2002
versus 2006 SAAB-9-3
Index of Other Reviews
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.
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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 |
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** 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 |
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3,200 pounds |
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