BMW 3 series better than 9-3ss, but the 9-3ss beats it (!?)

[kprm77]

The UK's Top Gear Magazine have been getting their knickers in a twist a bit. Seems their blind loyalty to all things Teutonic is getting the better of them.

In the 2003 New Car Buyers Guide, the "Small Executive Cars" tested are as follows:

Alfa Romeo 156
Audi A4
BMW 3 series
Jaguar X Type
Lexus IS and Sportcross
Mercedez Benz C-Class
MG ZT
Rover 75
Saab 9-3 Sport Saloon
Skoda Superb
Volvo S60

And the cars that took the honours were:

3rd.... Audi A4
2nd.... Saab 9-3ss
1st.... BMW 3-series

Yet the verdict for the Saab 9-3ss is:

A Saab that beats a BMW - surely some mistake? *[/b]

And the final paragraph of the test:

The net result of all this is a Saab that did something that would have been unthinkable just a few months ago. It beat the 3-Series in a TG test (and the X-Type and S60 as well). [/b]

Looks like they're so used to putting the Beemer at the top, they completely forgot that the Saab was actually better!

[Madcap]

It wasn't Jeremy (nice suit jacket with the jeans) Clarkson who did the test...was it.
Then it would make sense..don't think he knows what he's talking about does he?

[welshwizard]

Same when the 9-5 came out in '97

Regardless of whatever comes out in the family car class, and how good it is, it's always the Mundano (which I don't fit in) and Focus always win the group tests. Yes, they might go round corners, but how many 6 year old Fords do you see around that do not have BLUE smoke belching out of their exhausts??

Let's face it if they stuck a BMW badge on a Metro then it would have been a much better car don't you think?

[adrian]

I was thinking the over day ... yes it does happen sometimes. With Saab reducing its engineering staff and saying that they will be working much more closely with GM Europe engineering maybe the 9-3SS will be the last true Saab? I do get the feeling looking at the 9-3SS and having driven one that this is a real Saab, more so than the 9000 and much more so than the GM900/9-3. I guess time will tell whether its seen in the same way as the classic 900 - I think it will. Guess I'd better save my pennies ready to buy the last run-out anniversary model of the 9-3SS when its rebadged Victor oops Vectra replacement comes out. Maybe they will call the run-out model a Ruby - nice

[patrice03]

Thanks for info, surprising they tested the saab 9-3 last month together with s60, bmw, audi a4.. and the saab did not perform so well. do u have a link where to view the whole report ??? thanks!

[Richard A]

However, in Clarksons rant section, he does describe the 9-3ss as the only car in it's class that could be described as cool.

[mark e]

Ah well, I guess we'll all have to move permanently to lane 3 now...

[kprm77]

Thanks for info, surprising they tested the saab 9-3 last month together with s60, bmw, audi a4.. and the saab did not perform so well. do u have a link where to view the whole report ??? thanks! *[/b]

Welcome to Saabscene Patrice03

I've not actually seen the test the article referred to - I'll see if there's anything at www.topgear.com

[mikej]

You can probably pick up a reprint from your local dealer as i did(bond street saab, leicester).Patrice03 don't know if you can get it over with you though.

I was invited by saab in march 2002 to do market research and also invited were audi a4, volvo s60 and bmw 3 series drivers.

[patrice03]

thanks for the info. I am doubtful that local dealer will have such material (luxembourgish dealer !!!) but we never know, saab network is a small club !

[sje]

I did test drive the BMW 318 (143bhp from memory) it was a beautifully balanced car. More so than the Saab 9-3ss in that respect.

Ofcourse I went for the Saab and it seems that Top Gear should have too.

[pepsimax]

Car Reviews...yuk biased rubbish half the time!

One month What Car love the Saab 93ss, the next its dog stuff on their shoe. Did the car change...NO

Did they get a wad of notes from Bavaria...? Probably.

Top Gear - gave the 93ss a stonking review. Ultimately though there's only one really cool reviewer...YOU!

Get off zee bum, and drive your shortlisted cars. Choose the one you like most...see buying cars can be easy!

[StanleyB]

This whole review business reminds me of 4 years ago. I went to car show room to have a look at a Volvo C70 ( I have had various Volvos, and my wife still owns one). That after some very good refview. But on test driving the car, I hated the shake, rattle and roll. On my way out of the showroom, I saw a GMM900S 2.3. Gave that a spin just for fun, and ended up buying that one instead! As bad as the reviewers saay thatthe GM900 is, it felt far better than the C70 to me.

[welshwizard]

Got some literature for the BMW 3-series ES models today, ideal material for reading in my office (which doubles as a bathroom

Natty steering wheel, colour coded door handles, and some alloys

YAWN!