Saab 9-3 Buyers Guide - Which 9-3 to buy? What's the best year?

[nordwulf]

There is a 2005 9-3 brochure you can download here: http://saabworld.net/downloads.php?do=file&id=8

It is an international version so may have some different specs from the US market.

The press release with more info and images here: http://saabworld.org/2003-saab-9-3-s...press-release/

The Aero has the side and front/rear skirts. There also should be an Aero badge on the trunk. The lower section of the Linear was just plain black. The Linear has a very basic audio system with no display on the head unit. The Aero has either the green display on the head unit or the navigation system.

If you have a link or some pictures, we can probably tell pretty quickly if it is an Aero or not.

[Burnsside42]

Small t means it's a linear not aero. It also has the smaller turbo.

Sent from my 9-3

Just buy mine.

https://philadelphia.craigslist.org/...324447095.html

[andykao]

I'm looking to buy a 9-3. Ideally a 2.0 petrol engine (but if the diesels are any good i can go for a diesel as well).
So apart from the usual saab problems (i've read the forums) i wanted to ask a few things :

1) which is the best year for the 9-3?
2) saab has a name for being really strong and safe and i know previous models were built like tanks - is this also the case with the 9-3?

I'm asking this because i know saab got purchsed by gm and i don't know if the cars that got built during the gm era got the traditional saab treatment or just the gm / opel / vauxhall treatment.

[Digger]

I'm looking to buy a 9-3. Ideally a 2.0 petrol engine (but if the diesels are any good i can go for a diesel as well).
So apart from the usual saab problems (i've read the forums) i wanted to ask a few things :

1) which is the best year for the 9-3?
2) saab has a name for being really strong and safe and i know previous models were built like tanks - is this also the case with the 9-3?

I'm asking this because i know saab got purchsed by gm and i don't know if the cars that got built during the gm era got the traditional saab treatment or just the gm / opel / vauxhall treatment.

GM had its fingers in Saab for a long time and even the 92 Saabaru and 94 Trollblazer got beefed up by Saab before they hit the streets. Nothing wrong with any of the late model 9-3's, but having had one for a couple years I can honestly suggest avoiding the 2003-2006 as the you are married to the infotainment system and if you don't like it it cost a fortune to change it out..

[MarcoMaxi]

Personally i will look for a 2008 -> model. A petrol one. Saab petrol engine are great and all from Saab Sweden (turbo ones).

[Reverend_Scott]

03-06 may have an infotainment that's not worth replacing, but a good wireless Bluetooth receiver in the aux input works very well for me. Doesn't bother me much at all. Don't let that hold you back from a good deal.

[Dave T]

I had a 2005 9-3 (Linear, 2.0t). Very satisfied with it. Before that, I had a 1990 900 (900i in some markets).

[100%Saab]

It's more important as to how well the 9-3 has been maintained. Rubber parts wear faster than metal, so the newer the better - like 2011. Make sure there is no intake value issue with 2007 plus models. I don't know how often that occurs and have not had that issue with my 2008 9-3 or 2009 9-3 XWD. Plenty of online support via forums and YouTube channels. Welcome to Saabworld.

[nordwulf]

"Which 9-3 To Buy? What's the best year?" thread merged with the Saab 9-3 Buyers Guide thread.

[Mammoth863]

So I’m not sure if I’m posting this in the right place but I don’t own a Saab currently and while searching for a Subaru Outback I stumbled apon a 2008 Saab 9-3 Aero SportCombi with 178k but from the pics it looks very well taken care of. I’m definitely not to familiar with the Saab brand and I will check the carfax on the vehicle to make sure it is clean and that regular maintenance was done. Outside of that buying a Saab makes me very nervous, it’s a beautiful car and i’d Love to know to know more about what maintenance/parts will cost me, the reliability of these vehicles, common problem and getting the xwd serviced.