35 responses so far ↓

• 1 saab yurk // Feb 1, 2008 at 9:56 am

  “The holder flips out from the dash, eliciting girlish screams of terror from this writer”.
  Very strange review indeed. Judging by his picture, you would never expect “girlish screams”.

• 2 1985 Gripen // Feb 1, 2008 at 10:10 am

  That’s funny you mention that sliding armrest. I found it really annoying when driving the 9-3 too. Every time I would put the car in reverse and contort myself to look out the rear window through the middle of the two front seats I would lean my elbow on the center armrest of support and it would move on me suddenly. I did this quite a few times (I guess I’m a slow learner). While I like the idea of a sliding armrest maybe they should have integrated some sort of feature to lock it into place wherever you prefer it, such as the lock on the headrest adjustment.

  Another suggestion for the next-gen 9-3: ditch the chintzy cupholders and go with the more mainstream center console ones. Eliminating the mechanical ignition switch in favor of keyless ignition should allow room for them now. Those cupholders, while they make for a good show are really form before function. They’re practically useless.

• 3 cj // Feb 1, 2008 at 11:06 am

  Interesting. A car review similar to a furniture review…. Its no longer about going from A-B…

  A few other reviews (included driving them at daytime)

  http://www.globeauto.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080124.wh-saab93-0124/GAStory/specialGlobeAuto/home

  http://www.nationalpost.com/opinion/columnists/Story.html?id=261325

• 4 Frank A // Feb 1, 2008 at 11:08 am

  I have never had an issue with the armrest in my 9-3. The underside of the armrest is ugly. The lid is a rather unattractive piece of plastic.

• 5 zippy // Feb 1, 2008 at 12:36 pm

  Its pretty obvious he never drove the car as there is no driver impression of the car. Those staples are most definitely not what I expect for a $20000 car never mind once that came out costing $53000. The more I see, the more doubts I have!

• 6 Wulf // Feb 1, 2008 at 12:36 pm

  I think the sliding armrest is a nice idea but I still don’t really understand why they don’t just put a longer armrest in there. It was sliding a little bit too easy in my 9-3 but is much better in my 9-5. Construction is also better in the 9-5 without the visible staples.

• 7 Kroum // Feb 1, 2008 at 1:10 pm

  This is embarrassing.

• 8 eggsngrits // Feb 1, 2008 at 1:40 pm

  OK, so did this fellow have a production car or one that was suplied to journos ahead of mass production? That is, can anyone verify that is the way the cars on the showroom floor are made? I’d wouldn’t be surprised if they are slightly different.

  And, yes, I’ve found the sliding arm rest on the 9-5 hard to get used to as well.

• 9 Edonis // Feb 1, 2008 at 1:48 pm

  That was indeed an odd review, because there isn’t any evidence that he actually drove the car. He may only have turned on the ignition and then have taken a few snapshots with an ordinary camera then called it a night.

  But the review didn’t seem to negative, although it was embarrasing to see those visible staples on the underside of the armrest. I can’t recall having seen them on my 9-5, but I’ll check tomorrow morning just to be sure. But the sliding mechanism on the 9-5 works just fine for me -and I always have it slided all the way forward.

  Zippy: Funny thing, this is exacly what I would expect from a $20 000-car. Here, you don’t even get the Toyota Aygo/C1/107 for that price But I guess I’m just bitter and envious of the US-car prices.

• 10 Tedjs // Feb 1, 2008 at 3:47 pm

  A review on the SportCombi interior? That was downright bizarre. More entertaining was his personal picture next to the article – the dude looks like he just woke up after a night of hard drinking.

  I will have to look under my armrest and see if it looks the same. I have never looked under there before, but after 8200 odd miles – it is time. The auto-slide feature of that armrest is a bit annoying, but I have learned to live with that minor nuisance and had almost forgotten about it.

  For as many complaints I have read about that dash mounted cup-holder – the thing actually works. It is not in the most ergonomic position, but it does hold a beverage with ease. On the other hand – I am not a big about having liquids in my car. A friend dumped a full cup of coffee in his car recently while getting in and there is just no easy way to clean that up.

  Criticism of the cruise control switch is just nit-picking. Live with the car for a few weeks and one realizes it works just fine. Some of these so called auto journalist spend a lot of time over-analyzing minor details without any input how to make them better. The cruise control switch placement debate has been going on for a long time – will it be solved in my lifetime?

  He did compliment the climate controls and they deserve it. That system is one of the best I have ever encountered. In addition to keeping excellent cabin temperature it can sense when those heated seats are needed and cycle them automatically. And it will even intuitively turn off the passenger seat if nobody is sitting in it – brilliant.

• 11 Rentokil // Feb 1, 2008 at 4:29 pm

  I’ve got a MY03, and my armrest doesn’t budge a millimetre. Either it’s a MY03 thing, or the previous owner screwed it shut.

• 12 craig // Feb 1, 2008 at 4:38 pm

  Its not your imagination people, just bad ergonomics. This is far from premuim.

  BTW i have thought long and hard about whether to buy the 9-3 and in a nutshell it is simply not worth it. Fact is i can buy much better cars, with more style, better quality, more reliability, more than likely better after sales support/service…the list just goes on.

  It pains me to say this but even the new 9-3 just doesn’t cut it. Too little too late. If i sound disappointed you’re right. When buying a new car you have to compare it with the comptetition, regardless of past loyalties.

  I will still watch this space with interest and now look forward to the all new 9-3 when it develops. My heart says SAAB but my brain says “the multitude of better alternatives”. More often the brain wins when buying cars, especially when the brain reminds the heart of the past consequences of not doing so.

  Cheers,

• 13 The Fop // Feb 1, 2008 at 7:29 pm

  Can’t see what the issue is with the armrest. On the motorway I slide it forward to rest my elbow, and the rest of the time I slide it back so it does not get in the way while changing gear a little “enthusiastically”….
  It works fine, and I have no issues with what it looks like underneath because I never drive with it up in the air. Oh – and I had a cup of coffee in the drinks holder on the way to work this morning. Much easier to reach than when down in the centre armrest and therefore safer (I would not feel comfortable having to look down into the centre armrest while driving).

• 14 TrakDah // Feb 2, 2008 at 12:14 am

  The armrest looks precisely like that in my MY08. I hadn’t noticed it yet, but oh boy that’s an uggly one.

  The main problem with the armrest is that it’s too easy to slide it, the required force should’ve been higher.

• 15 Chris // Feb 2, 2008 at 1:22 am

  This guy does not do normal reviews. If you read more of them you will see that he just focuses on the “Inside Story” of fit and finish. Actually, I like the change of looking at things from a different perspective.

• 16 Jeff // Feb 2, 2008 at 3:08 am

  Chris – I agree about the change of pace…I think it would be better if there were two reviews for each car, one for just driving and one for everything else.

• 17 mark_belfast // Feb 2, 2008 at 3:14 am

  As others have said, exactly the same as my MY06 SW, an ugly, cheap solution, thankfully hidden most of the time.
  Cup holder – great idea poorly executed – needs more damping on opening, more strength to hold the weight of a McDonalds cup or a slim bottle, and sturdier on closing without feeling like it is going to break off. Kids just love it, but it is soo fragile…..

  I love my 9-3, don’t get me wrong, but there are a few raw edges like this. Another one is the flimsy luggage rolling cover which for some unknown reason has ‘flat’ pegs either side which have to be oh-so-carefully aligned to get them to slot in and enable the cover to roll in and out. What was wrong with round pegs that would go in easier?

  Also, why is the luggage compartment lighting only above the load cover, meaning in the dark you have to wrestle with the aforementioned pegs to retract the cover to see what’s in your boot?

  And does anyone know how to disable the frustrating boot locking issue which means everytime you stop and get out, you have to press the door mounted boot release button or your key-fob?

  All minor issues in what is still a far more appealing car than an A4 or 3, but all could be easily (and not expensively) resolved.

  Here’s hoping there are lessons learned for next generation.

• 18 NY3UVL714 // Feb 2, 2008 at 3:22 am

  I wonder if the Cadillac BLS also gets a tacky slapped-together finish underneath the armrest? If not, why praytell does the Saab?

• 19 1985 Gripen // Feb 2, 2008 at 3:51 am

  wow, mark_belfast: some of those things you mention are only things designers would learn by actually using the cars in real life for quite some time. I hope they’re reading this now to get tips on what needs to be re-designed in the next-gen cars. This site is like free customer feedback for them! Good stuff.

  I agree on the cupholder. Why should one have to specifically find a container that will fit in the cupholder rather than have the cupholder accommodate any size container (within reason)? Every other car (even cheap ones) have a cupholder that can hold just about any size drink. In my Impala I don’t worry about the cupholder snapping-off or that my passenger’s legs are going to knock my drink out of the holder.

  A lot of people don’t understand the obsession with cupholders, but most of those people, like The Fop above, don’t drink in their car or they accommodate the car’s features, rather than having the car accommodate them. I’m a freak for design details and the cupholders in Saabs have been a crying shame for years. I think that it’s due to the ignition being in the center console that they can’t put real integrated cupholders in, and opt for these afterthought add-ins in the dash. When they go to keyless ignition hopefully we can get some real cupholders like every other car has.

  What’s my obsession with cupholders? People have to realize that not everyone drives the same. People who drive their Saab primarily during a commute to their workplace and home might not see reason to have a decent cupholder. I drive my cars hundreds of miles at a time and I’m a caffeine addict. I think the car should accommodate all kinds of drivers.

• 20 Wulf // Feb 2, 2008 at 4:10 am

  I am with Gripen and wishing our cars had better cupholders. I drive long distances over empty roads as well and nothing is better than having a hot or cold caffeinated beverage by your side. The dash cup holder in the 9-3 and 9-5 or pretty useless and I always have to hold my cup when going around a corner. I also don’t really want to look at a travel mug all the time when I look at the dash.

  I am not really attached to the center console ignition either, there are other possibilities these days.

• 21 Jeff // Feb 2, 2008 at 4:25 am

  My NG900 had one cupholder, and it was so far back on the console that it hurt to reach for it sometimes. But I’d rather have the newer flip-out one, because I only drink soda from cans in my car.

  Saab seems to have an annoying habit of deleting useful features from their cars when they update them, like the cupholder in the console (couldn’t they just stick one in the center console under that sliding door? That’s where it was in my NG900, only it was a flip-up door) and the Sport button on automatic cars and the regular air through the middle of the vents thing on the C900. They’ll never bring that last one back, no matter how many times people bring it up here. It was just too weird and that overshadowed its usefulness.

• 22 1985 Gripen // Feb 2, 2008 at 4:49 am

  Jeff: see, that’s the kind of thing I’m talking about. The cupholder isn’t a big deal for you because as you say, “…I only drink soda from cans in my car”. But you can’t assume that every Saab owner wants to be limited to drinking soda from a can.

  Here in the U.S. when you go into a convenience store and buy a soda more often than not it comes in a 20-fluid-ounce size plastic bottle that won’t fit in the Saab cupholder. If you buy any soda from a fast food restaurant drive-thru larger than a medium size one the disposable cup is larger than the cupholder can handle.

  A lot of peoples’ first reaction would be “you don’t need a soda that big”, but my point is that I shouldn’t have to accommodate the car’s features, it should accommodate me. I expect a design-oriented company like Saab to predict its customers’ needs and design around them. Saab should know after 18 years of putting cupholders in their cars that theirs are not acceptable for many of their customers’ needs.

  The cupholder you speak of in the NG900 (the one under the flip-up armrest) is the same one I have in my wife’s ‘01 9-3. I think that might have been only a standard feature in the North American Saabs. In the rest of the world I think that cupholder insert was a storage bin. Still, like the one in the dash which impedes use of the stereo and climate controls and blocks the view of the SID, it was an after-thought and is far from ideal as it’s ergonomically awkward, as you mention.

  Saab had the chance to fix this problem when they designed the 1999 9-5 and again when they designed the 2003 9-3, but they chose to go with that cheesy dash-mounted one that’s more a work of art than functional. It sure does wow people at auto shows though.

  As for the outside air from the center vent while the heater is on thing, I think that a lot of people didn’t understand its purpose and thought that the system was broken. Also a lot of people didn’t like it and would shut-off the center air vent. I think in future Saabs, should they choose to re-introduce this safety feature, they could have a button of some sort that would turn off the outside air coming from the middle vent if the owner doesn’t like it. Maybe simply have a sealing louver on the center vent (one that doesn’t leak and make noise).

  As for the center ignition switch, I think that an ignition switch should be a relic in premium cars. The next-gen Saabs should not have a physical ignition switch, IMHO. This will leave room for decent cupholders (where function is favored over form) and might even allow them to be heated/chilled like some other “luxury” makes are offering now.

• 23 Chris // Feb 2, 2008 at 4:56 am

  Jeff – CanadianDriver is a website where a variety of syndicated newspaper writers put reviews. Basically it`s a mixed bag of content. There is another 2008 Saab 9-3 review on the site:

  http://www.canadiandriver.com/roadtest/08_9-3.htm

• 24 Mike T // Feb 2, 2008 at 5:11 am

  It was interesting to read this review as I have just driven a 2007 9-3 for the first time. I much admire the design of this car, but can only say that I was shocked by the cheap feeling and creaking interior. Some details beggar belief in a car that is intended to be a competitor to Audi, Volvo, etc. What is that hard plastic strip atop the instrument panel doing? The interior door pulls flex and creak. The hand-brake is surely a joke? And I bashed my elbow on the armrest everytime I selected gears 2,4,6. Actually the sad thing is that I came away feeling this car is totally irrelevant. Apart from slightly more precise steering, the 9-3 seems poorer in just about every respect than the car it is based on. I ran a Vauxhall (Opel) Vectra C (Epsilon platform) for 112,000 miles, and it was a very good car. The Saab is significantly noisier at motorway speeds (particularly wind), has a harsher ride quality, and less solid trim. Strangely, the Saab seems to drive more like the previous generation Vectra. What is the point? Obviously this is just my opinion but possibly made relevant by the fact that these days I drive a rival product. These days? These cars were part of my life for over 25 years. My father started with a 96. I learnt to drive in a 99, and my last Saab was a 900T16S 2dr (a rare car in the UK and quite superb). My enthusiasm died the day I took my T16 for a service and the dealer loaned me a new GM900 2.3. The weather was bad that day, strong winds and lashing rain. Everyone going slow. But not me in my T16. Solid as a rock. Just like all my fathers 99s. You didn’t realize how bad it was out there until you stopped and opened the door. But then the return journey in that GM900. Super smooth balance shaft 2.3, but so what? The car felt vague and insecure. I was going slow in lane 1. For the first time ever not feeling safe and confident in a Saab. That was the end for me. After the T16 I have not returned to Saab. These days I drive a Volvo S40 (90,000 miles in2 years), and find the anti Volvo comment on this blog amusing. These days Volvo also has plenty of issues, but for me the cars are less compromised by their Ford platforms, and probably better cars than the Saabs. Strangely, the S40 seems the closest thing on the road today to the old 99. Thankyou for an interesting and informative site.

• 25 BlackViggen // Feb 2, 2008 at 5:15 am

  We own MY07 Sportcombi with the same interior. I had never noticed the staples in the armrest. After reading this article I took a look.

  Yes you do see staples if the armrest is moved forward. But usually (for me at least), the armrest has been slid back when opening and you don’t see the staples when you have the lid open.

• 26 Tedjs // Feb 2, 2008 at 5:37 am

  I managed to look under my armrest today and there are those staples from the review. You have to slide the center armrest forward, twist around in the driver’s seat and make sure the transaxle is in park (so you don’t roll forward during the inspection) which means nobody but me will ever know they are there. A minor glitch I suppose. If the armrest did not slide you would never be able to see them – but it does look ‘cheap’ when your find them.

  Does anyone have a car (Saab or otherwise) that they have owned and love the cup holder (or holders)? Judging by the comments above this seems to be a pretty big issue but I have never really found that perfect cup holder in the array of vehicles I have owned or have driven. Mini-vans seem to be the exception in some cases, but a mini-van is not something I anticipate owning.

  A representative at Honda one wrote about what slobs Americans are in their vehicles and in some cases I would have to agree. When I worked at the Chevy dealer we used to replace seatbelt retractors and locking mechanisms that had ceased to function in certain vehicles. Upon removal of the interior trim one would find all sorts of dried up sticky pop, French fries, and coagulated coffee among other things that had gummed up the works. Center console gearshift levers are another area that comes to mind.

  It was actually pretty gross sometimes the things you would find. I found a dirty diaper stuffed in a McDonald’s bag under a seat once and nearly lost my lunch. Disgusting!

  Kind of makes you wonder that maybe in a Saab the perfect cup holder has never been designed because their home market does not use them. The ones in the SportCombi certainly seem to be an afterthought.

• 27 1985 Gripen // Feb 2, 2008 at 5:55 am

  Tedjs: “Does anyone have a car (Saab or otherwise) that they have owned and love the cup holder (or holders)?”

  Yes, 2001 Ford Taurus, 2006 Dodge Stratus, 2008 Chevrolet Impala, and just about every rental car I’ve driven in the past 10 years (Nissan Altima, Nissan Maxima, Toyota Camry, Pontiac G6, Pontiac Grand Am, Chevy HHR, Chevy Trailblazer…

  You’ll notice that all of these cars are cheap so it’s not like it’s a cost issue, it’s a design one. Saab, being known for good design, you’d think they would have settled this issue long ago…

  I agree that they’re probably not utilized in Sweden as much as in places like the U.S., but they don’t just sell Saabs in Sweden anymore. They need to adapt to the needs of their customers all over the world now.

  And I’m a neat freak, so you’ll never find a dirty diaper in a McDonald’s bag in my Saab ever. I don’t even eat at McDonalds!

• 28 Tedjs // Feb 2, 2008 at 7:34 am

  The 2001 Ford Taurus….! A cup holder in search of a real car to live in….. Now that is one I did not expect to see on the list. As for the HHR – jeez could Chevy have designed a car that is harder to see out of? At least you can enjoy your beverage while NOT knowing what is really going on around you as you drive.

  I think we need a cup holder photo thread on this blog. I have a plan….

  Gripen: Man, I hope nobody on this blog keeps dirty diapers in their car. That was a moment in my life that I will never forget for all the wrong reasons. For the record – the car was a pre-1994 Chevrolet Lumina. I have never looked at a Lumina the same way.

• 29 Jeff // Feb 2, 2008 at 8:43 am

  Tedjs – Saab cupholders HAVE been afterthoughts for 60 years. I hope, however, that the new new 9-3, new 9-5, 9-1, and 9-4x don’t have this problem.

• 30 1985 Gripen // Feb 2, 2008 at 9:27 am

  Tedjs: my point on the Taurus is even the most mundane, cheap cars seem to be able to include a functional cupholder. I had a 2001 Taurus as a company-issued lease car, that’s why it made my list.

  Why are you complaining about other attributes of the cars I listed? I didn’t claim these cars are better in any way than Saab except that their uninspired designers at least seem to be able to design a simple solution to a simple requirement, unlike Saab in the case of their cupholders.

  Saab should be ashamed, IMHO, to be putting those kludge cupholders in their supposed “premium” cars in 2008. I can give them a break for having the “afterthought” cupholders in the NG900, as cupholders aren’t really required equipment in Europe, but there’s no reason the 9-5 and 9-3SS shouldn’t have had “real” cupholders. I know I’m nitpicking on an issue that really doesn’t matter overall, but I expect more from Saab design. It’s not like anyone’s going to buy a car based on the design of the cupholder, but I expect Saab to pay attention to such details as they do to interior ergonomics and other elements of good design.

• 31 Jeff // Feb 2, 2008 at 10:32 am

  Some asshat stole my cupholder out of my NG900 while it was in the shop once. I didn’t have one for 2 months. Point – I sure hope Saab never goes back to removable cupholders.

• 32 Tedjs // Feb 2, 2008 at 11:00 am

  Gripen: I was not complaining – just having some fun thinking about those other cars. I remember when the ‘original’ Taurus came out when I was in high school(!) – has it been twenty years already?

  At any rate we just need the ‘good’ cup holder and ‘good’ car to come together in our lifetime. An intriguing conversation – seriously.

• 33 Wulf // Feb 2, 2008 at 2:48 pm

  At first I didn’t really understand why everybody was making such a big deal out of a couple of staples. But looking back on my 9-3 ownership days, I really couldn’t stand all the creaks and squeaks in such a premium car and this poor workmanship on the center armrest is probably a good indication of all the cost cutting in these cars. I took a picture of the center armrest of my 2001 “noise-free” 9-5 and I am sad to say “they don’t make them like they used to”.
  http://www.flickr.com/photos/23354262@N04/2235430705/

  Back to the cup-holders… my Trailblazer had 3 of them in the center console. Yes, 3… I used one of them for my iPod, one for me and one for a passenger. And they all were in a great spot and could fit large drinks and coffee mugs. Perfect!

• 34 Jeff // Feb 2, 2008 at 4:10 pm

  I didn’t even notice a bunch of comments on this thread…

  Gripen – I like turning the key. It makes me feel more connected to the car. That’s just me, though. It’s not something I really have to worry about, anyway, because it’ll be a long time before I get a car with a push-button starter. Also, heated/chilled cupholders aren’t even premium anymore…Dodge offers them on the Calibur, I think. Or is it Caliber? I can never remember. Point, all cars should have heated/chilled cupholders. It’s useful.

  Mike T – Try driving an 08, they fixed all the squeaks. Also, you’re right about the NG900 being unsure of itself. I had that same car you drove for two years, a 2.3. The OG9-3 is much nicer.

• 35 SaabKen // Feb 5, 2008 at 5:02 am

  Swade,

  Since I first emailed you the link to this review, the “luxury” aspect of CanadianDriver, called LuxuryCarCanada, now has the same review of the same car but worded more concisely and with much less nit-picking than the original article.

  http://www.luxurycarcanada.com/features/features_articles.php?fetch_feature_article=08_saab_9-3_aero-sportcombi_hl_.php&pass_title=2008%20Saab%209-3%20Aero%20SportCombi

  No mentioning of the staples ….