This rocked my world

[MrMarkyMark]

FTFY

Bangeromics.

Good choice Suity. Interesting banger. What next? An old Morris Allegro, or maybe something else?

Lovely

[DimPrawn]

FTFY



Lovely

Good choice, the special edition Equipe with the 1750 cc engine, vinyl seats, alloy wheels and side stripe.

[MrMarkyMark]

Good choice, the special edition Equipe with the 1750 cc engine, vinyl seats, alloy wheels and side stripe.

You didn't even mention the additional, "extra", draped across the bonnet .

Doesn't half make driving the thing difficult though, but the aesthetics more than make up for it, IMO.

[DimPrawn]

You didn't even mention the additional, "extra", draped across the bonnet .

Doesn't half make driving the thing difficult though, but the aesthetics more than make up for it, IMO.

All cars from the late 70's had one of those. I spent a lot of time looking under the bonnet, fiddling with with bits and bobs as a lad.

[MrMarkyMark]

All cars from the late 70's had one of those.

At least we were spared a porn mag called "Allegro"

I spent a lot of time looking under the bonnet, fiddling with with bits and bobs as a lad.

Didn't we all?

I'm still no good with a mechanical engine, however.

[greenlake]

Good choice, the special edition Equipe with the 1750 cc engine, vinyl seats, alloy wheels and side stripe.

Hey, you can still hire one for your daughter's wedding....

[vetran]

Hey, you can still hire one for your daughter's wedding....

she might have been conceived in one.

I practiced in various cars.

[DimPrawn]

I owned a white Allegro for several years.

[LondonManc]

I owned a white Allegro for several years.

What appealed, the wipe clean vinyl seats? If it's not that then you've gone down in my estimation.


Could have sworn these looked a lot better back in the day.

[PurpleGorilla]

My honest appraisal of the SAAB 9-3 2.0T Convertible 2003.

A good looking car. Before the facelift, when SAABs started looking like they were the original SAABs but with anaphylaxis encroaching from a bee sting.

The leather interior is very comfortable and I can clean spills easily. (I tend to balance a costa coffee or wild bean café hot beverage on the passenger seat as the cup holder is broken).
The clocks look very amateurish, and the night panel feature is a gimmick, but I like gimmicks and use it on long motorway journeys when it's dark.

The console is cheap and nasty, and I'm considering buying some wood/walnut trim and replacing it, as it's letting down what is otherwise a nice interior, with good quality carpets.

The roof goes down at the touch of a button, so I get that "Oh you utter " look from pedestrians and motorists alike when I decide to put the top down.

The car is fast. Very. For a low spec, low budget car it competes well with it's German counterparts in that it's lighter, faster and more fuel efficient. Even at motorway speeds the acceleration is strong, which with the standards of British drivers is a must for evasive manoeuvres these days.

The ride is very stiff, so you feel every pebble. I guess they went for handling rather than comfort. This lets it down, the BMW gives a comfortable ride with excellent handling. The handling on the SAAB isn't as good so the compromise on comfort isn't worth it really. The best handling I have experienced is in Audis.

So I find the car querky, and daft. The window buttons are behind the handbrake, so you need to reach for them while driving, and crane your hand like you've got carpal tunnel. I really can't explain it, but I fell instantly in love with the car, and I am very smitten with SAABs.

Saab dash boards are like a qwerty keyboard!