saab.co.za. Enjoy.
Kroum - I would have to disagree. Where is the direct iPod integration? Have you seen Ford’s Sync system?
Sure, advertising is a big reason people don’t know about Saab, but I would be curious to see how many people see print or TV ads, then go to the dealer only to walk out because of price and lack of technology, or both.
Steve I live here in New Jersey not too far from Saab of Hunterdon and I see two problems with the sales of the new 9-3. First our economy is in a recession even though nobody wants to admit it so nobody is buying anything and 2008 will probably be a flat year for any car maker here in the US until after the presidential elections. Second I have said in the past SAAB has terrible marketing here. You hardly see anything on TV except one of their cheesy born from jets cheap commercial here and there. The new one with the jet blasting the old 9-3 into the new one is the most ridiculous thing I have ever seen and to make matters worse is its the low end model they show. If they want to entice new byers GM needs to pump up marketing money and much better commercials. If they feel this is their “upscale” brand to compete with Audi, BMW etc. they need to look at their commercials and see why Saabs are sitting on the lots. Nobody knows they are there unless you tell them and they aren’t doing a good job at that at all. The new 9-3 is a beatiful car and I think the new 9-4x will do well here as well if people know its out there. They need to have cutting edge commercials like there competition focusing on the cars and their abilities, awards etc. not on stupid airplane technology comparisons…Born from Jets is a dead issue they need to move on and hire a better marketing agency. Listen to people like me who live in the Northeast where Saabs are more visible…I see no marketing hardly on major TV networks. Hyundai of all companies is constantly on TV with a nice commericial I might ad….Saab is non existent. Lets hope they get the signal here or I dont see them lasting.
The Turbo X and upcoming 9-3 Aero XWD with eLSD offer at least comparable, if not superior, performance to the BMW 335xi, but at a lower price point. I’ve been driving a 9-3 Arc for five years and am still seriously considering a 335xi, but time recently spent driving 2007 and 2008 9-3s has convinced me that the poor build-quality issues I’ve suffered in my 2003 have been solved. I think all of the German car makers should take a cue from the interior design of the Japanese carmakers (I absolutely love the interior of the Infiniti M), but the relatively spartan interiors of Saabs have never been a problem for me. I prefer dedicated buttons and knobs to multi-function interfaces (KISS - keep it simple, stupid!), and Saab controls are well-marked and backlit, even on the steering wheel. Now, if only you could opt out of OnStar and into Bluetooth. . . .
See Greg Abbott’s post on reliability for an answer. I would like to add to that post that it’s not a question of perceived reliability but a question of absolute unreliability. As much as I liked my 4 Saabs, they were all a disgrace as far as reliability and they were METICULOUSLY SERVICED. And Mark, the 08 9-3 still squeaks and rattles. My tech spends hours using foam and stuff to quiet them down. Some are better than others and some people hear more than others but there is no doubt, some squeaks, around the sunroof for example, are still there. And yes, without rebates, Saabs are to expensive to be considered in Canada. Basically, they are fun, safe, comfortable, practical, overpriced unreliable cars.
Considring that the last two Saabs (’03 9-5 SW & ‘07 9-3 SC) we’ve bought/leased came with $3-5K rebates, I agree Saab US might do better by lowering the prices. Get the sticker price closer to the actual transaction price and folks won’t think of it as a joke or go on and on about the massive depreciation (just lease it then!). I also think they might consider not limiting the Aero to just one engine, but more along the lines of the UK. And no you don’t have to go back to linear, arc, vector, aero, yada- yada-yada beacsue I think that just confused folks in the US. My vote of course would be to offer the 1.9 TTDi as an opiton with the 9-3 Aero. The Aero body is sooo much nicer than the 2.0T, but I can bring myself to buy a 9-3 2.0T as the exterior just looks so bland in comparison. BTW, no sweaks or rattles in either of our Saab Wagons. 60,000mi & 36,000mi.
I hate to say this but I reckon the quality issue will not be solved until Saab production is moved to Russelsheim. Something about German precision etc etc.
Steven leasing doesnt make you immune from depreciation, it makes the car more expensive to lease hence my conundrum.
I don’t understand it, but Americans just don’t care for combis. They feel they’re sacrificing over buying an SUV.
I think the 9-3’s sales are poor because other than the new more-aggressive grille, the styling is quite bland (on the sedan model). The combi is less bland-looking, but see my first paragraph above.
I think Saab needs to go back to standing-out and looking unique, even if it means being labeled as “quirky”. You might say that people didn’t buy them because they looked odd, but look at Saab sales since they made the look more mainstream. It’s not exactly like sales took off as a result.
Swade: remember someone we know was saying he thinks that Saab needs to go back to being different?
Kroum: I was looking at my copy of Los Angeles magazine yesterday and saw that Saab has a two-page spread print ad in it. I think Saab has been targeting ads regionally rather than nationally lately.
@Danni: Don’t feel too bad. You have the same number of 9-3 variants as the US. We just have 1 more Combi and 1 less sedan. 6 total.
@Zippy: Yes, I agree 100%, but it is so much easier to swallow when you compare it to a buyer who walks out the door knowing their car will be worth so little in 4 years. For me, in 4 years, I’ll be 1 year into another new car and still have a nice low payment. I’ve been leasing now since 1992 and the issue never shows up on my radar up becasue so many leases are subsidized by pumping up the residual. Keep in mind too the residual is based on sticker, not the price you pay, so all those rebates (when availabe to leasees), GM employee discounts (thanks Dad), and GM Card dollars & GM Card bounuses make leasing an even sweeter deal. As they say, it’s not for everyone though.
JohnK is right on (I’m also close to SoH) - Saab marketing in the US is lame. They need to figure out how to get people interested in the cars. Showing a car in a fake jet engine exhaust just does not convey the driving experience.
From the Globe article…what’s all this liberal nonsense he’s talking about? I’ve been a Saab fan for a long time, but I would not consider myself or a lot of my Saab friends “liberals”.
beren