Two years ago I was driving a 1989 Acura Integra 5-speed with 160,000 trouble-free miles. It was the first new car I had evern owned and I loved everything about it. Then...an SUV crunched the front end of my Integra in a parking lot accident and I decided I needed a new car that was fun to drive but a little bigger to be more easily seen among all the minivans and SUVs.

I started out looking at the Honda Accord and the VW Passat. As I did more research on the Passat, though, I kept seeing it compared to the Saab 9-3. This began a month of research here at Saabnet about the 9-3 in comparison to the Passat. I ended up going with a 2000 9-3 base model with the manual transmission because I really appreciated the versatility of the hatchback (and I didn't want to get the Passat wagon).

The general trend has been that the quality of the 9-3 has improved every year. 2000 models have had fewer problems than 1999 models (on average), 2001 models fewer problems than 2000, etc. If you maintain your 9-3 properly, I would expect it to have very good reliability. And, with the deals currently in effect, you can probably get a 2002 9-3SE for less than I paid for my 2000 9-3 base model (and I got a pretty good deal at the time!).

If you love your Integra hatchback, you will love the 9-3 hatchback!

As for manual vs. automatic...the driver's footwell is a little more cramped than the Integra and I experienced my gas pedal foot scraping the wall...at first...but you quickly adapt. You just position your feet a little differently and within a few days to a week you won't even notice any problems. If you enjoy driving a 5-speed, go with it!

I also appreciate all the safety features on the 9-3. That, combined with the larger size vs. the Integra makes me feel a lot safer on the road. It feels like an Integra "all grown up". :-)

I hope this helps.

Mark

posted by 129.33.4...

• Acura to Saab? Need advice!, ELK, Mon, 4 Feb 2002 21:07:23
  • Sold my 1996 Integra GS-R for a 2001 9-3SE auto, T., Wed, 6 Feb 2002 16:30:21
  • 9-3 vs. 9-5 reliability, John A., Tue, 5 Feb 2002 18:12:36
    • Re: 9-3 vs. 9-5 reliability, ELK, Wed, 6 Feb 2002 01:04:53
      • About CR's comments on the 9-3, Mark Anderson, Wed, 6 Feb 2002 13:10:19
      • Re: 9-3 vs. 9-5 reliability, John A., Wed, 6 Feb 2002 10:42:20
  • Re: Acura to Saab? Need advice!, saabaru, Tue, 5 Feb 2002 13:57:55
  • I was in your shoes two years ago, Mark Anderson, Tue, 5 Feb 2002 12:09:39 <-- Viewing This Message
    • Where do I look for info on 9-3 problems?, ELK, Thu, 7 Feb 2002 15:38:07
    • Re: I was in your shoes two years ago, ELK, Wed, 6 Feb 2002 01:14:41
  • look at '03 CL Type S, MJM , Tue, 5 Feb 2002 09:34:29
    • OK - what is a CL type S n/m, Wayne Vincent, Wed, 6 Feb 2002 23:06:19
      • take a look here (link), MJM , Thu, 7 Feb 2002 10:15:02
  • Manual vs automatic, ELK, Tue, 5 Feb 2002 01:32:09
    • Re: Manual vs automatic, John A., Tue, 5 Feb 2002 18:20:19
    • Re: Manual vs automatic, paul de k, Tue, 5 Feb 2002 15:51:52
    • Re: Manual vs automatic, Schu, Tue, 5 Feb 2002 07:14:00
  • About that footwell, Nevin, Mon, 4 Feb 2002 22:59:16
  • Re: Well it's no Acura, but, butch, Mon, 4 Feb 2002 21:50:56
    • Almost 5 years with a 1997 900S..., Atul, Mon, 4 Feb 2002 22:02:27

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