SAAB 9-3 Sportcombi test drive since 2009
Born to fly
In the updated 9-3 Aero, we saw the light at the end of the Saab tunnel. It seems that she slowly but surely gets out of the crisis of loss of her face, which cost her loss of former popularity. Over the past few years, only the lazy did not say that the once cult Swedish brand is dead. This mournful thought was made by personal impressions of modern Saab models, the indicators of their sales steadily decreasing throughout the world were also evidenced. But not so long ago, Saab was considered a car of intellectuals, and in Russia the early 90s was almost prestigious than cars with a three-beam star on the hood. I well remember my first full -time acquaintance with these terrestrial fighters: in 1992, the representative office of the Swedish investment concern Axel Johnson AB, which in half with Scania belonged to SAAB, brought the first batch of model 9000 to Russia and arranged an exhibition for the sale of Trekhnor Embassy. These were the first 8 Saab, officially placed in our country.
I was lucky to travel on both generations of 9,000 x, and even on different 900 x 8 and 16 valve, turbo and not turbo. By the way, it is this model that the true fans of the brand consider the last real Saab. I remember perfectly and moving forward the hood, and the ignition key that you can’t pull out until you turn on the rear gear, and this is almost a panoramic windshield with a small angle of inclination, and amazingly comfortable chairs with a high back, and hysterically flashing inscription Fasten Belts on the front panel . And I also remember the powerful 4 zillindry turbo engines with a tangible turboyam and how tenaciously the 900th was held by the asphalt, with what pleasure and Scandinavian equanimity he prescribed turns! Just flew over the road! The car had character, was charisma. He was not like the rest, which he won himself a few but devoted army of fans.
After the transition under the wing of General Motors, the Swedish company, alas, began to lose its face. The new generation of 900 x and the models of 9 3 and 9 5 followed were the pale shadow of their ancestors. Unification became methodically, from year to year, a generation from the generation to kill Saab. The 9 3 Sport Combi we tested last year, that is, a direct descendant of those very 900 x, caused no enthusiasm, but rather disappointment. In addition to an interesting appearance and motor, he did not look like a Saab car car. This year, the Swedes presented the updated 9 3 result of very serious restyling. The General Motors seemed to finally decided that Saab still should remain himself. Isn't it too late? We tried to figure it out, sitting behind the wheel of a brand new Saab 9 3 Sport Combi Aero. Eh, the devil came out beautiful! There are few cars in the world, and even more so universals, with such a rapid silhouette. No matter what side you look at, he even flies forward in statics. This one dashingly rising window sill line is worth it! And the decision of the front in the U-shaped style? And the sloping of the back with milk lanterns? And let the trunk only 420 liters, but how beautiful! The Aero version implies a 10 mm sports suspension, the presence of an aerodynamic body kit, a silver air intake and compartment for fog -tulms and two tuned trunks. Sounds 9 3 very good. Buns significantly, but unobtrusively, exactly so that others can understand this not quite ordinary Saab. From the inside, this soundtrack is heard to even lesser extent, the sound insulation is excellent. And at the same time, the car holds the car for a very long time, and the rapidly family features are warming up, which, by the way, are relevant for our climate.
Saab holds the brand in the interior. The verified ergonomics and the convenience of planting have always been a distinctive feature of the Swedes. It is noticeable that now solid skin, soft plastic, and beautiful assembly have seriously worked on the quality of materials. The Snarias of buttons and small displays on the central console were replaced by not quite traditional for Saab, but still more convenient three round circle of two-zone climate control and the touch screen of the multimedia-navigation system (the same screens, by the way, are equipped with the latest Cadillac models, only there they are they equipped A little larger). All this, of course, reduced aircraft associations, but many family features of the brands remained in the interior. The general architecture of the salon does not give a reason for doubt this is Saab. The ignition key in its place in the central tunnel. A boost pressure sensor too. The backlight, as before, is corporate green. Ventilation deflectors with characteristic cones of adjustments are unchanged. Seats, sheathed with chic white-gray skin with black inserts, in shape and profile resemble those on the old 900s and 9000s. The landing is low, the legs are highly extended forward. The three -spoke steering wheel with tide for the thumbs fits perfectly in his hands. Particular attention is attracted by the Night Panel function that is still a toy! Turning it on in the dark, you will use the speedometer scale only up to 140 km/h, which slightly exceeds the standard speed restriction when driving along European highways. When this line is reached, the backlight lights the balance of divisions, up to 260 km/h. If within a few seconds you move slower than the same 140 km/h, everything happens in the reverse order. The 9-3 we got to an automatic transmission with the possibility of manually selection of gears, and when switching, the number of the next stage flashes for a short time under the speedometer scale. When the fuel ends, the corresponding indication lights up in the stingy darkness of the instrument panel. In general, all the information comes as necessary. Well, if such information hunger gets bored, the Night Panel function can be turned off, and the arrows of all secondary devices will come to life with bewitching beauty. However, many of the listed were equipped with 9-3 past generations. This is not important to us now. It is important to understand what Aero will be on the go.
255 forces of a turbocharged V6 easily accelerate a rather compact station wagon. The motor is good: it is confidently pulling from 2000 rpm. In terms of elasticity, it cannot be compared with 4 cylinder turbo of past years, which only with 3,500 rpm quickly threw the car forward, and before this mark they rested at the bottom of the turboyam. Although the previous character of the Saabov engines was a certain charm, the modern laws of the market dictate other rules by the smooth shelf of the torque and the convenience of traction control for the average driver. Nevertheless, the V6 of this 9-3 deserves all sorts of praise. In combination with a mechanical checkpoint, he is able to disperse an airmobile to a hundred in a very decent 6.9 seconds. With automatic transmission is not critically slower, in 7.8 seconds. Despite the fact that the 6 -step automatic transmission works perfectly: switching upwards are invisible altogether, there is a small delay in Kick Down, but it’s easy to get used to it. There is also a manual mode in which the programs can be changed independently using two petals located not in a traditional way, on the back of the steering wheel, but on the upper side of the horizontal steering knitting needles. It is not noticeable in the speed of the manual and automatic modes that is not noticeable, but in the manual motor it can be promoted to maximum revolutions, and when discharge of gas is efficiently used for braking. However, there is no practical need to exercise in manual mode: even when driving at half -pea, 9 3 Aero are faster than the vast majority of streaming neighbors.
The power of the turbocharged V6 makes itself felt, not only pressing the body in the back of the chair, but also with light jerks on the informative steering wheel, when one or the other wheel clings to the coating harder. To someone, such manners of the car will seem rude and uncouth, but I personally like it much more than empty, dicked controls of most modern cars. This 9-3 feels some kind of liveliness, realness, masculinity, if you want. You really drive a car, not just moving. Those who do not like to spend the engine craving for wasting, in the spring of 2008, Saab will first offer a full-wheel drive version of the 9-3 in their history with an innovative active differential XWD. Look forward to. A very significant contribution to the liveliness of reactions and habits 9-3 Aero brings the suspension. The collected, elastic, rather tough, providing quick reactions, it allows you to subtly feel the machine even on winter tires Pirelli Sottozero, which is shod on 18-inch discs offered as an option. Rear steering wheels that are controlled by the REAXS chassis geometry system also help.
At the same time, this Saab remains a very comfortable liner. The suspension does not digest only rather large irregularities like bedridden policemen: the car shudders with their whole body. In a straight line 9 3 rushes, like an acceleration airbus, gaining speed rapidly, calmly and uncontrollably. Accelerations up to 160180 km/h are given to him without problems. In the bend, the front axle seems to additionally press unknown forces to the road: Aero even sticks to cold winter asphalt. It seems that GM finally changed their minds and realized the importance of family values \u200b\u200bSaab, reviving them in a modern way. The updated 9 3 has every chance to please old fans of the brand, who turned away from their favorites. This car already has a former enthusiasm, the mood of an active driver. Perhaps brand new buyers will also be pulled up, because 9 3 has an outstanding appearance, a large selection of engines and a variety of configurations is offered. And the price in the region of $ 50,000 for the top version of Aero seems to be very attractive against the background of German competitors.
At the Saab company that had just passed in the Detroit car dealership, it put up a new, all-wheel drive version of 9-3 Turbo X under the motto to the future, which emphasizes the tendency to return to the origins in modern understanding. And if Saab continues to move in the same direction, then the next, completely new 9 3, which is promised in a couple of years, will be even closer to their outstanding ancestors. And he can fly again ...
Dmitry Krotov
