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There’s just nothing better than driving a convertible on a warm spring night. And when you’re driving a great European convertible that’s fun to drive and looks great, all your worries seem to dissipate into the wind. The new Saab 9-3 convertible fits the bill perfectly, offering sporty European styling and handling with room for four fun-loving souls. Sam Bruen, Saab manager at West County Saab, enthuses, “The overall drive of the 9-3 can’t be beat; the Saab handling sets it apart from its competitors. Its ease of driving is matched only by its ease of use in everyday operation.” This is certainly a car that would be fun to live with every day. The front seats are firm, comfortable and adequately bolstered. Soft leather and seat heaters ensure year-round comfort. Dual automatic climate controls also contribute to passenger comfort. They are well marked and easy to use. The great sounding radio is also straightforward and comes with a CD player but no cassette. Redundant radio controls on the steering wheel allow you to adjust stations and volume with your hands on the wheel. A display of the radio station number in a display on the top of the dash just under the windshield allows you to check tuning while keeping your eyes on the road. Though relatively simple ideas, the engineering of the radio system and controls adds an unparalleled level of safety to a potential distraction that can otherwise lead to accidents. Rear seat room is tight, as the convertible top mechanism eats into shoulder room and the overall width of the rear seat, but it’s fine for children and adequate for adults on short trips. With the top up the trunk is of a decent size, but with the top down the top really reduces trunk space, leaving just a little available under the folded top and a bit more between the top and the back of the trunk. Styling is still definitively Saab, which is to say stylish and curvy, but all Saab styling has become a bit more mainstream in recent years. The ignition key position between the seats remains a classic Saab quirk and one of the things that give the car its character. Fit and finish are top notch and it’s hard to find any fault with the interior layout or execution. Driving the 9-3 convertible is a pleasure. Through front-wheeldrive, torque steer has been all but eliminated and handling is precise. Steering via the leatherwrapped steering wheel provides good feedback and the ride is comfortable. Brakes are firm and work well. Power emanates from a 2.0 liter 16 valve turbo-charged four cylinder engine that pumps out 210 horsepower and 221 pound feet of torque via a 5-speed automatic with a manual shift mode, or a true 5 or 6 speed manual transmission. The manual would really allow you to get the most out of the engine, but the automatic did a good job of transmitting the power, especially when turbo kicked in. Traction control reduces wheel spin and improves grip in slippery conditions. Raising and lowering the top is as easy as pushing a button up or down, depending on which direction you want the roof to go. In only about 20 seconds, a mechanical ballet involving a folding top and opening hard boot allows you to go from a fully insulated top that offers the benefits of a closed car in terms of weather protection to a drop top that provides the fun and excitement of a true convertible.With the top up, the rear window is glass and offers a rear defogger. Though convertibles aren’t usually known as particularly safe cars, the Saab 9-3 offers active roll-over protection in the form of two roll bars that pop out from in back of the rear seats in case of a roll-over, along with front and side airbags. The Saab active head restraints prevent whiplash by moving the head restraint up and forward to catch the head as it starts moving rearward in case of a rear-end collision. Starting at about $40,000, the Saab 9-3 isn’t cheap, but it’s competitive with other European luxury four-seat convertibles such as the BMW 3-series and Volvo C70. But to paraphrase the commercial, the joy of driving a fine European convertible that offers great handling and plenty of comfort on the perfect warm evening: priceless. Robert W. Paster is also an attorney in private practice, concentrating in estate planning and probate. |
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