Saab 9-3 Saloon (2002 - 2011) 2.0T Aero 4d Auto Owner Review

I bought the car in 2009 when it was 9 months old. It was an ex GM management staff car with 6000 miles on the clock. I used it as my main car for three years, after which I handed it over to my wife (as she'd virtually commandeered it anyway). She loves the car and won't part with it for anything newer. It's a 210PS Aero automatic with most of the bells and whistles fitted. The car has only covered just over 38,000 miles, so despite it's years it certainly doesn't seem like an old car. It still compares well with much more modern cars. I had several Saabs before they went out of business, mainly 9-5s. They were company cars that I changed twice a year. The first few I had were manuals, but it was only after I changed to automatics that I realised just how much more refined and relaxing they were. I did try a diesel 9-3 but I was shocked how unrefined it was compared with the petrol versions. The 210PS 2.0T engine works very well with the 5 speed automatic transmission and has more than enough performance. The only downside of that powertrain is the high CO emissions tax band. The ride with the sports suspension set up on the aero is rather too knobbly for my taste. I always found the standard Saab suspension set up was a better compromise but that wasn't offered on Aero variants. The car didn't need any work done on it other than routine servicing and tyres etc until it was nine years old, when I had to replace one of the rear door latches and the A/C condenser. A/C condensers are apparently quite vulnerable to stone damage on 9-3s. Servicing and parts are not a problem despite Saab no longer being in business. The official Saab parts and service network is still available and most parts are readily available in the UK. More obscure parts sometimes need to come from Sweden, but that was always the case even when the cars were still in production. Saabs are undervalued as a consequence of the firm going out of business, and in my opinion, a well cared for example represents extremely good value for money if you shop carefully.