Let’s be real for a second. Steelport is basically a gray concrete rectangle. It doesn’t have the soul of Stilwater or the desert vistas of Santo Ileso, but man, the Saints Row 3 vehicles absolutely carried that game. You’ve probably spent hours just powersliding a purple Temptress around a corner while the radio plays "Power," and honestly? That’s the peak Saints Row experience.
There’s this weird misconception that the cars in the third game were just "GTA clones" with less weight. But if you actually go back and play the Remastered version today, you’ll notice something. The physics aren't trying to be a simulator. They’re built for chaos. Whether you're driving a tank or a moped, the game wants you to feel like a god of the asphalt.
The Speed Kings: Attrazione vs. Temptress
If you want to get across the map before the next mission marker even finishes its animation, you’re looking for an Attrazione. It’s the fastest thing on four wheels in the game. Period.
You’ll usually find these parked in the more upscale areas like Ashwood, or you can just wait for one to spawn during a high-notoriety chase. The Temptress is a close second, though. It’s got that classic supercar silhouette that just screams "I own this city."
Kinda funny thing about these cars—while they’re fast, they have the durability of a wet paper towel. One wrong clip against a light pole at top speed and you’re doing the "Windshield Cannon" challenge whether you wanted to or not.
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- Attrazione: Best for straight-line speed.
- Temptress: Better handling, slightly slower.
- Vortex: The "budget" supercar that’s actually pretty decent.
Flying Over the Traffic
Honestly, once you unlock the F-69 VTOL, the roads become optional. It’s the ultimate power trip. Being able to switch from jet mode to hover mode mid-air makes landing on the roof of Safeword or your crib way too easy.
But have you ever tried the Specter? That STAG hoverbike is basically a cheat code. It’s small enough to fit through alleys but fast enough to outrun the cops. You don't get the same raw speed as the VTOL, but for navigating the tight streets of the downtown district, nothing beats it.
The STAG Problem
When STAG rolls into town, the vehicle game changes. The N-Forcer is basically a rolling fortress. It’s heavy, it’s mean, and it’s arguably the best four-door car for gang wars because it doesn't flip every time a stray bullet hits the tire.
The Customization Rabbit Hole
Rim Jobs is where the real magic happens. In Saints Row 3, customization isn't just about paint. You’ve got the Kneecappers—those literal spikes that come out of your rims to shred enemy tires. It’s petty, it’s violent, and it’s perfectly Saints Row.
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Most people don't realize you can actually "glitch" customize the non-customizable vehicles too. If you’ve ever wanted a neon-pink Bear (the massive SWAT APC), you can actually do it. You just have to enter the garage with a regular car, hover over the non-customizable one in your list, and back out at the right time. Suddenly, you're looking at a military-grade tank with underglow and a custom horn.
Rare Finds and Hidden Gems
Not every cool ride is a supercar. Some of the best Saints Row 3 vehicles are the ones you have to actually look for.
- The Gat Mobile: It’s a giant head of Johnny Gat on wheels. It’s stupid. It’s loud. It’s perfect. It usually spawns near Planet Saints after you’ve progressed far enough.
- The Reaper: This isn't just a hearse. If you get the version with the "zombie" skin, it’s a collector's item.
- X-2 Phantom: The "Tron" bike. You unlock this through the Trail Blazing activities. It glows. It’s fast. It makes you feel like you’re in 1982.
There’s also the Emu. It’s a tiny, pathetic smart car. But if you fully upgrade its engine and add nitrous, it becomes a terrifying little bullet that can weave through traffic like nothing else.
Why the Physics Matter
People complain that the cars feel "floaty." But in a game where you’re jumping out of planes and fighting Luchadores, do you really want realistic weight? No. You want to be able to hit a 90-degree turn at 80 mph without spinning out.
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The arcade-style handling is a choice. It allows for the "Drift" and "Powerslide" mechanics to feel rewarding without being punishing. If you’ve played the 2022 reboot, you know the driving there felt... stiff. It lacked that "snap" that the third game had.
Practical Next Steps for Your Garage
If you're jumping back into Steelport tonight, here is how you build the ultimate fleet:
First, clear the Trail Blazing activities immediately. The rewards, like the X-2 Phantom and the Wraith, are too good to pass up. They give you a massive edge in the early game when you're still being chased by Morningstar grunts in slow-moving Miamis.
Second, don't sleep on the Peterliner. It’s a semi-truck, but if you put a plow on the front and max out the performance, you can literally clear the highway. It turns the game into a demolition derby.
Finally, always keep a Saints-customized Bulldog in your phone's delivery list. It’s the most reliable "get out of jail free" card when a mission goes sideways and you need a vehicle that can take a hundred bullets without exploding.
Start by hitting the upscale districts to snag an Attrazione for your permanent collection—it'll make the rest of your travel much less of a headache.