GO
GoAutoLogo
MENU

Make / Model Search

New models - Saab - 9-3

First drive: 9-3 Convertible for $6000 less

Spec chop: new entry-level 9-3 Linear Convertible loses 129kW turbo engine, climate control and fog lights.

Saab cuts $6000 and equipment from its entry-level 9-3 Linear Convertible

21 Feb 2005

SAAB has made a dramatic move to drag drop-top buyers up from the premium class and into the luxury segment with its re-specified 9-3 Convertible range.

Aiming at the Holden Astra, Peugeot 307 CC and Renault Megane CC convertibles, the baseline Linear model is now priced from $66,900 – $6000 less than before.

This puts the Linear within reach for some premium convertible buyers, who are paying upwards of $56,990 for the up-spec 307 CC Sport, for example.

"It’s now not such a stretch for them to consider the 9-3," said Saab Australia and New Zealand director Ralph Stevenson.

Worth noting also is that the Saab is based on the premium segment 9-3 sedan, while the topless premium players are small-car derived, albeit with significant re-engineering and bespoke bodywork.

The new lower price point for the luxury convertible segment leader also puts more white space between it and the number two seller, BMW’s 3 Series, as well as Audi’s A4 Cabriolet.

About $4200 of the base 9-3 convertible’s $6000 drop is due to the deletion of the 129kW/265Nm 2.0-litre turbo four-cylinder engine for the 110kW/240Nm 2.0 turbo found in the 9-3 Linear sedan, along with ESP stability control, automatic air-conditioning for a simpler manual version and front fog lights.

However, the latest Linear retains the previous model’s remote-opening electric roof, leather trim seats and 16-inch alloy wheels, so it will take a keen eye to spot the (albeit misleading) 1.8t badge.

It also has the same five-star Euro NCAP rating and class-exclusive 30km/h-limit roof operation of its more salubrious siblings.

Despite the use of a lower-pressure turbo 2.0-litre engine, the new Linear produces 15Nm more torque than the Audi A4 1.8T (but 10kW less power). But BMW’s six-cylinder 325Ci is significantly more powerful and slightly ahead in torque.

38 center imageJanuary’s five per cent import tariff fall is also said to contribute around $1800 to the lower price point. Interestingly, Audi slashed $3700 (4.4 per cent) off the base A4 while BMW’s 325Ci reflects a $2900 (or 3.1 per cent) saving.

Meanwhile, the 129kW 2.0-litre engine is the basis for the new $73,900 Vector Convertible, which replaces the old $72,900 Linear in the 2005 range.

Above the new Linear it adds ESP, 17-inch wheels, more leather and chrome trim, climate control air-conditioning, fog lights, an adjustable driver’s armrest and floor mats.

The range-topping 9-3 Aero Convertible, with 155kW of power and 300Nm of torque, continues at its old price of $89,900.

Saab Australia hopes the lower-priced Linear will help boost 9-3 Convertible sales by 16 per cent this year, from 724 units in 2004 to 839. Of those, 577 should be Linear models, followed by 160 Vector and 102 Aero variations.

Currently almost 90 per cent of all convertible sales are for the automatic, with a 50/50-male/female split overall The premium convertible segment Saab hopes the Linear will poach some buyers from has been the driving force behind a 40 per cent rise in the overall convertible segment over the past two years.

A boom in novated leasing in recent times should also help the ragtop’s chances. Saab’s partial integration within Holden Limited – Mr Stevenson is a 20-year veteran with Holden – sees the Australian arm with new opportunities to communicate directly with fleet managers who were hitherto unavailable to it.

Nevertheless, Saab Australia is retaining sales, after-sales and marketing department autonomy from Holden.

It will leverage Holden’s infrastructure in areas of purchasing and cost savings and systems and logistics efficiencies.

And, for the moment, only around one in four Saab dealers will be co-franchised with a Holden dealer.

GoAuto can help you buy a new 9-3

Customer Terms and Conditions – New Car Lead enquires

Agreement

This is an agreement between GoAutoMedia Pty Limited ACN 094 732 457 of PO Box 18, Beach Road, Sandringham, VIC, 3191 (“we/us”), the owner and operator of the GoAuto.com.au website (“the website”) and the person wanting GoAuto.com.au to provide them with a lead for the purchase of a new car (“you”).

By completing a New Car Lead Enquiry, you agree to the terms and conditions and disclaimers and acknowledge the policies set out below.

Terms and Conditions

  • In order for us to effect a lead you must you must complete a New Car Lead Enquiry (“Enquiry”).
  • We will call you as soon as possible after you complete the Enquiry and certainly no later than the next business day. When we call, we will discuss with you your new car requirements.
  • You consent to our passing on the Enquiry and your requirements to an appropriate authorised motor car dealer as a lead.
  • We will contact you again in approximately eight days following your initial enquiry to check on the progress of the Enquiry.
  • While we will provide the dealer with the Enquiry and details of your new car requirements, we take no responsibility for what happens after passing on that material as a lead.
  • You acknowledge that we are a new car information service providing new car editorial information, pictures and prices to our customers as a guide only. Any new car prices published on the website are the manufacturers’ recommended retail prices and do not include delivery charges and on-road costs. Any authorized motor car dealer to which we pass on your Enquiry as a lead will provide you with full details of the price at which the vehicle will be sold to you.
  • You acknowledge that we do not sell motor vehicles. Any sale of a new car to you by a dealer after we have passed on your Enquiry to that dealer as a lead, is a sale by that dealer not by us.

Privacy Policy– New Car Lead Enquires

  • We take privacy very seriously. We understand that you will only complete an Enquiry if you can trust us to protect your personal information and use it appropriately. Our policy is to ensure that the personal information collected when you make an Enquiry is only used for the purposes of connecting you with an authorised motor car dealer.
  • We do not on-sell information collected from you or any other customer.
  • From time to time, we may email you with information or promotions that may be relevant for car buyers. You will continue to receive communications from us unless you tell us that you do not want to receive any advertising or promotional information in the future by unsubscribing from these communications.
close
* Denotes required field
** Australian inquiries only

Click to share

Click below to follow us on
Facebook  Twitter  Instagram

Saab models

Catch up on all of the latest industry news with this week's edition of GoAutoNews
Click here