Saab 9-3 as Company Hack?

[JaymzDead]

My company hack will soon be up for renewal, my colleague who is an older gent who will be retiring in a couple of years and this will be his last company car. Informal protocol seems to dictate that we agree on one car for the sales force (supposedly cheaper deals available for multiples) and said gent has made it known that he likes the Saab 9-3. Having looked into the new engines it seems that even the reasonably rapid 180bhp engine is pretty cheap taxwise and having driven one a couple of years ago (all be it a 2.0T Aero) it doesn't seem like a bad steer. However I have heard a few mutterings that these are less than great. What are the feelings of the collective? Is it a viable proposition for 3 years @ 30,000 miles or will it bug the hell out of me after 6 months that I didn't push for the Insignia SRi/Passat Sport/Octy VRs?