Saab 9-3 Aero review/test drive

[@soapmcsoapface1787]

I just recently bought a 2006 Saab 9-3 Aero 2.8T V6 and absolutley love the car. sure some parts you can sense that nasty vectra but it is a nice car. and a nice feature with that easily removable trim piece is you can store/hide small things in there.

[@thomaspowell3739]

Upgrade suspensions etc.... and it suddenly becomes one of the best driving cars around

[@rumbold101]

Tim Roth crossed with Phil Daniels and a bit of Scrooge thrown in 😎🚀

[@thezaalls]

You cant call saab an opel, the reason saab is no longer with us is because they were too expensive, because they didnt listen to gm and did whatever they want, saab also has passive real wheel steering, which gives the car a bit rwd feeling. I own a 2008 9-3 aero, ive had it for more than 2 years now and never had a single issue with it. Quality of the car is great, the plastic are amazing, ive sat in many bmws etc and they didnt even feel close to the quality of saab, you cant just find 1 plastic that comes off like it is supposed to and tell that the car is cheap.

[@neilfergusonuk]

Just got myself a aero convertible and looking past all the "GM" issues, the car is really good.

[@serz1885]

great review no drama pleasure to listen, and i think no matter what or which saab is a classic

[@numberstation]

If you buy a 9-3 2.0T Aero for god’s sake get a Stage 1 remap from NoobTune, it changes the performance to how it should have been when it left the factory. Leave the 0-60 to the children (boost is limited in 1st/2nd gear, presumably to prevent detonating the clutch), 3rd gear and up is where it all happens as was SAAB’s tradition. Really quite impressive.

[@brobno9]

Saw a 1999 93 SE soft top for sale near me a few years ago, gorgeous blue with cream leather & Aero alloys, never had a Saab so gambled, 3 years of fun & it owed me a pair of front tyres, a headlamp bulb & a set of rear brake pads when I let it go (on top of your usual servicing etc)...... big mistake! I chopped it in for a M sport BMW & it was 2 years of continuous bollocks! Threw the towel in,Traded it for another M sport (I must have been high!) Same shit.... That badge will never grace my driveway again! & now I `ve got a 2008 93 TTid Aero, which to date owes me a pair of front drop links, not exactly a sleep disturber! It goes like stink is comfortable & gives me great mpg, many would disagree but I think it looks great too, in black with the Aero trim, twin exhaust & led eyebrows.... Why the fuck did I change?! I can see why once a lot of people own a Saab, they keep owning Saabs. The whole family loves them & a Carlsson 50th Anniversary Edition is on the hit list for the future! Limited to 96 cars, 2.8 Turbo with 4WD, with alloys, bodykit & trim extra`s exclusive to these, Now there is a future classic!

[@jmdriveways5006]

Mate iv got a Saab 93 tid best car I ever bought tbh

[@mangusti99]

I've got a 2003 Saab 93 SS Vector 2.0. I've got no problems with it and neither did the previous owner who is a relative of mine. 201000km on it and no maintenance if you don't count the shock absorbers which had to be changed after 160000km. The ride is very rough with the sporty suspension and the plastic peels off from the center console. Other than that it is a very nice car to have.

[@tonecontroller]

EGR won't affect the Aero...it's a diesel component. And that rear suspension clonk is likely to be a couple of small bushes needing replacement. Saabs are no BMWs. And that's their main appeal.

[@barrynoble2326]

While you are correct in saying the Aero doesn't have a EGR it isn't a diesel component. Quite a few petrol cars do have them just not as often

[@b17marko]

I had a 03 plated 2.0T Saab 9-3 Aero, great car, only reason I changed it because I wanted something more economical, although I managed to average 33 mpg over several thousand miles which is good going, it was a car I always regretted changing and many years on I'm now looking at getting a post 2010 diesel Saab.

[@hermanmunster3358]

If you buy a 9-3 diesel, like my 1.9TiD, they can last a surprisingly long time. Mine has 96k, I've owned it for almost 5 years, and 8 can honestly say ive had near zero issues with it. So much so, I am considering a 9-3 estate, with 199k miles which is still VERY clean, and pulls like a train. It is a little bit smokey, but it is black smoke, so not a lot to worry about. Just an egr clean, and a bottle of injector cleaner hopefully. But they make great long distance cruisers, as they are so comfy and rewarding to drive. Mine never fails to please. Yes, they can be quirky, but that is part of their uniqueness. And they have a certain character that you don't get with Vauxhall's, or any other mass produced brand come to that.

[@brucec43]

Had one. Nice car for its day. Plenty of turbo lag but not much torque steer and it handled nicely. Felt much more powerful at highway speeds than the hp/torque would indicate. Main seal leak at 67,000 miles. $1,000 repair.

[@themightydash1714]

Sounds like you got a shagged one, mine doesn't crash about like that! Trim doesn't fall off, hell mine has no scratches, you can tell from the video the paintwork on that ones all different colours, buy a GOOD condition one and you're laughing.

[@Sid3300]

I think a Vectra of the same age would be much much worse in terms of clomping suspension etc. I have a late 06 9-3 Aero with the fact lift interior, big improvement over the earlier million button one.

[@SaucySoviet]

1:53 is a card holder. it's mean't to come off if your cards slide inside

[@banpowel9784]

Suspensions upgrades etc etc.........will improve the overall quality of these cars

[@BonganiMagadu]

What's the diesel like? Is it quick to accelerate comparable to cars of same age? Fuel consumption

[@TheCocoxpazur]

great review mate , I had 2.0t 175 bhp arc ,now I'm getting 2.0T areo automatic ,like you sad that hidden Saab DNA still there , thanks mate

[@Lyshem]

tom cox get manual if you want the real feel

[@jorgelewis4271]

I just bought a 2004 9-5 arc. It got a couple of issues to fix like any used car. Moreover, I would like your impression of that model, also if it is worth fixing, and last, if you think it may become a beautiful classic ? Thanks...!

[@Kamadev888]

just change the rear struts and silent blocks! and of course the gearbox oil needs to be changed (not every couple of thousand, but every 50000 kms), no matter what they say about sealed boxes!

[@JJbrubaker]

Most of what he said was pretty useless info.Clunk sound in the suspension? Probably a shock that needs tightening or replacing. Also, every car made now shares parts with other manufacturers so don't see what the big deal is.

[@guitarlover302]

I have a 2005 Aero convertible 2.0 litre that I love 💖 stylish , safe and comfortable Had it four years and have changed a few things ! Black diamond drilled and grooved discs , Maptune exhaust , Bilstein B6 shocks all round Recently re mapped to 260 bhp - intend keeping it as so nice to drive ! Also something a bit different to everybody else 👌

[@guitarlover302]

Lamster66 hi sorry for delay in reply ! The Bilsteins made a big difference Last thing I did was change PCV valve that has dramatically changed oil consumption. - pain doing it ! Have to take inlet manifold off Pcv sits in manifold Mine has done 100k and only uses now after PCV change about 250ml oil every 1 k miles

[@GMak81]

Strange review - not much about what it's like to drive, reliability, service or parts costs, no engine sound...odd.

[@banpowel9784]

There very agile to drive in comparison to the more heavier BMW 3 series

[@norwegianzound]

My Camry with less than 90k has clunking suspension just like yours. And they are supposed to be famously reliable!!!

[@gstockinger]

How about you try a TurboX - Very rare car and I have one of the 16 - yes, only 16 Manual SportCombi's in the country. That, my friend is a Future Classic!

[@BuilditUK]

Agreed

[@gstockinger]

Want to do a comparison review?

[@BuilditUK]

Would love to but the 93 was proving to unreliable so had to go

[@gstockinger]

You don't have to own it to review it!

[@BuilditUK]

Would love to review one, also have an X type 3.0 wihich would be interesting to compare

[@nealbeard1]

These engines are good for 400k miles

[@Jandejongjong]

The aero, so thats the turbo... lol Its hard to find a Saab without turbo. But a lot got 150hp. Give m software upgrade and you got 230hp! Nothing less just 250,- software

[@Jandejongjong]

You dont know what this Saab is realy about:) you buy a 1.8t (wich is a 2.0 turbo) for 1000,- to 2500,- aero for 3500,- soft ware brings it to 250hp you get a lot of car for little money

[@Farmer2492]

They run rings around Mercedes i had a Mercedes but when i got a Saab way way better

[@Jandejongjong]

Engine gearbox turbo easy go to 400.000. Design is Porsche. And engine development is done with Lotus. Saab 9-3 is extremely underestemated. Buy a 1.8t and use software tuning. Rattle in suspension is nothing special. Change the Bushes to different type.

[@grzegorzgrotkowski6575]

Oh fcuk! So straight forward in the 🌎 of political correctness? Subscription. Yeah!