2003 Saab 9-3 - Not Quite as Quirky, Not Quite as Quick
The year was 1976 and metallic silver was the hot new color for European car manufacturers. As we did every year, my Dad and I took our time getting in and out of every car and truck of interest at the auto show. The difference this year? Dad was actually planning on buying something - the trusty old '66 VW Beetle was finally on its way out to pasture. The car that most intrigued us came from Sweden. It also wore silver with a black leatherette interior and was more luxuriously appointed than we were used to.
After the show we went to the local dealer and took a 99 EMS out for a drive. Finding a particularly serpentine mountain road outside of town we were both amazed at its superb handling and athletic acceleration. Combined with its commodious cargo area and hatchback functionality the Saab was everything we both wanted. Unfortunately Dad didn't end up buying the Saab as it was slightly beyond his budget. But impressed by my first encounter I did buy one many years later, only mine was one of the 99's offspring, the 900. Again, it was a fabulous car endowed with even better performance and that traditional Saab functionality, including even more cargo space and that handy hatchback.