2001 SAAB 93 LP Turbo Convertible

This particular example is a first-generation ‘LP’ convertible, finished in the classic silver over black colour way with a blue folding top.

First registered on 01 November 2001 to Saab UK as a management car, it was then sold to its first and only private owner a few months later, being based in Tonbridge, with who the car has spent its entire life, racking up on average only 2,250 miles per year. 

First registered on 01 November 2001, this 9-3 LP has only one former keeper registered on the V5, and has racked up just shy of 45,000 miles in its 20 years of service - that’s just 2,250 miles per year!

Despite the low mileage racked up, this 9-3 has been regularly maintained and serviced, with a total of 18 stamps in the OE service book, and the overall condition certainly reflects the low mileage and careful ownership.

The bodywork of this stylish Swedish coupé is in outstanding order throughout, lending this car an impressive ‘time-warp’ condition.

Looking along the flanks, the body and panels are all lovely and straight, with even panel gaps throughout and no sign of any closing or fitment issues that we could see.

The silver paintwork is in a similarly excellent condition, with only the usual light marks and minor stone chips visible to the front end and exposed edges, with any notable marks having been documented in the extensive gallery below.

Around the rear, the light lenses are all free of damage, and there are no major marks noted to the rear bumper, whilst all badges are in place. The exhaust tip is slightly worn as you’d expect from a 20-year-old car, whilst the wheels are all in very good condition with a few small patches of bubbling and corrosion noted, particularly around the bolt holes.

Perhaps most importantly, the folding fabric soft-top on this 9-3 is in outstanding order throughout and looks nearly-new in its appearance. The rear window shows no signs of cracking or discolouration, whilst the fabric is free from damage throughout with no major stains or scuffs, nor any signs of damage which would impede its waterproofing.

Inside, the ‘time warp’ impression continues, with the cabin presenting in very, very good condition for its age, no doubt partly due to the low mileage recorded by the vehicle.

The seats are all in excellent shape with only very light creasing and wear noted to the front two seats, whilst in the rear the seats look as if they’ve barely ever been used.

The door cards, too, presents fantastically with only a few light marks around the handles and high-traffic areas, whilst the steering wheel, shifter and dashboard are all in great shape.

In the footwells, the rubber mats are still present, though the driver’s side one is damaged and would benefit from replacement.

Between the seats, the centre console is in great shape and houses the unusual ignition barrel location - very fighter-jet like, typical of Saab - and there is only a few light marks around the barrel and on the switchgear with some of the graphics beginning to fade away.

Elsewhere, there are light scuffs around the seat bases and on the inner door sills, and in the boot everything is in very good shape and there are no major stains or scuffs beyond the usual wear-and-tear seen in a 20-year-old boot.

So far as we could tell, all the systems and electrics within the car are functioning as intended, with the roof mechanism rising and falling as it should, along with the manual catch engaging and disengaging with ease.

Poking around underneath the car, the chassis of this Swede looks to be in good order generally. There are some signs of older oil spillages or staining - perhaps from a service - though nothing that looks fresh, and there were certainly no puddles or drips noted from the car during our inspection.

Elsewhere, the rear section of the exhaust displays some signs of corroding in addition to the usual ‘bloom’ on areas such as the exhaust and suspension systems, though nothing that was noted on the most recent MOT exam, dated 15 March 2021. In fact, there hasn’t been an MOT fail since October 2013, when the car was failed for a damaged tyre, rather than any other mechanical issues.

Out on the road, the car was happy with repeated starting and stopping, sitting idling for extended periods of time, and showed no sign of any unusual clunks, bangs or other untoward noises or behaviours.

Finally, for those Saab enthusiasts that like to pretend they’re fighter jet pilots travelling at night - we can confirm the ‘night panel’ mode is working perfectly - excellent!

Included with the car is the original SAAB book pack and full complement of ownership manuals and handbooks, two keys, and the service handbook.

Of note is the fact that the first owners of the car were SAAB UK for a short period of time, before passing in to the ownership of one private individual for the majority of its lifetime, which goes some way to explain the low mileage and excellent condition.

Whilst this may not be the most extensive history we’ve ever seen from a car here at The Market, we are impressed to note the level of servicing this 9-3 has clearly enjoyed throughout its lifetime judging by the stamps in the book, with the most recent service having taken place in September 2020 at 44,948 miles.

Saabs have always been the choice of car for those who appreciate design as much as reliability, and want something a little different to the usual offerings from the likes of VW, BMW or ‘typical’ brands.

This particular first-generation ‘LP’ 9-3 Convertible is a true ‘time warp’ of a car, offering a slice of early 2000’s motoring 20 years later, without the usual level of wear-and-tear expected from a car of this age.

Given the excellent condition throughout, low ownership and recent service - less than 30 miles ago - we expect this superb Swede to fetch in the region of £3,000 to £6,000.

Viewing is always encouraged and as stated this car is located at our Abingdon headquarters; we are open Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm and to arrange an appointment please use the ‘Contact Seller’ button at the top of the listing to make an appointment. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.