Sometimes you just know not to go any further with a car that's caught your eye. The process of winnowing the wheat from the chaff starts with the ad. For his part, Shed makes it a firm rule never to buy from anyone who (a) insists that 'first to see will buy', (b) talks about an 'onboard computer' (where else would it be?) or (c) spells 'bargain' with only one 'a'.

Standard car, sensible miles; where's the catch?

Occasionally though, you get a different feeling about a car. A nice warm feeling. It's a hard one to put into words, but it's to do with the way a car stands on the road. The way the wheels sit in the arches. The way the seat fabric doesn't have swirly patterns not designed in by the factory.

This Saab 9-3 Turbo Eco gives Shed that feeling. A 1999 example, and therefore one of the first 9-3s, it's a bottom-of-the-range S. That explains the coal shed interior in Tedium Grey and the absence of moo. Even basement-spec Saabs are decently equipped though, so you still get air-con and that distinctive cliff-face dash with its 'Night Panel' function, a brilliant idea first seen in the 900 and (as far as Shed knows) not copied by anyone yet. It turns off non-critical instrument lighting at night and is remarkably restful on the poor old peepers.

The highest profile first-gen 9-3 was of course the 2.3 225/230 Viggen, a car with a 160mph vmax and a low six-second 0-60mph time. Only 500 Viggens made it to the UK, and the 200-odd that are left attract big money (check this convertible Viggen), but we shouldn't use it to make an unfavourable comparison with the 2.0 Turbo Eco.

Don't forget, key in by the gearstick

To get its acceleration figures, the Viggen had to be detuned on the fly by way of an electronic torque-steer limitation system in first and second gears. That's a bit like flashing 500 quid on a meal at the Fat Duck and then throwing up in the bins round the back. The Eco's 156hp and 162lb ft of torque may seem weedy in relation, but the engine was a nice match for the chassis.

One man's fast is another man's meh but a top speed of over 130mph is not going to leave you wanting more all that often. If it does seem like a problem, £2,000 or so will get you up to 225hp via a bigger TD04 turbo, high-flow intercooler and chip from a Saab tuning specialist like Abbott Racing. Chuck £3K in its direction and they'll convert your 2.0 into a 2.3 and put you in command of 300hp.

As it is, this car and its rather lovely wheels would look good on either driveway or motorway. It could also be a tasty platform for a street sleeper project. Bung on some decent shocks and a strut brace and you won't even have all that much to complain about in the handling department.

£750 with nine months' MOT? Shed approves

This 9-3 is 14 years old, remember, so don't expect to swan around without some trouble from the suspension, brake calipers, electrics, MAF sensors and all the other rubbishy stuff that blights modern cars.

The ad isn't perfect either - there's that dreaded onboard computer, and apparently the owner serviced himself, hmm - but if bad grammar stops pedants like Shed from buying it, that's all the better for the rest of us looking for a good, honest motor.