My 2003 Saab 9-3 Linear is approaching its fifth birthday, and I have no regrets. It has been reliable, fun, and surprisingly inexpensive to operate.

I wasn't actually planning to buy a Saab, but an opportunity came up to buy a 18-month old 2003 Saab 9-3 with about 12k miles for a certifiably great price. I couldn’t pass it up, and I'm glad I didn't.

I like the way it looks. It's not as quirky or distinctive as the older Saabs, but it has a unique and classy appearance that I find appealing. The interior is nicely appointed, with high quality plastics and leather. Seats are comfortable, if a bit narrow (I'm skinny and like a seat I don't slide around it). Driving ergonomics are excellent; essential controls are visible, intuitive, and within easy reach.

The car has good handling, strong acceleration, and good brakes. Steering feel is nicely weighted. While very smooth, the engine makes a noticeable, but not unpleasant, noise under acceleration. The car is quiet, however, while cruising. The 5-speed manual is flexible and very forgiving, with just the right effort through the gears and linear, predictable clutch uptake. With some help from the turbo, the transmission allows the engine to pull smoothly even when you make less than ideal gear choices. I get about 23 mpg in mixed driving, and 28-30 on road trips.

I have had no major mechanical or electrical problems. My only service issues have been with the gas cap (replaced under warranty) and the CD player, which currently refuses to eject the disc, and will probably require an expensive replacement.

One maintenance issuer to be aware of: Due to the use of advanced brake rotors that are supposed to give superior stopping performance, the rotors wear along with the pads. This means that the rotors usually cannot be machined, and must be replaced. A full brake job (pads and rotors for both axles) will run you about $900. Ouch. My brakes lasted about 45,000 miles. You can judge the rotor wear my feeling for a lip on edge of the rotors. If it is prominent, new rotors will be needed soon.

As the car approaches 5 years on the road, my 2003 Saab 9-3 is aging well. I hope to keep it another 5 years.
Amount Paid (US$): 16000
Condition: Used
Model Year: 2003
Model and Options: Linear