Well finally took delivery a week ago. Reluctant to post, bmw posts seem to cause friction. Anyway from a guy who has had both recently. I can make the following observations. THose who disagree with my observations, I strongly recommend going to your local bmw dealer and see for yourself

Comfort & Ride: bmw seems to have more room for the DRIVER, and the ride is much smoother and compliant. (80mph seems like 40mph)

Handling: 9-3 base handles very good, 325i with DSC handles GREAT, no body roll or torque steer.

Braking: Both very good, slight edge again to BMW.

Value: saab gives you more for your money, but not every decision is based on value.

Refinement: Big advantage for BMW, car is sooo well made. the switches, interior lighting, quality much better than 9-3.

0-60: although i did not time either car, too close to call. But 325i has a much flatter tourque curve, accelerates much smoother and no turbo lag(although turbo lag was well controlled on 9-3)think 325i could be slightly faster.

Engine: 9-3 has a nice engine. 325i is amazingly smooth and silky. I6 is sooo smooth, even better than Maxima's 3.0 / Engine & exhust have that throaty sound, I hated that my 9-3 made less noise than an electric golf cart.

Saftey: I don't want to hear about real world, many crazy bmw drivers effect that number. THis car was rated much higher by IIHS(i know their results are not valid)

the 9-3 is very good car, the 325i seems to do everything just a little better and more refined. there is a reason you pay so much for these cars. no knock on saab, i would take a 9-3SE over most any Japanese car, or Audi. No shame losing to a 3-series.

• my '00 9-3 base v. my '01 325i(no flames), chris g, Fri, 10 Nov 2000 11:29:53 <-- Viewing This Message
  • chris g, I hope this doesn't stop you from posting..., Richard P., Fri, 17 Nov 2000 11:10:39
    • Richard P. (more), chris g., Fri, 17 Nov 2000 11:24:53
      • Agree with Richard, Seamus, Fri, 17 Nov 2000 12:44:07
  • my 93 SE vs my co-workers 325, Dave, Thu, 16 Nov 2000 15:38:06
    • Re: my 93 SE vs my co-workers 325, david hanley, Tue, 21 Nov 2000 12:32:51
    • You're right the Saab is faster...., AdamB , Thu, 16 Nov 2000 22:21:37
      • Re: You're right the Saab is faster...., David Hanley, Tue, 21 Nov 2000 13:06:33
      • 325i / 184HP - i guess if the 9-3 is 1/10th a second ..., chris g., Fri, 17 Nov 2000 08:29:39
        • Re: 325i / 184HP - i guess if the 9-3 is 1/10th a second ..., Dan Wyman, Fri, 17 Nov 2000 11:43:49
        • Now hold on there, Chris....., Seamus, Fri, 17 Nov 2000 10:23:39
        • If you read my post, instead of getting defensive, AdamB , Fri, 17 Nov 2000 09:21:20
          • now let me clairify, chris g., Fri, 17 Nov 2000 09:52:39
      • Maybe...maybe not...., Seamus, Fri, 17 Nov 2000 08:18:26
        • Elevation is of no consequence, Karl , Sun, 26 Nov 2000 08:23:32
  • Re: my '00 9-3 base v. my '01 325i(no flames), bill, Tue, 14 Nov 2000 06:13:32
  • yeah but,, Brian, Mon, 13 Nov 2000 21:19:27
  • Re: my '00 9-3 base v. my '01 325i(no flames), Seamus, Mon, 13 Nov 2000 09:10:18
  • Re: my '00 9-3 base v. my '01 325i(no flames), Dan Wyman, Sun, 12 Nov 2000 23:01:31
  • Forgot one thing...., Pieter M. Kuipers, Sat, 11 Nov 2000 05:05:29
  • good info! did you get the Sport package? n/m, MJM , Fri, 10 Nov 2000 13:02:49
    • This is still a SAAB site, right?, Wylde1, Fri, 10 Nov 2000 15:07:43
      • SAAB owners can recognize all good cars..., Richard P., Mon, 13 Nov 2000 08:27:19
      • other posters asked me to do a write -up when(more), chris g., Fri, 10 Nov 2000 15:49:36
        • Re: other posters asked me to do a write -up when(more), Jeff La Fleur, Wed, 15 Nov 2000 16:28:32
        • I agree completely n/m, MJM , Fri, 10 Nov 2000 17:01:07
        • Re: other posters asked me to do a write -up when(more), ricardo s., Fri, 10 Nov 2000 16:17:49
          • Re: other posters asked me to do a write -up when(more), Roger in CA, Fri, 10 Nov 2000 22:45:05
        • Re: other posters asked me to do a write -up when(more), Wylde1, Fri, 10 Nov 2000 16:12:51
  • Good post...you made your choice..., Richard P., Fri, 10 Nov 2000 12:56:25
    • steptronic /no sports package(more), chris g, Fri, 10 Nov 2000 14:21:11
      • Sorry about the 323/325 thing, but..., Richard P., Mon, 13 Nov 2000 08:30:58
      • Re: steptronic /no sports package(more), Andrew , Sat, 11 Nov 2000 12:16:46
  • "No shame losing to 3-series" maybe, but a 325? I'd need a 330!nm, LDH, Fri, 10 Nov 2000 12:14:34

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