An Exclusive Tanning Saloon
General Motors officially unveiled the Saab 9-3 Convertible at a gala event the night prior to the first of two New York Auto Show media days in April. Where was I? At Robert Deniro's Tribeca Grill downing scallops with a rival domestic automaker. If I hadn't stumbled over it the next day, hidden in a rather obscure Saab display, I wouldn't have noticed it existed.
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| Unveiled at the New York Auto Show in April, the Saab 9-3 Convertible was mostly noticed by Saab dealers and Swabian loyalists. (Photo: General Motors) |
Still, exist it does, and I must admit it looked particularly attractive in its boisterous green metallic color scheme. If you're not a Saab loyalist or dealer, the advent of a new convertible model probably won't be earth shattering news. It looks great, but doesn't break from the usual practice of fixing a fabric top to a beheaded two-door 9-3 coupe.
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| The 9-3 Convertible is a lot more specialized than just a 9-3 with its top cut off. (Photo: General Motors) |
Of course there is no 9-3 coupe anymore, with all completely updated 2003 models sporting 4-doors and a conventional trunk. The new 9-3 Convertible is therefore a lot more specialized that initial appearances suggest.
It gets the sedan's perfectly smooth front fascia, attractive rear taillights and completely reworked interior, the latter of which is substantially improved in plastics quality, switchgear as well as fit and finish.