Auto loans: 2008 Saab 9-3
Rent one for a week first, or ask us to find one for you. Rated 10.4 to 13.1 L/100 km combined (EPA). 2 NHTSA recall campaigns. CarmaCars is not a lender, dealer or lessor, and does not arrange financing or leases. We rent cars, and sell one only when it is listed for sale on this page with its price.
- For sale by us
- 0
- Combined
- 10.4 to 13.1 L/100 km
- Recalls
- 2
For sale
Rent a 2008 Saab 9-3 for a week to try it on your own roads, and tell us what you want: we look for one for you.
CarmaCars is not a lender, dealer or lessor, and does not arrange financing or leases. We rent cars, and sell one only when it is listed for sale on this page with its price.
2008 Saab 9-3 specs
| Spec | Powertrain 1 | Powertrain 2 | Powertrain 3 | Powertrain 4 | Powertrain 5 | Powertrain 6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 2.0L 4-cylinder turbo | 2.0L 4-cylinder turbo | 2.8L 6-cylinder turbo | 2.8L 6-cylinder turbo | 2.8L 6-cylinder turbo | 2.8L 6-cylinder turbo |
| Drive | Front-wheel drive | Front-wheel drive | All-wheel drive | Front-wheel drive | All-wheel drive | Front-wheel drive |
| Transmission | 6-speed manual | 5-speed automatic | 6-speed manual | 6-speed manual | 6-speed automatic | 6-speed automatic |
| Fuel | Premium gas | Premium gas | Premium gas | Premium gas | Premium gas | Premium gas |
| City | 12.6 L/100 km | 12.9 L/100 km | 14.7 L/100 km | 14.7 L/100 km | 15.7 L/100 km | 15.7 L/100 km |
| Highway | 8.3 L/100 km | 9.5 L/100 km | 9.8 L/100 km | 9.0 L/100 km | 9.8 L/100 km | 9.8 L/100 km |
| Combined | 10.4 L/100 km | 11.6 L/100 km | 12.4 L/100 km | 12.4 L/100 km | 13.1 L/100 km | 13.1 L/100 km |
| CO₂ | 243.7 g/km | 271.7 g/km | 291 g/km | 291 g/km | 307 g/km | 307 g/km |
| Cost to drive 100 km | $18.20 | $20.30 | $21.70 | $21.70 | $22.93 | $22.93 |
2008 Saab 9-3: every figure
| Figure | Powertrain 1 | Powertrain 2 | Powertrain 3 | Powertrain 4 | Powertrain 5 | Powertrain 6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Displacement | 2.0 L | 2.0 L | 2.8 L | 2.8 L | 2.8 L | 2.8 L |
| Cylinders | 4 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| MPG city (US) | 19 | 18 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 15 |
| MPG highway (US) | 28 | 25 | 24 | 26 | 24 | 24 |
| MPG combined (US) | 23 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 18 |
| MPG combined (Imperial) (converted from the US figure) | 28 | 24 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 22 |
| Luggage volume (litres converted from EPA's cubic feet) | 850 L (30 cu ft) | 850 L (30 cu ft) | 850 L (30 cu ft) | 850 L (30 cu ft) | 850 L (30 cu ft) | 850 L (30 cu ft) |
| Fuel cost a year (EPA) (EPA: 15,000 miles at its fuel prices) | US$3,617 | US$4,033 | US$4,350 | US$4,350 | US$4,550 | US$4,550 |
| Fuel cost for 20,000 km (at $1.75 a litre for premium) | $3,640 | $4,060 | $4,340 | $4,340 | $4,586 | $4,586 |
Sources: fuel use, MPG, CO2, electric range, battery, charge time, luggage volume and the annual fuel cost are the US EPA's (fueleconomy.gov). Imperial MPG, litres, inches and pounds are converted from those figures. Figures no free source publishes for this car (power, torque, acceleration, top speed, fuel tank, towing) are left out.
What to check when buying the 2008 Saab 9-3
- NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for this model year. Ask the seller for proof each one was fixed; a dealer can check it by the VIN.
- Owners filed 184 complaints with NHTSA, most often about air bags (71), engine (66) and fuel/propulsion system (13). Have those parts checked before you buy.
| Campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16V063000 | 2016-02-03 | air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module | General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2006-2011 Saab 9-3 vehicles manufactured May 31, 2002, to February 15, 2011, 2006-2009 Saab 9-5 vehicles manufactured June 7, 2005, to May 28, 2009, and 2008-2009 Saturn Astra vehicles manufactured April 11, 2007, to July 24, 2008. Upon deployment of the... |
| 14V318000 | 2014-06-12 | seat belts:front:retractor | General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2004-2011 Saab 9-3 Convertible vehicles manufactured July 30, 2003, to February 15, 2011. In the affected vehicles, the driver's side front seat belt retractor may break, causing the seat belt webbing not to retract. |
Source: NHTSA (US) recall campaigns and owner complaints for this model year.
Thinking of buying the 2008 Saab 9-3?
No 2008 Saab 9-3 is for sale by CarmaCars at the moment; this page helps you judge the car before you buy one elsewhere. CarmaCars does not finance cars. Renting is not a loan, so there is no credit check to rent. This page puts the 2008 Saab 9-3 in plain words for buyers: what it uses, what to check, and how to try one first.
Before you sign for the 9-3
Have a mechanic inspect a used one before you buy it. NHTSA has 184 owner complaints on file, mostly about air bags, engine and fuel/propulsion system. Look at the tires, brakes and battery; they are costly to replace. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for this model; ask the seller for proof each one was fixed.
Engine and fuel
The 2.0L 4-cylinder turbo, paired with a 6-speed manual, drives it. The turbo gives a small engine the pull of a bigger one when you need it. Front-wheel drive is the usual layout for cars this size, predictable in the rain and the snow.
It is rated 10.4 L/100 km combined: about 31 litres every 300 km. That works out to about $18.20 per 100 km at our price setting. At US fuel prices, the EPA estimates US$3,617 a year for 15,000 miles.
Is it right for your trip?
It suits a family trip where everyone and everything fits in one car. It suits a weekend away when the train does not reach where you are going.
Practical details
Its car body is low and settled, with a separate trunk. Its 850 litre trunk is enough for bulky luggage, a stroller or sports gear.
Rent it for a week first
Rent the 9-3 first, and buy only if it fits your life. If it is in our fleet, rent it; if not, a similar car gives you a feel for the class. Load it with your things and park it where you park; then decide.
Picking a year and a trim
Write down the VIN of any car you consider; it unlocks the recall and service history. Set a budget that includes tax, licensing, insurance and the first set of tires. Ask the seller which trim it is; badges can be swapped and options vary.
The cost of driving it
At our price setting, 100 km costs about $18.20 in fuel. Premium gas adds to the running cost compared with a car on regular. Get an insurance quote for this exact model before you buy; rates differ a lot between models.
Your move
A rental request is free; the offer shows the full price.
Rent it for a week before you buy
A week of your own driving tells you more than a test drive: the commute, the parking, the fuel. Rent a 2008 Saab 9-3 from us first.
Ask us about the 2008 Saab 9-3
Tell us your budget and when you want to buy; we look for a 2008 Saab 9-3 for you and reply within one business day.
Buying the 2008 Saab 9-3
Does CarmaCars sell the 2008 Saab 9-3?
CarmaCars rents cars and sells one now and then. Tell us what you want and we look for one, or rent one for a week first.
Can I rent a 2008 Saab 9-3 before I buy one?
Yes. Request it for a week (or longer, up to 365 days) and drive it as your own; nothing is charged until we confirm and you approve.
Does the 2008 Saab 9-3 have recalls?
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for it, in the table on this page. Ask for proof each was fixed.
What does the 2008 Saab 9-3 cost in fuel a year?
EPA puts it at US$3,617 a year for 15,000 miles at its fuel prices; at our price setting, 20,000 km cost about $3640.00.
Where do the figures come from?
Fuel use and fuel cost from the US EPA (fueleconomy.gov), dimensions and weight from NHTSA vPIC Canadian specifications, recalls and complaints from NHTSA. We leave out any figure no free source publishes.