The Saab 9-3 button dash - do we miss it?
My thanks to Rogan for preparing a page for the 2003+ Saab 9-3 range in the car pages here at Trollhattan Saab. Reading through that page prompted the following entry.
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Regular visitors to this site will probably know that I love interiors. To me, the styling and layout of the interior is more important than the exterior appearance of a car. It’s where you spend all your time, where you engage with the car as you drive. The seats, the dash, the controls and switchgear - all of it have to combine to provide the right experience, the right level of control.
When I went to the 2003 Saab 9-3 premiere here in Tasmania a number of years ago, one of the first things I fell in love with was the dashboard. It was very much how I pictured a modern Saab dashboard should be: no nonsense, very functional, simple looking and very modern.
And that was before I saw it at night!
At night, any Saab 9-3 or 9-5 dashboard is a masterpiece to look at. You want to talk about jet heritage? All it feels like you’re missing is the wings.
Here it is:
And in a darker light, the real night-time view:
This view is a big part of it for me. My 9-3 Viggen had more of a 9-5 style dash layout but it still lit up like this at night and driving with this display on was a beautiful experience. Every function you wanted to perform had a button there for the purpose, meaning one-touch instead of a range of adjustments as on a dial. If you wanted to change the heating vent from windscreen to floor, you press the floor button rather than progressing through a number of settings via a dial.
Ergonomists will probably be able to tell you which one is better, but I always found the buttons easy to use once you got used to them.
It was to my personal chagrin, then, that Saab ditched the button dash in MY2007 in favour of a more generic dial setup, whose hardware could be shared between various models in the GM family. The heating controls turned to a simple 3-dial system and the radio was a common stock GM bowtie unit (albeit one that gave comparatively better sound than the original button dash unit in the 2003-2006 Saab 9-3).
The new (current) dash:
Notably, the new dashboard also lost the dashtop Saab Information Display (SID), which was a firm favourite amongst 9-3 owners. The SID moved to a small display in with the gauge cluster.
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If I’m going to be honest here (and I should) then the newer dash layout is less cluttered and the dials are probably a little friendlier to most people.
But geez I miss that button dash. The ambience of the green lighting was fantastic and that old dash made the Night Panel button a major source of amusement and wonder. It really was a classic setup that was quite sophisticated and one that definitely elicited an emotional reaction - for this Saab blogger at least.
So what say you? I think I’ve made my own bias fairly clear, but I know mine may not be the consensus opinion.
Comments are open.
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I think the current interior is a little too plain and I dont think it is constructed using the same high quality materials as the button dash. I think the new dash was an error, IMHO.
Some button dash owners may tend to disagree on the materials there, Zippy. Some of the buttons have been known to peel a little over time. Possibly climate-related?
I actually walked away from a 07 in favour of a 06 because of the dash.
Let’s put it this way, if I buy a 09 model, and have the option to buy even a 2nd hand 06 style dash, I would get it and DIY it in - that’s how much I hate the new GM-generic-omatic.
SID under the speedo is a VW, not Saab.
Having said that, the 06’s quality leaves a lot to be desired - I know of potential customers leaving in disgust because of the squeaky door handle.
I drive a 9-3 with the button dash. Once and a while i have the opportunity to drive one with the new dash.
The negative about the new dash: Moving the SID is bad and the silver strip reflects in the upper left part of the windscreen.
The positive: the radio has far more presets! The lack of presets (only 6 for FM) was a major fault (I need at least 15).
ACC control with three dials instead of all the buttons: I don’t care at all. They are both OK.
Especially the two negatives makes me to be in favour of the old dash.
i think it’s funny you bring this up, swade, because it’s something i actually talk about a ot when thinking about my car. like ying, i opted for an ‘06 over an ‘07 because i think the buttons are distinctive. plus, i prefer the climate control toggle with the digital display and the SID. even though some of the buttons don’t even work in the US (like the phone control), i prefer the overall look to the dials and i really don’t like the new radio.
Some car manufacturers are reverting to a less is more philosophy with control layouts.
This is probably also in part a cessation of tech for techs sake design - whereby dashboard enhancements revolved around ever increasing displays with too many multifunction buttons. They always look nice but some are just too hard to use - for many drivers navigating menus whilst driving is far more distractive than identifying a dedicated button or dial. Some of the stuff that came out a few years ago (eg BMW iDrive) was a design disaster - who didn’t laugh hard and long when BMW announced training for car park attendants?!
Hence this is why many prefer dials and buttons. Having said that the ergonomics of both the old & new 9-3 dashboards is very good. Personally I prefer the new dial based design - dials are good for up/down adjustments.
I suspect some ideas for the new dash were borrowed from within the GM family (eg Opel/Vauxhall Vectra ZC - although certainly not all - the ZC had an insane ACC menu system!). Some criticism has been made that the dash isn’t modern enough but then the ergonomics would suffer. Check out some other mid range dashboards to verify this.
The real test is the ability to readily understand most of the 9-3 controls (with the exception of some obscure SID & audio settings) without having to look at the manual!
@Albert: funny that you’d say that. If i’m not mistaken, there are three different FM “Slots”, each with 6 channels. That would be a total of 18 presets. OK, this is from the top of my head, and I’m not going outside to check, but it’s gotta be more that 6?
I have 9-3SS ym. 2005 with that button. I’m gonna order ym. 2009 Sport Combi in the near future and will probably receive it in the beginning of October.
I don’t think I’ll miss that button but I’ll certainly miss the following features:
1) possibility to switch ESP off from a single button. With ym. 2007-> it’s not possible anymore.
2) possibility to choose ACC zones between single zone and dual zone . With ym. 2007-> it’s not possible anymore. That’s a very handy feature!
I have a 9-3 hatch and 9-3 SS both with button dashes, they are far superior to the fiddly multi-function “knobs” in the facelift 9-3. Try setting the air-con in a new convertible with the roof down - you can barely see the little green LED on the new knobs and reading the temperature off the outside of the dial is rubbish compared to having a clear display with all the information you require on the climate settings in an obvious line.
I think putting SID in the speedo is also a mistake - the passenger can currently fiddle and set the trip mileage, look at the temperature, DTE, etc. without having to bother me. The idea of the high level SID was that you could glance at it quicker than you could look at the speedo area. I think the move is just bowing to the “everybody else put it there so that must be right” mentality.
Saabs dashes, especially at night, are supposed to be a paragon of clarity.
As a button dash owner, here are my thoughts. Design wise, the button dash wins hands down. The dash just looks so cool, especially at night as Swade pointed out. All the controls are layed out in a Saab like fashion. Does a figher jet require a pilot to undertake multiple actions to get what he wants done? No, theres a button for everything. The many buttons on the dash may be imposing for a new user, but they are awesome for an experienced user of the car. Everything is easily and instantly accessable.
Also, the lack of the SID is horrible. Along with the night panel, that was probably the most jet-inspired thing in the car… I’d venture to say it was way more useful than those HUDs on other premium cars that give you the speed, rpm, gforces, stuff like that. Any information I need about the vehicle is right there, without having to take my eyes off of the road. The new one is small, has less futures and isn’t as accessible for reading on the drive. I’d venture to say it’s less safe than the old setup. That’s something that’s certainly not acceptable in a Saab. I can’t think of any reason to put it down their other than cost-cutting, so I’m guessing that’s what happened.
The only downside to the button dash is quality. As I said, the design is epic. The build quality and material choice… not so much. My dash has quite bad rattles and creeks, and it’s a 5 year old car. I shudder to think what another 5 years will do to it. If I push firmly anywhere in the top vents/radio area, I can always get a cracking noise like everything isn’t really fitting together firmly. I’m glad that the new dash improved in this area, despite the fact that the same thing can be found on an Impala (yikes).
I really think there’s a problem with sharing parts like this. Look at the Lamborghini Gallardo. Lots of the interior stuff is pulled from an Audi A8, and we all know that that’s probably one of the best cars in the world in terms of interior quality and design. Despite this, no one wants Audi gear in their Lamborghini. They want something special. Likewise, Saab customers want something special for their dash. If Saab just brings back a dash as well designed and beautiful as the button dash with quality to match, they’d be golden. Combine that with Saab seats and they may have the world’s best interior.
Oh, and btw Swade, it’s Rogan not Logan ;-p
I just looked in the pdf-maunal on the standard radio/CD unit in my 9-3 MY01 (Saab Audio System 3). There are 6+6 presets for FM and 2 for AM. The 6+6 thing indicates that you can program six favorites to your own wish, but you can also at any given time have the unit look for the strongest signals and store these on the six buttons as a second set of “favorites”.
I love the button dash. I’m actually thinking about a new 9-5, but the new type of dash after MY06 holds me back. As has been pointed out, the button dash makes it very easy do what you want. It’s a clear and logic layout. And it looks good!
I haven’t experienced any problem with the quality of the button dash. The SID loses pixels, but that’s another problem. I sometimes laughs at car reviews were they write so much about the quality and feel of the ACC dials. Are people constantly changing the settings? Why? Isn’t it called ACC as in “automatic…”? In April/May when that sun starts to warm, I lower the temperature to 18 degrees C. In October when it starts to get a little chilly, I put it at 20 degrees C. A couple of times per year, I could be in the situation that my cloths are a little damp and the temperature is around 5-10 degrees C. Then I activate the defroster for a minute to get some dehumidification. That’s it. I hardly have to use the buttons. So why all this fuss about “premium feel”?
The Night Panel… Wonderful! It is a truly useful thing, and probably the result of some engineer thinking outside the box. Less is more.
The button on the steering wheel works great. Easy to operate and logic in their function. I have tried cars with small dials on the steering wheel (to adjust the volume), and I don’t like it.
Another thing I like is that the dash is all black. No trendy aluminum, chrome, or wood. The dash is designed to look and function like a dash, not a living room stereo from 1975.
But, in the future… Would like a button dash in a new Saab five years from now? No. I expect them to come up with something even better. Something that is even more intuitive and safe and comfortable to use. I could be voice controlled, maybe have multi-touch panels. But at least, it should be an intelligent systems that only shows the function you need at any given situation and hide the rest.
As a owner of a 9-3 (but have had two 9-5:s and a couple of older 900 and a 9000) I think the dial dashboard works quit alright, but I do not like that a POS GM SUV with everything x-tra plain in a rental give the exact same layouts and feeling….
With that sad, I’ve noticed a few bad things. The passenger can not fiddle with the cd player other then exchanging the discs. If the passenger doesn’t like a track but still want to hear the rest of the disc, the driver have to push the “next button”…How stupid is that?
The Gm generic display only shows us how to skip the next disc. The only way to skip to next track is trough the button on the steering wheel.
Another thing on the button vs. dial thing. The dials to the seat heater is gone and replaced by a….button!
And the dials contain buttons.
So, now I have a question. Is the number of buttons really fewer than pre 07 models?
PS. Just lov the TTAero
TTAreo,
In the OG 9-3, the seat heaters were buttons. Didn’t realize they changed it to dials in the NG 9-3. The OG 9-3 have four dials: radio volume, main light switch, reostat for the dash light, and height adjustment of headlights.
Now you got me thinking…Was the dials for the seat heater only in 9-5:s and 9000:s. The 900:s had automatic ones.
And I will start the dial and button countings as I leave for holliday in a couple of hours
I like the new dash. Never liked button dash really.
Saab 9000 had SID under the speedo ling time ago. Buttondash looks good but I don´t like to use it, especially in dark. Our 9000 had button dash and compared to that, the new one is great. I can use it blindfolded if needed. 3 way rotary switches seem to be the most common layout today.
Actually, the new dash was the reason what finally triggered us to buy a brand new Saab. It somehow reminds me more of C900 than the predecessor.
To me, also the materials are very good. No peeling, no problems. Very easy to keep clean. Center console I don´t like at all, but that´s a different story.
I had a MY06 Aero before with the “old” dash and I now have the MY08 dash in the Turbo X. And I don’t miss the old dash at all. A airplane should be as functional as any possible. No button unrequired, no light not necessary. With that in mind the new dash is closer to plane heritage than the old one, from a functional point of view. From the optical point of view you’re right, the old one looked like a cockpit, but was not as functional as the new one IMHO. Not talking about quality, there the new one is a jump ahead.
The SID was a gimmick in the car, but I had trouble with it and could not rely on the data it provided. Despite this it was difficult to clean the windscreeen behind the SID, which is now much easier and the information provided is almost the same and it works, that’s the most important.
Shortly said: I am happy with the new dash and would never get back in an old one…
This is another topic that has been revisited previously and one that must of the purists like me would want the older dash layout and style prior to even the 9-3 SS. However, like many other aspects that we have discussed in this wonderful medium, this is a matter regulated by fashion and trend rather than good design. I have pointed many times that even the A+B as well as Porsche have moved forward with the market trends and have in most cases come up with some rather disappointing results, Considering the most recent dashboards in my view Saab still has a very distinctive flavor and better looking than many other higher rated competitors. I think I can live with the latest dashboard.
I haven’t owned one but have sat in a 9-3 with the button dash and SID. From an inexperienced perspective, it looked cluttered. And the newer dash in the pictures above looks much more concise. I like that. But my perspective might change if I owned one.
Albert: Are you talking about older models regarding 6 presets? I’ve got a ton of presets on my 04 Arc like BaRa mentioned, more than I can use.
Well, I love the button dash, and I’ve had no peeling problems either. The new dash will be a major deterrent to me buying a new Saab unless they come up with something revolutionary, like the 9-X concept. I’m not a fan of dials of any sort, buttons seem so much easier and straightforward.
Swade: I’m not complaining, but I had to use my wife’s Windows XP machine to post comments. I tried Internet Explorer, Firefox, and I even downloaded and installed Opera this morning on my ancient Windows 98 machine, and I could not see a single comment, the Win XP machine is fine. It must be a Win 98 problem. I’m not about to buy another Windows license, so it’s Ubuntu Linux time I guess. But I’ve been wanting to do that for a long time, now I’ve got more incentive.
I think I read somewhere that the relocation of the SID was to meet North American safety regs.,Not real sure ot that though.TT Aero:check your infotainment guide re.the operation of the cd player…dfash controls allow for more control than you claim.In regard to the overall dash layout,in initial appearance and impression old 9-3 is favored , day to day hands on practicality the new dash wins in a walk.Especially in regard to the admittedly generic blacktie radio.The “FAVORITES” programming system is vastly superior to the old switch bands every time you wanted to go to a preset in AM or FM1 to FM2.Once you program all 6 pages you can use the steering wheel controls almost exclusively.The AC is also virtually idiot proof. No one has made any comments about the Bose centerpoint surround system. I find it to be one of the best car systems I’ve heard.
As someone who has never drivin a 9-3SS, I can say that the button dash w/ the sat-nav looks confusing as hell. Did they really need to include all the buttons for a telephone?? The lower models look nice though.
I can see how it can be off putting to potential customers. If they are used to American cars it can be even more confusing. When I first got my 9000 it took me a few days to figure out what all the little pictures meant (and of course felt very stupid after figuring out how obvious they really are).
“If they are used to American cars it can be even more confusing.”
That is why I want Saab not to have the U.S. market in mind while developing cars… Build them for Europe, and those across the pond who still fancy them can buy them if they like.
Well here’s one though… Saab could build an auto climate control system that really works. Somewhere in the manual for my ‘03, it says basically “don’t bother putting the temperature lower than you want it, the temperate will not lower more quickily”…. um…. bull. Also, the fans in the dash are so loud that I have to manually turn them down every time I get in the car when its hot, even with the fan speed customizaiton in the SID set to low. If the thing really truly worked, I wouldn’t mind if some of the more obscure controls were hidden in some sort of menu in a nav system, SID kind of thing, whatever.
The radio… well lets see something that’s original to Saab yet funcitonal and high quality. Get the commonly used buttons up front, and make them fairly large so their easily accessible. Smaller stuff, again, can be hidden out of the way somewhat.
-Rogan
My first encounter with a Saab was with a used 2004 9-3 I was looking at. The SID on top of the dash immediately grabbed my attention and all the buttons lighting up at night is one of the best features of this car. I have owned a 2006 9-3 and absolutely don’t like the 2007-and-up dash. It just looks too generic, cheap and boring. I would never by a new 9-3 because of this. I also don’t like the newer style speedometer, tachometer and other gauges; they just look cheap as well. The most desirable Saab 9-3 is the 2006 Aero: button dash and V6.
Instead of the interior refresh for 2008, Saab should have left the exterior alone and put the money towards a real nice interior. While exterior looks are important, I only see that for about a minute a day as opposed to 2 hours a day for the interior. Same is true for the 9-5. Too bad the <=2005 models don’t have a SID on top of the dash like the 9-3.
I have an 08 9-3 2.0. I looked at used 07 and 06 before I bought mine because of the better value in terms of $, but really…the materials of the button dash looked way cheaper than the new 08. That an the re-designed exterior made spend more money.
As someone said before, the new dials contain buttons, the dial parts move very smoothly, they look cool at night since every position in the dial illuminates according to intensity (the buttons inside the dial illuminate as well) and more importantly, the auto climate control works exceptionally way. I live in San Diego California where days are pretty hot and then it cools down rapidly in the evenings and your would fog all the time, except that the automatic climate control takes care of things very fast. I also have no rattles in the dash, though only 2500 miles in the car.
The new stereo: I have the Bose Centerpoint Sourround. Excellent quality of sound, great functions including speed adjusted volume, etc. It is practical and it is full of…buttons. They are just not all square. My only problem is that it does look the same as in most other GM cars. Like Swade has said before in this blog, Saab should have its own stereo face, even if the components are shared. The stereo occupies a very prominent place in the dash, more so than the climate controls. And the screen looks cheap.
I think what people miss is a collection of square/rectangular buttons all over the front. I don’t like that, it is totally confusing to me (I am sure once you are used to it, it works eventually). By the way, new manufacturers that are using too many buttons in their dash are being criticized in blogs and auto sites: case in point is the new Ford Escape (we have one in our household) and new Acura TSX (European Honda Accord) and Honda Accord here in the US.
My 2004 93 has the button dash but I don’t have the auto climate control, so my a/c is dials. I love the night button and the SID. I think the new dash looks cleaner and less cluttered, but would probably take some getting used to. Just like getting used to putting the key between the seats when I got my Saab. I would miss the SID as well.
I prefer the uncluttered dial dash myself. It is my own humble opinion that the new dash looks more classy.
I am, of course, new to SAAB and am excited about the future direction the brand is taking. When comparing the 9-3 to an A-4 I think they now stack up against each other, whereas I could not say that before (with the button dash).
Opinions vary…..
Swade! Love the new look of the site! Great job and I am very happy you chose to continue the web site.
Thanks Much!!
Luchey
I agree that the 2006 dash looks pretty cool at night, but the rubber buttons in my friends 2006 Aero look a bit worn after nearly two years of use, and the lack of silver trim around the dash trim gives the 2006 a bit cheaper look than my 2007.
Most of the controls – especially the climate control in the 9-3 operate in an auto mode rather nicely, so there is little need to do any major adjustments to them, so the ‘need’ for all the buttons on 2006 is a bit overkill. Heated seats and climate control turn on when the key is on, so adjustments are usually minor if needed.
I do like the SID on the 2007 for the simple reason you can scroll through the display very easily when driving using the thumb switch on the steering wheel. The trip computer is a nice feature to watch.
Too bad GM didn’t make the radio a bit different than other models. It works well enough, but a Saab exclusive ‘black tie’ radio would have been nice.
Never been in a car with one. I liked the dash in my NG, though, but that’s not what you’re talking about.
As a professional pilot and Saab lover/owner, I thought maybe I could make some comments on buttons vs dials;
In modern aircraft cockpits, dials is used where a parameter is needed to be quickly (and often) set from a wide scale, for example heding bug (360 degrees), altitude preselect for the autopilot (0-40000 typical), or course selector (again 360 degrees). Furthermore - the tactile quality of the dials are such that you can feel wich dial you are touching without looking at it. This is accomplished by different diameter on the dial, different conical shapes and different surface-texture.
The old 900 (my daily driver and only car) has a lot of this incorporated - for example the dials for the temperature, fan-speed and outlets are similar in design, but feels different when operating them: Temperature is smooth, fan-speed is small with steps, and outlet selector is same size as temperature, but with steps (and that unique, cool vacuum-sound!!).
In aircraft cockpits, buttons are used for system selctions that are either off or on. The dark cockpit philosophy applies to these buttons - the light in each button is off when in normal position (on), white off-light illuminates when system is selected off (button pushed, that is…), and amber or red light if there is a fault in the corresponding system.
The black panel button makes a Saab-cockpit behave in much the same way - and this feature is also present in the new 9-3 layout, if I’m not mistaken. One thing journalists often overlook, is the real genius in this system; That ,for instance, the fuel gauge illuminates again if the fuel quantity falls below a certain level! This is aircraft technology applied in a car cockpit - really!
Conclusion to this rather long and techie post? I think the new fascia is better than the old, but the higher SID should not have moved down.
The SID was much safer on the dash. All you had to do was look somewhat in your peripheal vision.. just glance right (or left). Now you have to move your eyes down and completely of the road.. to a smaller and not as functional display. Try making adjustments this way.
I have a MY2006 Aero 2.8T sportcombi. I looked at both the 2007 dial dash, and the 2006 button dash before buying. The buttons won me over for appearance and functionality. Once set, I rarely make changes to the temperature etc, and usually use the auto on the ACC. The night panel button is brilliant, but I only use it in rural/highway areas. The city has higher ambient light all round.
The SID! I have some trust issues with the information provided on it (accuracy of the information), but like the feature. Although in principle I agree with mounting it high to avoid distraction from looking away from the roadway, on the highway I use the night panel to turn off the SID to avoid the distraction. I agree with svenml’s comments on the use of dials for frequently used functions in an aircraft, and being able to differential between functions and buttons without having to look away from what you are doing. I am both a pilot and a police officer, and keeping the attention on the road is primary while driving.
With the choice of both vehicles, I took the 2006 over the 2007. I have had no button problems, for functionality or quality. My other car has SID like functions, housed between the speedo and tach on the dash face, and it poses no problems for use, or distraction.
Hi!
Rumours said that bringing the sid down to the main instrument financed the interior facelift!
From the beginning, the buttons (especially the acc) was an attempt from Saab to make the car more BMW-feeling. (compare the old gen 3-serie)
Most of the plastic gives a cheap feeling (for example the lower cover on the b-pillar) The graphics in the main instrument looks very cheap and the radio (the GM-standard) looks avful! You need the big screen. But I like the new acc-panel, the chrome on the knobs on the airvents and the smaller amount of buttons overall so: good and bad if you ask me
/Anders B, Sweden
I still miss the SID, but it would need to be upgraded (especially aesthetically) to not look dated right now.
As for the dash, I prefer the new one by a wide margin. It reminds me of older Saab while the button dash was a constant reminder of all of the promised and potential functionality (e.g., GSM phone) that Saab did not bring to the US. The button dash was also a bit busy for my tastes.
I always thought of the new dash as more Scandinavin in style because it is sleeker and more elegant in form. Goes along the lines of furniture design. Anyway - just my opinion. I like the new dash a lot better. Its a much better set of controls that you’ll get from Audi or BMW.
beren
My only complaint is that the buttons peel! Other than that the button dash is stunning and looks better than the new one. The new one doesn’t look bad though.
Model Year 2007+ ESP on/off is buried in the SID settings. It’s there but hard to get to. The Aero Academy stopped doing exercises with ESP off because it took too much time to work through the Settings list.
I had a 2006 9-3 Aero Sedan with the button dash. As much as I thought it “looked cool,” I found it to be an ergonomic and operational pain. The radio and CD buttons were separated. Buttons were of different sizes. I found myself accidentally ejecting CDs. The “Somewhat Aggravating Assemblage of Buttons” often led to “task saturation” when trying to work through simultaneous operations. I needed to be driving, not thinking through what button is where and does what.
HOWEVER … I chose to pursue the 9-3 over an Audi. Having to run major climate and radio functions with the Audi MMI dial was absolutely atrocious. I DO miss the SID up on the dash on the 9-3.
Thanks SaabLance, I’ll do that right now! (but I thought that a basic operation lika that should be default).
Anyhow. The c900 did have dials for the fan and heater system. The 9000 had a bunch of buttons if ACC was installed.
Now I’ve traveled a bit and have had the time to count the dials and buttons…
Dials: Headligt, volume, and the 3 knobs for the climate. Sums up as 5 knobs to turn.
Skipping tracks on cd….Check! But in my defence, why put cd skipping in another button cluster than track skipping? (And while I’m in reading the manual, I suppose I will find many usfull stuff on that bose stereo….)
On the post 06 model there is 36 buttons. To replace 3 dials with futher more buttons just doesn’t seem the right way to go. At least in my mind.
People get so caught up in the dials being taken from other GM parts. If they were Saab originals, people would be singing praises for them.
One of the reason I waited for an 07 was because of the simplicity of the new layout. A dealer let me have the car for the weekend, and I tried both. The dials are hands down MUCH easier to use.
My wife’s old car had dials, and they are such a pain in the butt to quickly lower and raise the temperature.
The dials are one of the best things I like about the car.
I am an professional man - machine - interaction researcher. The interior of my 04 9-3 cv is probably the 2nd best after the original 9-5 before the stupid plastic aluminum. Green lights at night Can not be beten. Front SID is exellent. Taken away to save money, but they actually sold part of the saab soul. Since there is no lack of space, go for buttons!
Present Day 9-3 could be any Car out there.
Please let mr. Nåbo and people at saab human Factors dö their job without having the market people telling what to do.
Saab must be more unique!
Check out the dials for the cabin air temp. Dials are better than buttons for certain functions like temperature and fan speed. Remember when car stereos went to all button designs? Now they are back to dials for volume and tuning. Why? Because its better!
Personally, only had a 9-2x prior to my turbo X, so…not really any personal experience with the button dash. I actually like the current dash quite a bit. Looking at the pics of the button dash, though, that really does seem special.
The night panel button doesn’t really dim that much in my car, but I can see how it would have been more dramatic in the button dash.
Oh, and the SID up on the dash would be significantly better (IMHO).
Don’t miss it, still have it, used this morning! ; )
Had tons of buttons on my 1998 BMW. Much prefer the dials on our 2007 9-5. In a cold climate you need to keep your gloves or mitts on until the steering wheel warms up (should be heated), and one could never hit just one button in a warm mitt. Dials also facilitate keeping eyes on the road. Same-size buttons looked so busy and old-fashioned. I was delighted when the 9-5 changed and it hastened our purchase (along with the Dame Edna front and the longer GM warranty).
B
The button-panel looks much cooler at night due to the “LED-fireworks”, but I prefer dials as they are easier to use. The SID should be kept on the top of the dash though.
IMHO, the silver rim in MY 2007- is a big mistake, not just esthetically speaking as it cheapens the impression of the dash, but also with regard to windscreen reflections.
Hands down preference for the new dash for me. Audio and Sat Nav performance is light years ahead of the old ones, and HVAC controls much easier to use and cleaner design. SID move is the only negative, and worth it IMHO.
I miss the SID! My 2003 9-3 Linear did not have the button climate control, so my 2007 9-3 convertible seems to be missing only the SID…
I like the buttons on my 04 Convertible. As Swade has said many times, it looks great day or nights and adds character to the interior. Going from an 02 to the 04 layout took a little getting used to, For me, it’s like life, you just adapt yourself to it.
One question, (if any one know’s) I have the 04 Ark, can I get the Saab Nav. system for that year installed. (if I could find one) and, how was that nav. for the 04 year. or am I just better off with a Garmen. I am thinking of having it mounted in the storage area by the shifer. It would fit well but force me to look a bit downward. (Audi mounts their nav quite low as well) Anyone’s thoughts would be helpful.
i love my 9-3 (1999), not 9-3 SS, or my classic 900 with the old wooden dash board, which i can change…
this is was i miss on the actual model-range…. the actual line is cheap GM… i hope, that the new coming models like 9-4x can change the dash board, like the old models
I have 2 classic 900s (1986 and 1991), now I have Turbo-X, too.
I have to admit I like Turbo-X dial-style controls, without maaaany buttons.
It is very similar to 900. For me, MY2008 9-3 controls are very saabish, return to the roots. I was always a little bit
lost when driving 9000, 9-5 or older 9-3 — I am simple man who gets lost with too many buttons. In 900, 90, 99, 96,
everything is simple, just works as it should, and has just proper functionality.
I believe that Turbo-X (and 9-3 MY2008) continues such approach.
There is always drawback — now, with more functions, you don’t have everything with just one button. But the most
useful functions are still available immediatelly.
General concensus is customers like the new dash set up better, it looks less fussy and there is less chance of peeling the rubberised plastic coatings. We still have the aero link with the wing and propeller guage needles….
Okay, true. The new dash is easier to use. That’s called “dumbing down”.
Bottom line is, the new dash is cheaper to produce. If the new design was truly supposed to be an improvement, there would be a digital temperature readout to go along with the new climate control adjustment dials (allowing the single-side control feature to have remained), three level heated seats, instead of being taken down to two, stuff like that. Oh, and of course the SID being incorporated into the instrument cluster was a real master stroke.
I could have accepted the changes, if functionality had remained instead of being reduced.
Eddie, never realised they’d dumbed things down that much. This on top of removing the remote hatch release which we use all the time in our ‘06.