SAAB AERO
I've just tested a Saab 9-3 Aero 20th Anniversary convertible, which commemorates the Swedes' pursuit of a summer car. It has a starting price of $42,710 and the anniversary package adds $1,995, which is actually two option packages. The price as tested: $47,960.
The right paint color can make a car, which is the case on this one, with its special electric blue metallic paint and interior with parchment leather and blue accents. Other extras in the anniversary package include matching paint on the hard tonneau cover and special wheels. Then Saab throws in the Touring package, which includes seat position memory for the driver, express up and down windows, remote opening for windows and the top, rain-sensing wipers and rear park assist, which alerts by tone to the nearness of objects.
Add these extras to the list of luxury-class conveniences - one touch power top, 300-watt six-CD audio system, rollover protection with four air bags - and it is an attractive and desirable package.
It has to be, because so are its competitors, mostly the new Volvo C70, Audi A4, BMW 3-Series and Mercedes-Benz CLK.
The Saab's near-$50,000 price will raise eyebrows, but it is more reasonable than some of the comparably equipped competitors. And it is an enjoyable convertible to drive, mostly.
Airflow is excellent with the top down, even on the interstate. No flimsy back-seat air deflector is needed. The top powers back quickly, in about 20 seconds, and lowers the windows, all four. Back seat space is limited. None of the riders I chauffeured raised a complaint, but they were 12 years old.
The top headliner is finely finished and insulated with no trace of a rag top. Sightlines aren't bad when the top is up and there's decent luggage space when the top is down.
The 250-horsepower, 2.8-liter V-6 with high-output turbocharger has plenty of boost most of the time. It's only a dog with the shiftable Sentronic six-speed automatic when you're trying to scoot across a busy thoroughfare. It takes time for the turbo to boost the car into action.
Those times of need may be a small percentage of the total driving time, but when they occur, they cause high anxiety because traffic is bearing down. And by the time the turbo lights up, the surge causes the front wheels to spin and squeal. Twelve-year-olds love that; wives, not so much.
Turbo lag can be finessed with the manual transmission by just raising the revs a bit before you let out the clutch. The automatic requires more careful assessment and planning of sudden power needs, but I did appreciate how easily it gives a downshift and holds gears on hills.
I also wasn't fond of the digital screen to access radio and navigation controls. There's too much button-pushing to page through to the right category, which prompted my gadget-savvy 16-year-old to ask, "Why does it have to be so frustrating?" It really doesn't.
And as Saab is integrating technology, it's time to rethink the ignition in the center console idea. At one time that odd placement for the key was, in part, a safety feature. The low placement kept the key out of the way of a knee in the event of a crash. Now, however, that placement occupies prime territory for a better cup holder. So replace the key port with a keyless start system, which is almost expected on a car costing as much as this one. If Nissan can put it on a $15,000 subcompact, Saab can put it in this offering.
Then for safety's sake, get rid of the complex, pop-out cup holder that's up high in the center of the instrument panel. It may be handy for a passenger, but in the event of a crash or evasive maneuver, that cup becomes a messy missile. And it's an irritant to owners who complain that drinks drip onto the center console below.
I'm hard on convertibles because I drive 'em with the top down as much as possible, as long it isn't a hassle to peel back the top. This one isn't.
Buckling up and hitting the top-down switch in the 9-3 is like pulling off a pair of tight, hot shoes after a long day and feeling the freedom and relief. That's how I'd like to start every day.
SIDEBAR: SPECS BOX
2006 Saab 9-3 Aero 20th Anniversary convertible
Body style: subcompact, front-wheel-drive four-seater
Engine: aluminum, 250-horsepower, 2.8-liter high-output turbocharged six cylinder
Transmission: 6-speed manual, optional Sentronic 6-speed automatic
Acceleration: 0 to 60 mph, 7 seconds
EPA fuel economy estimates: 17 mpg city, 28 highway; 91 octane recommended
DIMENSIONS
Cargo space: 8.3 cubic feet, top down
Front head/leg/shoulder room: 38.1/41.4/55.9 inches
Rear head/leg/shoulder room: 37/32.3/44.7 inches
Length/wheelbase: 182.4/105.3 inches
Curb weight: 3,700 pounds
Steering: turning circle, 39 feet
FEATURES
Standard equipment: automatic soft top with hard tonneau and remote up/down, automatic climate control, multifunction computer, 300-watt 6-CD audio system, cruise control, power windows with express up/down, power (heated) outside mirrors, lockable glove box, power front seats, leather steering wheel with audio controls, center armrest with 12-volt outlet, projector beam xenon headlights
Safety equipment: front air bags, front head and torso side bags, automatic rollover protection, belt pretensioners, active head restraints, four-wheel ventilated disc brakes with electronic brake-force distribution, brake assist, ABS, traction control and electronic stability program
PRICING
Base: $42,710, including $720 destination; price as tested, $47,960; includes free scheduled maintenance for 3 years/36,000 miles and new-vehicle warranty for 4 years/50,000 miles
Options on test car: Sentronic automatic transmission, $1,350; navigation system, $1,995; 20th anniversary package, $1,995, includes electric blue metallic paint and matching hard tonneau cover, double 5-spoke alloy wheels, parchment leather upholstery with blue accents; Touring package (no charge) includes three-position seat memory, express up-down windows, remote opening for windows and convertible top, auto-dimming rearview mirror, rear park assist, rain-sensing wipers, garage door opener
The competition: BMW 3-Series, Audi A4 3.0, Mercedes CLK350, Volvo C70
Where assembled: Graz, Austria
PLUSES: Easy drivability and convertibility; huge lockable glove box; gorgeous metallic blue paint and parchment leather.
MINUSES: Turbo lag; pricey; key in center console is obsolete with the availability of keyless start systems; pop-out cup holder in the instrument panel is a hazard waiting to launch a missile of soda or hot coffee.
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