2006 Saab 9-3 Aero - Very Satisfied

Purchased the 2006 9-3 Aero in March of 2006. So as of today, I've got 7 months of testing this car. Just had my 10,000 mile check up (free)- this is a 3 year lease. No major problems. All of the maintenance intervals to 50,000 miles came with the purchase. It was really nice to walk out of the 10,000 mile check up with a synthetic oil change, all systems check, car wash etc.. and not have a bill.

I'm reading a lot of comments about the sluggishness in accelerating. Note that the 9-3 Aero has 250 hp and 258 lb ft of torque. I've got a 6 speed manual and although I'm not pulling out a stop-watch to clock my 0-60, I can say that my short little road races with muscle cars have been triumphant.(Saab doesn't do the linear/arc/vector anymore - it's either the base (called the 9-3 2.0 liter) or the Aero). Excellent acceleration while already at highway speeds too - very nice on those 2 way roads to accelerate from 60 to 90 in a flash to pass. Have gone as high as 118 in 6th gear, still only at around 3500 rpms (where redline looks to be at 6800)just needed more road to test.

I've got the sport package - so it's got trim and a bit of tail and a slightly lower profile than the standard 9-3 - aluminum/black with grey/sand duo tone seats on the interior with a black exterior.

Driver seat has multi-directional touch adjustments - not the cheap ones I keep reading about. No cheesy "cavalier-esque" trunk lid either. It's also got a 10 speaker system - with intelligent sound options to raise or lower the volume proportionately when you stop or get up to noisy highway speeds.

Costs a bit more. $34,000 with this package - sport tuned etc...