Very solid and well built. Fantastic engine, finished as well as anything else that comes out of Europe. Safety, it is obvious in it's design.

Cloth material on the armrests. Saab should have retained the Aero name on this model, instead of SE, because that what it is called in Europe.

This is my second Saab. I owned a 87, and all I can say is what a difference.
This vehicle replaced a Volvo, which was the worst car I ever owned. I couldn't wait to get rid of it.
I really like the Saab a lot. It's very fast, even with the auto, handles well, and in my opinion is one of the best deals around for a European sedan. The Ecopower engine is truly an engineering marvel. It has more useful everday power than any other car I have ever driven. (I have owned a lot of cars) The broad torque band is the key. Abundant power is always available, and driving this car in everyday traffic is just fantastic.
I have shocked 2 BMW's at stop lights. I hit the sport button, and I was gone. They couldn't believe that they were beaten by a 4 cyl. Saab. I don't think that they even knew what a Saab was!

GM new what they were doing when they aquired Saab. With a little more work, and another model or two, they will have a real contender on their hands. Saab's are really not quirky anymore.

Buy one now while you still can, the deals won't last, people will soon
figure out that this is one great car!


Drive one & you will be a believer too.

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Mercedes, Lexus, Audi, Volvo

Power
Build Quality
Materials

Body Roll

Great car with lots of personality. Once you get used to the turbo engine (I have the 200hp high output version) it really moves. While a little weak off the line, there are few cars that can stay with it after it's rolling (and the turbo is spooled up). Body rolls more than I'd like, but it doesn't appear to affect the roadholding capability any. I've heard stories about Saab reliabilty being less than stellar, but I'm impressed so far. 10K miles without a single problem. Compared to my other previous cars, the Saab appears to be built with much better materials - it should last a long time. Be sure to check out lease deals. In my case it was cheaper to lease the car and purchase it at lease end, then to buy it upfront. This is due to the large lease incentives that Saab runs on a regular basis.

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VW GTI-VR6

* Turbo for 30k - heck yea!
* Overall look of car - like placement of ignition
* Trunk room
* Comfortable front seats

* Base model should have electric seats - the SE does
* Base model wheels should be a little bigger - SE has great wheels

I dig this car. The turbo is great. 3rd gear on this car can't be beat. As one reveiwer said, shift cause you want to, not cause you have to. The storage room is 2nd to none. I'm 6'4" and I tried a 3 series BMW - I didn't fit in it, period. The SAAB fits me well and has HUGE rear storage space. I also have a dog and you can buy an after-market cage for $200 that is fantastic. This is something you can only get from either a station wagon or a SUV. I would highly recommend this car. If you want a sprty euro sports sedan (e.g, Audi or BMW) you can't beat the SAAB.

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SAAB 900S, Honda Civic

Appearance, Quality materials, Acceleration, Convertible Top, Superb Value, Reliability/Maintenance, Not as common as BMW, Interior Space

Would even be better with a V6 turbo, body roll, factory tires/wheels on base model

While the appearance on the 9-3 coupe and 4 door is ok, I absolutely love the look of the 9-3 convertible. Here in southern California, it is far less common than BMWs. While the Saab 9-3 Convertible compares close in sticker price to the BMW 323i convertible, Saab incentivizes their cars heavily while BMW does not. When you add in all of the bonuses and dirt cheap financing, you end up with a monthly base FAR less than a BMW with a similar price tag. While I think the BMW edges out the Saab in sportiness, the Saab has more room and wins slightly in the luxury category. The factory tires and wheels on the base model suck. I upgraded to 215 Michelin XGT V4s and the steering and handling of the car has changed quite a bit. It handles, dare I say, more like a BMW. A standard turbo is a welcome addition. My 1997 Saab 900s was a dog. I had only 1 mechanical problem on my 1997 Saab 900s in 3 years of ownership. I expect the new Saab 9-3 to be as good or better. I see many improvements in the car over the old 900s. Too many to list.

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1997 Saab 900s Convertible- While the 900s was fine, the 9-3 is improved significantly.

I had always wanted a Saab. The 9-3 came out, and I bought one. It was fun for a while.

This car really has not held up too well. I loved it at first because it was fun to drive and picked up well on the highway, but little by little things started to fall apart - things that should not have fallen apart...The air conditioning buttons, the warning lights come on when they shouldn't... The brake light wasn't working properly.

I wouldn't get a Saab again. I am on a lease and I have two more years - wish I didn't. The total value is about $35K. Like I said - it was fun for a while, but I won't do it again.

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None

Looks, Less Common than BMWs, New Power Top, Interior Space and Comfort, Quality of materials (especially interior), Acceleration, Value for the Money, Handling in Bad Weather, Warranty/Maintenance, and Reliability

Body roll, Does not handle quite as sporty as a BMW due to front wheel drive, etc., Factory Wheels/Tires could be better, A turbo V6 would be even better

I would highly recommend this car. I think it really excels in the convertible form. While I think the look is ok on the hard tops, I absolutely love the appearance of the two door convertible. This is the second Saab Convertible I have owned (previous was a 1997 Saab 900s) and I have received numerous complements on the appearance of both cars. In the land of southern California where BMWs are a dime a dozen, the Saab Convertible really stands out. While I may have gone to the new 323i convertible if the price was the same, the fact is there is no comparison on the deal. Even though the sticker prices are comparable, Saab incentivizes the cars so heavily in financing and other items that your end payment ends up being radically different in most cases (BMW has next to no incentives). There is NO comparison for value. The Saab 900s was good, but I grew tired of the 5 speed. The new Saab 9-3 has many improvements over the old car (too numerous to mention), but most of all I like that the turbo engine is now standard. It remedies one of my largest compliants in the old car (lack of acceleration in the base model). The auto shifts nicely too. One other thing, the factory 195 Michelin MXV4 tires on the base model suck. I switched to 215 Michelin XGT V4 tires on the same wheels and the grip, steering, and handling have improved dramatically. I and others have commented that it feels much more BMW like with the new tires. Overally, I would say the Saab is more luxurious than the BMW (more room, etc) while the BMW is a little more sporty. My past Saab had only 1 small mechanical issue in three years. It was very troublefree. The new Saabs now include 3 years maintenance. All in all, the new car is a better deal than ever!

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BMW 3 Series, 1997 Saab 900S Convertible 5 speed (previous car)

Great handling, pick-up, driving position, trunk space, reliability

Cup holder, stereo (o.k., not great)

After almost two years I still think this is a fantastic car. It is great to drive and very comfortable. The turbo boosts performance so that it is close to the 6 cylinder BMW - close - but thousands of dollars less.

I have not had any problems with my 9-3, but I know of a couple of other Saab owners who have had some minor problems.

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BMW 328, Audi A4

Spiffy power convertible top;room for four;semi-decent trunk space vis a vis the competition;nicely designed interior.

Driver's footwell is tight and oddly shaped; dash rattles on bumps;occasional hiccoughs between turbo motor and transmission; cd changer skipping problem appears uncureable, and the stereo doesn't quite rock.

The lease deal is what sold the car:$325/mo. w/$2k down for a supposedly $41k automobile. The math doesn't work-this car is being massively subsidized by saab/gm.
The car itself is attractive and competent. It certainly meets my needs in its primary role as a freeway driver. It lacks the steering, handling, powertrain smoothness and build quality of my BMW convertible. In return you get a more comfortable ride,more comfortable seats, and lots more room. Its more a car for grown-ups, and that group now seems to include me.

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BMW 3 convertible,7 series; Nissan Pathfinder

Powerful turbo engine, lots of standard features, very
fun to drive with the manual, unique elegant styling, great
lease deals, enough room

Getting a reliable one is like playing the lottery. Too
many annoying problems with noises, rattles, vibrations.

The Saab lease deals cannot be beaten by either Audi or
BMW. If I were financing I'd probably go with the Bimmer.
The Saab takes a little time to get used to but once I
did the car was great. The turbo on the SE launches the
car like a rocket. The braking is superb and confident.
The interior is comparable to the Audi which is beautiful.
If I financed, I'd check everthing very carefully before
signing anything. I've heard Saab takes good care of their customers but I'd hate to constantly bring the car in for
minor problems. If by chance you get a perfect reliable
Saab, theres nothing else like it for the money.

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Test Drove Audi A4 2.8Q, BMW 323Ci all 5speed manual

Well built, stable mv.Its fun to drive. All the "get up and go" you want, great car for the $$$$.

Trunk roomt a premium, but back seat folds out. Very little storage room

Nothing out there like it. If you like the car's looks (and some don't), you can't make a better purchase>

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Tr-6, Caddy Seville and Chevy blazer