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I covered this already in an entry called I Feel Dirty, but let me ask again – how could I not love this car? And yet, whilst I’m full of admiration for it and really enjoy driving it, it just hasn’t grabbed me for some reason.

That’s a difficult pill to swallow for a Saab enthusiast and an even harder pill to swallow for someone who spends several hours a day writing about these cars.

In truth, I think my enjoyment and enthusiasm for writing here suffered a little bit because of it. You’ve all seen the symptoms. The wandering eye. Buying an Alfa. Coveting Porsches. I think much of this was due to the fact that I didn’t have a Saab that I was truly passioinate about.

That’s changed.

I cannot explain enough about how good it feels to get back into a relatively modern Saab again. The 9-3 Monte Carlo I purchased last week has already paid me back in spades with enjoyment on several fronts.

I’ll do a fuller post on the car itself after a good cleanup and photo session next weekend, but indulge me a little on how this purchase has made me feel.

Redeemed

The Monte isn’t a Viggen, but it’s darn good nonetheless. A few years ago I had a Viggen that I absolutely loved and I killed it dead. A fleeting moment where the car got away from me and it was all over.

This car can’t undo that, but it gives me the chance to feel the same pride in a modern Saab that I felt in that Viggen. I never realised how much I missed that and I really look forward to all the stories that this car is going to provide over the coming months and years. I plan to learn a lot about Saabs and Saab performance from this car and I look forward to sharing my learning experience here on the site. I’ve really missed that, too.

Comfortable

I get the upright driving position of the 900 and the great vision that the car gives you. I love the switchgear and the way everything works.

For me, though, the driving position of the 9-3 feels a lot more comfortable. Given that it’s 14 years younger and based on a more modern design and made with more modern manufacturing methods, the car just feels a lot more solid, as well. I remember the appreciation I had for all this in my Viggen and buying the Monte Carlo has brought it all rushing back.

It’s quiet. It’s comfortable. It works. You can’t place too high a premium on these things. This is only the second time in 20 years of vehicle ownership that I’ve spent more than $5,000 on a car. I feel like an adult again!

Vulnerable

I may like the more modern nature of the 9-3, but I still like things to be fairly rudimentary on a certain level. As you know, the OG9-3 is made on a chassis that wasn’t really up to the job of coping with all the power that the engine was capable of delivering. That means you’ve still got to be engaged in the act of driving, lest things get away from you a little.

That fact was really noticeable with the Viggen, though less so with the Monte. The car is just brilliant at giving you feedback and making you feel like you’re the central player in the activity.

Happy

There’s something undeniably pleasing about owning this vibrant yellow car. It looks like a circus clown amongst all the shades of silver and grey out there – and that’s nothing against the silver and grey cars, which mostly look great.

It’s difficult to see this car and stop yourself from smiling, though, just from the external appearance. I find myself noticing yellow cars everywhere I go now, which never happened before.

The funny thing about this is that I’m the exact opposite of this car. I’m a blender. I don’t like to stand out in any way at all and yet here I am with two vehicles in my driveway, one of which is blood red and the other bright yellow.

And I love ‘em.

Aspirational

Link this to Vulnerable, above.

I’ve come to realise that one of the things that I loved about the Viggen was the fact that it was not only a great car in its own right, it was something that I could add to and make even better. It’s the same with this car.

I was scared to death of doing anything with the 900. It was too vulnerable in that if anything major broke on it, that probably meant the death of the car. Parts like C900 gearboxes are pretty hard to come by here in Australia.

I don’t intend to do anything that might break the Monte Carlo but I’ve got plenty of options for building up the car and getting it to run how I’d like. That’s something that really excites me. In fact, I might have some build-up news tomorrow (fingers crossed).

I think that in general, guys like to build things and this car is the perfect platform for someone of my limited skills and understanding to start with.

——

In short, this car, this modern-ish Saab, has got me really excited about the future once again.

It’s a reminder to me of what a modern Saab is like. A reminder that I can drive every day. You can’t underestimate how important that is when you’re trying to do what I try to do here.

Two months ago – heck, three weeks ago – I was resigned to the fact that Saab might die in 2009 and I’d have to find something else to occupy my time. Today, I find it hard to resign myself to the fact that the engineers and designers that built the car in my driveway might be permanently employed making something other than a Saab.

That’s the sort of transformation that a new ride can bring for a car guy.

Rock on, 2009.