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2002 versus 2006 SAAB-9-3

Index of Other Reviews

2002 SAAB 9-3 SE

2002 9-3 SE

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

We just got a second 2006 Saab. The differences are obvious with the two side by side in our garage.

Seats
Leather, with a little cloth for ventilation
Vinyl, with a little leather for sales appeal. Called "leather appointed" in the brochures, meaning a couple of panels are leather but the majority are vinyl.
Door Covering
Leather
Vinyl
Fog Lights
Yes, Belgian Valeo, 55W H1*
None
Headlight Washers
Yes
No
Headlight Lenses
Glass. 2-3/4 pounds each. Won't yellow. Plastic. Will get cloudy and yellow if left parked outside.
Trim
Real Burled Walnut
Fake plastic wood.
Headrests
Leather
Vinyl
Rear Center Armrest
Leather
Vinyl
ESP
No
Yes
Automatic Climate Control
No (was optional)
Yes
Wheel Style
5-spoke
Split 5-spoke: twice as hard to wax.
Wheel Size
6.5 x 16." Maximum: 17" 49 mm ofset 6.5 x 16 (ALU 57)
Tires
205/55R16 91V
215/55R165
Engine
205HP 121CID, 1,985 cc. DOHC 16 Valve Turbo , two babance shafts
210HP 1998cc 121 CID DOHC 16 Valve Turbo
Engine made in
Södertälje, Sweden 59.2ºN 17.6ºE Germany
Fuel
Premium. 92 - 93 AON (AKI) suggested, 87 minimum.
Premium, 90 AON (AKI)
Fuel Tank
17.0 gallon. Reserve lights at 2.5 g. 16.5 gallon
Transmission
4-speed auto
5-speed auto
Transmission modes**
Normal, Sport, Winter
Normal, Fake Manual
Tools
4-size Torx driver, jack, lug wrench
?
Headlights
Traditional H4 55/60W
Refractive low beam ("projector"), reflective high beam.
Low beams stay on with high beams
No
Yes, separate bulbs and lamp assemblies
Weather Band Radio
Yes
No
Radio Antenna
Motorized Whip, great reception.
Intenerated with rear window. Poor reception.
OnStar
Yes
No
Drive Wheels
Front
Front
Dashboard Font
DIN-esque, remeniscent of an aircraft. Well done.
Cross between a bastardized Windows font and Frutiger. A bit sloppy
Gauge colors, night
Green numbers and divisions, orange pointers. Black background.
Green numbers and divisions, purplish-white pointers. Black background.
Gauge colors, day
White numbers and delineations, orange pointers, yellow and red warning zones. Black background
White everything. Black background.
Does rain get on side windows?
No. Well designed windshield gutters direct water up to roof.
Just a little along the top and a little blow-by from the side mirrors.
Turbo Gauge Colors
White vacuum, yellow boost, red overboost.
White vacuum and boost (no delineation at atmospheric), red overboost.
Looks like
A SAAB
A GM Rental Car
Spare Tire
Donut, T115/70R16, 60 PSI, 50 MPH Max., 2,000 miles life. Continental. Made in Germany.
Donut: T125/85R16, 60 PSI, 50MPH max. Pirelli. Made in Taiwan.
Spare Wheel
4.0 x 16," steel 43t  
Parking Brake
Traditional lever. Release button on end.
Lever. Release button on bottom.
Trailer Towing with brakes
3,500 lbs up 7% grade at 86ºF, unlimited time. 2000 pounds at 104ºF ambient up 7% grade, unlimited time. 1,890 lbs up a 15% grade at 86ºF, for 15 minutes. 62 MPH max.
2000 pounds maximum
Roof Load
220 lbs.
220 lbs.
Fording Depth, Water
11" at idle speeds
Hood
Steel
Aluminum
Hood Lifts
one pressurized cylinder, finger lift
two pressurized cylinders, finger lift
To Close Hood
Drop from 8" (20 cm), don't slam.
Lug Nut Torque
80 ft-lbs (110 Nm)
Battery
60 Ah  
Alternator
130 A
Starter
1.4 kW  
Maxiumum Suspension travel
6.4" front, , 8.3" rear  
Made in
Trolhattan, Sweden. 58.28ºN 12.30º E weather forecast Trolhattan, Sweden. 58.28ºN 12.30º E weather forecast
Wipers
two 20.5" front, one 20" rear. Two, front only
Spark Plug Cleaning
Automatic at engine turn-off (p. 148 of instructions)  
MSRP
$30,295 in 2002 ($33,308 in 2006 dollars) $28,520 in 2006
Windshield Washer Nozzles
4 (two double squirters) 6 (three double squirters)
Headliner
Fuzz Nice Fabric
Idle Speed
900 RPM 900 and 700 RPM
Direct Lock-up
All gears except 1st and 2nd All gears except 1st and 2nd
Luggage
21.7 CF; 15 CF
   
   
   

** Sport Mode: the throttle is electronic, and it's programmed to open more at each position of the accelerator than at the Normal position.

Winter Mode: third-gear start.

Fake Manual mode: Idiotic ability to jerk around the gear selection. It still does what it wants shiftinng gears if it dislikes youre selection and it still shifts with a torque converter, not a clutch.

* RH Fog light: 55W H1 Valeo Belgium, marked 5333802, SAAB 640 RH, 58810 08/01/02, 67720863, 0073

 

2002 9.3 SE
2006 9-3 2.0T
Length
182.3"  
Width
   
including mirrors
76.2"  
Height
56.2"  
Ground Clearance, Maximum weight
3.9"  
Turning circle, curb
34.4'

35.4'

Turning circle, alley
36.4'  
Trunk
47" x 37" x 21" W x D x H. 69" deep if seats folded, 103" deep to dashboard. 47" x 37" x 21" W x D x H.
Trunk Volume
15.9 cf (w/shelf), 21.7 cf no shelf. 46.0 cf, seats folded 15 cf
Weight Distribution
62/38%  
weight distribution at full load
58/42%  
Trunk load w/4 passengers
130 lbs  
trunk load, right seat folded
475 lbs  
Weight
  3,200 pounds
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

 

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