2000 SAAB 9-3 Convertible 2.0 turbo

Summary:

Overpriced toy for the rich

Faults:

Engine started to clatter after almost not starting one morning when the temperature dipped below 10 degrees Fahrenheit. Paid $250 to my mechanic to find out that my engine is toast; 10 psi compression on cylinder #1 while 170 - 190 on all other cylinders. Optic scope shows oil in cylinder #1 and fouled plug. I have had oil problems since the high-temperature vacuum hose collapsed and split. (I replaced it with the Saab kit; $200 for the kit, $200 to have it installed.)

One of the lifters for the convertible top is leaking, the part alone costs $500.

General Comments:

I have had it with Saab... there are only three dealers in my area, two are within 10 miles, the other is 30 miles away. I have terrible experiences at both of the local dealers by over-pricing and poor service. I am getting $1000 as a trade-in and going back to a GM product. At least I can get parts at reasonable cost and have a choice of dealers.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 2nd January, 2011

12th Jan 2012, 01:38

The 2000 Saabs were GMs.

12th Jan 2012, 22:50

I am far from rich and my cars aren't toys - but I owned a 2003 Saab 9-3 Convertible for 5 years and it was a great car. BTW - It cost me $17,000 off lease in 2006 with only 30,000 miles on it. I think it was quite a deal considering what that $17,000 would have got me in a new car.

For me the Saab was the way to go, although the cowl shake was annoying - Something my much less expensive Sebring Convertible does not suffer from.

13th Jan 2012, 08:34

Here's a tip: Stop going to dealers for out of warranty work. Find a good mechanic that will do much better on parts and labor for your SAAB. Also, you should always get a second opinion if you think you are being taken on a large repair such as an engine. Do more research and see if your problem is a common one, and what others have experienced and how much they have paid. You are posting on here, so use the Internet to your advantage. I have saved a lot of money and time doing quick research online. When I had a SAAB, I joined a SAAB forum, and got many questions answered immediately when I needed to find information.

Good luck.

2000 SAAB 9-3

Summary:

Just know that you need to drop the pan and clean the trap out

Faults:

I changed the oil every 3 to 5,000 miles, and the engine seized up. Thanks for letting us know the the pan needed to be dropped. SAAB need to own up to their faulty design. I now have to put a new engine in this piece of...! Add my name to a class action law suit.

General Comments:

If you own a SAAB, know now... that every 50 - 60K miles you need to drop the pan and clean EVERYTHING out.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 26th November, 2010

25th Oct 2011, 15:28

Didn't use synthetic oil, eh? Bad idea on an engine with DOHC and a turbo.

2000 SAAB 9-3 Turbo

Summary:

Reliable car

Faults:

Having major issues with the windows, blinkers, and moon roof not working! They randomly work. I have checked the fuse box and the connection to the battery, and cannot figure out what is going on. Anyone have any advice/tricks towards this issue?! Thank you.

General Comments:

Great car!! No problems until now.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know

Review Date: 13th October, 2010

2000 SAAB 9-3 Base 2.0 turbo

Summary:

If you have a thick wallet, by all means buy a Saab

Faults:

I've only have had the car for just above 15,000 miles, and purchased it late August 2008 and I've had more problems with this thing than I would even imagine. Alright, I know it's a fairly high mileage car, but for being now 9 years old, 135K isn't all that bad. Here's a list from what I can remember having been replaced aside from basic maintenance.

- Clutch, flywheel, pilot bearing

- Rear main oil seal

- Oil pan gasket

- Oil drain plug

- Driver side axle (CV boot went and it's easier just to replace the whole axle)

- Both lower control arms

- Both tie rod ends

- Fuel filter

- Clutch slave cylinder

- SID message screen... started to become pixelated and not displaying anything correctly

- Driver seat belt bucket needs to be jimmyed a little bit... it doesn't like to let go of the bucket to let me out

- The reverse gear grinds sometimes when I put it into that gear (manual trans)

General Comments:

The car has a lot of features and everything is powered! Power windows, mirrors, seats, sunroof, etc.

I just with the repair costs weren't so high. I'm a college student and I need something reliable that won't cost me my entire weeks paycheck to fix.

I get pretty good gas mileage of about 28-29 mpg highway, and about 25-26 city with the manual transmission and the low pressure turbo. The turbo actually has quite a bit of kick, but I think it's starting to wear out (go figure).

I've kept up with Audis and BMWs and other performance-like cars with this hatchback. I don't race but like to have fun.

If you have a thick wallet, by all means buy a Saab, but if you want something more reliable that's fairly easy to maintain (oil and filter changes every 3K get very, very annoying especially when you have to buy fully synthetic oil), get an American or Japanese and stay away from European.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 30th June, 2009

1st Jul 2009, 19:20

15,000 miles and burned up a clutch - been around Saabs 25 years as a tech - sounds like very hard driving to me.

25th Dec 2011, 10:01

"I'm a college student and I need something reliable that won't cost me my entire weeks paycheck to fix."

If you're a college student, the best car to have is a bicycle or public transit. But failing that, any Euro car, except maybe a Golf/Jetta diesel, is not for you.

If you absolutely must have a car, you're better off with something basic like a used Toyota Echo.

And I'm saying that as an owner of a Saab. A used Saab is what you get when you are done school, actually have some money and want to drive something interesting.