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After a couple of days in a brand new 9-3SS Linear loaner, some subjective things I notice after six years in NG900's. Some of this is probably old hat to the board, but new for me. Just random unscientific opinions and observations, that's all.
The 9-3SS tapes to a slightly larger footprint and is a little taller, but it seems to me visually to look smaller than the NG900, even when they are side-by-side in my driveway. Especially so from the rear quarter view.
The 9-3SS inside measures a bit "roomier" on paper but it feels more cramped to me. Maybe it is the lack of the NG's tall windshield in front and long sloping rear glass.
The 9-3SS is very sure-footed at speed and handles nicely. No rattles, and not as noisy inside as my 1996 900SET but not nearly as quiet as my wife's 2002 9-5 Linear sedan. Growly, slightly tinny engine note is a change from my 900SET's baritone sports exhaust.
The manumatic is fun to play with for a while, but the shifts aren't "crisp" enough somehow. I haven't spent much time in my new 9-5 Aero for the last three weeks (long story over on 9-5 board) but IIRC, the 9-5's steering-wheel paddle shifters got me from gear to gear with a little more "snap."
The radio isn't much to write home about, and the black rubber/plastic instrument panel of the Linear is fairly stark. But it is the "base model"....
Headlight switch rotates "backwards."
The HVAC controls are not backlit so at night you have to go by feel (unless there's a dimmer I haven't found yet). Last night I thought I was turning off the A/C, but instead I turned on my seat heater.
When the driver's door is locked, the lock button isn't flush - it sticks up right where I like to put my arm when driving with the windows down (most of the time). Ouch.
MPG about 20 on 87-octane regular in my L.A. urban surface-street commute cycle; my 900SET got about 18 before I pumped it up with the Speedparts Stage II -- afterwards more like 16-17 on 91-octane California "premium."
After looking at diferent incarnations of basically same engine in all seven of our Saabs since 1982, I found the engine compartment of this one a bit disorienting.
All in all, a nice little car, but facing some tough competition in the "near-luxury" import class. That said, I hope Saab sells a milion of the little darlings.
The usual 2¢.
/Geoff
Active
'04 9-5 Aero 820 mi
'02 9-5 Linear 19k mi
'96 900SET 107k mi
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'95 900S
'88 900S
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posted by 24.205.42...
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