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Hi All!
Here is the full review I promised of my new 2001 9-3 SE. Much of this will be familiar to the other SAAB owners, but maybe this will be helpful for those considering a SAAB for the first time. I should mention that we had leased a ’99 S that is my wife’s car, which we both love. I finished a lease on a ’98 Intrepid SE (my 2nd intrepid lease) which I loved also.
The Car:
2001 9-3 SE 5dr 5spd Laser Red
Exterior:
The new Laser Red color is quite striking, in the week I’ve had the car, it has turned many heads on the road. The paint is nicely done and looks to be of high quality. The new body trim on the SE is simply fabulous. The car looks very classy while also looking very aggressive. Very nice work.
Interior:
The leather seats, Steering wheel and Shift knob and boot, are very pleasing to the eye and the touch. I got the Gray interior and it looks very elegant. The seats are supportive without being overly hard, but they are firm. I have not been on a long drive yet, but they seem well suited for long distance travel. Some could say with good reason that they could use a little more side bolstering. For my type of spirited driving they are fine the way they are. But a little more bolstering would not be a bad thing.
The wood trim in the SE is only around the center portion of the dash where the main instrument cluster is located. That is fine and adds a touch of elegance. But frankly if it wasn’t there, the interior would still be very nice. The switches and controls all have a nice solid feel to them, are easy to identify, locate and operate. The controls on the steering wheel for the audio controls are a very nice and certainly help keep your attention focused on the road. The stereo with single CD player has very good sound quality and as someone who loves to jam tunes with the sunroof open, I am very satisfied. I would suspect that some true audiophiles might look to do a few upgrades, but for the vast majority, the system is more than good.
Driving!!!!
Well, to all the SAAB owners, this will not be news, but……this thing is sweet! First of all the car feels very solid and well screwed together. My wife’s S with 20k feels like the day we got it. I expect this to be the same for my SE. The turbo power and the smooth linear acceleration we all love in our SAAB’s is as present as ever. This car is easily driven in any condition. Want to tool around with the wife and kids? No problem, very easy to drive like any generic car on the road. Want to have some fun on the on ramps and interstate? Now your talking. The powerplant has lots of torque pull all through the rev band. Need to do a little point and squirt driving on your commute home? Again, excellent responsiveness and very strong acceleration. Power is not a problem. And the difference is noticeable between the S and the SE. Not huge, but noticeable. And appreciated!
The SE has a stiffer suspension than the S, and it is noticeable. But that’s a good thing! The setup is much sportier without being much harsher. You do notice things a little more in the SE, but if you are looking for a drivers car and not just a commuter vehicle, the SE suspension is right on the money. For those that REALLY need a tight suspension, this board has many discussions regarding that. Again, for most people, even those who like spirited driving, the SE suspension is very firm without disturbing the elegance of the car.
The clutch is actually quite a surprise. It was the first thing that jumped out at me when I drove the car for the first time. It feels like a Honda clutch! What I mean is, while my wife’s ’99 S has a nice clutch feel, this is VERY light but it is still clear where your gears engage. Hers now feels a little heavy where before it felt perfect. The clutch pressure is excellent. As for the shifter, it feels great and the gears engage smoothly and with confidence.
I also wanted to mention that I got the optional SAAB Sport Exhaust. I was a little hesitant at first, but I am really glad I had it installed. At highway speeds or just cruising you hardly notice it, if at all. But when you get on it a little it gives the car a nice throaty exhaust sound. In no way is it like those souped up rice burners. It befits the type of car this is. Classy, yet sporty. Very glad I decided to get this.
And lastly, the tires that came on my car were Pirelli P6000 Sport Veloce. I have not had a chance to drive them in the rain yet, but in the dry they seem to be a very adequate tire. I will certainly put something a little more high performance when I need to, but I do not think I will be displeased with the tires the way I am with the Michelin MXV4’s that came on my wife’s S. The headlights on the ’01 SE are also noticably brighter than the set on my wife’s S. Very please with the brightness and overall light pattern of the SE.
Well that’s about it. Looks great, sounds great and drives great. Damn good deal too. Hope some of you found this of some interest.
Go SAAB,
Steven
’99 9-3 S 5dr 5spd Dark Green
’01 9-3 SE 5dr 5spd Laser Red
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