Moderators: Can you start a separate thread for the Saab 9-3 Aero Turbo4?

[ScotHibb]

Can you start a separate thread for the Saab 9-3 Aero Turbo4?



Thanks!

[nordwulf]

I am not sure what you're asking for. We do have a 9-3 Workshop forum. Is that what you're looking for? Saab 9-3 (2003+)

[ScotHibb]

Ummmmm....NO. I thought my request was obvious...guess not...

You DO have a 9-3 AND a 9-5 Workshop form.......BUT it is broken down further into 9-5 (2010+) BUT you fail to move the 9-3 past the forum "9-3 (2003+)" and there has been MAJOR CHANGES in 2010-2011 for the 9-3 (MUCH MORE than the 9-5, which you started a NEW forum for the 2010+ models). PLUS you even started a forum for the NON-SAAB model 9-4x (2011+)! Visit Saab - Saab and look at ALL the 9-3 2011 models compared to the 9-5 and the non-Sweden-built 9-4, and then ask me what I am asking for you to add to the "workshop forum"......PLEASE ADD a NEW SAAB 9-3 (2011+) forum to MATCH the 9-5 and "9-4" additions.........thanks!!!!!!

Check your CarFax...is the SAAB you are thinking about buying built in the ONLY REAL SAAB PLANT in Sweden...or does the export country/state say "Japan" or "Mexico" or "Ohio".......IF YOU HAVE A 2010+ 9-5 workshop form, you HAVE to add a 9-3 (2011+) forum....

[ScotHibb]

Am I the only one out there driving a 2011 Saab 9-3 Aero Turbo4 XWD??? Am I the only one that thinks that the new line of 2011 9-3's deserve the same attention that the "2010+ 9-5's" and the "2011+ 9-4's" currently have herein??? Man...and I thought this was a SAAB forum......

[SaabScott]

I think you are a little confused.

The 2010+ 9-5 is a NEW car ... there are no shared components from the previous gen 9-5. The 9-4X is a NEW vehicle, not a carry over from something else.

The 9-3 03- is one car, albeit with a ton of changes to it ... but it is not a new car as it was when the old 9-3 -02 was replaced with the new 9-3 03-.

You are in a Saab forum ... and I would be careful of the comments you throw around.

[nordwulf]

the non-Sweden-built 9-4

Check your CarFax...is the SAAB you are thinking about buying built in the ONLY REAL SAAB PLANT in Sweden...or does the export country/state say "Japan" or "Mexico" or "Ohio".......

I think this is a question as old as the company itself. And are very different ways to look at it. With globalization in manufacturing, the lines are getting blurrier all the time.

The 2004-2010 Saab 9-3 convertible was manufactured in Austria by a different company. Is that a real Saab? The Saab 90 was manufactured in Finland. The 2nd generation Saab 9-5 and 9-4X are very similar when it comes to GM development but they are very different from their GM counterparts. The only difference is the 9-5 is assembled in Sweden and the 9-4X in Mexico. But both have been designed and partly engineered by Saab.

Your 2011 Saab 9-3 has a GM radio, climate controls and many other parts which can be found in many other GM models. Does that make it less of a Saab? There are so many other examples of different brands. Take BMW for example. Is the X5 not a real BMW because it is manufactured in the USA? VW has a factory in Poland, BMW in South Africa and so on.

I actually used to have the same opinion as you when it came to the place of assembly. There are just so many different parts on car that are made all over the world and the assembly is just where they put everything together. The 9-2X and 9-7X where much different than the 2n gen 9-5 and 9-4X though.

[nordwulf]

The 2003+ Saab 9-3 lifeline is something like this:

2003-2006
2007: dash redesign
2008-2011: exterior redesign
2012: minor exterior redesign

But as Scott mentioned, they are basically all the same when it comes to engines, technology and chassis.

Am I the only one out there driving a 2011 Saab 9-3 Aero Turbo4 XWD??? Am I the only one that thinks that the new line of 2011 9-3's deserve the same attention that the "2010+ 9-5's" and the "2011+ 9-4's" currently have herein??? Man...and I thought this was a SAAB forum......

There are two 2011 9-3 and many others with different model years in the Garage. Why don't you add yours so there is one more?

http://saabworld.net/garage-view-vehicle-49/



http://saabworld.net/garage-view-vehicle-88/

[ScotHibb]

I think you are a little confused.

The 2010+ 9-5 is a NEW car ... there are no shared components from the previous gen 9-5. The 9-4X is a NEW vehicle, not a carry over from something else.

The 9-3 03- is one car, albeit with a ton of changes to it ... but it is not a new car as it was when the old 9-3 -02 was replaced with the new 9-3 03-.

You are in a Saab forum ... and I would be careful of the comments you throw around.

I didn't mean the 9-4x is a carry-over, I know it's a NEW vehicle... I was saying it's Saab's CROSSOVER vehicle (mix between a car and SUV), just a term.

I also was not asking the questions or making the statements with any "poor tonality", as text posts can connote...

I have been a non-stop Saab owner since the late 1980's, including the non-Saab 9-2xAero for 5 years, so I think I can pretty much be considered a complete Saab fan (only 28 strait years owning most every model...not counting the 9-7 I leased (can't say I owned that model, but leased it for 3 years)).

My point is that if you're going to start a new forum thread for the new 9-5 you really should start one for the new 2011 9-3 line as there are the same amount of changes.

If I list out the differences between the 2009 9-3's vs. 2011 9-3's compared to the differences in the 2009 9-5's and 2011 9-5's you would see why I am requesting that a 2011- 9-3 forum thread be opened (rumors on the 2011 9-5 sedans versus the 2010 9-5 sedans have it that they re-Saab'ed it). Just the back emblems on my 2011 9-3Aero XWD Sedan should show the difference between the 2011's and the 2009/10's (i.e. 9-3 AERO...XWD...TURBO4...). As a previous 9-5 owner, the 2011 9-5 felt and tasted like the old ones (and different than the 2010's i test drove)...just like the new 9-3...but the other models (no offense to 9-4 or 9-7 or 9-2 owners) Smell like a Saab, look somewhat like a Saab, but don't feel like a Saab. There's just something about driving a "Saab Saab" that makes one "Sob" when getting into a Saabaru (not that I don't think it was worth the sticker price as my company does advertising for GM so i got employee discount and special sale)!

-------------------

@Frank - I pulled the radio out and it was etched SAAB AUDIO, maybe it was an upgrade from some of the first ones that may have used GM left-over radios from back when GM still owned Saab?

Here's is what I know from my months of research while awaiting for the insurance check for the *cough cough* tree that killed my 9-2xAero:
-Yes, the convertible version of the 9-3 was manufactured in Austria by Magna Steyr until 2010, when it was MOVED to Trollhättan Sweden plant ("true Saab plant")
-The 9-3 shares its GM Esp platform and the Cadillac BLS platform, which was made on the same assembly line up until 2009 in Trollhättan Sweden (was it a chicken or the egg?), either way it was only shared through 2009
-The 2010- 9-5 was the first Saab to be launched under Spyker Cars' ownership (it was already in production when GM still owned Saab, and it was developed almost completely under GM's ownership). It is rumored that it was retro-converted in 2011 to de-GM it more...the inability for me to validate the rumors is why I went with the 9-3Aero Sedan, but they are both consistently churned out of the Sweden plant

Anyway...I need to get to the parking garage and get in my 9-3 to get home at a decent hour since it's 7PM here!

OVERALL...is it a fair assessment that the 9-3 sedans and 9000/9-5 sedans are the "most Saab" out of all the other models over the past 15 years? The 9-2x was a fluke...after 2 years the griffin circle emblem on the front and the hatch flaked off from normal washing! It was fun to drive for the price I got it for, but it was pure Japanese-built Subaru engineered...GM was a 20% shareholder of Fuji Heavy Industries (i.e, Subaru) at the time the 9-2X was designed. In October 2005, however, GM decided that it would sell 8.4% of the company to Toyota and dispose of its remaining 11.4% as a share buy-back to Fuji. The 9-2X was discontinued when Fuji and GM broke up. It's cool that I bought it in may when it was highly incentivised and GM discounted to me...and that it was one of about 3,800 total ever built (you can part one out for mega-bucks...I tried to buy the salvaged car from Allstate and they wanted almost $5000 for it!!!).

Crap...getting later.....bye for now.....

~ScotHibb

[SaabScott]

If I list out the differences between the 2009 9-3's vs. 2011 9-3's compared to the differences in the 2009 9-5's and 2011 9-5's you would see why I am requesting that a 2011- 9-3 forum thread be opened

OK, so let me say this again ... the 9-3, beginning in 2003, has evolved into what it is today. The underlying chassis and drive train are the same. The engine is the same, tuned to produce more power, but the same. The transmissions are the same. The addition of XWD in 2008 is just that, an addition to the model.

The ONLY thing the 2010- 9-5 shares with the previous model is the name. Period.
Unlike the 03- 9-3, unlike all of the 9000's ever built, unlike the changes in the NG900 to the 9-3 -02 (should have been an evolved 900, but with the GM purchase, they wanted a name change as well).

So no, it does not make sense to have a "new" forum for the 9-3, regardless of the flavour. Should we also have a Turbo-X forum? Then we would also need a 9-3 V6 FWD forum and another for the XWD version ... where does it end?

As for where a Saab is manufactured or what components are in it, who cares? Saab started out using Triumph engines ... they were no less a Saab than the current 9-5 is (which by the way, many people, myself included, say is the best Saab ever made). What works for you doesn't necessarily work for everyone. Yes, my Saab was built in Trollhatten, but the transmission wasn't ... the engine wasn't, the turbo? Certainly not. To me, it comes down to the whole package, that is what Saab put together. My 9-5 now has over 213,000 miles on it and runs as well today as it did the day I got it (just over 3 years and 100,000 miles ago). The seats, still the best in the business. The overall package ... people who get in my Saab can't believe the mileage it has.

Sorry ... I'm ranting now ... I'm tired and stressed out and I'm done for a bit. Good night all.

[nordwulf]

Check out this thread for all the different suppliers for the 2010+ 9-5: http://saabworld.net/f85/suppliers-new-saab-9-5-a-453/