SAAB 9-3 2005 Review

But Noosa isn't playing the game. Instead of being beautiful one day, perfect the next, brushed aluminium skies occasionally sprinkle on Saab's parade of 9-3 convertibles at the launch of its expanded model range.

And to rub salt into the wounds, the Noosa parking attendants have placed infringement notices on some vehicles and the picnic cooler provided by Saab to each driver doesn't fit in the boot when the top is down.

But that's the convertible experience for you.

You gamble with the elements and you put up with the niggling inconveniences for the excitement of open-top driving.

Stevenson, previously of new owner GM, enthuses about the experience of driving through the country and smelling the pine in a forest, hearing the birds in the trees and feeling the cool air as you cross a bridge over a country creek. All experiences he has also gleaned from his other love – motorcycling.

But he's preaching to the converted here in Queensland.

While Saab sales floundered elsewhere in 2004 during the nation's record new car sales growth, the Sunshine State held on strongly and gave the company their only sales growth.

In particular, convertible sales were up spectacularly with increases of more than 30 per cent on the Gold Coast, and more than 10 per cent in Brisbane. And now big dealer Zupps Brisbane has been added to the Saab dealership list.

The new Saab 9-3 Convertible model line-up hopes to bridge the yawning price void between Astra and BMW/Audi four-seat convertibles.

The strategy is simple.

Drop the turbo power, lose some features (such as climate control and fog lights) and trim $6000 off the price of the Linear, now costing $66,900 in manual and $69,400 for the auto.

Then slot in a mid-spec model, the $73,900 Vector ($76,400 for auto), between the Linear and the top-of-the line Aero at $89,900 for manual and $92,400 for auto.

Basically the Vector is about the same spec level as the previous Linear.

Stevenson says this makes the Linear an aspirational carrot for Holden Astra Convertible buyers wanting to extend themselves, even though it would be cannibalising the new parent company's market and almost a $20,000 leap from a top spec German-built Astra.

However, the standard Linear equipment still includes leather-trimmed seats and steering wheel, 16-inch twin five-spoke alloy wheels (Vector and Aero have 17-inch wheels), remote and on-the-move opening roof (up to 35km/h), automatic expanding boot (when the top is up), body-coloured lower front and rear bumpers and side sills, pop-up roll bars, heated front seats, cruise control and rain-sensing wipers.

Now, the "base model" comes with a two-litre low-pressure turbocharged engine, despite the fact that it is misleadingly badged 1.8t on the boot.

While this smaller mill develops only 110kW of power at 5500rpm, Saab is emphasising torque.

"A lot of people talk power, but they drive torque," says Stevenson who has come across from parent company Holden last month.

The Linear develops constant 240Nm of torque from 2000rpm to 3500rpm which compensates for the lack of top-end power.

This means it won't baulk at hills and it can carry more than a picnic cooler without labouring. But don't dice with trucks when entering a roundabout. It lags down low.

Yet spirited driving through the Sunshine Coast hinterland recorded fuel consumption of just 9.5l/100km on the trip computer's average economy readout.

The mid-spec Vector features a 129kW two-litre turbo engine with 265Nm of torque, while the Aero claims 155kW and 300Nm, unchanged from the 2004 model.

Stevenson expects about 50 per cent of buyers to choose a $4000 luxury pack available on Linear and Vector models. It includes electric front seats (driver with three-position memory), anti-theft alarm, parking sensors and six-disc CD changer.

New exterior convertible colours are Chilli Red and Parchment Silver.

Saab claims a 50-50 split between male and female buyers, but expects to attract even more females in future.

Stevenson said his experience in fleet sales in GM would be helpful in getting young execs into the convertible through novated leases.

Cheers for Saab which now has full-size spare wheels in all models, except the 95 Aero, and has a maximum 5-star crash rating by EuroNCAP for the convertible.

But boos for its poor resale value which Stevenson admitted was an obstacle.

However, he did stress that poor resale value was more of a perception than reality.