Farewell - Saab 9-3 1.8t sports suit (2011)

It was the summer of 2011. A hot day, the air conditioning in the ICE only brought little cooling. On the way to Hamburg; on the way to our Saab 9-3 sports suit (2011). Lensch & Bleck to pick it up, I had slight doubts. In the back of my mind was the Rover debacle and the immediate impact it would have on customers.

The pretty frustrated workers at the factory Longbridge used to “forget” their lunchtime sandwich in a hard-to-reach place in the car on vehicles destined for Germany. Or leave slogans with political content. Or worse. What would I expect from the 9-3, the new car from a brand that was clearly in a slant?

Saab 9-3 1.8t Sports Suit

The purchase of the Saab station wagon was competently arranged in advance via the Internet and telephone. The handing over was fast, friendly, experienced. Not rude in any way, but looking back critically, it's how you deal with a customer whose brand is on the way to the siding.

The fuel in the tank was enough to the next petrol pump. 500 meters more would have gotten me into trouble.

The Saab 534-9 sports suit used the journey south, 3 kilometers, to build lasting trust. He drives as expected, everything is positive. Yes, and there is no moldy Swedish sandwich in the car, at Saab they have made good products on the assembly line even in the relegation battle. An impression that will stay the same from kilometer 1 to kilometer 85.000.

What follows is quickly told. No dramas, but almost 5 years of satisfaction. A Rostvorsorge, in order Saab center Bamberg in order, keeps the sheet healthy. The rear discs are subtly tinted with foil, there is the Hirsch Performance Performance cure on 195 PS.

The interior is refined with a Hirsch dashboard in carbon leather finish, the door handles are also covered in leather. These parts are also a piece of tragic Saab history. They come from the Saab Automobile AB warehouse and were originally intended for the construction of the Independence Cabriolet.

Saab 9-3 sports combination on 18 ″ turbines

Sport steering wheel from the Turbo X

Saabine is a vector

196 Turbo PS. Powerful, reliable.

The Saab is always being improved

The following summer, the 9-3 sports car rolls on Independence rims, then the Saab changes to the turbines. Both original Saab rims are no longer new to get, after production is unthinkable. This is followed by a sports steering wheel from the Turbo X, with the Grille of the 9-3 Griffin there is a small facelift. For the cold days, another engine heater from the Saab accessories. Perfect! The 9-3 sports suit, which (of course) bears the name Saabine, has become a really classy and individual vehicle over the years.

Saabine is always inconspicuous. A comfortable touring car. Fast, reliable, a true Saab. She only sees workshops for inspection, which is always carried out by the Saab partner. A defective chain tensioner in autumn 2015 is the only one unplanned pit stop and it will stay that way.

Because our ways have separated, Saabine is for sale.

Life changes, vehicles have to fit into life. More and more often in recent months, the desire for a small city car loud, actually, the 9-3 sports car for our current performance is one size too big. And 5 years are a long time. Normally, if cars had been built in Sweden, a successor would have rolled onto the farm about two years ago.

The Saab has always been good - always reliable

What remains? After 5 years Saab 9-3 sportswear has a clear opinion. On the cars it did not matter that the Saab Automobile AB does not exist anymore. The 9-3 is extremely reliable and as versatile as a multitool. It was not the dealers either. Wherever we drove up with Saabine, we were treated well and competently. There were never bottlenecks with spare parts, all wearing parts came from the Orio AB and were in terms of quality and price in order.

The 9-3 is a clear understated car. More being than appearance, and perhaps something out of time. Maybe that's just what we liked about him. The 9-3 is timeless. The design does not age, the interior is, except for minimal traces of use, still close to the new car. The leather smells wonderfully of Saab, the paint glitters in the sun, he drives as in the hot summer 2011.

5 years are over, we never regretted the purchase. The successor, a practical compact car, will be the fitting, rolling shopping bag for the city. No Saab, but at least a turbo. But just a car.