The Saab 9-3 is among the ten best used convertibles available for under $10,000, according to the car buying experts over at Kelley Blue Book.
The 2009 model year Saab 9-3 was last on KBB’s list of the ten best used convertibles under $10,000. KBB didn’t have much good to say about the unique GM-built Swede, though, cautioning would-be buyers to locate a Saab specialist before plunking down thousands for one of these rather uncommon droptops.
“The Saab 9-3, and indeed the entire Saab brand, is now defunct, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t still deals to be had,” KBB said in its ranking. “With a large cabin offering plenty of space front and rear, it’s worth looking for independent mechanic shops near you that specialize in Saabs.”
A choice of two different engines was available in the 2009 Saab 9-3. The base engine was a turbocharged 2.0L four-cylinder producing 207 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque, which was offered with front-wheel drive and either a six-speed manual transmission or a six-speed automatic. Meanwhile, the Aero model received a turbocharged 2.8-liter V6 making 280 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, which was paired with a six-speed automatic and all-wheel drive.
The Saab 9-3 was produced at the automaker’s Trollhättan Assembly plant in Sweden and utilized the GM Epsilon platform, which also underpinned the Chevy Malibu, Cadillac XTS and Pontiac G6, among many other GM passenger cars.
The best used convertible for under $10,000, according to KBB, is the 2008 Mazda MX-5 Miata. The Japanese roadster received almost universal praise from media when new for its easy upkeep, spry handling and fun-to-drive nature. The 2009 Ford Mustang Convertible was second, while the 2008 Toyota Solara was third.
Other entries on the list include the 2010 MINI Convertible, 2013 VW Beetle Convertible, 2009 Infiniti G37 Convertible, 2006 Nissan 350Z Convertible, 2004 BMW Z4 and 2012 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder.
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Comments
»The Saab 9-3 was produced at the automaker’s Trollhättan Assembly plant in Sweden«
as all other Saab branded cars were, as far as I know.
But recently I read in a blog entry or so that GM had produced Saab cars in the US, too. Is that true? I could not believe it.
Observer7
Not the U.S. After Saab was sold to Spiker a version of the Cadillac SRX (2011 Saab 9-4x) was built in Ramos Arizpe Mexico. They made about 500 before Saab’s creditors cut them off completely. Forcing a shutdown of all production.
Isn’t Saab originally a maker of airplane engines?
Not only airplane engines, but whole airplanes. Mainly military airplanes, mainly fighter aircraft, also missiles and other. Saab ventured into many other fields, e.g. computers, which was later sold to Sperry Univac (today Unisys).
In 1968 Saab AB merged with the Swedish lorry, bus and heavy-duty diesel engine manufacturer Scania-Vabis, and became Saab-Scania AB.
In 1990, 50% of the passenger car division were sold to GM, the remaining 50% in 2000.
In 1995, Scania was again de-merged. Since 2015, Scania is a 100% subsidiary of VW, forming part of its heavy commercial vehicle subsidiary, Traton, along with MAN Truck & Bus , Volkswagen Caminhões e Ônibus (Brasil) and Navistar.
So long as GM was in involved, the Saab convertible production was contracted out. The Classic 900 (1990 through 1994 models), New Generation (NG) 900 (1995 through 1998), and OG 9-3 (1999 through 2003) were built by Valmet in Finland. The NG 9-3 was built by Magma Steyer from 2004 through 2008. As part of the GM restructuring in 2009 Saab was sold to an independent company headed by Victor Mueller, and convertible production was moved onto the Trollhättan assembly plant.
Recently, I viewed a video of a Saab operating the convertible top. It’s nearly identical to the latest Camaro (Gen 6), the C6 and the C7 Corvette. I wonder did GM take this design from the Saab engineers or just a collaborative design. It’s a really nice design where the top drops out of site. On the Camaro you only push a button, the top electrically locks or unlocks from the windshield frame.
Saab should have like Hummer been transformed into either an Opel, Buick or Cadillac sub brand. The brand had a quirky but highly loyal demo especially in college towns.
Some bean counter would have tried to take the brand super premium and ruined the brand ethos anyway I suppose.
There was the Cadillac BLS developed for the European market at the Saab engineering center, with the collaboration of GM engineers and Cadillac designers. It was produced in Trollhättan, the Saab factory in Sweden. The BLS came as sedan and station wagon.
The Cadillac BLS, the Saab 9-3 II (Typ YS3F, 2002–2011), and the Opel/Vauxhall Insignia (i.e. also Buick Regal and LaCrosse, also Chevrolet Malibu Gen.VIII, Chevrolet Impala Gen.X, Cadillac XTS, all were based on GM’s platform Epsilon II.
yikes run as fast in the opposite direction as you can. Hell no!!! A Saab sadly will leave the owner likely with another sabb story. TRUTH. Deep pockets would be needed and only to be used a spare car if at all. Why bother.
A very easy car to work on. I have a 2005 ARC convertible with the 2 liter turbo engine and manual transmission. Have had it since 2008. The only real issue I’ve had, it goes into the limp home mode every couple of years, which make it almost undriveable, The fix is to disconnect the wiring harness from the throttle body, clean it with electrical cleaner and put a dab of dielectric grease on it. This does a hard reset too. GM replaced at least 3 throttle bodies, under and out of warranty, when this is all that was needed. Apparently Saab modified the GM wiring harness which caused problems like this. Being an old dude, I grew up wrenching on cars and was not distracted by smart phones and video games. Hate to think that this skill set has gone the way of the dinosaurs.