2004 Saab 9-3 Convertible Road Test

Speaking of therapy, after a double ice cream cone at my favorite Italian gelato haunt, pistachio e cremolino no less, I take a quick blast up the serpentine mountain

On the serpentine road up to the local ski hill I put the 9-3 Convertible through its paces. (Photo: Shawn Pisio, Canadian Auto Press)

road toward the now closed (for the season) ski hill behind my wooded home. Being closed, there's hardly an opposing car in my path, allowing a true test of the 9-3 convertible's character. I toggle the dash mounted switch to raise the roof and windows, might as well test for wind noise while I'm at it. It quickly raises and locks into place while the windows seal the cabin tight, all before my hands find their way back onto the steering wheel.

The 2.0-liter engine makes a sound unique to almost every Saab I've ever driven: the zesty zing of a relatively small displacement four-cylinder followed by the sinful whine of a spooling turbocharger.

The whine made by the turbocharged 210-hp 2.0-liter engine is traditional Saab fare. (Photo: Shawn Pisio, Canadian Auto Press)

Saab doesn't try to cover up the whining noise from under the hood either, proud of allowing another traditional Saab character trait to shine through.

The whine is accompanied by energetic forward momentum, thanks to 210 horsepower and 221 lb-ft of torque, along with a slight dose of front-wheel drive torque-steer, another sign of Saab lineage. My guess is the torque-steer would be a little worse if my 5-speed automatic with manual mode was an actual 6-speed manual, as is usually the case, but I can't say for sure. Still it's nothing to get in a tizzy about unless trying to power out of a tight corner from standstill. Here the steering locks into place and won't release easily without first letting off the throttle. Instant fix? Don't power out of a tight corner from standstill.