I placed an order for my new 9-3 Convertible 2.0t yesterday. I wanted Espresso Black (with Parchment seats) but found out today that it won't be available until Januray 2004.

I'm terribly disappointed. I've gone for Steel Grey instead but I'm sure it's not going to be as stylish.

Has anyone else experienced availability problems?

Welcome to saabscene GrumpyNick

I saw that new Nocturn blue on a 93 convertible in my local dealer showroom the other day - to think they dropped midnight blue for that! Think of Frost Grey from 3 or so years back and you are about there!

Oh, dear, are you saying nocturne blue is yukky?

'er indoors is just about to change her much loved midnight blue, and I had told her (not having seen it in the flesh) that nocturne was virtually the same.

I agree, GrumpyNick, the espresso looks cool - what a bore they aren't doing it yet.

Is it me, or is Saab shooting itself in the foot on a daily basis

Originally posted by Fawlty:
Is it me, or is Saab shooting itself in the foot on a daily basis * *[/b]Indeed. And GM made it even easier to do so by nailing both feet to the floor...

The loan car i have for a week is the met black and it's sh*te it looks brown, keep away.

PS it was registered 01/03/03

Reading Saab (my local dealer) has an Espresso Black 9-3 saloon in the showroom and it's a gorgeous colour. However, now I've had a day to think about it I'm sure I'll be just as happy with Steel Grey. And it'll be easier to keep clean.

I'm still trying to understand why on earth a manufacturer would be daft enough to offer two black's in their colour lineup.....
I know from visiting my dealer today, that this Expresso Black is more of a very,very dark brownie-black colour, but you would think they could have called it Expresso 'something' but not black....perhaps it's just me.... http://www.saabscene.com/forum/images/smilies/rolleyes.gif

This new Glacier Blue could look nice, but it's no Cosmic Blue, that's for sure...
I think GM/Saab are seriously behind the game as far as exterior/interior colours are concerned...no imagination at all.

Originally posted by aeropilot:
I know from visiting my dealer today, that this Expresso Black is more of a very,very dark brownie-black colour, but you would think they could have called it Expresso 'something' but not black....perhaps it's just me.... * http://www.saabscene.com/forum/images/smilies/rolleyes.gif *
[/b]How seventies retro-kitsch When was the last time they made a brown Saab? Yeugh - you like them cos they look ugly.

I reckon they have called it "espresso black" because nobody is going to want to buy a brown car

Either that, or the marketing drones at GM have decided that the name appeals to the designer coffee drinking classes of our inner urban areas. http://www.saabscene.com/forum/images/smilies/rolleyes.gif

Maybe Starbucks should go into the car colour business, we would have "espresso black", "latte white", "mocha brown", "decaf grey", "french roast blue", and "vienna red".

How seventies retro-kitsch *When was the last time they made a brown Saab?[/b]/john

What about "Hazelnut" which was available on the outgoing c93 and facelifted 95? A kind of light bronze/brown metallic.

A truely diabolical colour - especially with the anthracite leather interior in the Aeros http://www.saabscene.com/forum/images/smilies/eek.gif - Apologies to anyone with this colour but even my dealer said "it took some getting used to".

I have not seen many Hazelnut Saabs - and presume it got dropped.

Saab certainly introduce some duff colours from time to time http://www.saabscene.com/forum/images/smilies/rolleyes.gif

Hazelnut. I've only seen two yet one stood in our showroom for almost a year. And was later sold to another dealer who had a customer for it. And one we sold almost in the beginning.

Captain, my neighbour had a 9-3 Convertible in Hazlenut Mica Metallic. Quite a nice colour I thought ...a world apart from the chocolate brown drudgery of 1970s colours

I've been browsing the Saab national stocklist for a month or so now in search of a car for my wife. I've been surprised (shocked? http://www.saabscene.com/forum/images/smilies/eek.gif ) at what appears to be the slow turnover of second hand cars at Saab dealers, whatever the colour. At a guess I would say that most of the stock has been there over two months, possibly three.

Perhaps the high hourly rate for servicing makes secondhand cars on the forecourt cheap decoration