The Saab that Adrian bought
Regulars here will remember the 2.0T vs Aero question that was posed here last week. A reader at the site, Adrian, asked for people’s thoughts on both models as he was considering pulling the trigger on one of them.
And so he did.
Adrian emailed me over the weekend to let me know that he’d just bought this 2.0T Saab 9-3 sedan in Nocturne Blue. Chalk up another one!!
Thanks to everyone for your significant input, and congratulations to Adrian!!!
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Best engine choice. Best color choice.
I see you are also in Oregon. I demand you give me a ride.
Saw a Nocturne blue 9-3 yesterday. A very good color choice (not all dark Saabs need to be black) , but you have to like to wash your car.
Great machine of pleasure : pleasure for the eyes and to drive I guess ..
Congrats Adrian !
Congratulations Adrian!
Congrats! Nice ride for sure. Looking at the pics I can’t help but notice one thing, and its because most of the photos I see of the 9-3 are “lot cars” or cars in the showroom etc… I can’t help but be a tad jealous towards the states that don’t require a front plate on the car. It really takes away from the overall look of a beautiful car. I for one would have to live with it because I live in New Jersey, and of course along with the highest insurance rates, we also have to put the front plate on. (stupid law in my opinion). I know some drivers just put it on the dash, but I don’t know how I really feel about that. How do you guys feel about this issue? Again, congrats to you. Enjoy every turn of the key! Even doing that is special in a SAAB isn’t it?
Nice choice with the 17″ 5 spoke wheels, Adrian. I think the 2.0T looks so much better with them over the standard 16″ 14 spoke wheels. Looks great.
Congrats on beautiful car!
WOW!~
Interior looks to be parchment…
PERFECT combination.
beautiful car!
That side shot says it all, the 9-3 is beautiful. Maybe some day I will take the plunge and order a Snow Silver 2.0T with 17″ wheels and a black leather interior.
Congratulations Adrian.
Very nice choice Adrian. Looks brilliant! And from what I recall from trips to Oregon years ago - you have plenty of great roads to thoroughly enjoy that new ride.
@ Joe - I completely agree with you on the front plate issue. Here in Alberta, Canada we’re not required to have the front plate, so it makes for a much cleaner, unobtrusive look. If US states and Canadian provinces are going to require these barn doors on the front bumpers, why can’t they issue the smaller, narrower European style plates that at least fit flush along the bumper line?
Adrian: Very hot car and color. I have an 04 9-3 vert. in this color with the parchment interior. To me parchment looks white. and I love the color combination.
It also helps a bit that I like to detail my car a lot. I will put some pictures up soon.
GOOD LUCK WITH THIS CAR AND HAVE FUN.
Alberta Canada, N.J. Devil’s head coach Brent Sutter is from that way, correct? Big hockey town.
nice ride, if you ever see me flying by you in my 9-3 blue Viggen on 205 give me a wave.
@ Mike C: Sutter is from Viking, Alberta. About an hour east of my hometown Edmonton. Definitely a hockey town here - Gretzky put this town on the hockey map years ago.
And - to link this back to Saabs - it’s a short three hour drive west to Jasper and the Rocky Mountains where a Saab is in it’s natural environment. :-))
what a beaut! congrats!
i love those 17’s–…reminiscent of the og9-x, 5-spoke wheel..
also, the hidden tailpipe is pleasant visual experience. plus, being “out of the way,” it’s one less thing to keep washed.
Thanks for all the positive feedback and yes the interior is parchment. I have owned many cars with dark exterior and black interior. I really like the contrast between the nocturne blue and the black and then the parchment leather. Looks just right to me.
Nice car!
But Joe, Adrian lives in the states and have the front plate on the car?!
Or are there just some states in the U.S that doesn´t require the front plate?
I thought every country had front plates nowadays with speed-cameras on the roads etc.
I hope soon to post some pics to this site of my new 9-3
Magnus
I live in the states and I recall not every state requiring them. I’m not sure which ones do and don’t however. I mean really, they have the back plate, we have inspection stickers on the front window, a VIN number next to that, they ask for loads of paper work when you get stopped, etc….what else do they need, a blood sample! But you’re right about the radar though, since I believe when they “shoot” the car they need to aim at a flat spot of the car to get a proper reading back on the display.
Congrats Adrian it is one awesome looking car for sure!
I used to live in PA and was only required to have a license plate in the back. However, moving to NJ, you are required to have plates both rear and front. It depends on the state.
Insurance costs are not that different in my experience though. Still SAAB’s are cheaper than e.g. comparable “driving machines”. I guess they are safer, and “no one steals a SAAB” right!?!
Adrian,
Is Koni SAAB better in service and sales than Garry Small SAAB?
When i lived in Portland I had the very best Service at Hill -Top SAAB independent Saab specialist. I have my old Oregonian plate framed on the wall here in Stockholm!
Atomic Saab in Portland is great! Small independent shop. Good work on older saabs but not sure about there service on newer GM Saabs.
He once pulled over and helped a friend of mine (not knowing I always go there and she was my friend) and fixed her car while she was broken down on the freeway. I guess he always travels with an extra Direct Ignition Cassette.
Radar cameras could work with one plate. The sensor faces the car, but the camera would be focused on the back when you enter the sensor zone too. Works “better” at night, too, because the rear plate is illuminated.
We also have only rear plates in Quebec. Each US state or Cdn province decides for itself.