Hi Michael,

It's a little hard to tell actually. The 9-3 always did well in the JD Power quality surveys (although Saab's overall rating was dragged down by the old 9-5) and the basic mechanical package is that of the 2002-2008 Opel Vectra, which was a solidly built thing. 

We've heard of problems with mis-aligned suspension chewing up tyres, cheap interior trim coming adrift and turbos that go pop rather than puff, but other than that, and as long as the car you're looking at has a proper service history, it should be OK.