Anyone seen the auto express April fool joke about the 9-3 Aero.
The newcomer isn't dramatic enough to set enthusiasts pulses racing[/b] If by dramatic they mean slide off the road into the nearest ditch then GOOD I'm glad the Saab isn't dramatic all I look for in a performance cars handling is that I bottle out before the car and not end up thinking I can drive like Richard Burns or Tiff Needell. I drive on the roads not a special stage or an airfield so when I get it wrong it becomes expensive (to me). It just annoys me that motoring journalists can get away with stupid remarks like the above without anyone being able to judge just how good a real driver they are. All these so called experts get me mad I mean they even tried to compare the Aero with the MG ZT 190 but then I always understood that an expert knows more and more about less and less until they end up knowing everything about nothing

AutoExpress is an all year round April Fool's joke

Pity that they can influence people though, as with most UK motoring mags always banging on that anything German especially a certain make from the south of Germany near Munich is the superior car the uneducated (i.e most B-W drivers) seem to believe them.

Mmm

Yes if they have Ford-VW-BMW-Jaguar badges they will always have a good review regardless of how pitiful the product is.

Sha@@ed shocks means the vectra is being used more and I was overtaken by a moron in a Golf GT TDi today (I let him as I preferred him not to tailgate me). I was quite appalled on how bad the thing was at cornering on the A61 (worse than the old Aero http://www.saabscene.com/forum/images/smilies/rolleyes.gif ).

It's getting to the point that Nidd Vale are expecting me to part with my cash for a car and they would probably think that I would be taking the mickey if I asked to take a 9-3 Aero or a 2.3 9-5 out for a test-drive.. http://www.saabscene.com/forum/images/smilies/rolleyes.gif

Does anyone know if there are any other engine options coming soon??

Saab 9-3 2.0t HOT Aero

Turbos have long been a Saab trademark. In 1977, the Swedish firm became an innovator when it unveiled the 99 Turbo - the first really successful blown saloon. A host of Saab Turbos have followed, and today there's not a model in the company's line-up that doesn't come with a turbocharger attached.

So why has Saab turned to Japan to source the blower for its flagship 9-3? The answer is that the company wants to reinject some drama into its sporting range-topper, and rather than develop a new turbine system for what will be a relatively low volume car, it has borrowed a larger Mitsubishi turbo unit to give the new 2.0 HOT (High Output Turbo) Aero a big boost. The beefier blower means the engine now develops 210bhp, with a decent torque figure of 300Nm at 2,500rpm. There's very little lag, and the turbo is barely perceptible other than for a shrill whistle under hard acceleration.

It might not be the fastest car in its class off the mark, but in-gear thrust between 50-70mph is incredibly quick, and aerodynamic efficiency is significantly better than that of standard 9-3s. Subtle spoilers have cut front and back-end lift by 70 and 40 per cent respectively, and the result is a car that feels much more settled and stable at speed. What's more, firmer suspension offers greater control on twisty, undulating roads. Buyers have a choice of six-speed manual or five-speed automatic gearboxes, the latter with a manual shift facility. Of the two, we favour the auto, because it's less of a handful under acceleration, and the high torque figure means there's little loss in performance terms.

The Aero also comes with an interior trimmed with slate grey or beige leather. While the cabin is ergonomically well laid out, as with other 9-3s there is a baffling array of switches for the climate and audio functions, while the fit and finish on the centre console and handbrake could be better.

Overall, the Aero is a swift, comfortable and luxurious compact cruiser - but does it recall Saab's past turbo-charged glories? Not really. Quick and calm, rather than fast and frantic, are the order of the day. The Aero is pleasant enough, but does little to excite. Jörg Maltzan

Article from: Auto Express

tbh i agree with that last posted review. I test drove an aero just the other day, whilst its swift no doubt, its does feel a tad underpowered. You cant help but feel after a little while why didnt they just dump the 2.3 HOT in there. It could do with that extra 40bhp. to this day i still prefer my V6, and thats primarily why ive held of buying a new 9-3SS.

Then again lots of rumours about a twin turbocharged V6 4WD version http://www.saabscene.com/forum/images/smilies/eek.gif in 2004 , and that the current aero is just a stop gap till then, which would make a lot of sense

It's inetersting to me that Auto express compared the new 9-3 to an MGZT190 as, prior to me purchasing my MY2000 9-5 Aero only six weeks ago I also test drove an MGZT190, Saab 9-3 Aero & Saab 9-5 Aero within a few days of each other & I can honestly say thet that both of the Aeros felt significantly faster acceleration wise than the MGZT.

The performance gap between the Aero's & the MG felt wider to me than the on paper figures would suggest.

Out of interest, did they make any mention of the tooth-jarring ride on the MG?

To quote Autoexpress (am I allowed to use such abusive words like autoexpress )

+ points for the MG were as follows:

Fine Chassis, attractive styling, strong performance, generous standard equipment levels.

- points
Less economical than the Saab, higher CO2 emissions