| HISTORY | | | | remained very firm, reflecting the esteem that |
| Saab have had a representation in this market | | | | this car is held in by used car buyers. Expect to |
| niche right back to the days of the 900 | | | | pay from £10,350 for an automatic 1.8t Vector |
| Convertible and the announcement of the Saab | | | | on a 53 plate and another £800 for the 2.0t |
| 9-3 Sport Saloon in 2002 marked a new direction. | | | | version of this car. The desirable 2.0T Aero model |
| Whereas many previous Saab convertibles were | | | | opens at around £10,675 with automatic |
| modified versions of existing platforms, the drop | | | | versions tacking another £250 onto that asking |
| top version of the 9-3 Sport Saloon was | | | | price. Insurance ratings range from Group 13 for |
| engineered in a more thorough manner to combat | | | | the 1.8t through 15 for the 2.0t models and |
| the torsional rigidity problems that had serious | | | | topping out at a surprisingly modest Group 17 for |
| drivers avoiding the car. | | | | the barnstorming 2.0T. |
| Three turbocharged petrol engines were available | | | | WHAT TO LOOK FOR |
| at the 2003 launch, starting with a 150bhp 1.8t | | | | Although the 9-3 Convertible doesn't feel quite so |
| powerplant, moving through to the 175bhp 2.0t | | | | ridiculously over-engineered as some Saabs of |
| and the range topping 210bhp 2.0T engine found in | | | | yore, it still feels like a car that'll shrug off 150,000 |
| the Aero variants. In the early part of 2006, a | | | | miles with disdainful ease, so there's no need to |
| 150bhp TiD diesel engine came on the scene with | | | | scratch off some of the higher mileage ex-fleet |
| a 44.8mpg average fuel economy. | | | | cars from your list. Just be sure that they've |
| In mid 2007, further alterations were announced | | | | been given regular doses of main dealer TLC. One |
| to the exterior styling and the engine range. The | | | | area that is worth checking, especially on the |
| 180bhp TTiD diesel arrived with its two stage | | | | more powerful models, is front tyre wear. As |
| turbocharger and the 2.8T V6 engine was | | | | with any powerful front wheel drive car, |
| upgraded to 280bhp. More interestingly, the XWD | | | | expecting the front tyres to cope with the |
| 4x4 system also arrived and the 2.0t BioPower | | | | demands of steering such a weighty beast and |
| engine was introduced to capture the | | | | transmitting all that horsepower to the ground is a |
| environmental zeitgeist with its capability to run on | | | | serious task. A heavy right foot can see front |
| E85 bioethanol. All models got a restyled front-end | | | | tyres waving the white flag within 5,000 miles, |
| with a clamshell bonnet, a revised grille and LED | | | | dependent upon make. |
| light strips that sit across the top of the headlamp | | | | Check the hood for signs of rips, leaks or |
| pod. | | | | damage. Raise and lower it a couple of times to |
| WHAT YOU GET | | | | make sure the electric motors are all in good |
| The Saab's hood may not be of the trendy | | | | shape and haven't been damaged by ignorant |
| folding hard top variety, but for a ragtop it's very | | | | users attempting to operate the hood manually. |
| impressive. Electrically operated, it requires no | | | | The hood is a fully insulated triple-layer item with |
| unlatching or arcane procedures to operate, and | | | | a proper heated glass rear window, and is one of |
| retracts in just 20 seconds, making it possible to | | | | the best on the market for insulating against wind |
| drop the top at traffic lights without the potential | | | | noise. If there's a whistling or drumming at speed, |
| embarrassment of being caught at half mast | | | | the hood may well be damaged. |
| when the lights turn green. The hood's operation is | | | | REPLACEMENT PARTS |
| very slick indeed. Instead of flipping up, an | | | | (approx based on a 2003 9-3 Convertible 2.0t) |
| aluminium tonneau cover raises itself and then | | | | Certain items are very cheap, especially for a car |
| slides back, making for a quicker operation and a | | | | that competes in a premium sector. A clutch |
| better seal than a traditional hinged cover. | | | | assembly is in the region of £275, and brake |
| Saab's CargoSET system is another innovation of | | | | pads are £50 a set for the fronts and £35 a |
| which the Swedes seem proud. This ‘self | | | | pair at the back. A radiator is a fairly reasonable |
| expanding trunk' frees up a useful amount of | | | | £220, and a headlamp unit is comparable to |
| luggage space in the boot - the kind of space that | | | | most major rivals at £170. A starter motor |
| convertible owners in this class must usually forgo. | | | | won't see change from £180, whilst an |
| The hood itself is triple skinned for improved noise | | | | alternator will only see small change from £260. |
| and thermal insulation and is available in black or | | | | An exhaust system is around £310, again, not |
| blue. In order to counter the dinginess that most | | | | unreasonable for a classy executive car. |
| convertibles suffer from when the hood's up, the | | | | ON THE ROAD |
| Saab's hood is internally trimmed in either beige or | | | | The MK1 Saab 9-3 Convertible was something of |
| light grey. The attention to detail is laudable. A | | | | an enigma. Although it sold like hot cakes, the car |
| small gutter has been sewn into the side of the | | | | itself wasn't the greatest thing to ever turn a |
| fabric to prevent water droplets dripping onto the | | | | wheel. The chassis wasn't really stiff enough to |
| seats and there's also what Saab calls a | | | | make a decent chop-top and more powerful |
| ‘surround trim'. This is basically a | | | | versions were pretty uncouth. It seems a |
| horseshoe-shaped line that runs from the base of | | | | characteristic of this market that many buyers |
| each door pillar and incorporates the panels on top | | | | are content with a second rate product that |
| of the doors, the rear side trims and most of the | | | | would sell well as long as it looked good. Witness |
| tonneau cover. It's finished in a crackle matt black | | | | how long the old Audi Cabriolet lasted, its ancient |
| paint but can also be specified in body colour. It's | | | | underpinnings creaking and shuddering over every |
| a neat design idea that works particularly well with | | | | pothole. |
| brighter colours. | | | | The market has transformed of late, however, |
| Aside from the flagship Aero model, two trim | | | | and the MK2 Saab 9-3 Convertible reflects this |
| levels - Linear and Vector - are offered, the main | | | | new quest for dynamic excellence. When work |
| difference for plusher Vector models being leather | | | | began on this 9-3 drop-top, Saab's designers were |
| trim and the use of 17-inch alloy wheels. Front and | | | | determined to imbue it with the same handling |
| side airbags, active head restraints, central locking, | | | | characteristics as the acclaimed 9-3 Sports Saloon. |
| 16\" alloys and a remote control alarm with | | | | In order to overcome the loss of rigidity caused |
| immobiliser are standard fare, even if you go with | | | | by removing the roof, a secondary supplemental |
| Linear trim. The Aero features spoilers, sill | | | | chassis was developed, effectively a ring of steel |
| extensions and more aggressive alloy wheels. | | | | linking and reinforcing the front rear and side |
| Those of you who relish a spirited drive will | | | | structures. |
| appreciate the fact that the current car's chassis | | | | The result is a car devoid of the shake, rattle and |
| is three times more torsionally rigid than the | | | | roll of many convertibles. Of course, many drivers |
| rather noodle-like old 9-3. Saab developed a | | | | won't care a jot about chassis stiffness, but the |
| system they refer to as ReAxs, which passively | | | | result is a car that drives more smoothly, that |
| steers the rear wheels to cut out the turgid | | | | allows its suspension to work properly and which |
| understeer many powerful front wheel drive cars | | | | also permits designers to work to fine tolerances |
| suffer from. Other novelties include DynaCage; | | | | in the construction of components like the electric |
| Saab-speak for two spring-loaded rollover hoops | | | | folding hood. |
| that are recessed behind the rear head restraints | | | | The 2.0t Aero manages a 7.7-second 0-60mph |
| which automatically deploy if the car thinks its | | | | time and a 143mph top speed. Combined fuel |
| falling over. Perhaps the most intriguing | | | | consumption figures for all three 9-3 Convertible |
| development is CargoWing, a rear spoiler that can | | | | petrol engines are virtually indistinguishable - 32.2, |
| convert into a ski or snowboard holder! | | | | 32.1 and 31mpg respectively. The diesel, |
| WHAT YOU PAY | | | | predictably, is significantly superior with a 44.8mpg |
| Prices for the Saab 9-3 Convertible have | | | | average. |