- Posted on Monday, June 4th, 2007 at 4:40 pm
Saab 9-3 Convertible Joins the Safety Ranks
By Steve Shannon
USA General Manager, Saab
We’re honored, but quite frankly not surprised, to learn that the Saab 9-3 Convertible has just been awarded the 2007 Top Safety Pick for the first-ever ranking of open-top models by the U.S. Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Our 9-3 Sport Sedan has gotten top honors for three years in a row, so it’s exciting to have the award for the convertible as well.
As you might imagine, passenger safety in a convertible isn’t as easy to accomplish as in a hardtop sedan or coupe. This award recognizes the vehicle’s ability to withstand not only front and side impacts but also the effectiveness of the seat head restraint protection in the event of a rear impact collision. Vehicles earning this award must also provide additional standard safety equipment that’s often only an option on other cars.
Safety has always been a top priority for Saab, and the 9-3 Convertible is no exception. The 9-3 is not an afterthought drop-top; Saab designed it as a convertible from the ground up. From a rigid body construction to the use of ultra-high strength steel, as well as reinforced A-pillars and a windshield header rail that can handle more than two times the weight of the entire car, the 9-3 convertible is built to last. We’ve also engineered the Saab Dynacage, a pop-up roll bar system designed to protect passengers in the event of a rollover or the kind of impact that might lead to one. The Saab 9-3 convertible also comes with standard electronic stability control and front and side airbags.
It just goes to show that there’s more than one Swedish brand that’s serious about quality and safety. The Saab Convertible has for many reasons stood as the best of brand for 21 years running. Now there’s one more.
10 Comments
L Frederick
Glad to know I have a good chance of surviving a crash in my 2005 9-3 convertible. But apparently I’d have been SOL if I had to brake suddenly in city traffic. At only 23,000 miles, Jim Ellis Saab informed me last week both front and rear brake pads and rotors were shot and had to be replaced. Helpful staff informed me they’ve seen them go at “only 17,000 miles.”
$1,100 later, can’t help but be totally underwhelmed by your “high” safety crash rating. Yes, I am bitter.
Corto
I’m surprised and would be bitter also. On our 01 9-5, I changed the fronts at 56,000 miles and still havent touched the rears at 95,000 miles.
Peter G Gilbert
I am astonished, as my 2001 Viggen pads look new after 75,000 miles. Try rinsing them down twice a week (when cold). Also use the handbrake when waitng in city driving, a foot brake transfers heat to the rotors, warping them.
Tom
I had a 2000 9-5, and it was a great car.
I had a 2003 9-3 Linear, and it was the most disappointing car I had in over 30 years of driving.
Why the difference?
By the time the 9-3 was designed GM had taken full ownership of SAAB. And it showed.
The typical GM beancounter cheapening of the product was evident everywhere - the interior looked cheap, and developed chronic squeeks and rattles almost immediately after delivery.
The stereo was horrible - so bad I finally just kept it turned off for the remainder of my lease.
After I turned it in, they started chasing me for over $600 to replace a “damaged” from air dam (merely a virtually unnoticeable 6″ split in one seam, which “damage” is inevitable given the low clearance vs. American roads).
From what I understand, almost all SAAB engineers have been sacked, and future SAAB’s (like the current Saturns) will be nothing but badge-engineered Opels (which of course are designed under the same corporate culture of cheapness and low quality as the rest of the GM empire).
If they continued to produce vehicles of the caliber of the 9-5 I’d be interested in another SAAB, but after my experience with the 9-3 I’ve no interest in subjecting myself to another post-GM “SAAB”, much less paying a SAAB price for a gussied-up Saturn, err, Opel.
jg
My 96 Saab convertible was the worst car I ever owned. It was beautiful and I loved it when I bought it. Too many mechanical problems to count. I traded it in for a BMW convertible and that was great then a CLK, also great.
My next car will be the Buick Velite because of all the GM brands, Buick reliability seems the best, and that car is hot. I’m glad Saabs are safe, but the reliability needs to be improved. They should be in a league with BMW and MB, but they are not.
P Ghosh
The above comments [all very recent] worries me about a 2007 60th edition SAAB 9-3 that I am considering purchasing. Should I instead look into other brands? I want to drive and enjoy my purchase …not chase it in & out of the repair shop.
What can expected from the 2007 9-3 models?
Any advise would be welcome. Thanks in advance.
Nino Baldacci
“What can expected from the 2007 9-3 models? Any advice would be welcome. Thanks in advance.”
Good luck trying to get an answer on that from GM’s brand manager Steve Shannon.
Based on some of the comments I’ve seen here, you’d think Shannon would try to get out in front of this in order to reassure his customer base of potential SAAB buyers.
I’ve always suspected GM wasn’t that committed to SAAB anyway. His lack of response seems to confirm that. Oh well, go figure…
gryphon
I’d like to congratulate Mr. Shannon and SAAB on a beautiful new car with the MY 2008 9-3. I got my brochure a week ago, and I can’t wait to get in line for a new Aero ‘vert. The new safety ratings and the gorgeous new deisgn sealed the deal. The only sad part is that I will have to trade in my MY 2006 9-3 SportCombi, which has been amazingly reliable (not a single problem in 30,000 miles so far).
Andrew Arena
In mid August 2007 I walked in the Saab of Tampa store because I heard good things about Saab vehicles.I walked out leasing a 97 and two 93’s for my wife and two children.As I was signing the papers the GM Mark Gray and the sales person Larry stated that I had just made a very good investment and that the Saab 93 was one of the safest cars on the road.This past weekend as my son Ryan was traveling home from college on I 75 just outside Tampa,Florda, my son had a very terrible wreck.As he was looking for his cell phone he veered off the road hit a guard rail and flipped his car four times.He was airlifted to the hospital.We were told by witnesses and the paramedics that the vehicle saved his life.My son is alive because of Saab and walked out of the hospital with four stitches above his right eye.We are truly blessed and cannot thank Saab enough.I was trying to find a way to comunicate this information to Steven Shannon to thank him myself.I have sent the photos of the vehicle to Saab of Tampa so that they could use the photos to convince parents like me that they need to purchase a Saab.The car is a total loss and will be totaled.Of course,as soon as we settle up with our insurance company I will be taking the check to Saab of Tampa to get another one.
Todd
The 9-3 is a great car. I really wanted to get a sportcombi.
The lease payments are just sooooooo high.
I ended up with a volvo and saved a lot per month ($90).
I still like the 9-3 but for $90 less a month, I’m happy with the volvo.
Maybe when things pick up for saab ill get one.
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