London to the South of France in a Saab 9-3 Aero Convertible

In August 2022, I took my 2007 Saab 9-3 Aero Convertible on a road trip from London to Nice on the Côte d'Azur, while my wife and kids made the same journey by plane. With the car loaded with the family's luggage, my route took in Troyes, Grenoble and some scenic roads in the French Alps.
Chapters
00:00 Day one: Leaving London
00:11 Eurotunnel / Le Shuttle
00:57 Calais to Fouchères (Autoroute A26)
02:06 Day two: Leaving Fouchères / Champagne region
02:44 A5, A31, A6, A48 to Grenoble
03:45 Stop in Grenoble - téléphérique
04:19 Into the Alps - D5, D1091
05:02 Day three: Across the Alps to Nice
05:14 D526 Chantepérier to Entraigues
06:21 D900 above Lac De Serre Poncon
06:55 Digne les Bains / N85
07:35 D2 / Pas de Tous Vents / The Arch above Greolieres
08:54 Menton, Côte d'Azur, then and now
Essence by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. creativecommon...
Artist: audionautix.com/

[@realmarius6984]

Greeting from Poland! I love my saab aero! Beautiful video!

[@nigelcramp1918]

Great video in a superb car.

[@manwiththesilversaab]

Thank you!

[@WernerNel-v6h]

Amazing to see my old Saab doing you proud and being enjoyed. Was showing my toddler roofs going down and stumbled onto your video and immediately recognised the number plate. I sold it because I needed something bigger for said child!

[@manwiththesilversaab]

I'm so pleased you saw the video and enjoyed it. This was two years ago but I still have the car and am just back from another trip through France - hopefully another video coming up when I have time to edit the footage. It's nice to know that the previous owner cherished the car as much as I do. I'd love to have a chat - please email me at [e-mail].

[@devlinracing3553]

Some terrific drives there and no better way to experience them than in a Saab convertible. I had two brand new 93 convertibles as company cars, put 70000 miles on each and they gave no bother at all. The same couldn’t be said of my current cars, a Jaguar XF and Maserati Quattroporte 😀 A very good video, it reminded me of how much I used to enjoy driving convertibles 😎

[@jayson9764]

Saab 93, top down, European countryside and synthwave music. Sounds like i need to take mine to France.

[@joecutro7318]

What a fun trip! I have a black '07 9-3 2.0t 6-sp. Fantastic car!I have driven topless through the western US. I travel in Italy frequently and would love to have my Saab with me instead of a boring rental car 🚗 😴 Thanks!

[@manwiththesilversaab]

Exactly! We were going to hire a car at Nice airport but it seemed a shame to leave the Saab at home, so I persuaded myself (and my wife) that I'd spend less on fuel, tolls, channel tunnel and hotels than I would on a hire car. That may not be 100% true, but I'd do it again. Glad you enjoyed the video, thanks for the comment!

[@charleschauffe5884]

Nice! I have a 2005 left hand drive silver 9-3 aero convertible. Just a great everyday driver like all my Saabs!

[@manwiththesilversaab]

'ALL my Saabs' - now that's just showing off! 😉 Thanks for the comment!

[@Daz_Stap]

Great video, this is going to be the year I get one of these stunning cars!

[@robmason8654]

Do it! Great cars!!

[@markmyword8597]

I still enjoy my sleeper 9-3 Convertible Hirsch Performance.

[@stratplayr6997]

Fellow 9.3 convertible owner here, thanks for the great video.

[@Jot8192]

What a great video! I just discovered it and it kinda makes me wanna jump in the car and head to france. Hope you had a great time and thanks for sharing! Cheers from Switzerland!

[@manwiththesilversaab]

Thank you - comments like this make my day! I'm sure you have some great roads in Switzerland too!

[@Jot8192]

@@manwiththesilversaabWe do. I'm actually planning to buy a 9-3 Convertible and explore them 🗺 👍

[@dukes1874]

That made me all nostalgic about my 9-3 Aero.... still beautiful looking cars!

[@DingDong-tj9ce]

What a great looking car, what an incredible cup holder.... south of France looked ok too.

[@manwiththesilversaab]

Thanks! Everyone loves the cupholder! 🙂

[@ThisIsTheWarRoom]

I love this roadtrip! I just fixed my cupholder with the paperclip through the spring coil trick. Now I can take my 2005 Lime Yellow 5 speed Aero Vert on a...more boring... roadtrip! You're a very skilled, thoughtful driver. It's refreshing to see sporting but safe driving. 🙏🏻

[@manwiththesilversaab]

@ThisIsTheWarRoom Thanks, it's very kind of you to say so. Of course I cut out the bit where I ran a red light! 😉.

[@robmason8654]

Drove down in my Aero convertible in 2019 and loved it!

[@manwiththesilversaab]

Thanks for the comment Rob. The perfect (affordable) car for the trip 🙂

[@rivaldofernandes8492]

Beautiful video. Subscribed. Please post more videos of this beauty car

[@keithsymons5708]

Saab made such beautiful reliable cars come back saab

[@d545cla1]

third saab for me currently 2008 93 2.0L automatic silver

[@stevenchen16]

Beautiful video 📸

[@chriselfyn]

We really enjoyed your film and it brought back memories of a similar trip in our blue 09 SAAB convertible. We went from the tunnel over the Millau viaduct (with the top down) and then to Agde for a couple of weeks on the beach. We love the French dual carriageways - for some reason, they seem less frantic than our motorways. Look forward to seeing your next trip!

[@manwiththesilversaab]

Thanks for your comment - I'm glad you enjoyed it! I just googled the Millau Viaduct and it looks like quite a feat of engineering. Not sure when or where the next trip will be - I didn't get the chance to go on any long trips this summer. But I may put together a short film driving on some local roads, or talking about my experiences with the car - when I get the time...

[@chriselfyn]

I look forward to seeing that!@@manwiththesilversaab

[@routzhan]

This is great that you video taped the ride. When the new Saab 9-3 came out in 2003 I drove my brand new Saab from Bamberg Germany down to Nice, through Austria, Switzerland, Italy and Monte Carlo. I took lots of pictures but wish I video taped it. Thanks for sharing.

[@roxanac810]

Gorgeous video. I have the same car. I came across your video while searching for a place to mount a microphone in a convertible. Is that a mic on the driver’s side A pillar? If so, does it work well when the top is down?

[@manwiththesilversaab]

Thanks. It is indeed a mic. The car came fitted with Bluetooth hands-free from the factory and I think the original mic is fitted behind the trim on the driver's A pillar. When I replaced the factory sat-nav with an aftermarket head unit, I couldn't work out how to re-connect the old mic, so I fitted a new one close to the original position. I don't make many phone calls, but people seem to be able to hear me ok, even with the roof down at 30-40mph. It also works well for Android Auto commands.

[@barenekid9695]

Genuinely Surprised that that thing did Not beak down en route.

[@bertushd]

Nice video. And smart idea. To split and have the advantages of both - and a car on location (besides having a nice trip) and you familiy on the destination.

[@bertushd]

Btw: we own now a 9-3 cabrio from 2003 - so journey’s are welcome.

[@shakeelfaris7623]

Hi. Loved this footage. Can you tell me what camera you used and where did you mount it? It is absolutely still and no judder.

[@manwiththesilversaab]

Thanks. I used a GoPro Hero 7 Black, mounted to one of the passenger head restraint 'poles' with a kind of articulating clamp. For the last bit of the video I had a suction mount on the tonneau cover. But I think the lack of judder is mostly down to the software image stabilisation on the GoPro.

[@shakeelfaris7623]

@@manwiththesilversaab thank you for the swift response. I recently purchased a 08 9-3 vert and you’ve inspired me to take this trip. I’m also going to be replacing the headunit too. 😊

[@manwiththesilversaab]

Delighted I've inspired you! Originally I was planning to do a bit of talking to the camera, hints and tips for anyone planning the same journey. I still might, hopefully in time to be helpful to you. Meanwhile, I'd recommend Harry's Garage (my inspiration) kzbin.info/www/bejne/inOakIyQgtaCjdksi=MyMaJWcnhlnb408B. And for advice on head units, I expect you've already found Saab Unleashed.

[@shakeelfaris7623]

@@manwiththesilversaaba video explaining the trip would be great. My wife has also seen the video and wants to do something like that. Thanks for the link to Harry’s garage. I’ll take a look at that. I think I’ve seen all of Saab Unleashed videos. They are a good source of info I used to have a BMW 3 series prior to the Saab and had done extensive s audio upgrades to it. Did you install a reverse camera on yours?

[@manwiththesilversaab]

No reverse camera, but I have fitted a very small active subwoofer under the passenger seat, along with new door and dash speakers.

[@jeremyrigden9200]

What a great video, with stunning views and content, I'm on my seventh, are you going to Ironbridge this weekend, look forward to more . Thanks 👍

[@manwiththesilversaab]

Thanks for your comment. Afraid I won't be coming to Ironbridge. It's only my third, but as you can see from the vintage pic at the end of the video, I've been a Saab fan from an early age... Planning on keeping this one a while 🙂

[@giannisgj5428]

top!!

[@chiko_kiki]

We Love Saab !!

[@Amicus-fp6dy]

Lovely video I'm on my 2nd Saab 9-3 Lovely cars, on your video you held up a small object & the Toll gate open what was that ??

[@manwiththesilversaab]

Thanks, that's a Liber-t toll tag (order them in the UK from www.emovis-tag.co.uk/french-toll-tags). It should really be stuck to the windscreen, but I hadn't got round to doing that yet. A big help when driving a right hand drive car with no passenger. Having said that, it stopped working after the first day so I had to get out and pay with a credit card for the rest of the trip!

[@Amicus-fp6dy]

@@manwiththesilversaab thank you ! for the info ! 🙂🙂🙂

[@michalptak90]

Awesome anniversary edition. :)

[@manwiththesilversaab]

Well spotted 🙂 but how can you tell? Is it the ALU 71 alloys, or the pre-facelift front with the new dash and colour coded door handles?...

[@michalptak90]

@@manwiththesilversaab all above and the seat upholstery: black + dark grey and thicker stitching. I drive a fusion blue SportCombi anniversary. :)

[@manwiththesilversaab]

Nice. I hadn't realised the seats were visible in the video (I see they are now, in one of the still shots). Yes, they really lift the interior. Actually I had to get a needle and thread out to repair some of the stitching on the driver's seat.

[@shakeelfaris7623]

⁠I’ve been wanting to do that myself. Which speakers did you use in both locations and the underseat sub, did you take the power from the battery or the fuse box in the boot, what model sub is it?

[@manwiththesilversaab]

Sorry for the delay, I've been away for a few days and needed to check the details. In the dash I used Pioneer SXE 825s, which were easy to fit. In the doors I've fitted In Phase XTC17.2CFs, which were almost too big and I needed to hack some clips off the inside of the door cards to make them fit, but no visible damage. The result was a cleaner more controlled sound than the stock speakers but possibly with even less bass. I looked long and hard to find a sub that would fit under one of the seats, putting a box of the same dimensions under the seat to check if it would catch when sliding the seat forward to let rear passengers in. Most of the options from Pioneer, Kenwood and InPhase were just a bit too big. Then I found the Pioneer TS-WX010A which is about the size of a box of tissues (not mansize!). It may be less powerful but it still adds some 'oomph' and gives a fuller sound - I'm happy with it. I took the power from a fused spur in the fuse box at the left end of the dash, routing the wire behind the glove box and along the centre console between the seats. The sound is still not amazing but a worthwhile improvement on the stock setup. Good luck!

[@shakeelfaris7623]

Ah yes, those door hooks. Clips would have been better actually. I presume the hooks that are the closest to the speaker? If the speaker protrudes a few millimetres or you add sound deadening for the speaker to sit on, then the hooks will be difficult to put back in place. By the way, I assume your headunit has DAB, did you add an aerial and did you install a reverse camera?

[@manwiththesilversaab]

Yes, the ones near the speakers. The InPhase speakers came with mounts which, despite having bits you could snap off if not needed, were a bit bulkier than the original speaker surrounds. My head unit only has FM, no DAB. I haven't fitted a reverse camera yet.

[@kevinwirga6021]

Why is the top not down????

[@manwiththesilversaab]

It is! From 6:56. But sometimes it's too wet, too fast or even too hot to have the top down. There's a time and a place 🙂.

[@shakeelfaris7623]

Do the rubber seals leak by any chance?

[@manwiththesilversaab]

Overall they're pretty good. That said, a few rain drops do sometimes make it down the inside of the side windows close to the a pillars, and in very heavy or prolonged rain water can collect in the gutters which are hidden under the fabric above the doors. This is fine until you take a sharp corner and either the driver or passenger gets a bucket load of water over their shoulder. One way to drain them is to partially open the roof with a towel ready to catch the drips (maybe with someone to help on the other side). Every so often I do clean the rubber seals (there are a lot of them!) and treat them with some stuff called Nextzett gummi pflege stift, which is meant to keep then soft and supple. Might help reduce wind noise too. And I have a cover (£30 on Amazon) which I put on if there's heavy rain forecast and I'm not using the car for a few days. I also keep a couple of bags of desiccant silica gel in the car to soak up any moisture in the air. Hope that helps!

[@shakeelfaris7623]

@@manwiththesilversaab that's great. Thanks for getting back to me. I'm having the car detailed next week, and part of the detail is getting the roof sealed with Gtechniq. He is also going to clean and treat the rubbers with the exact product you have described above. My vert is a 2008. I guess for a car that age, there will be the odd ingress here and there. Other than that, it's been fine. I installed my Kenwood headunit in it last month, which has helped to improve the sound and bring the features up to date.

[@caractacusbrittania7442]

07 was changeover year for the ice blocks, my aero vert is silver with the iceblocks, ever thought of fitting them, just think it brings out the lines more. Great video and a very clean looking car.

[@manwiththesilversaab]

Yeah, mine was made in the six months or so when they'd changed the dash but before they started fitting the ice block tail lights and facelift front end (using up old inventory?). I'm happy with the way it looks and I think I'll keep it original. I am glad it got body colour door handles though - I think the black handles break up the lines especially on a silver car. Thanks for the comment, enjoy your Saab!

[@Treizez34]

Where is your infotainment unit from? Have you had any issues with it?

[@manwiththesilversaab]

It's an Atoto F7 SE, bought on Amazon. Quite a low spec unit but works well with Android Auto (has Apple Carplay too). I also upgraded the speakers in the dash and front doors and fitted a small active sub under the passenger seat. Only issue is that the screen brightness always seems to revert to dim/night mode, so I have to tap the screen a couple of times every time I get in. But overall I'm very happy for the price. Check out the Saab Unleashed channel for loads of info on Saab audio upgrades: kzbin.info/www/bejne/oWinpYZ7Z793iMksi=_jlEYIoQUrMwuQY2

[@vim1471]

What sort of MPG did you get on your trip ?

[@manwiththesilversaab]

At the end of the first day (mostly autoroute) I was getting 31 mpg. Fuel economy took a hit on the (much more fun) mountain roads though. Overall, on the round trip from London to Nice and back I averaged 29.7 mpg over 2,125 miles. This was roughly 850 miles each way and 400 getting around on the Cote d'Azur.