I'm considering buying a 9-3 Vector 2.2TiD.. Have compared it to BMW320D Sport etc and have found the Saab to be much more comfortable..however after reading comments both here and on saabcentral.com I'm getting a little nervous about all the reported niggles and problems with things like handbrakes and stereos.. The 9-3 couldn't possibly be as bad as all this is it?? The car looks and feels good, but I couldn't drive a car that rattles and squeaks etc on every turn.. Hopefully I'm only hearing of the few lemons that exist and everybody else is ver happy.. Please give me an honest opinion "before" I buy.. PS.. Is the ES2-13 audio upgrade any better than the standard system or not?? Various people have promised to send feedback, but have yet to hear something definite.. Also anybody actually seen what Glacier Blue looks like???

I picked up my ARC at the beginning of February. I had two bugs in a week - the first after two minutes when the engine management light came on (bad connection) - and the second a week later when the car died due to an electrical fault. Since then I've 5000 km with no problems at all. Great car. Greatly admired car. Work away there...

I have purchased a 9-3 Linear with the Launch package on the fourth of June 2003 and so far after 5000km have had no problems. I think some of the problems reported where on earlier models, first group off the assembly line. This is a fabulous car, I really love driving it.

I've now reached 15,000 miles in my 2.2 TiD Vector, and apart from the minor initial niggles she has been absolutely great.

However, DO listen to the stereo / CD before buying and decide whether to upgrade it (my one regret is not doing this !).

Best of luck in your choice.

Cheers everybody..
Nice to know that not everybody has hated these after they've purchased. Am getting one out for a morning or afternoon just to be sure. I see my dealer has one with the ES2-13 fitted so hopefully will be able to do a pretty good on the spot comparison..

OK, everyone says the basic 4 speaker system is inadequate. Do you need to go to 13 speakers or is the 7 speaker system satisfactory?

Can you upgrade the 4 to 7 later? Or further?

By the time she makes up her mind what she wants, one of these might be on the cards http://www.saabscene.com/forum/images/smilies/rolleyes.gif

Have seen many complaints knocking around about the upgrades done afterwards. The system is Fibre Optic based between the head unit and the amps. from there on it's copper as normal, but you have to get door panels etc cut out at dealer to allow the extra speakers in front doors apparently. The most common complaint about this seems to be vibrating panels everywhere. Think I'll make up my mind earlier rather than later and let the factory fit whatever I choose. Seems to be easy enough to upgrade speakers, but it looks like you would be into lots of work to use an indepandant head unit. Just not worth it.

And there is the Question. Where are you going to put an aftermarket radio. The saab Radio is actually deeper in the Dasboard. The controls of the radio are integrated in one of the most impotant ecu's of the car. This one makes it possibles for the different Computers in the car to communicate.

Don't know how well this worked, but I've seen a picture of a car where someoen had replaced the CD player with a new head unit. I'm sure it looked a bit unusual with the original unit just above, but if it did the guy's job who am I to judge..

done 20 k in mine ..
pretty well fault free till today !!..bad cell in the battery stranded me ..
stereo
any thing is better than the 4 speaker jobbie..
I have th es2 -7 which I like a lot since they cured the rattling door panels on high vol (actually really high vol !!)
also 4 -speaker is not upgradeable (easily )
handbrake ..no probs (touch wood )
go for it !!

4 weeks of ownership, and here are some comments - 9-3 ARC
1) Four speaker stereo is awful. I can't understand what they were thinking of putting this into a 22k car
2) Two electrical faults - telling me it needed a service from 200km onwards. And intermittantly that the back doors is open ( and it's not) - but that leads to all the interior lights coming on!
3) The handbrake is flimsy, and I can see why people have had issues jammimg it on!
4)On sunday the draft excluding strip between the door and the window, decided it didn't like being where it was in the door.
5) The car is "nice to drive" - not up to BMW "fun" standards. The steering is very "light"
6) The seats are oh so comfortable!! Absolutely love them!!
7) Air con ( not climate control here in Swizzy) struggles when it gets to 35° plus
8)I hasn't "blown me a way" - it's ok!

Hi, I bought my 93 1.8 t vector with nav. system and ES3-13 business-package end of April. Had a problem with the remote during first two weeks (suddenly wouldn't work - for no apparant reason). Mechanic did a software-reset and everything was fine, never happened since. Just been to Scotland for two weeks, doing over 3K km with problems at all. Thanks to nav system found my way through Edinburgh without any problems and got anywere I wanted without any hassle at all.
I the Highlands I say one black 93 SS (other than mine) and thought: what a beauty.
General comment on 93 SS: see song no. 2 on RW's "I've been e..."

Got an Aero. Only 1k and no probs to date.

Got the 7 speaker system. No rattles. Good sound rather than fantastic.

Generally v impressed with whole package.

Mine is 2.0t Vector Auto. Now 10k and no problems so far. Audio ES1 w 7 speakers, sounds very good. I had it upgraded from the original 4-speaker system. Improvement is massive. Now I have bass too. No rattles. Very pleased with whole package. I know that first cars (built last Autumn) had some minor problems but it seems Saab has sorted them well out.

As an owner from the other side of the pond....
Almost 11K miles since January.
Have driven her through blizzards and tropical storms.
A few niggling issues (as I recall - I can't remember them, so they must not have been that bad!).
Still very happy with it!
Linear 175hp 2.0t, 5 speed, climate control/ Xenons, 17" wheels/sport chassis, 150W stereo, etc. Delivered 1/10.

Hi, I've just ordered my 2.0t Vector (UK). I'm wondering how people are getting on with the leather/textile seats as opposed to full leather. Never really liked leather, but am a bi worried about keeping the light coloured textile part clean. I'm definitely going to change my order to 13 speakers btw !