7 Things I've Learned Running A £500, 180k-Mile Saab 9-3

We kept hold of the 9-3 bought for the Ultimate Daily Driver challenge video, and it's been an absolute trooper
7 Things I've Learned Running A £500, 180k-Mile Saab 9-3

The cars we buy for YouTube videos don’t usually stick around very long. Every now and then, though, we get a vehicle that’s too good to sell.

Of the three cars bought for the Ultimate Daily Driver Challenge video last December, Alex’s rusty Ford Puma and Ethan’s rank Fiat Multipla were sold on within days. But the Saab 9-3? I was definitely keeping hold of that.

It was way less broken than the 540,000-mile B5 Audi A4 I was driving at that point, and after switching out the seized front brakes, it’s been plain sailing. I’ve since added another 5000 miles, and the mighty Saab is still going strong with nearly 180,000 on the clock.

Here’s what I’ve learned so far:

It genuinely is the ultimate £500 daily driver

7 Things I've Learned Running A £500, 180k-Mile Saab 9-3

The Saab, as I like to remind Alex and Ethan quite often, won that challenge video. And as the only one of the three cars that has actually been daily driven after, it’s proven itself a worthy winner.

I can throw all my filming kit in it, it’s comfortable, and it has enough mod cons that it doesn’t feel really dated. It has cruise control, air conditioning, automatic lights, auto wipers and more - and it all works!

Remote video URL

The 9-3 is almost worth £500 for the cupholder alone. It flicks out of the dash with surprising violence, and amazingly, it shows no signs of breaking after all these miles. Yet.

I keep forgetting where the ignition is

7 Things I've Learned Running A £500, 180k-Mile Saab 9-3

I still find myself trying to put the key in the ‘usual’ place, but on the 9-3, it goes in a slot on the centre console. Apparently, it’s to stop you from knocking your knee on it while driving. It’s just a bit different, and one of my favourite things about the car.

The air vents are needlessly intricate

7 Things I've Learned Running A £500, 180k-Mile Saab 9-3

Man, Saab were keen to make the 9-3 seem different to the related Vauxhall Vectra, weren’t they? Along with the weird key placement and the violent cupholder, another 9-3 quirk is the air vents.

They’re incredibly intricate, with a stack of four vent pieces sat behind the front one giving a sort of 3D-effect. They look cool but they also seem like a pain in the arse to fix.

Night Panel is genuinely helpful

7 Things I've Learned Running A £500, 180k-Mile Saab 9-3

The part of Saab that makes fighter jets has been separate from the car bit since 1990, but no one told the marketing people, who milked that vaguely linked cow for all it was worth. So, the 9-3 has a jet fighter-inspired ‘Night Panel’.

I thought this would be a gimmick, but coming back from a late shoot recently my eyes were feeling strained, and Night Panel really helped. The only thing is I get a bit scared that the car’s going to overheat as I’m using it - I’d want to see the temperature gauge creeping up long before a warning light comes on!

It feels surprisingly quick

7 Things I've Learned Running A £500, 180k-Mile Saab 9-3

The 1.9-litre turbo diesel engine is, believe it or not, a Fiat JTD engine. It makes 148bhp, which doesn’t sound like much, but the torque is decent at 236lb ft. It’s surprisingly nippy for a broken old diesel, and it doesn’t belch out black smoke when you put your foot down like a lot of old DERV stuff.

The gearbox is probably the thing that'll kill it

7 Things I've Learned Running A £500, 180k-Mile Saab 9-3

Along with the seizing brakes, the five-speed automatic gearbox was also playing up on the shoot day at Curborough last year, and it’s still bad now. When it’s cold it doesn’t seem to make up its mind, but it’s better and selecting cogs once it’s warm. I reckon it’ll be the gearbox that’ll finish the Saab off, but hopefully, it’s got plenty of miles left in it before then.

Comments

Andreas Brechan

Having had a few Saabs I think there’s one point you’re not making, and that’s the seats. I suppose it’s a subjective matter, but I genuinely believe that the Saab 9-5 has what must be some of the best and most comfortable seats in the automotive world. A bit of a bold claim, I know, but seriously. I’ve sat in and driven a wide range of cars, anything from American SUV’s such as the Chevrolet Suburban, to premium luxury sedans such as the Audi S8/BMW 7-series/S-class/Hyundai Genesis, to sports cars such as R35 GT-R… And in sum, none of them noticeably beat the seating comfort of the Saab 9-5, especially if you see it relative to their price tag. That to me is what makes it such a fantastic daily. Even for short 3 minute trips or 9 hour drives, it’s just an absolute joy to be seated in it.

05/19/2021 - 11:07 |
0 | 0
Andreas Brechan

Having had a few Saabs I think there’s one point you’re not making, and that’s the seats. I suppose it’s a subjective matter, but I genuinely believe that the Saab 9-5 has what must be some of the best and most comfortable seats in the automotive world. A bit of a bold claim, I know, but seriously. I’ve sat in and driven a wide range of cars, anything from American SUV’s such as the Chevrolet Suburban, to premium luxury sedans such as the Audi S8/BMW 7-series/S-class/Hyundai Genesis, to sports cars such as R35 GT-R… And in sum, none of them noticeably beat the seating comfort of the Saab 9-5, especially if you see it relative to their price tag. That to me is what makes it such a fantastic daily. Even for short 3 minute trips or 9 hour drives, it’s just an absolute joy to be seated in it.

05/19/2021 - 11:08 |
2 | 0

Might be worth adding that it also comes with a very neat driver’s environment and ergonomics. Every gauge, instrument, button and knob is turned towards you providing access with ease. You can clearly see the influence from the aviation-department, as driving a Saab gives you a sense of being a pilot. Especially with the red flashing “fasten seatbelts” light popping up on the roof and the coupé lights being just like the ones you find in a plane.

05/19/2021 - 11:14 |
2 | 0
Anonymous

Just came back after the ending 2021 video, because Jack is still driving this beast! Nice to hear and good to hear that it is still going strong and you’re liking it (and not being pushed across the highway by a lorry haha). I’ve got a Saab 9-3 2001 cabriolet (spends loads of money to tune it completely) myself. Sometimes I think: why don’t I get something newer. But I enjoy the car too much, driving, looking at it, it’s status/reputation, originality, tunability due to advanced Trionic software and turbo etc. (and of course all the money poured into it)

12/29/2021 - 23:05 |
2 | 0

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