Rare Saab 9-3 Turbo Coupé in great condition
Saab is a brand for individualists. When the traditional manufacturer had to file for bankruptcy in 2012, it was not just the fans who were sad, after all, the Swedes were always considered progressive. After a downturn on the used car market, well-maintained Saab Now a sought-after youngtimer!
The problem: Many cars have been used up or have fallen victim to rust. Really good 900s or 9-3s are not that easy to find. At “Residence Automobiles” from Berlin (yes, we know the saying about Berlin car dealers) a seemingly well-kept Saab 9-3 Coupé offered in original condition.
Saab 9-3 of the first series
The black coupé is a 9-3 from the first series (model code YS3D), which was strictly speaking a further development of the Saab 900. The 9-3 was offered as a sedan, coupé and Convertibleall of which are based on the platform of Opel Corsa The visual differences to the predecessor are rather marginal. The aprons were modified, the radiator grille revised and the license plate at the rear was raised to the same height as the tail lights. Saab claimed at the time that, despite the minor design adjustments, over 1000 new features had been made under the sheet metal.
The first generation of the 9-3 was offered as a sedan, coupe and convertible.
Image: Residenz-Automobile
There were also minor adjustments in the interior. The asymmetrical speedometer scale from the big brother 9-5 One idea behind this was to prevent customers from driving fast. This did not go down well in the USA, for example, where the 9-3 was then sold with a conventional speedometer again. The newly developed seats also had side airbags integrated as standard.
Cool detail: Turbo lettering embossed into the leather on both the front and back.
Image: Residenz-Automobile
When it came to engines, Saab stayed true to itself and offered the 9-3 exclusively with four-cylinder engines. With the exception of the base engine, all were turbocharged. In the top model, the 9-3 Viggen (named after a fighter plane), the 2.3-liter four-cylinder produced 230 hp.
2.0-litre turbo with 185 hp
The 9-3 Coupé on offer in Berlin is not quite as powerful. Under the hood is a 2.0-liter turbo with an official 185 hp, and in this case the power transmission is handled by an automatic transmission. The Saab was first registered in May 2002 and has since covered 156,478 kilometers.
Typical Saab features include the ignition lock in the center console and the massive dashboard.
Image: Residenz-Automobile
In the photos, the black 9-3 looks very well maintained. An impression that is reinforced by the fact that it has been serviced according to the service book and the last service was less than 2,000 kilometers ago. In addition, the coupe has only had two previous owners – that is also a good sign. Typical of Saab is the very good equipment for the time, including cruise control, automatic climate control, leather upholstery (with Turbo embossing at the front and back!), heated seats, headlight cleaning system and more.
The coupe will cost 11,980 euros
Apart from minor signs of wear and tear, which are perfectly acceptable for a 22-year-old car, this Saab leaves a great impression. That probably explains the price. At 11,980 euros, the Saab is cheaper than many other coupes from the period, but it is one of the most expensive 9-3s on the market.
