Just wondered where people get their saab's serviced or do they do it themselves? I'd want to get it serviced by a local mechanic who i trust very much but is working on saab's a more specialist job that would justify paying the extra money and getting a saab dealer to do the work instead?

It's just a fancy vauxhall. Any competent mechanic should be able to work on it. It's not black magic.

All you need to do is make sure the oil is fully synthetic, other than that, like any car, it's just a mass of nuts, bolts and screws.

LOL ok

But why does the oil have to be fully synth? its just i saw saab selling 5w 30 oil and saying its for the 9-3 turbo.

Fully synthetic reduces the risk of carbon deposits forming and blocking the oil filter. The deposits or sludge are created in the very hot environment around the turbo.

I get mine serviced by my (very) local garage in Faversham. Though they are by no means specialist, they are less then half the price than the canterbury main dealers. As they are only a small company, they know me and the car well. They only used genuine saab parts and fully synthetic oil.
When I went in to book mine in for next wednesday, he said to me 'ah the aero!! cool!'

I do all the jobs that need to be done myself, when I can, and have the swiftmobile serviced once a year, too, at the local indie - thus keeping up the FISSH.

HTH

edit : typos

parts can be got from internet suppliers such as elkparts, german & swedish. just be mindful of postage costs. local motor factors can be a good source as can the dealer surprisingly

Many dealer parts prices seem to have been reduced recently, e.g. rear brake pads for the 9000 are about £16 if my memory serves. It surprised me.