Faults:

There is a known critical problem where the chain-driven water pump can cause internal coolant leaks into the oil system, which can destroy the engine. It is crucial to check for oil and water mixing.

Misfires and unstable idling.

Jerking under hard acceleration is often related to leaks in the vacuum hoses, a dirty MAF sensor, or problems with the throttle body. Worn turbocharger bearings can also cause noise and loss of power.

The engine control unit (ECU) can malfunction, causing various error codes and starting problems. It's nothing serious, though.

General Comments:

My black Saab was the second one I bought, after falling in love with a 1995 9000 that I bought to tow my work trailer. I loved that old car so much that I wanted my next car to be a Saab (I was driving a clunker that was on its last legs, so I had to buy something anyway). I didn't care which Saab, but something with a Tapf on the hood was going to be my next car.

My dad asked me the same question when I first drove it. I just smiled and said, "I never knew what my dream car was, until now." I've driven a lot of cars, from all walks of life. I've owned everything from two Audis to an '80s Toyota pickup. Today, I have this 9-3 as my main car.

Of all those cars, and the ones I've owned before, the 2007 9-3 is by far my favorite car to drive. Why? The turbocharged engine is an absolute blast! You don't get muscle car power, but it has serious pulling power. When you need power to pass a truck on a hill, you're good to go. It can handle it with ease. You don't buy a Saab for loud, in-your-face power. It's a more refined, "grown-up" kind of power. It's smooth, torquey, and consistent. And you always have plenty of power available. My car is the 2.0T, and as far as I know, it's never been modified.

How does it handle? Well, it outperforms a 1986 Toyota Hilux and a 2001 Audi A4 quattro with the sport package. Yes, it handles better than the Audi. Look for the passive rear-wheel steering system on those if you want the fancy features, but it's very good. I had the pleasure of driving the 2007 in the mountains, and I've never smiled so much. The car handles smoothly through tight corners: you give it power, and you just glide along, contained and relaxed. The car could have handled more speed, but I had to slow down a couple of times because the temperature gauge started to climb. Upgrade the cooling system, and oh my god, you'd have so much fun. And honestly, I didn't even turn on sport mode. It's simply a superb handling machine.

What's it like inside? Mine has white seats, which creates a beautiful two-tone interior. An all-black interior would also be gorgeous, but I love the contrast. The instruments are easy to read, and the controls are right in front of you. The night panel is also a really nice touch. Everything is in a convenient and well-placed location. The seats are incredibly comfortable for long journeys, and the sound system surpasses the Audi's (both have the basic system).

My car has rain-sensing wipers, which are nice, though honestly, they're a bit of a gimmick. The manually adjustable wipers are fine. The cabin itself is nice and spacious. I'm about 6 feet tall and have plenty of room to stretch out.

The sound insulation is excellent, and the air conditioning could freeze the place on a summer day if you wanted. The heat and heated seats also make winter days feel pleasant.

The car's exterior is, in my opinion, absolutely gorgeous. It's one of the most beautiful car designs I can imagine. The 2007 models have LED strips in the headlights, and the headlights themselves are nice and bright. The ice-block taillights look great on any car, but especially on a black one like mine. The paint quality is good.

The interior and exterior are perfect. There's no cheap feel to it, aside from the broken cupholders (not Saab's strongest point, in my opinion), and the car doesn't feel like a GM product. It feels as solid as my previous Audi, although the doors have a more vaulted feel on Audis.

The fuel consumption itself isn't good, although it depends a lot on how it's driven; in the city it's even worse.

Compared to my previous Audi A4 (which I think is fairly comparable to a 9-3), it's not even close: the 2007 9-3 is a much better car.

It's a car that exudes class in a "hidden wealth" style. In short, it's a very good car.

Faults:

Absolutely nothing so far.

General Comments:

Supremely quick. Head turning looks. Very few cars on the road match its mid-range performance. A genuine pleasure to own and drive although can be a bit hairy on wet roads!