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2004 Saab 9-3 Compact Near Luxury Convertible
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The 2004 Saab 9-3 Convertible has been improved in every way. The handling and performance are better. It is lighter, yet bigger by 51mm in overall length. It is 70mm larger at the wheelbase: this is one of the reasons the car handles and rides so much better than its predecessor. And the styling is much better.
The 9-3 is available as a convertible, or a sedan, for now, though they are planning many variations. For example a 9-3 Sport-Hatch concept car was introduced at the 2003 Frankfurt Auto Show. The Sport Hatch is a futuristic, five-door, four-seater with a fastback. It draws its inspiration from the Saab concept premiered in 2002, the 9-3X crossover coupe.
Exterior Styling
The 2004 Saab 9-3 Convertible is more refined, aerodynamic and sportier than its predecessor. The car retains the rounded, coupe-like look of the sedan. The doors are large, like on a coupe, giving the car a cohesive and sporty look without too many seams. The roof's shape is smooth and flowing when closed. It all looks so good together it makes us think a coupe version should be in the making.
The 9-3 Convertible's grill is standard Saab fare. It has two small side air intakes and a single, large split-center one in the middle. The headlights share a similar shape, so the front looks just like a Saab sedan, up to the A pillar. From there back it is a completely different car and really looks like a two-door coupe configuration.
It only takes 20 seconds to open the high-quality, soft-touch retractable top. Instead of the Toneau cover opening upwards, like a lid, it slides backward. We had the opportunity to test the roof mechanism under fire. While traveling through the hills of Georgia we were hit with a sudden, and intense, rainstorm. We pulled to the side of the road, put the car in park, and activated the roof. In less than 30 seconds we were on our way, and still dry.
The high-quality, soft-top roof has three layers. On the outside is a waterproof layer. On the inside is a light colored headliner that is very nice to the touch. In the middle there is a layer of thick fleece good for weather and sound insulation.
When the roof is closed the Toneau cover integrates well into the rear seat headrests. It also camouflages the pop-up rollover bars giving the car the roadster-like look of an old Thunderbird. The way the Toneau cover integrates with the headrest and the rear deck is fantastic. It's indescribable, so you'll have to go into a dealership to take a look at it yourself. It's an elegant high-tech design that flows into a small, rear spoiler integrated into the trunk lid.
If winter sports are your thing Saab offers an optional CargoWing, which is a rear spoiler to which skis and snowboards can be attached.
The taillights are similar to those found on current Mercedes-Benz and Honda cars; clear plastic, backup-light lamps float in the middle of red ones for the brakes.
Surround Trim, as Saab calls it, is another design cue that defies description. Essentially it is body molding that delimits the car's exterior from the interior. It is part of what makes the Toneau cover invisible when the top is down, giving the car clean lines. Surround Trim comes standard with a black matte finish. For a more integrated look it can be ordered in the same color as the body.
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