New Saab 9-3 Unveiling
Thread Starter
Registered!!
iTrader: (1)
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 2,696
Likes: 0
From: Boston, Massachusetts, US
Rep Power: 0 
New Saab 9-3 Unveiling
Just recently I went to see a special unveiling of the new Saab 93 Sport Sedan...it was pretty cool! After a brief presentation, we were able to check out the car from top to bottom, but unfortunately, they disconnected the battery so I counldn't see all the bells and whistles...The car is due to be released in October, and the pricing to be announced next week.
Among the cool points were:
13 speakers, 2 amps in the higher models (ARC and VECTOR)
2.0L inline 4, pumping out 210HP and 221 ft-lbs of torque
6 speed transmission, or tiptronic...the VECTOR has the button-shifters on the steering wheel, and has a better suspension package
Engine is mounted with the turbo at the back of the engine, so they basically flipped the block around
The only belt in the engine drives the A/C and the alternator, so if you lose the belt, you'll still retain power steering, and other electrical systems - pretty cool backup
Optional projector HID lamps
Among the bad points:
Back is a little cramped
I miss the 4-door hatch, but that's not what the market wants right now
Car information display now is at the top of the dash, kind of like an echo...(temp, mileage, clock, etc..)
They didn't let me take pictures
They had to throw it in somewhere....the calipers had a GM symbol on them for all to see...
Overall, a pretty nice version of the older 9-3. If you get the car tuned by Hersch (sp?) or Nordik, you can easily get it up to Viggen specs. But it's not the kind of car that will compete for M3's or A4's...a good car overall though!
T-X
Among the cool points were:
13 speakers, 2 amps in the higher models (ARC and VECTOR)
2.0L inline 4, pumping out 210HP and 221 ft-lbs of torque
6 speed transmission, or tiptronic...the VECTOR has the button-shifters on the steering wheel, and has a better suspension package
Engine is mounted with the turbo at the back of the engine, so they basically flipped the block around
The only belt in the engine drives the A/C and the alternator, so if you lose the belt, you'll still retain power steering, and other electrical systems - pretty cool backup
Optional projector HID lamps
Among the bad points:
Back is a little cramped
I miss the 4-door hatch, but that's not what the market wants right now
Car information display now is at the top of the dash, kind of like an echo...(temp, mileage, clock, etc..)
They didn't let me take pictures
They had to throw it in somewhere....the calipers had a GM symbol on them for all to see...
Overall, a pretty nice version of the older 9-3. If you get the car tuned by Hersch (sp?) or Nordik, you can easily get it up to Viggen specs. But it's not the kind of car that will compete for M3's or A4's...a good car overall though!
T-X
Registered!!
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,333
Likes: 0
From: Austin, Texas
Rep Power: 0
Quote
[hr]Among the bad points:
Back is a little cramped
I miss the 4-door hatch, but that's not what the market wants right now
Car information display now is at the top of the dash, kind of like an echo...(temp, mileage, clock, etc..)
They didn't let me take pictures
They had to throw it in somewhere....the calipers had a GM symbol on them for all to see...
[hr]
[hr]Among the bad points:
Back is a little cramped
I miss the 4-door hatch, but that's not what the market wants right now
Car information display now is at the top of the dash, kind of like an echo...(temp, mileage, clock, etc..)
They didn't let me take pictures
They had to throw it in somewhere....the calipers had a GM symbol on them for all to see...
[hr]
The Fallen Angel . . .
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,928
Likes: 0
From: Baltimore, Maryland, US
Rep Power: 0 Working at GM, I hear a LOT about all of the new models coming out. I'm particularly impressed with the new Bel-Air and the Solstice. The 9-3 is a beautiful car though. Would make a nice daily driver. 
Thread Starter
Registered!!
iTrader: (1)
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 2,696
Likes: 0
From: Boston, Massachusetts, US
Rep Power: 0
Quote
[hr]Originally posted by: APS
And dont forget...it's a SAAB!!! [IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-puke.gif[/IMG] I HATE SAABS[hr]
[hr]Originally posted by: APS
And dont forget...it's a SAAB!!! [IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-puke.gif[/IMG] I HATE SAABS[hr]
I remember the last time we talked Saabs...lolT-X
Thread Starter
Registered!!
iTrader: (1)
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 2,696
Likes: 0
From: Boston, Massachusetts, US
Rep Power: 0 Yeah, they're dicontinuing the Viggen badge, but the heart of the car will live in the Aero - I guess the higher ups think that the Viggen name doesn't follow the path that Saab is trying to take with the new 9-3...so the model line from base to sport will be:
LINEAR - Out in October
ARC - Out in possibly May
VECTOR - Out in possibly May
AERO - Not till the end of next summer most likely
I'll miss the triangle on the side of the car [IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif[/IMG]
LINEAR - Out in October
ARC - Out in possibly May
VECTOR - Out in possibly May
AERO - Not till the end of next summer most likely
I'll miss the triangle on the side of the car [IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif[/IMG]
Thread Starter
Registered!!
iTrader: (1)
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 2,696
Likes: 0
From: Boston, Massachusetts, US
Rep Power: 0 BTW, they gave a breakdown on how the car performed against other cars in its class - unfortunately, they didn't provide a 1/4 mile time, but the base model with 170-something HP goes 0-60 in 7.78 seconds
Registered!!
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 3,204
Likes: 0
From: Roseville, CA
Rep Power: 0 Does anyone else think that car looks like a rebadged Audi? I've always admired Saab for their originality, and it looks good, but this one seems like it should have four rings across the grill.
Thread Starter
Registered!!
iTrader: (1)
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 2,696
Likes: 0
From: Boston, Massachusetts, US
Rep Power: 0 bhayes: But of course! They did remove the window toggles to the actual doors, which is a nice change of pace...
Tasty tidbit: The reasoning behind putting the ignition there is it's more difficult to get to, and when someone gets into a front end collision, doctors usually find the key lodged in the driver's leg or knee...so for safety and protection, it was moved there [IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/IMG]
REDFOG: I was thinking the same thing too when I first saw it!
Tasty tidbit: The reasoning behind putting the ignition there is it's more difficult to get to, and when someone gets into a front end collision, doctors usually find the key lodged in the driver's leg or knee...so for safety and protection, it was moved there [IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/IMG]
REDFOG: I was thinking the same thing too when I first saw it!
Thread
Thread Starter
Honda Civic Forum
Replies
Last Post
ChrisHandHonda
10th Generation Civic 2016-2021
26
Sep 25, 2015 11:28 PM
gOtRyce
Honda Civic Racing: Drift/Drag/AutoX/Time Attack
17
Feb 3, 2005 04:39 PM
