SAAB AERO - The touring package of the Saab 9-3 Aero 20th Anniversary includes seat position memory for the driver, express up and down windows and remote opening for Windows. CNS Photo courtesy of Saab. There's something about the fresh air of top-down driving that makes nature relevant even on the commute to work. The sights and smells act as organizers to sort out problems and put stress in the back seat. It is simple therapy, but expensive. I've just tested a Saab 9-3 Aero 20th Anniversary convertible, which commemorates the Swedes' pursuit of a summer car. It has a starting price of $42,710 and the anniversary package adds $1,995, which is actually two option packages. The price as tested: $47,960. The right paint color can make a car, which is the case on this one, with its special electric blue metallic paint and interior with parchment leather and blue accents. Other extras in the anniversary package include matching paint on the hard tonneau cover and special wheels. Then Saab throws in the Touring package, which includes seat position memory for the driver, express up and down windows, remote opening for windows and the top, rain-sensing wipers and rear park assist, which alerts by tone to the nearness of objects. Add these extras to the list of luxury-class conveniences - one touch power top, 300-watt six-CD audio system, rollover protection with four air bags - and it is an attractive and desirable package. It has to be, because so are its competitors, mostly the new Volvo C70, Audi A4, BMW 3-Series and Mercedes-Benz CLK. The Saab's near-$50,000 price will raise eyebrows, but it is more reasonable than some of the comparably equipped competitors. And it is an enjoyable convertible to drive, mostly. Airflow is excellent with the top down, even on the interstate. No flimsy back-seat air deflector is needed. The top powers back quickly, in about 20 seconds, and lowers the windows, all four. Back seat space is limited. None of the riders I chauffeured raised a complaint, but they were 12 years old. The top headliner is finely finished and insulated with no trace of a rag top. Sightlines aren't bad when the top is up and there's decent luggage space when the top is down. The 250-horsepower, 2.8-liter V-6 with high-output turbocharger has plenty of boost most of the time. It's only a dog with the shiftable Sentronic six-speed automatic when you're trying to scoot across a busy thoroughfare. It takes time for the turbo to boost the car into action. Those times of need may be a small percentage of the total driving time, but when they occur, they cause high anxiety because traffic is bearing down. And by the time the turbo lights up, the surge causes the front wheels to spin and squeal. Twelve-year-olds love that; wives, not so much. Turbo lag can be finessed with the manual transmission by just raising the revs a bit before you let out the clutch. The automatic requires more careful assessment and planning of sudden power needs, but I did appreciate how easily it gives a downshift and holds gears on hills. I also wasn't fond of the digital screen to access radio and navigation controls. There's too much button-pushing to page through to the right category, which prompted my gadget-savvy 16-year-old to ask, "Why does it have to be so frustrating?" It really doesn't. And as Saab is integrating technology, it's time to rethink the ignition in the center console idea. At one time that odd placement for the key was, in part, a safety feature. The low placement kept the key out of the way of a knee in the event of a crash. Now, however, that placement occupies prime territory for a better cup holder. So replace the key port with a keyless start system, which is almost expected on a car costing as much as this one. If Nissan can put it on a $15,000 subcompact, Saab can put it in this offering. Then for safety's sake, get rid of the complex, pop-out cup holder that's up high in the center of the instrument panel. It may be handy for a passenger, but in the event of a crash or evasive maneuver, that cup becomes a messy missile. And it's an irritant to owners who complain that drinks drip onto the center console below. I'm hard on convertibles because I drive 'em with the top down as much as possible, as long it isn't a hassle to peel back the top. This one isn't. Buckling up and hitting the top-down switch in the 9-3 is like pulling off a pair of tight, hot shoes after a long day and feeling the freedom and relief. That's how I'd like to start every day. SIDEBAR: SPECS BOX 2006 Saab 9-3 Aero 20th Anniversary convertible Transmission: 6-speed manual, optional Sentronic 6-speed automatic Acceleration: 0 to 60 mph, 7 seconds EPA fuel economy estimates:17 mpg city, 28 highway; 91 octane recommended DIMENSIONS Cargo space: 8.3 cubic feet, top down Front head/leg/shoulder room: 338.1/41.4/55.9 inches Rear head/leg/shoulder room: 37/32.3/44.7 inches Length/wheelbase: 182.4/105.3 inches Curb weight: 3,700 pounds Steering: turning circle, 39 feet FEATURES Standard equipment includes: automatic soft top with hard tonneau and remote up/down, automatic climate control, multifunction computer, 300-watt 6-CD audio system, cruise control, power windows with express up/down, power (heated) outside mirrors, lockable glove box, power front seats, leather steering wheel with audio controls, center armrest with 12-volt outlet, projector beam xenon headlights Safety equipment includes: front air bags, front head and torso side bags, automatic rollover protection, belt pretensioners, active head restraints, four-wheel ventilated disc brakes with electronic brake-force distribution, brake assist, ABS, traction control and electronic stability program PRICING Base: $42,710, including $720 destination; price as tested, $47,960; includes free scheduled maintenance for 3 years/36,000 miles and new-vehicle warranty for 4 years/50,000 miles Options on test car:Sentronic automatic transmission, $1,350; navigation system, $1,995; 20th anniversary package, $1,995, includes electric blue metallic paint and matching hard tonneau cover, double 5-spoke alloy wheels, parchment leather upholstery with blue accents; Touring package (no charge) includes three-position seat memory, express up-down windows, remote opening for windows and convertible top, auto-dimming rearview mirror, rear park assist, rain-sensing wipers, garage door opener The competition: BMW 3-Series, Audi A4 3.0, Mercedes CLK350, Volvo C70 Where assembled: Graz, Austria PLUSES: Easy drivability and convertibility; huge lockable glove box; gorgeous metallic blue paint and parchment leather. MINUSES: Turbo lag; pricey; key in center console is obsolete with the availability of keyless start systems; pop-out cup holder in the instrument panel is a hazard waiting to launch a missile of soda or hot coffee. Mark Maynard is driving in cyberspace at mark.maynard@uniontrib.com © Copley News Service SIDEBAR More topless touring By Mark Maynard © Copley News Service Euro Cabriolets: Here are four six-cylinder, four-passenger luxury convertibles that compete with the Saab 9-3. Audi A4 3.0 Cabriolet MSRP: 3.0 Cabriolet quattro (all-wheel drive), $46,210, including $720 freight charge. Price climbs to $52,000 when comparably equipped to the Saab 20th Anniversary. WARRANTY: 4-year/50,000-mile limited warranty with roadside assistance NOTE: An all-new 2007 A4 and high-performance S4 go on sale in mid- to late September. PERFORMANCE 220-hp, 3.0-liter V-6 5-speed Tiptronic automatic transmission 0-60 mph: 8.4 seconds Fuel economy: 18/25; 91 octane Wheelbase/length: 104.5/180 inches Turning circle: 36.4 feet Curb weight: 4,023 pounds Front head/leg/shoulder room: 37.9/41.3/53 inches Rear head/leg/shoulder room: 36.3/32.4/45 inches Trunk space: 10.2 cubic feet, top down FEATURES Power one-touch soft top, insulated with hard-cover tonneau; 24 seconds to lower Automatic dual-zone climate-control system Storage drawer under the front passenger seat and lockable glove compartment Power 12-way adjustable front seats with lumbar support Leather-trimmed seats and leather-wrapped, multifunction steering wheel 6-spoke cast alloy wheels with 235/45 17-inch all-season tires, full-size spare tire and matching alloy wheel Concealed antenna system under plastic trunk lid (includes GPS, telephone, FM, AM and satellite radio antennas) SAFETY Front dual-stage air bags, front side bags, rollover protection, 4-wheel anti-lock brakes with electronic brake force distribution, Brake Assist, electronic stabilization program BMW 330Ci MSRP: $45,595; popularly equipped: $49,820. WARRANTY: 4 years/50,000 miles with full maintenance NOTE: An all-new model goes on sale in spring 2007. PERFORMANCE 225-hp, 3.0-liter inline 6 ZF 6-speed manual or optional 5-speed Steptronic automatic 0-60 mph: 7.5 seconds, automatic Fuel economy: 18/25 mpg; 91 octane Wheelbase/length: 107.3/176.7 inches Turning circle: 34.4 feet Curb weight: 3,704 pounds Front head/leg/shoulder room: 38/41.7/54.5 inches Rear head/leg/shoulder room: 36.4/32/45.9 inches Trunk space: 7.7 cubic feet, top raised FEATURES Lined, fully automatic power soft top with heated glass rear window; 1-touch button to raise/lower windows Leather upholstery and leather-wrapped tilt-telescopic steering wheel 10-way power front seats 10-speaker plus a dual-coil subwoofer Harman Kardon audio system Automatic climate control Myrtle wood trim or "brushed columns" aluminum 17-inch V-rated tires and alloy wheels; optional 18-inch Optional hardtop and rear seat air bags SAFETY Dual-stage front air bags, front-seat side-impact air bags, rollover protection system Mercedes-Benz CLK350 MSRP: $54,475; popularly equipped: $56,665 Warranty: 4 years/50,000 miles with roadside assistance PERFORMANCE 268-hp, 3.5-liter V-6 7-speed TouchShift automatic transmission 0-60 mph: 6.7 seconds Fuel economy: 18/27 mpg; 91 octane Wheelbase/length: 106.9/183.2 inches Turning circle: 35.3 feet Curb weight: 3,845 pounds Front head/leg/shoulder room: 38.4/42/53.2 inches Rear head/leg/shoulder room: 36.3/30.4/48.5 inches Trunk space: 5.4 cubic feet, top down FEATURES SmartKey with soft-top operation 17-inch high-performance tires and alloy wheels Lined and insulated automatic soft top, wind deflector Leather upholstery, wood trim, aluminum and rubber-studded pedals 6-speaker audio system with single-disc CD 10-way power front seats with easy-entry system for back seat Dual-zone automatic climate control Multifunction steering wheel with tilt and telescopic adjustment SAFETY Rollover system of pop-up roll bars Dual-stage front air bags Seat-mounted side air bags Front and rear seat belts with pretensioners and force limiters Electronic stability program and ABS with Brake Assist NOTES: There were times that I forgot I was driving a convertible in a recent week with Mercedes-Benz CLK 350. The headliner is finished much as a coupe would be and the cabin is almost as quiet as that in a hardtop. The power cloth top peels back quickly enough to change modes at a traffic light. And airflow at interstate speeds is so well-managed that the optional windscreen is unnecessary. The pillarless side glass gives sweeping views and the back glass is large enough and the rear pillars trim enough that there is little compromise in buying the convertible over the coupe. The CLK 350 is an update of the CLK320 and brings what Mercedes calls a discreet face-lift but includes a new, 268-horsepower V-6 and seven-speed automatic transmission. Changes to the exterior include a new front apron and grille, redesigned taillights and new wheels. Volvo C70 T5 MSRP: $39,430, including $695 freight charge. Price climbs to $46,445 when comparably equipped to the Saab 9-3. Warranty: 4 years/50,000 miles PERFORMANCE 218-hp, 2.5-liter light-pressure turbocharged 5-cylinder 6-speed manual or optional 5-speed Geartronic automatic ($1,250) 0-60 mph: 7.4 seconds, automatic Fuel economy: 21/29, automatic Wheelbase/length: 103.9/180.4 inches Turning circle: 41.7 feet Curb weight: 3,772 pounds Front head/leg/shoulder room: 38.2/42.3/53.7 inches Rear head/leg/shoulder room: 36.4/33.9/47 inches Trunk space: 6 cubic feet, top down FEATURES 3-piece retractable hardtop Dual-zone automatic climate control Covered lockable storage in front doors and rear quarter panels 8-way power adjustable front seats Remote locking and power windows-locks-mirrors Leather-wrapped tilt-telescopic steering wheel with audio controls 8-speaker, 160-watt audio system with 6-disc in-dash CD Multispoke alloy wheels with 225/35 VR 17-inch tires; temporary spare SAFETY Rollover protection, dual-stage front air bags, door-mounted inflatable curtain, whiplash protection seats, ABS with electronic brake force distribution, dynamic stability and traction control NOTES: Volvo's convertible is all new for 2006, and slightly shorter, wider and lower than its predecessor. It is a much more solid convertible now, due in large part to the retractable hardtop design. However, Volvo seemed more intent on building a good hardtop than a convertible. Airflow with the top down is turbulent in the front seat at speeds over 40 mph. Faster than that, the rear seat belts buzz and sing in the wind. I feel like such a geek driving the windows up and the top down. It's like black socks with sandals. Sure it may be more comfortable, but ... Also, when the top is down, access to the remaining trunk space is limited. There is some space below the folded top, but it's impossible to put in or take out anything larger than a cereal box. Drivability is sharp and pleasurable, the performance surpassing the modest 218 horsepower. It's also quick to spin the front wheels, but that's better than flooring the pedal and counting off the seconds until the turbo spools up. Put the Volvo engine in the Saab and get the best of both companies. © Copley News Service

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