Never ever thought I’d own one of these... 2002 SAAB 9-3 SE (turbo) 5 door. Good things... It’s a hatchback... It carries loads of stuff... it has 200 horses... (goes like ABSOLUTE stink!)... it has full leather interior - like even the doors - it’s SO quiet... and smooth... but it cost a fortune. Joking!! Really, I cannot post the cost of this gem as the vendor was almost in tears when I drove it away and texted me to say he was gutted that it was gone. So, sorry about that... 😁👍🤪 ☹️ But why? Why would something like this be overlooked compared to say a Vauxhall Vectra???! I was never enthralled by the NG900’s or even the follow up 9-3’s until the 2008 versions but, biases aside (and if I close my eyes to those terrible door handle choices on this and the previous NG900’s) this is a thing of engineering beauty. Not just on the surface. This has... foam insulation in the panel walls bagged to prevent moisture and a water drain on the aerial running to outside. (Discovered whilst replacing a broken aerial). It has - which must be a rarity - and probably the downfall of the company, the most magnificent radio which even gets reception up to, through and beyond Tebay on the M6... Whilst modern day cars Fail with a capital, this just cruises on with full reception to the praise of even my wife who just doesn’t let failure pass... This is THAT attention to detail which SAAB has and Vauxhall/GM never even contemplated. Actually, based on recent radio experience- give me an old one any time - I tried to replace a marine radio in a hot tub with a ‘new’ one.. or two ☹️, or - forget it!.. put the old one back in! What is wrong with this world? After buying the car in Leeds and driving it back to the ‘Lakes’ I upset some people... So sorry to the Audi A6... Sorry to the Vauxhall turbo and VW Golf GTi and sorry to the BMW M3... Having a 17 year old car pass you without you even knowing must be a real embarrassment. I really was loving this cars capability and not expecting it. Frankly, even though I was taking it easy because I had been provided replacement brake discs and shoes by the vendor (they’re in the boot) I was loving this car. It is REALLY a wolf in sheeps clothing and deserves some acclamation. This is the Cheapest, Best engineered, fastest, smoothest, Best appointed car I have ever bought. The pedigree still runs through the marque. I can still identify the previous 99’s and OG900’s I had with this 9-3SE and on close inspection of the body shape can see how the 900 aero with airflow has been diluted into this 9-3 model. This model has a carbon fibre dashboard! Is that standard? The only ones I knew about were the Hirsch versions - did SAAB do them first? If so I just bought a car for the cost of a Hirsch dashboard 😁😁👍👍 On the aero airflow similarity I have an idea. Never seen it before but I feel I should be rocking the ‘look’ so watch for future changes 😁
