2008 Saab 9-3 Convertible

The handsome new 9-3 is redesigned to offer more trunk space and seamless shifting but its high price tag undermines its appeal

by Marty Padgett and Eric Peters

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Likes: Convertible appeal, four-seat utility, distinctive style, room.

Dislikes: Expensive, quirky bits, slower than the average Euro ragtop.

TCC's Take: Probably the best Saab convertible ever, but there's not much to woo away the Audi/Benz/BMW crowd.

It takes a special kind of enthusiast to appreciate Saab's lineup of sedans, wagons and convertibles. There's nothing particularly different on the spec sheet, but for whatever reason - some quirky cachet - they appeal to a very specific breed of driver.

And while the Swedish carmaker's 9-3 Convertible gets the same kind of top-to-bottom renovation that the sedan and wagon models also receive for the 2008 model year, it doesn't move the needle much when it comes to wooing new buyers away from the likes of BMW and Audi, not to mention cheaper hardtop convertibles with Euro nameplates.

In part, it's a big pricetag that makes the 9-3 not such a bargain. It carries a base price of $38,965 for the base 2.0T version and tops out around $45,000 for the V-6-powered Aero. Fully loaded the Convertible nudges $50,000, in a convertible world filled with cheaper four-seat hardtop cabrios like the Pontiac G6 Convertible and Chrysler Sebring, and comparably priced ones like the Volkswagen Eos and Volvo C70.

And while it's a good-looking, solidly built, decently powerful, and an entertaining drive, the Saab's primary appeal lies more in factors that folks judge when buying sedans. It's not the sex appeal of its thick flanks that stands out, it's the 9-3's large trunk (12.4 cubic feet) and rear-seat legroom that tops other four-seater ragtops. It's not the blazing power that snicks through a manual shifter, but the seamless gearchanges of its six-speed automatic that feels right.

PERFORMANCE

For the 2008 model year, Saab's 9-3 Convertible will be offered in 2.0T and Aero versions.

The 2.0T models will come standard with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 210 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque. A six-speed manual is the standard gearbox, while a five-speed automatic is an option. The 2.0T also sports 16-inch wheels and standard tire pressure monitors. The four-cylinder's output isn't bad, but when Toyota Camry six-cylinders routinely make 265 horsepower, it seems low on paper and on the road for a nearly $40,000 luxury convertible. It accelerates to 60 mph in about eight seconds, which would have qualified as fast ten years ago; today's BMW 335i Convertible rips off the same performance in about six seconds and that same Camry is quicker off the line.

The Aero model gets its motivation from a turbo 2.8-liter V-6 with 255 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. It comes with a six-speed manual standard; a six-speed automatic is an option. Saab promises 0-60 mph times of less than seven seconds. Its smooth turbo power and smooth-shifting automatic shows deep GM influences. The automatic's shifter paddles aren't in the greatest position, but it's still our preferred transmission. (The Aero also adds vented rear disc brakes and 17-inch wheels.)

HANDLING AND RIDE

Saab says the Convertible model was engineered at the same time as the new wagon and sedan models to ensure its structural integrity. The window frame and pillars were made stronger, and are trimmed in black to match the new dash panel.

The basic body structure is related to the same Saab convertible that was introduced in 2003 as a 2004 model. While it looks fresh, and it's certainly stiffer that before, the 9-3 Convertible isn't the drum-tight job that Volkswagen's Eos four-seater is. A little quiver shook through our tester, which also had noticeable tire and wind noise.

Typical for Saab, the front strut and multi-link rear suspension has a taut performance feel, but it's nicely controlled and not at all stiff-kneed. Some drivers might prefer the harder edge of BMW's convertibles, but we like the relatively plush feel of the 9-3 Convertible. Like a new mattress, you need to try it yourself to judge whether you need cushion or pushin'.