Road Test: Saab 9-3 Convertible

By Feann Torr - 13/9/05

When it comes to convertible cars, Saab has a pedigree envied by many. For nearly 20 years the Scandinavian car maker has been pumping out four-wheeled drop tops, beginning with the Saab 900 Convertible in 1986.

Twenty years is plenty of time with which to hone ones skills in the art of dropping tops and reinforcing sub structures, and together with the brand's unique appeal, the Saab convertible doesn't look like disappearing any time soon.

And if you believe Saab's public relations department, something like every third buyer of a convertible in the premium segment in Europe opts for a Saab 9-3 Convertible; it's reputation for building reliable convertibles is almost unparalleled in the automotive world.

With an aeronautical background that spans back to 1938, Saab has always been a viewed as a rather quirky automaker, and the success that Saab's convertible, and indeed the 9-3 Convertible, could be linked to this quirkiness. Want to stand out as a lateral thinker? Buy a Saab.

These 'quirks' are now quite special in the automotive world, where the majority of cars are becoming more and more homogeneous. The visual style of a Saab is unlike almost any other vehicle out there, and features like the 'lights-out' dashboard for night driving are unusually cool.

Even with General Motors as its new master, Saab has managed to retain the essence of 'quirk' in its cars and this helps deliver an interesting motoring experience. Allow me to explain:

The Saab 9-3 Linear Convertible is powered by a turbocharged 4-cylinder engine that outputs 110kW of power for 'relaxed' driving

Saab 2.0-litre L4 The fuel injected inline 4-cylinder engine has a 2.0-litre (1988cc) capacity and both cylinder heads and the engine block are made from aluminium alloys, which keeps weight down. It also makes use of a small turbocharger and an air-to-air intercooler. Chain-driven dual overhead camshafts actuate 4-valves per cylinder and a compression ratio of 9.5:1 allows 91 octane petrol to be used, which fills a generous 62 litre fuel tank. Max Power: 110kW @ 5500rpm Max Torque: 240Nm @ 2000rpm Max Speed: 200km/h 0-100km/h: 11.5 seconds

Slot the key into the non-regulation ignition barrel located on the transmission tunnel - have I used the word 'quirk' yet? - and the entry-level Saab Linear purrs into life very quietly indeed.

The 9-3 Linear Convertible is the entry-level rag top from the Swedish automaker and costs $66,900. We tested it with the Luxury Pack (remote anti-theft alarm, power front seats, 6-disc CD player, proximity parking sensors) and an automatic gearbox, which add $4,000 and $2,500 respectively, taking the grand total to $73,400.

It comes with a 2.0-litre (Saab calls it a 1.8t) turbocharged 4-cylinder engine that delivers 110kW of power in a very relaxed fashion. I suppose that's a syrupy way of saying it lacks power, but the truth of the matter is that the Saab Convertible is quite nice to drive at cruising speeds, just taking in the envious glances of passers-by and other road users.

Saab's 5-speed automatic transmission is very smooth, if somewhat slow, in its shift behaviour. And forget about using the tiptronic mode - it's too slow to be of any sporting use.

Though I'm very much of the opinion that most new cars can do with more grunt, I was strangely happy with the power on offer - it seemed to suit the car's character quite well.

It doesn't rev particularly quickly, but the turbocharger ensures there's ample torque available low in the rev range. It requires stuff-all revs to get going and confirms the 9-3 Linear's status as a pure cruiser, rather than a high-speed troublemaker.

The 155kW 2.0-litre high-pressure turbo 'Aero' version would be quite a hoot, to be sure, but for most drivers the 1.8-litre engine will be more than enough to enjoy top down motoring, and another boon is that it can deliver highly efficient fuel consumption if you drive it deftly.

Beyond a few less than impressive interior appointments - the cup holder is technically cool but terribly flimsy - the car has been thoughtfully designed and is very easy to use as well.

When most new cars are aiming for a wholly modern take on interior design, the designers at Saab seem to have gone "bugger it - let's stick with what works." And you know what? It does work quite well, and manages to create a unique place to spend your driving time. A bit old school, sure, but it all works and you won't have to refer to the owners manual to figure out all the controls and variables.

Things likes the old school treble/bass/fade controls that recess into the centre console when not in use hark back to days of motoring past, as do the appreciably plush cowhide seats, and together with modern appointments such as the steering wheel controls and aids like rain sensing windscreen wipers and cornering brake control, the combination of old and new makes for a distinct and intuitive driving feel.

Saab's 9-3 Linear Convertible combines the freedom of open air motoring with a lovely leather interior to impressive effect

I didn't interpret the 'fighter pilot' feel that some people talk about when describing the interior of a Saab, though I will say it's very functional.

The 7-speaker stereo is quite powerful and manages to keep its clarity even as the wind is whistling when the roof 's down; but I didn't get that aircraft cabin feel about the interior (even with the classy Top Gun soundtrack pumping away in the background) - simply a sense of calm and tranquility, which are conducive to safe driving.

As one of the few cloth-topped vehicles we've punted at the Motoring Channel, I was quite impressed with the way that the cloth roof goes about its business. It seals very well for a fully automated system, never missing a beat, and was capable of keeping all but the most inclement of weather at bay.

From hitting the roof actuate button - the open/closing takes about 20 seconds - to the way that the twin layers of cloth keep wind noise down, it is clear that Saab has spent lots of cash on refining its folding roof system.

The driving experience in the Saab 9-3 Convertible is best described as pleasant. It's a very smooth and quiet car, and makes an obvious alternative to mid-sized drop tops from companies like Mercedes, Volvo and Audi.

All Saabs in the 9-3 series feature the ReAxs system, a passive rear-wheel steering system that helps reduce understeer (all Saab 9-3s are front wheel drive). It's hard to tell if this doodad actually does anything, but the 9-3 Convertible did have fairly neutral handling when compared to other 100kW+ front wheel drivers we've tested. For a vehicle without a roof to increase rigidity, it was quite balanced.

Though the car can be thrown into corners of increasing radii without too much forethought, it's not the sharpest cornering tool. It doesn't mind loading up the suspension as you tip it into a corner at speed, able to hold a decent enough line through a corner, but the 16-inch front wheels will protest without too much provocation, and quick changes in direction don't go down well. If you have passengers who are over-anxious or easily scared, be prepared for an ear bashing.

The Saab 9-3 Convertible is a lot more versatile than you'd think,

Saab's entry-level convertible is much more at home cruising through the hinterlands, on slowly winding country roads (especially with the top down) and makes a very good city/commuter car too, as the shock absorbers' damping rates ensure that the ride is always supple, much like the brilliantly cushioned front seats.

For its size, the 9-3 Convertible does a good job of supplying occupants with enough room to be comfortable during long drives.

The front seats can be articulated to provide heaps of room for larger passengers, and I must say that the two bucket seats reserved for rear seat passengers were quite impressive to boot.

I was half-expecting a bench seat with barely enough room for the pets, but Saab has somehow managed to open up quite a bit of room in the rear, enough for me to declare this car as large enough for four 'fully-grown' adults. You can squeeze five people in the Saab, but it can become a bit tight in the back.

The wind can also be rather meddlesome for rear seat passengers, but up front the reinforced windscreen and side windows do an exemplary job of keeping things nice and calm.

The two front seats, as mentioned, are wonderfully plush and are, at least cosmetically, very similar to the pews found in Saab's dating back by almost twenty years, which is a nice touch - it's good to see that GM hasn't totally assimilated the Scandinavian company's individuality.

The heated seat option is a godsend when things get a bit cold, and though rear seat passengers will have to warm their bums manually (ahem), the rear seats are almost as comfy as the front seats, which is quite something.

Like any good Scandinavian automaker, Saab is quite fastidious about its safety systems, and beyond the usual (but still very welcome) active head restraints, ABS and cornering brake control there's also the DynaCage system, which kicks into action when you roll the car (something we didn't test, thankfully...).

This roll over protection combines the reinforced windscreen frame with a pair of instantly deploying roll hoops, concealed behind the rear seat head rests.

It's a nice-looking motor too. The new take on the 9-3 may be slightly more restrained than Saab's of yore, but it is still intrinsically a Saab from almost every angle, and hasn't lost too much of its - how do you say? - quirkiness.

The traditional tri-segment Saab grille features prominently and casts a striking gaze, and the new look headlights combine well to result in a very European visage. Sixteen inch alloys fill the wheel arches nicely and the rear, too, is quite appealing. Though I'm no huge fan of soft-top convertibles with their roofs up (they almost always look better with their tops off), the 9-3 doesn't look too gawky with its roof on. Put that down to 20-odd years of design if you like.

Overall: 3.5/5

When General Motors took over the Swedish brand in 1999, the many Saab faithful were worried that it would pump the quirkiness out of the brand, but it has retained its identity, and the 9-3 Convertible is comfortably different. In a good way.

GM has been clever in using the Saab brand as a test bed for advanced technologies - today, you cannot buy a Saab without a turbocharged engine, and the ReAxs passive rear wheel steering is another item of interest.

The entry-level Saab drop top has a good safety complement, a willing engine and above all offers drivers an altogether smooth experience - from the way it handles, to the way it shifts gears and even to the way the roof opens and closes.

In terms of the car being a combination of highly engineered elements, the 9-3 Linear Convertible proved to be a well constructed machine, conveying a sense of solidity and refinement to not only the driver, but also the passengers too. It's got a safe feeling about it too, even with the top down and stereo pumping out obnoxious music.

Though the price may look a little steep at first glance, and you won't fit much in the boot, it compares well to its German rivals while offering above average levels of interior space for four adults. It's quite clear that Saab has had an extended innings in the convertible business and the 9-3 is quite impressive.

Oh, and it's a little quirky too - that's got to count for something.