I’ll admit I’ve not been a huge fan of Left Lane News over the years, but perhaps I neet to take a second look. I’ll keep the reasons for my indifference to myself, but suffice to say that when Andrew Ganz from LLN emailed me to let me know he’d prepared a review of the 2008 Saab 9-3 2.0T (http://www.leftlanenews.com/saab-9-3-20t-sedan-review-2008.html), I was curious but not overly excited.


After reading the review for myself, I can wholeheartedly recommend it. I’ll go further and say that this is a review that could sell Saabs all by itself. This is a thoroughly researched piece of work that should be a yardstick for many of the ‘professional’ auto journalists out there. Quite a compliment, especially seeing Andrew used my most hated “Q” word in the text http://www.trollhattansaab.net/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif


Here’s a few snippets, but I suggest that any person interested in Saabs click through and read it for themselves. It really is worth the time. For one thing, Andrew’s reviewing the car that most Saab buyers in the US will end up with - the base model 2.0T. It’s so base it’s even got the 16 inch wheels.


Here were go:


<blockquote>By the late 1980s, Saab's future was bleak: The ubiquitous 900 traced its roots to the 1968 99 and the 9000, an impressively roomy and fast sedan, was essentially conceived without the budget for a replacement. Fortunately, the General stepped in and the world still has Saabs, albeit Saabs based on GM-engineered platforms.

</blockquote>
One the 9-3 base:


<blockquote>….based on GM's Epsilon platform, which, in an extended configuration, also underpins the Chevrolet Malibu, Saturn Aura, Pontiac G6 and even the Fiat Croma in Europe. That said, the 9-3 is marketed as a considerably more upscale vehicle and includes many of the features you'd expect to see in the entry-level sports/luxury sedan market. Not to mention that it looks and feels absolutely nothing like its platform mates.

</blockquote>
And therein is a good indication of the quality of this review. Countless other publications would stop at listing the other GM models and craft a literary sneer to go along with it. The separation of the 9-3 is both appropriate and accurate.


<blockquote>….It's not nearly as unique as the classic 900s were with their distinctive hatchback shape, but the 9-3 is overall a pleasant, vaguely generic European design. The 2008 upgrades go a long way to giving it a unique external identity….


….Otherwise, the interior design is functional and fairly upscale. The materials and designs aren't quite as richly upscale as you'll see in a BMW 3-Series, but they're sufficient for the 9-3's lower price point. Few materials feel genuinely out of place, but few also truly exceed expectations.

</blockquote>
Again, objective and accurate.


Finally:


<blockquote>Why you would buy it:
You're looking for a less-expensive way to experience unique European flavor and you want a car with personality as well as surprising performance and efficiency.


Why you wouldn't:
You're a Saab purist disheartened by the GM-sourced motor and platform.

</blockquote>
Even the pictures do the reader a service by pointing out the good and the bad:


http://www.trollhattansaab.net/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/2008-saab-9-3-sedan-27-200x300.jpg (http://www.trollhattansaab.net/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/2008-saab-9-3-sedan-27.jpg)


Head on over to Left Lane News (http://www.leftlanenews.com/saab-9-3-20t-sedan-review-2008.html) and check it out for yourself. If you’re in the market for a 2008 Saab 9-3, then it’s well worth a read.


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http://feeds.feedburner.com/~a/trollhattansaab/ceTX?i=u7PALm</img> (http://feeds.feedburner.com/~a/trollhattansaab/ceTX?a=u7PALm)

http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/trollhattansaab/ceTX/~4/377473356