Saab test drive 9-3 1998-2002 sedan

Falling flight

At the beginning of the year, having received Saab 9-5 for a long-term test, the autopilot compared the elimination of zeros in model indices with similar activities in relation to Russian rubles. Denomination in the country led to the appearance of an absolutely useless coin with a dignity of 1 kopecks and double price tags in the markets. The denomination in Saab led to the emergence of models 9-3 in our market.
Leading and led
Do not bother yourself, looking for something fundamentally new in his appearance. Outside - nine hundredth. Inside - 9-5. The whole external novelty is a single element: the cross-member on the decorative grille of the radiator is made in the form of the wings of the aircraft, as well as at 9-5. Car interior - from it: a similar color scheme, comfortable, tight -fitting bucket -type seat body. Similar devices and governing bodies, the principle of their placement. A person accustomed to Saab should not feel a beginner in the new model - this is the principle of the manufacturer.
The same speedometer with an asymmetric scale, which gives more accurate indications with an increase in speed, a liquid crystal display in the upper part of the front console with information on the supply of the move along the fuel, its average consumption and medium speed, sealing temperature, etc. On the steering wheel there are buttons to control a music center with a built-in CD player and six speakers. All basic is traditionally grouped in the steering area, secondary - around the checkpoint.
It looks like 9-3 to 9-5, it is very similar, but still lower than the rank: the internal volumes are smaller and there are no pleasant trifles like a steering column serving, adjusting the heating of seats and separate climate control.
DEBRIEFING
The creators of 9-3 argue that in the process of denomination of the 900th received more than 1100 innovations and improvements. One of the weaknesses of the 900th was the suspension, especially the front. In 9-3, its vices were eliminated, fasteners to the body were changed, the course was increased. Now the machine works remarkably, especially its new qualities appeared on a tuberous, covered surface of the surface: such areas the machine passes almost without swinging, and tremors and vibrations are extinguished almost completely, only a characteristic sound of tires and a slight tremor in the steering wheel, which very incidentally, allows Do not lose a sense of contact with the road. There is no need to talk about smooth asphalt. The car holds the turn tenaciously, goes confidently, evenly and comfortably, like an airplane on an air corridor.
And yet, when the speedometer arrow exceeds two hundred and two hundred, the car requires a lot of effort from the driver, begins to scour, its stability worsens noticeably and it is poorly controlled. Probably, there is something to reflect on the engineers, but, on the other hand, how often the situation on our roads allows you to ride at such a speed?
The 900th was criticized at one time for the fuzziness of the gear lever, which was why it was possible to miss the transmission at the most inopportune moment. On the 9-3 we tested, this problem seems to be absent. The programs are turned on clearly and easy.
The hydraulic power steering perfectly helps control, allowing literally one finger to rotate the steering wheel in place, which is especially important when parking. The effort on it increases in proportion to the speed, the feeling of sufficient contact with the road remains.
Treaches
We say Saab - we mean turbocharged; We say turbocharged - we mean Saab. Twenty years ago, this company became a pioneer in the use of turbocharges in commercial gasoline engines. On the 9-3 tested, a 2-liter 16-valve four-cylinder engine from a series of engines with an average boost pressure of Ecopower. It is equipped with Saab Trionic injection control systems and Saab Di direct ignition with a separate coil for each cylinder.
The result of such a combination was 185 horsepower forces of power and a torque of 263 Nm, achieved at only 2100 revolutions. Such characteristics, combined with specially selected gear rates, make the machine exclusively smooth, soft and comfortable when moving to urban crowd, minimizing the need for frequent gear shifts. The car perfectly picks up in a speed range between 60 and 120 km/h, which is extremely important for safety and ease of maneuver, especially on a loaded highway. In addition, our pokatushki showed that in the urban mode the average fuel consumption is even slightly lower than the declared - about twelve and a half liters. So, in any case, the triple-computer claimed.
Until the turbine is turned on, the motor reacts somewhat sluggishly, so good skills of handling a turbocharged motor will need to fly on a shaving. The main thing is that the arrow of the tachometer does not fall below the two thousandth mark, and then this machine becomes very, very frisky. And the delight of free flight is provided.
The body resembles the nose of the plane with a pilot cabin with its shape, but the raised trunk and a strongly mowed rear window pretty much limit the rear review. For an airplane that does not fly back, it does not matter, but for the owner of the car, who often has to make maneuvers in reverse, creates a considerable problem. You have to get used to for quite some time and learn to ride on mirrors. And at first, powerful bumpers made of self -leveling materials and capable of with no damage to the speed of up to 8 km/h are greatly helped out. They are part of a complex security system, without which no modern Saab is unthinkable. In addition to the usual airbags and belts with pretense, it consists of special power elements of the body and energy -absorbing fillers of the side racks and doors that form a sort of safety around the cabin. The Saab 9-3 establishes the so-called Sahr-the system of active head restraints, first used on the model 9-5. In addition, the design of the motor compartment and trunk is such that in the case of a strong blow, they are almost completely destroyed, maintaining the interior in inviolability, where the victim of the accident will only have to deploy the size of the hole in their budget. So you can fly on this aircraft, but preferably low and not too fast.
SMOOTH LANDING
One way or another, but he will not force him to be disappointed. Of course, this car does not have the impressive solidity of the older brothers, which, however, does not prevent him from offering its owner almost the same list of services.
It is quite obvious that it is designed for practical people who want to have maximum quality for their unknown money, functionality plus a little special. In five-door 9-3, all this is present. He very successfully combines energetic businesslike sports with the practicality of the family sedan.
Easy to manage, safety, obedience and predictability on the road make this machine quite suitable for people who have not yet reached large heights of skill in driving, including modern emancipes. With only a reservation: the autopilot does not advise starting his driver’s practice with a turbocharged version, for this, options with motors are easier.
 
The autopilot thanks Jenser, (095) 979-2010, for the car provided for the test. For the period of the test, the car was insured in the company of RESO-Garantia, (095) 250-3600, 255-6834.
 
Who else
In Moscow, Saab 9-3 has been sold since July. And unlike most of the automobile innovations, it does not at all use it with agile demand. The Swedes do not establish absolutely no restrictions and quotas for Russia - come, buy. But they do not come and do not buy. For example, not a single one was sold out of the three Genser 9-3 car dealerships. While Saabov 9-5 for the same period diverges, as a rule, about 15, and not a single car has to wait for the buyer for more than a week.
So in Russia, Saab 9-3 simply does not withstand competition with his older brother. The price difference is too small between them. And the adding 9-3 all kinds of bells and whistles (so that it turns out to be sports) is almost mandatory for our country) still reduces it. The SAABA lineup is close: roughly speaking, either 9-3 is not small and cheap enough, or 9-5 is not large enough and expensive. They differ not in a whole class, like, say, Golf and Passat, but by half a class. And the average Russian buyer, not looking at the special, unique face of the smaller of the Saabs, thinks: Eh, it was not, it was better to get a straightforward and buy the one that is more expensive.
Saabu 9-3, apparently, is destined for the fate of the 900th. Which, as they say, did not go. Only the used 900s were quite noticeable in our country. True, there are rumors that the Swedes are going to make certain advertising efforts to promote 9-3 on the Russian market. But few people believe in the success of this undertaking.
There are simply no owners of 9-3 in Russia so far. It's too early. And his predecessor had a narrow but rather stable circle of fans. Among them were Valery Syutkin and Lev Leshchenko, the latter, by his own admission, was the last time in the 74th metro and was very proud that he was at one time the first Muscovite to buy the Saab-900.
 
Model/modification Saab 9-3
Manufacturer Saab Automobile AB
The country-producing Sweden
BODY
Type hatchback
Number of doors/places 5/5
ENGINE
Gasoline type with turbocharged, multi -point electronic injection
The location in front is transversely
Working volume (cubic cub) 1985
Number/location of cylinders 4/row
Cylinder x piston stroke (mm) 90.0x78.0
Compression degree 9.2: 1
Power, kW (L.S.) at about./Min. 136 (185) at 5500
Maximum boost pressure (bar) 0.79
Moment (nm at about./Min.) 253 at 2100
The number of valves per cylinder 4
TRANSMISSION
Front drive
Gearbox is a mechanical five -speed
SUSPENSION
Front independent spring, such as MacPherson on transverse triangular levers, stabilizer of the transverse stability, gas -filled shock absorbers
The rear multi-link spring, H-shaped beam of the rear axle, two reptile stability stabilizers, gas-filled shock absorbers
STEERING
Type gear rack with a hydraulic booster
Min. The diameter of the turn (m) 10.5
Brakes
Front disk ventilated
The rear disk solid
ABS four -channel with electronic control
Wheels
Tire size 205/50 zr16
6.5JX16 'discs
Dimensions/Opam/Weight
Length/width/height (mm) 4640/1710/1440
Wheel base (mm) 2600
The track front/back (mm) 1450/1440
Clearance (mm) 140
The volume of the fuel tank (L) 68
Mass, dry/maximum (kg) 1380/1770
Dynamic characteristics
Maximum speed (km/h) 230
Acceleration to 100 km/h (sec.) 8.5
Economy
Fuel consumption (l/100 km):
Highway 7.3
City 14.2
The price of the dummy in Moscow is $ 37,500
Andrey Timofeev, Alexey Ilyin (photo)
 

Source: "Autopilot"