I am quite a fan of the Saab 9-3. Saab has clearly designed these cars' engines around the turbocharger, so they have little power when running below turbo lag, but once through that lag period, they really cook. And they stand up to severe beatings as well. And their seats (with the exception of the headrests) are exceptionally comfortable and ergonomically correct.

Any positive owner experiences?

I am a huge fan of the Viggen- wata car!

I'm a big Viggen fan also. Taking only 6.1 secs to hit 60mph, it has to be one of the fastest fwd cars around. I'd love to see a 9-5 Viggen.

I was really excited by the Saab 9-3 rally car I read about at the NY Auto Show this year. Incredible. The engine has been prepped to support a little over 42 psi of boost from a Garrett turbo. The car hits 60 in.. I think 2.3 seconds.

42 Psi!!! Holy mother of Jesus! Thats amazing! Tell us more, or give us a link.

I like Saab's, and the seats are apparently REALLY good. Kind of original, but I don't know about it when it comes to my money. If i were rich, I would own one (for the crazy torque steer, funkiness, adn Saab-ness)

Is it the Pikes Peak car that Per Eklund used to win the Pikes Peak Open in year 2000. That car is anyway a red Viggen with 750 bhp, a Garrett TS04BB turbo and a 4wd drivetrain from Prodrive.

Saab are coming with a 9-5 Viggen to, it will have 280 bhp.

Originally posted by SaabJohan
Is it the Pikes Peak car that Per Eklund used to win the Pikes Peak Open in year 2000. That car is anyway a red Viggen with 750 bhp, a Garrett TS04BB turbo and a 4wd drivetrain from Prodrive.
Yep, that's the one.

Chris.. almost SEVEN months after you asked.. this is the car I was referring to :D ...Better late than never?!

I've got a 2000 9-3 and I love it to death. Now that I've decided to keep it when my lease is up, I can't wait to customize it fully. So far all I've got though are new XENON headlights, the rest is still stock...:D

I LOVE SAAB

The base model LPT model Coupe's and hatches are alright but the Aero, Viggen and Convertables are about the worst cars on sale today, firstly the old Vauxhall Cavalier chassis can't handle the added power and the Convertables have more body-flex than Arnie, generally making for some lousy handling.........:(

The new 9-3 is going to be a cracker though:D

Originally posted by Moss1O6GTi
The base model LPT model Coupe's and hatches are alright but the Aero, Viggen and Convertables are about the worst cars on sale today, firstly the old Vauxhall Cavalier chassis can't handle the added power and the Convertables have more body-flex than Arnie, generally making for some lousy handling.........:(

The new 9-3 is going to be a cracker though:D

That lousy handling was however enough for a modified 9-3 to outrun a Ferrari 456M GT on a track.

Originally posted by SaabJohan


That lousy handling was however enough for a modified 9-3 to outrun a Ferrari 456M GT on a track.


doesn't change the fact that they can't handle for crap, just means they can go fast in a line (Which I admit is a benifit of
Saabs)

Originally posted by Moss1O6GTi



doesn't change the fact that they can't handle for crap, just means they can go fast in a line (Which I admit is a benifit of
Saabs)

In a line? I said racetrack. Not dragracing.

http://www.lms.se/bildark/images/overs.jpg

Being a proud owner of a 2000 9-3 Viggen, I will have to agree with MOS106Gti - up to a point.

While the dancing rack and pinion is a major problem, it is only so in very bumpy roads. On a smooth surface, it is not that much of a problem. That said, Abbott racing makes a rack&pinion kit (VRK, or Viggen Rescue Kit) to tighten every thing up and help this problem. While this is not a cure all, it is said to help tremendously.

That said, everything else about this car rocks - Speed, feel, power, look.

Well, I'm hardly objective, since I own one (my second next gen 900).

BTW, the Pikes Peak car is running a Subaru drivetrain. Only the engine is a Saab. And it is not even pointed in the same direction! (North-south, instead of east-west). It was developed from a rallycross Saab campaigned per Per Eklund.

big fan love my 9-3 AERO (tuned up to 280 bhp). But I have to agree with the others, it's just not stiff enough..
the new sports-sedan is btw

Originally posted by SaabJohan


That lousy handling was however enough for a modified 9-3 to outrun a Ferrari 456M GT on a track.
no doubt saab's are an awsome feat of exotic engineering but that farrari runs a 0-60 in 5 sec and has a top speed of 186 mph, what race was this and how modified was this car? On the new saab's I think the ReAxs sys impressed me the most and I would have to agree that with this it will be one of the most manuverable cars for handeling purpose on the market.

The Saab that outrunned the 456M GT is actually a 900 from 1994 rebuild to look like a 9-3 Viggen. It has a 2,3 litre four-cylinder turbocharged engine with around 400 hp and 600 Nm which drives the front wheels through a 6-speed racing gearbox.
With its weight of around 1200 kg it's 500 kg lighter than the ferrari. The suspension are H&R and Koni, brakes are from AP racing.

The Pikes Peak car has i drivetrain from Prodrive, this is the drivetrain Subaru used in their WRC car. The drivetrain is also rebuild to handle the higher torque.
The engine is based on a Saab 4-cylinder cast iron block. The dry sump oilpump and conrods are from autoverdi. It has a billet crankshaft, and the cylinderhead is stronger than the production one (maybe this head will come in production... hope so). It has a Garrett TS04BB turbocharger (more info on www.egarrett.com) and a lot of more good stuff. The engine cranks out 800 hp and is build by Tommy Karlsson (Trollspeed).
The cars tubular frame chassi is designed by Leif Ahl (who died shortly after the first race) and build by Per Eklund & Co.

Here is a few pictures on the Pikes Peak car which a friend of mine took: http://freja.areta.org/kinnekulle/index.htm

Bad news with Saab is that GM is using him as Turbo
research powerplant serving both GM and Opel for
their GM's,Astras and Vectras and such. Once all
these are served Saab can implement
their own efforts last! First they had to wait for Epsilon
platform for GM, which then led to disaster design new
Opel Vectra, and then new Sport Sedan received green
light for works.

It was much better time when Saab was sharing platform
with Lancia and Alfa, as most of people can remember 900
received far more positive reviews then 9-3 particularly in US.

Here in Europe they were slightly more polite because
each time a Europe reporter had one for test it would
again and again wanted to be terribly original with remarks
how 9-3 has strange key position or again and again how
Saab before 9-3 treated their workers as royalty...Building
entire areas, kindergartens and for end they would mention
how Saab workers (both sex) use their breaks for love
making activity. Joke is really on Saab, because
that irresponsible behavior had very high price of independence.

Last bad news and some analyst said it could be fatal for
Saab innovation...GM few months ago decided because
cost savings Opel and Saab go together in same design
team,same dealer network and they share entire parts
operation together.

Opel is not bad company, but their parts are still generation
sleepy behind Audi,Benz and Bmw...not good for Saab by far.
Don't think dear driver from states that this wont affect
your imports.

Their financial cycle for concepts is as it is completely frozen
because Saab drawing desks are really arty party for Opel and
GM. I just hope this will not threaten arrival of the 4 wheel
drive in 9-3 which is announced in two years and Alfa is also
depending on that drive. (and Fiat is not helping either )
Pleasant thoughts please!

PS: US Saab convertible drivers, shame on you!
My friend wanted a hardtop for his 9-3 convertible and after
talking with some friends from states it appeared as it is a piece
of cake to find Hardtop in states...alas, hardly.
Not a one single dealer had any knowledge save alone self
proclaimed Saabnet as nr.1 one source for Saab in US, not a
one peak of information. Finally I've traced a company
in Germany that makes hardtops for Austin Healey replicas and
it costed bloody expensive. Is it possible that no Saab
convertibles in states use hardtop in land where you drive
under the stars and cabrio is must???????
:o :rolleyes:

Originally posted by ZondaFreak02
I LOVE SAAB

You said it!