Saab 9-3 2.2 TiD

...(Try saying that quickly)
SAAB 9-3 2.2 TiD 5DR

As you probably have guessed, this op centres on the latter, and after a test drive, a detailed briefing and several figures later, I am ready to indulge you with this op. Enjoy...

THE CO2 TAX LAWS

Before I start, I'd better just run down the meaning of these ominous sounding new tax laws bearing down on us in April.

When cars are launched ...
...but for around 40 years, Saab have been pulling the Swedish economy along as well. Saab burst onto the motoring - and the motorsport - scene in the 60's. Their 62000 dominated rallying in the mid-60's and things went from there. No longer a sporting manufacturer, Saab ahve grown from strength with a very small range. The distinctive 900 was soon launched as was the 9000 saloon. In the 90's, Saab launched the much improved 9-5, which was built in ... more

I have written this op, to try and win that £7 on the car competition. Time for some grovelling. Ciao, your my best friend... (sorry, about that, I won't do it any more!)

At the age of 15, I am a couple of years off going out with my (little) cash and trying to buy a car. So I've just got to put up with helping my Dad with his choice of new car, so here is the first of possibly 3 new car ops. Once again, don't be deterred by my age, because this op is all mine apart from the driving pint of view.

A couple of weeks ago, we got the list for our next company car. With the new tax laws (as I'll explain later), we have been forced to get a diesel model. And my Dad detestes diesels to the point of murder! So it is highly important that he gets a good one. The list was interesting, since there were very few diesels. That limited us to about 5 cars but 2, the Ford Mondeo and Vauxhall Vectra were struck off quickly. That left us just 3 cars. The...

VW PASSAT 1.9TDI 100 ESTATE
RENAULT LAGUNA II 1.9dCI PRIVILEGE SPORTS TOURER (Try saying that quickly)
SAAB 9-3 2.2 TiD 5DR

As you probably have guessed, this op centres on the latter, and after a test drive, a detailed briefing and several figures later, I am ready to indulge you with this op. Enjoy...

THE CO2 TAX LAWS

Before I start, I'd better just run down the meaning of these ominous sounding new tax laws bearing down on us in April.

When cars are launched they will be subject to a Carbon Dioxide emissions rating, which then gives them a percentage that puts them in a group. This is a fixed tax rate that company car drivers pay. But the less economical the car is, the higher the group, the higher the tax (hence the diesel). But the big problem, which has outraged drivers is that the more driving you do, the more you pay. This is a nightmare for us as my Dad does around 60,000 miles a year. The government wants us to do less than 14,000 miles. See the problem yet?

The government insist it's to get us out and use public transport or walk. Okay then, we'll walk down the M25, to London from Suffolk, or go by train and get their 3 days later. How can we use a public transport system which is as reliable as Britain winning the World Cup. But I'll calm down and get on with the op...

THE BACKGROUND OF SAAB

Think of Swedish car manufacturers and of course Volvo will spring to mind, but for around 40 years, Saab have been pulling the Swedish economy along as well. Saab burst onto the motoring - and the motorsport - scene in the 60's. Their 62000 dominated rallying in the mid-60's and things went from there. No longer a sporting manufacturer, Saab ahve grown from strength with a very small range. The distinctive 900 was soon launched as was the 9000 saloon. In the 90's, Saab launched the much improved 9-5, which was built in conjunction with new parents GM (General motors, which includes several US manufacturers plus Vauxhall, Saab and soon Daewoo) and then came the 9-3, which I will describe now...

EXTERIOR

Despite being the oldest in it's class - at 5 years old - line the 9-3 up against it's BMW, Audi and Lexus rivals and it's lack of a saloon makes the Swedish car stand out. The coupe roofline, belies it's huge interior (read on) and it also looks clean and neat, if now dating. A quick nip and tuck last year, meant new bumpers and revised steel wheels for this version. The tradmark Saab grille domintes the front end and then leads into a stubby rear end, which can get an optional spoiler.

INTERIOR AND COMFORT

Slide inside the 9-3 and people familiar with Saab's will recognise the rather quirky facia. The big plastic 'slab' is now rather dated, however distinctive it is. The air-craft style switches - thanks to Saab's aero experiance - are like nothing in the class and each are very good quality and passes the 'Solex knock-knock test'. Comfort too is first rate. Stepping from the VW Passat we have at the moment and into the 9-3 and the differences are obvious. Whether it's the optional leather that was equipped or, not, I was nothing but comfortable.

ON THE ROAD

(After probing into my Dad, I have prepared this)

I sat up in the front and in the behind and again, I was very comfortable and the soft suspension meant a brilliant ride too, which is brilliant over those bumps on the motorway. However, the soft set-up does take it's toll on the 9-3's handling. Although I wasn't driving, I could feel the 9-3 lean into the corners and tended to wobble when coming out of roundabouts. Ironically, my Dad just backs this up, thinking his stiffer VW Passat was more stable than the Saab.

PERFORMANCE, ECONOMY AND REFINEMENT

My Dad can't stand diesels. He thinks they are noisy, dirty and unrefined disasters of technology, so he turned the ignition wearily. To his - and my - surprise, there was little grumble from under the bonnet and little noise was projected into the cabin. Even though it was cold and hadn't been started for a few hours, the engine was very refined. The 2.2 TiD unit was introduced last year, as part of a new range of 'revolutinary' new Saab diesels. Plenty of money has paid off and my Dad was extremely surprised by the 9-3's accomplishement on the go. In figures, the 9-3 returns a healthy 45.6mpg, which is highly respectable. In performance terms, the 125bhp 9-3 will breeze to 60mph in 10.1 seconds and carry onto 124mph. More importantly though, the TiD has a CO2 figure of 164co2. Which, i believe, is very good for a car of that size.

Why not compare them...

SAAB 9-3 2.2TiD 5DR

125bhp
124mph
45.6mpg
164Co2

RENAULT LAGUNA II 1.9dCI PRIVILEGE SPORTS TOURER

120bhp
122mph
50.4mpg
149Co2

VW PASSAT 1.9 TDI PD 100 SE

100bhp
114mph
49.6mpg
154Co2

PRICES AND EQUIPMENT

It's hard to compare this 9-3. The other models we are considering are estates and so add on an extra £1000 or so. But compared to rivals such as the BMW 3-Series and the Mercades C-Class, the 9-3's German rivals look grossly overproced. At £17.320 for the 9-3 2.2TiD 5dr, the Saab isn't very cheap, but it does get a host of kit including...

AIR CONDITIONING
DRIVERS AIRBAG
PASSENGER AIRBAG
SIDE AIRBAGS
ABS (Anti-lock Brake System)
EBD (Electronic Brake Distribution)
A SINGLE CD PLAYER
ELECTRIC WINDOWS (FRONT AND REAR)
ELECTRIC MIRRORS
ALARM
IMMOBILISER
DEADLOCKS
REMOTE CENTRAL LOCKING
TWO-WAY ADJUSTABLE STEERING

ALLOY WHEELS (£895)
LEATHER UPHOLSTRY (£750)
ELECTRIC SUNROOF (830)

SAFETY AND SECURITY

As you can read from the above, the Saab 9-3 gets a wealth of safety and security kit. But does it all work in practice. Well, judging from it's 4 out of 5 rating for the compulsary NCAP Crash tests, the 9-3 should protect very well in the unfortunate event of a crash. Another unique feature the Saab features is it's 'anti-whiplash head restraint'. Although Volvo snatched the idea, Saab spent plenty of money pioneering it and so should go down as creating it. In the event of a front or backward smash, the head restraint moves up and over the head, to protect the head and back and the seatbelts hold you in place. It's more complicated than it sounds, but we'll leave that to them. Don't want your car to go walkabouts with a stranger, well Saab have equipped a quirky but innovative ignition system. Located by the gearstick, when you take the key out, it locks and so cannot e moved without the key combination. But if the system is overun, the gearstick is locked into reverse and it can't be moved without dismantlling the whole engine. So if you see a Saab going backwards down the road, expect a thief to be in the driving seat.

PRACTICALITY

This is the only car we looked at that wasn't an estate and to be honest, it doesn't matter. Open the boot and you'll be faced a dark abyss, the dealer called the boot. A huge opening and large load area gives a huge estate rivalling 493litres of boot space. Head and legroom in the front and rear were nothing short of excellent too.

THE SERVICE

Our local Saab dealer is 'Turners Saab' and me and my Dad came out of the dealership beaming thanks to the exceptional staff. We weren't pounched on like prey, but we're offered. They were very helpful in showing us the right car and when they hadn't got the exact car, they went off and really tried to find one. We were given in-depth information by the salesperson and he didn't try to sell the car off as perfect, saying it can be a little gruff and that it's not estate practicality. plus he also mentioned a new 9-3 coming out soon, whereas other dealers wouldn't even hint it. My Dad is chatty and the sales person was obliged to answer all questions and he was always kind and very helpful. Brilliant. I was also pleased with how the dealer spoke to me and congratulated me on my car knowledge and not ignore me like some dealers tend to do (maybe they can't face having less knowledge than a 15 year-old!)

OWNING

Of course we don't know wha it's like to own a Saab, but we know several people who have them and they have had absolutley no problems whatsoever. And Saab's record in exemplary and that shouldn't change in time. Depreciation is also very good. Expect this model to loose around 41% of it's value in the first 3 years. Although less than the VW, it's more than the Renault.

THE FUTURE FOR SAAB

The future for Saab is very rosy. Their partnership with GM is starting to bear fruit, as a new 9-3 is set to be launched later in the year. The new saloon, replacing the hatchback, will be the first in a line of 9 new models in the next 5 years. The 9-3 though is to get a saloon, cabrio, coupe and for the first time an estate and a 4x4. Built on the Epsilon platform which car journalists are raving about on the forthcoming Vauxhall Vectra, the smaller chassis and stiffer suspension should ensure a much better drive. An MPV and large 4x4 is set to be lauched too, meaning a busy - but exciting - few years for Saab.

EXTERIOR * * *
INTERIOR * * *
COMFORT * * * *
QUALITY * * * *
RIDE * * * *
HANDLING * *
PERFORMANCE * * * *
ECONOMY * * * *
REFINEMENT * * * *
PRICE * * * *
EQUIPMENT * * * *
SAFETY * * * *
SECURITY * * * *
PRACTICALITY * * * * *
DEALERSHIP * * * * *

OTHER RIVALS

But what about other cars in the £14,000 - £18,000 price bracket? Here are some other cars that may appear on your company car list or you might just be interested in...

SEAT LEON/TOLEDO 1.9TDI SE - £14,650/£15,450

Two of the most underrated cars around, the Toledo isn't as popular as it's smaller sibling. Both have Spanish brio and are excellent value with the Toledo getting climate control, 4 airbags, ABS and a CD Autochanger. Built on the VW Golf platform it's a good drive, it's cheap and reliable

TOYOTA AVENSIS 2.0 D4-D VERMONT - £14,470

Nothing will gowrong with this car and the Toyota diesel is very powerful yet economical. The budget Vermont gets a CD Player, Climate Control and alloy wheels.

CITROEN C5 2.0 HDI 110 LX ESTATE - £17,050

Argrably the best estate at the moment, the C5 estate is carnarvous, clever and the award-winning diesel is a stonker.

OVERALL * * * *

Overall, the Saab 9-3 is not the best drivers car and cracks are widening in it's format. But discounting the drive, the engine is brilliant, it's comfortable, very practical and the dealership was exceptional. A very underrated machine.

Thanks for reading. Hope you haven't dropped off. Don't worry it's over now. Leave a comment as they are always read and appreciated...

SOLEX/OLLIE

P.S If there are any car jobs going, here is a very eager 15 year-old wanting to get into journalism and cars. 

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