The Saab 9-3 Aero is a Potent Turbo V6 Sleeper Sedan of the 2000's

[@quintonulm2435]

I used to have a red 2006 Aero SportCombi and I low key do miss it. Had to sell because of reliability concerns with the transmission, timing chains, and just general electronics in that car (and I probably would have gone to jail if I kept it around, the thing really loved going 160+ 😉). They seem to be more impressive power wise from 60-100 than they are from 0-60.

[@BernonCars]

Nice, yeah they have really impressive highway power!

[@imnotusingmyrealname4566]

I love engines smaller than 0.5L per cylinder. They could've gone with fewer cylinders but chose not to for the extra smoothness and sound.

[@BernonCars]

Yeah they’re rad!

[@BWTECH0521]

I had one of these 2007 (updated interior) and I loved it. The V6 sounds glorious with a simple muffler delete. The auto trans was quirky to me becuase during hard acceleration upshifts it seems to kick itself forward a bit. I'm not sure if you felt it too but I remember it felt like I was really in an airplane lol. I had 4 other older generation saabs and I have to say, this new one was a mishmash of GM and some SAAB. Definitely more reliable but less SAAB charm. I ended up getting back in an older saab but I did enjoy my time with this one! Great review!

[@BernonCars]

Thank you! Nice, yeah they really do accelerate like planes 😂

[@ryanrendick8214]

I'm 47. I have owned 4 saabs starting with an 88 900 turbo. I've never loved and hated cars more than when I own a Saab. All of you that love them know that feeling. We love all the quirkiness sneaky speed. But man, I've never had one without some kind of electric problem. The pixelated Sid is the very definition of insanity. My brother and I currently own two. He has a real gem. 1987 900 turbo. Mint condition with a little under 60,000 mi on it. I have a 96 with 50,000 mi. Saabs are like a crazy woman that you keep going back for because something about them is so damn sexy

[@BernonCars]

Oh nice, yeah Saabs certainly have a charm to them!!

[@sirendude]

Great review! Really helps me as I’m looking for a 9-3 right now. I’m willing to deal with all the problems that comes with these just because they’re so cool.

[@BernonCars]

Thank you for watching!! Happy to help!

[@gear9242]

Oh man, wish you could have shown Night Panel! That's the real charm of that gauge cluster. If you fiddle with the menu enough you can get either the whole speedo or the 0-90 part to illuminate. Other instruments only come on as necessary (high revs, high temp, low fuel, above 90 mph, etc), and the rest of the illuminated controls will dim, as well. Quite an eye saver on long night drives!

[@BernonCars]

Ohhh yeah! If it was night time I wouldve remembered haha, it does come in handy!!

[@Stormyy]

Ayyyy im now the owner of this 9-3! Very fun car. And i will take care of it ❤

[@BernonCars]

Oh wow! I wish you luck with it!

[@einpercy825]

Really nicely speced example. Also well done video. I have a facelift 2.0t Kombi and love it. Brilliant car ☺️

[@BernonCars]

Thank you! Ahh nice!!

[@imnotusingmyrealname4566]

That intro is still so awesome!

[@BernonCars]

Im glad!!!

[@kewlbean]

What a nice surprise to to wake up to this review! The Meatball has been a great car for me and I'm so glad you have been enjoying it. You are right, Saab's are underrated by those who don't know about them. It's too bad the GM era cars didn't get better quality interiors, but the chassis and engines are fantastic. If you hit the unlock button on the drivers door, the trunk button should work. Or, at least it used to. Ohh Saab!

[@BernonCars]

I’m glad you liked it!! The Meatball has been a real experience for sure 😂

[@18_rabbit]

engine is potent and smooth but not durable past upper 100K's. Very sad engine choice they made, ie with their rare GM v6 that was too advanced for the money GM would /could spend making the engine. But the actual problem w/ the engine design is a never-solved issue of complex electronics or other factors, and literally, many of these ended up parked permanently as a result. Saab couldn't figure out a solution by the time it dissolved around '11/12. I would never buy this engine/model.

[@RedEye737]

My brain saw SAAB and 2000 and before even seeing the thumbnail I though u finally got your hands on an airplane X) Love Saab tbh

[@BernonCars]

Yesss, I hope I can find more to review!

[@KennyZombie]

Really miss mine. My wife's car actually. That type of car that you turn back to look at it after you park every single time. Mechanicly very reliable, but with a lot of electrical gremlins. Really car enthusiast choice. Now she drives 05' Tahoe and generally we are more happy with that truck. By the way i still dayli drive '00 9-5 with V6 for ower 11 years and it still a fantistic car for me.

[@BernonCars]

Nice, love that era of Tahoe too!!

[@drh3rd]

What a great look at the Saab v6. Love it. Well done, sir.

[@BernonCars]

Thank you very much!

[@drh3rd]

I have at the moment 4 Saabs. Have had now 10 overall. Some tell me I don't know any better. I tell them, well... I know better. @@BernonCars

[@S44BBOI]

2007 best year. Hard to find these in sedan form.

[@damilolaakanni]

7:04 that design is actually not strange if you've driven or owned Mercedes-Benz and Chrysler/Dodge vehicles in the 2000's, but to a first time owner of these, it'll be strange at first. What's strange is the location of the ignition (not on the steering column, but in the centre console). Saab did that so that the driver's knee isn't damaged by the key in the event of a collision.

[@BernonCars]

Oh yeah, my E500 had a similar key. Interesting! That’s an interesting idea for safety

[@ikedinobi6345]

Love your videos and your style of reviews! Can you please do a detailed review of one of the best cars (IMHO) that I'd ridiculously inexpensive but packs a punch... the 2003 S500 RWD (W220 engine)? Would love your take on this German masterpiece.

[@BernonCars]

Thank you!! I will certainly keep that in mind!!

[@mlgsty8880]

I have 2003 Saab 9-3 Turbo but only Sport Sedan version so it doesnt have the power of Aero. Its my first car that I got in 2018 and I really dont want to get another. Its sturdy, reliable and has some power. Mine has 350 000 kilometers under it. It is very fun to drive and can still hit 210 km/h (dont worry I didnt test this on public road). I should mention that I am from Finland and because Saabs were manufactured in my town, they are very common here still. There are some crazy tuned ones here as well.

[@BernonCars]

Nice! That's excellent!

[@samhtun]

Get a GM Tech2 reader and you can reprogram the car so that you can use trunk button and turn on/off headlights with the switch and more. I still have my 2006 9-3 aero with 187k and running strong. Great car.

[@BernonCars]

Oh nice good to know!

[@BruceLudwick]

If you get a Tech2 and put it on "ROW" mode, the lights will shut off in the off position; I think you have to have security access. Ditto on the trunk button that's on the trunk.

[@BernonCars]

Interesting! Thats good to know!

[@BruceLudwick]

@@BernonCars not having a good Saab guy nearby, or not having a Tech2 yourself, is the kiss of death with these. There's always something electrical. Still better than the same issues in my S212.........

[@dennisspors7530]

I have a 2006 Aero with manual 6 speed. I have owned it for 8 years. If you stay on the known faults, it is a great car. So many die because they are not maintained. There is also a great deal of knowledge on the web if you run into issues. Aftetall 2006 means it is 18 years old.

[@BernonCars]

Nice! Yeah with love they'll last a good long while!

[@k_s.m]

how tall are You mate? just wondering how much space is in the rear seat.

[@BernonCars]

I'm 5 foot 9!

[@imnotusingmyrealname4566]

Impressive how it has a V6 in a compact sedan.

[@BernonCars]

Right!

[@imnotusingmyrealname4566]

@@BernonCars a TURBO V6 no less!

[@shpfro]

I will forever hate GM for ruining SAAB. I have a 2010 9³ Aero. Fantastic car til I started to need to do repairs. In my experience, because it's a last model year car, I have to use the VIN to buy every part, they knew it was over and was kinda just throwing these model year cars together, so now she just sits and looks pretty.

[@BernonCars]

It is such a shame! That’s crazy, I hope you can get her in good shape soon enough

[@damilolaakanni]

I wonder what would have happened to Saab if they still existed today, and maybe bought from GM by another car brand.

[@BernonCars]

Right! I wish they were able to continue

[@216cle]

An automatic lol why even bother 😅

[@BernonCars]

🤷🏽‍♂️ it's what we got

[@RC51Legend]

If you don't want the turbo, you can get the stick

[@216cle]

@@RC51Legend manuals do have a turbo and I get to actually control it 🤓