What hasn't changed are the quirky 9-3 bits. The ignition on the floor, the grid-style air vents, the 'night panel' switch that kills all the instrumentation except the speedo and the cup holder that pops out of the front dash like a hungry alligator; all here and accounted for.
Eschewing the folding metal origami tops from newer coupe/convertible rivals boast, the 9-3 Convertible's electrically operated canvas roof drops under a hard tonneau cover that includes two aerodynamic humps mounted directly behind the rear seats.
The Saab roof may retract quickly in about 20 seconds, weigh less and take up less precious trunk space than its heavy metal competitors, but there's plenty of road and wind noise intruding as well.
Little motor, big results
While the 9-3's blown 2.0L mill shares little with the 764 cc, 25 hp unit from the earliest Saabs, it does continue the tradition of getting the most from the least established by the company's first turbocharged engine that debuted in the 1978 99 Turbo. It's the equal of an Audi A4 2.0T or Volvo C70 T5 in accelerating the 9-3 from naught to 100 km/h. Fuel consumption rating for the Saab are city, 7.3 hwy, 10.6 as tested.
A six-speed manual transmission is standard, but the test car's $1,500 five-speed automatic with a manual mode is well suited to the turbo four's behaviour. Both are smooth operators, and the transmission reacts quickly when called upon.
Obedient also describes the overall driving nature of this sun seeking Saab.
Unlike some of its more aggressive German adversaries that have stiffer bodies, initially, the 9-3's softer suspension setup seems better suited to the type of relaxed driving a convertible encourages.
Eschewing the folding metal origami tops from newer coupe/convertible rivals boast, the 9-3 Convertible's electrically operated canvas roof drops under a hard tonneau cover that includes two aerodynamic humps mounted directly behind the rear seats.
The Saab roof may retract quickly in about 20 seconds, weigh less and take up less precious trunk space than its heavy metal competitors, but there's plenty of road and wind noise intruding as well.
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| The new 9-3 carries on with a soft top even though retractable hard tops are becoming the norm. |
Little motor, big results
While the 9-3's blown 2.0L mill shares little with the 764 cc, 25 hp unit from the earliest Saabs, it does continue the tradition of getting the most from the least established by the company's first turbocharged engine that debuted in the 1978 99 Turbo. It's the equal of an Audi A4 2.0T or Volvo C70 T5 in accelerating the 9-3 from naught to 100 km/h. Fuel consumption rating for the Saab are city, 7.3 hwy, 10.6 as tested.
A six-speed manual transmission is standard, but the test car's $1,500 five-speed automatic with a manual mode is well suited to the turbo four's behaviour. Both are smooth operators, and the transmission reacts quickly when called upon.
Obedient also describes the overall driving nature of this sun seeking Saab.
Unlike some of its more aggressive German adversaries that have stiffer bodies, initially, the 9-3's softer suspension setup seems better suited to the type of relaxed driving a convertible encourages.
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| The sporty 9-3 offers up a smooth comfortable ride; perfect for our battered roads. |