2003 Saab 9-3 Reviews, Pricing & Specs
What owners say
"Owners generally appreciate the 2003 Saab 9-3 for its sporty handling, unique style, and reliable performance. Many drivers mention the fun driving experience, especially with the turbo engine that offers good power and decent fuel economy. On the downside, some owners report issues with build quality, especially regarding materials and interior fit and finish. Noise from the car, whether it's mechanical or from annoying squeaks, is a common complaint, along with the costs of ownership which can be significant due to parts being pricier than average."
I love this car, the 2.0 Turbo is good on gas and has amazing pickup. No repairs needed, so the cost of ownership ahs been cheap! Really fun car to drive. A few interior electrical problems but they were easy to fix.
March 7, 2011A really underrated car that makes a great alternative to bmw 3s or audi a4s. In a world where a 3 series is every other car, this is truly a head turner. Fun to drive, and a really good turbo completes this ride!
November 9, 2010The 9-3 is very comparable to the other entry level European sport sedans, and even a Mazda 6. The BMW 3-series and Audi A4 are probably "nicer" and of higher quality, but the 9-3 has more HP and, in my opinion, much faster acceleration. Also, Saab is part of GM, making repairs somewhat more affordable.
March 6, 2008What owners say
I love this car, the 2.0 Turbo is good on gas and has amazing pickup. No repairs needed, so the cost of ownership ahs been cheap! Really fun car to drive. A few interior electrical problems but they were easy to fix.
March 7, 2011A really underrated car that makes a great alternative to bmw 3s or audi a4s. In a world where a 3 series is every other car, this is truly a head turner. Fun to drive, and a really good turbo completes this ride!
November 9, 2010The 9-3 is very comparable to the other entry level European sport sedans, and even a Mazda 6. The BMW 3-series and Audi A4 are probably "nicer" and of higher quality, but the 9-3 has more HP and, in my opinion, much faster acceleration. Also, Saab is part of GM, making repairs somewhat more affordable.
March 6, 2008This Saab is an attractive, nibble, and luxurious vehicle. This car revs up 175hp with a fuel economy of 35 mpg. The powertrain on this car is solid and was engineered for excellence and includes 4-link rear suspension with "ReAxs," a Power Assist Rack & Pinion Steering, a 2.0 liter, and a 4 cyclinder DOHC Turbo engine. The interior features are power driver seat, in dash 6 CD changer with Saab infotainment, automatic climate control, and heated front seats. This particular model has all pleasures of the Vector and the fuel economy of the base model which make this car a "perfectly balanced value."
July 26, 2011Remember these ratings are relative. For a poor, married, college student, this car is about as good as it gets. Solid performance. Not a burner in a straight line, but fast enough to have fun. Get the Arc if you need better acceleration. One of the best handling front wheel drive cars I've driven. Balanced, good turn in and minimal understeer. Very fun to drive. 30-35 MPG on the highway. Great interior. Comfortable seats. Soft leather and heated. High quality sound system and sunroof/moonroof. It's needed a few repairs, but I bought it used, so that's to be expected. Nothing major and no repeated repairs. It's a great choice for people who want a quality sport luxury sedan, but want something more unique than all of the BMWs and Audi's out there. The Saab has all the luxury, styling and most of the performance of the germans (maybe even better than a comparable Audi, a little behind a BMW) at a much lower price (used resale value). I've driven multiple Audi A4's and BMW 3-series 2001-2004 for comparison.
February 22, 2010low to ground, easy to scrape, Good mpg, lasts forever, sturdy build, attractive, fun to drive, has good get up and go. great handling
June 12, 2008I px`d my Micra & Porsche for this Saab 9-3, and to be honest I regretted it a few weeks after. Although it was a very quick car, with a trendy "Sport" button for extra performance, (think poor man`s Nitro!), and not too bad on fuel, there was a niggling squeaky noise that came from somewhere we could not locate. I must admit it was a great car to drive, it gave me a feel of superiority on the road, it was far better than the Ford Mondeo`s etc on the road at the time, even ones newer than the Saab. If I had to change my car again I would not hesitate to think of another Saab.
February 26, 2008I love turbo Power, Strong running engine that gets great mileage for all the horsepower (210) Great handling, Very quite driving on smooth roads, can't here the motor at all. Good sound system, 300 watts, with subwoofer, 13 speakers. Quality parts and finish.
July 30, 2014performance - acceleration is real good, good brakes, amazing handling. build quality - no repairs yet... dashboard's a little squeaky thats about it appearance - beautiful inside and out =) cost of ownership - gas mileage is pretty good fun factor - definitely fun to drive!
November 24, 2009nice body. really nice to drive and ok to repair. made in sweden, in trollhättan. Does not use too much gas. nice to drive in long trips. Pretty easy to load the bags when you are giong somewhere. thats is all for now.
July 23, 2009
