This Tatty 250bhp V6 Saab 9-3 Is Just £1800

Fast Saabs have always intrigued me. They’re not known for their handling prowess, and it’s hard to escape the nagging feeling that all but the really old ones are just a collection of Opel/Vauxhall bits mixed together with a Swedish twist. But that doesn’t stop them being desirable.

They look great, they’re often enormously quick, and even with all the GM parts bin raiding going on, they’re unusual. They’re also not that expensive.

2.0-litre Aero versions of the second-generation 9-3 can be bought for as little as £1000, and after a little peruse of the classifieds this morning, I stumbled upon the more potent V6 for just £1800.

Most of the 2.8-litre turbocharged Aeros are over £3000, so why is this one so cheap? Well, despite the seller claiming it has “good bodywork,” it looks like the front splitter has been involved in an argument with something quite solid, and there’s a nasty ding on the bonnet.

If that’s their idea of ‘good’, we’re taking “Tyre condition Average” to mean that the boots are pretty much down to the wear markers. Oh, and the butchered state of the wheels is bad enough to seriously hurt your soul if you look at them too long.

But we’re happy to overlook those details, as if this checks out in the metal and if the 83,000 miles on the clock are genuine, that’s a hell of a lot of car for the money. We’re talking 247bhp and 0-60mph in 6.5 seconds, all wrapped up in an comfy, understated package. It’s packing a manual gearbox, too.

Tempted?