1999 Saab 9-3 Reviews, Pricing & Specs

Performance: 2.2TiD (From Vauxhall) certainly is not fast. Not slow once in the Turbo boost (2k-3k revs) sluggish when just under engines own power (1k-2k revs) Brakes very good, Handles Ok, I would describe it as safe. Build Quality: Good. Appearence: Nice looking, shame it is GM though. Some things feel a bit cheap. (but this means you can get cheaper parts as they are used on lots of different models) Cost of Ownership: Good MPG all round. Cheap Insurence. Fun Factor: Is a good driveJan 18, 2011

Allow me to start out by saying I grew up loving Hondas, but when it came time to buy my own I stumbled across this car in the used dealer lot. It stood out because, let's face it, it's an odd looking car, but in a cool sort of way. It definitely grows on you. If you can get the SE trim, it looks better than the Base like I have. If a would have known when I was shopping I would have gone for one of those. I knew nothing, repeat nothing about Saab when I bought this car, but I was sold on the test drive. The turbocharged 4 cylinder is a beautiful and very practical concept. The 1999 is quick yet still good on gas (34mpg highway at 65mph). It really is a pleasure to drive. Overtaking is no problem, and in sport mode it's so much fun when the turbo kicks in. The suspension is ok but on the plus side it is tighter than your standard car. Cornering is always an experience ;-). I have spun out in the snow while in the Winter mode which could be considered a con but it showed me how reliable the suspension can be, even if it isnt considered to be up to "sport" standards. I say this because even while in a 360 spin I was able to maintain control and straighten her out without ever leaving the road. In normal conditions however, it handles wonderfully. Braking is very good with 4 disc brakes, but they are subject to an annoying squeaking even before the pads wear out. I recommend buying higher performance, low dust aftermarket brake pads which eliminates the problem. I don't why the stock pads do that but I guess it's just another Saab "quirk". These cars are all subject to unique little sometimes lovable quirks, with some common ones being SID pixel problems, wind noise, and minor repairs, but overall they are all easy fixes. Getting repairs done at the dealership are expensive because usually there's only one dealership around and they can get away with charging higher prices. I seriously recommend getting the Hanyes repair manual which will save big $$$ on most repairs and maintenance like oil changes, various filter replacements, and basic parts replacements. For example I fixed my A/C cabin fan speed resistor for only $80 doing it myself as opposed to $300+ the dealership wanted. One of the best things about owning a Saab is there a plenty of online DIY forums and parts websites, making it easy and cheap to do the work yourself. If you don't mind rolling up your sleeves every now and then you'll find this car easy and fun to work on. If you don't, then this probably isn't the car for you. Either way the mechanical foundation is well- designed and very-reliable making major repairs few and far between. I'd pit it's reliability against Honda any day. Overall, I found my 1999 9-3 to be the best car I've ever owned. She's treated me well and in return I treat her even better. Saab makes great cars that are too easy to fall in love with if you are lucky enough to come across one. Nowadays the 2.0L turbo that Saab pioneered is common in everything from Audi's to VW's to Cobalt's, but it's nice to own one from the company that did it first, and did it right. For me it'll be hard to find a better car than my Saab and something tells me it'll be the first of many...Oct 14, 2009

I own my old saab for 5 years now. Bought it with 100 000 km on ODO. No it's got about 200 000. It's a diesel 2.2 with 115 hp. Not fast but strong enought overtake on most of roads. I's an old saab so it's a still saab a bit. It costs a bit to drive an old car like this but i like very much. Many times I wanted to change it but every time I did a long distance I always changed my mind. So I'm still driving it and probably will for some more time. I recommend this car to everyone who wants to have some oldschool design outside and inside + some comfort. It;s not a handling master, It's not a performance master but it always works.Oct 05, 2009

Everyone knows I'm a Saab enthusiast. So my opinion is bias. Most people don't understand Scandinavian design and Saab unlike German company don't have the abundance of funds to engineer the hell out of there products. However what they do is make sure you're the most important part of their cars. Most premium cars are about them; You pay for the privilege of being part of the experience to be in the presence of such excellence. Owning a BMW for example is more akin to a Microsoft EULA. You don't actually own the car you just own a licence to use it. A Saab is different. It's not styled so people can oggle at it in awe. It won't turn a corner like a 3 series either. What it will do is get you from A-B in supreme comfort and It'll go around any corner you want to in any weather condition. On a long journey you won't even realise you just travelled 600mls and it'll feel more like you have just popped to the shops. Saab's excel in being great at everything, but have never perfected something specific. Porsche to me is a perfection in engineering performance. BMW the pinnacle of driving dynamics, Toyota for bullet proof reliability. Saab on the other hand should stand for a few things but because they are just a small car builder most don't see why a Saab should at least be worth a test drive. Saab virtually pioneered safety in vehicles, they invented heated and ventilated seats and were the first to bring anti-whiplash head restraints. Oh and one last thing; the Turbo engine to the masses not just to few prividged who could afford Porshce's and BMW's in the 70s. The car you drive tells others about who you are. Most Saab drivers will admit they are telling the world they are not a lamb, so if you want a safe car that has quite literally the best seats in the business, that you will enjoy driving on a daily basis, and gives you a rush when you put your foot down. That is fast without scaring the crap out of you and has more exclusivity than some of the top premium brands then a Saab is for you. In the answer to would I recommend my car to you, then my answer would be no; Get you own oneNov 28, 2008