Newbie at Saab, 9-3 as a winter car ?!

Hello all, I have never driven a Saab and therefore hardly any idea about it. However, I am now interested in a 9-3er, motorization eig. no matter, I want to use the car as a winter car and put the current convertible in the garage in the winter. Can you tell me if the particular car is a reasonable car for my purposes ?! I drive highway, city, country mixed, however in the total 6 months where I then want to drive it in winter no more like 8,000 km. sweg is short distance (8km easy). What does it look like with reliability, repairs, rust etc.. I choose one of about 98 or 99 with under 125,000 km. As said, PS are not so important to me. What should be taken into account in particular ? Automatic transmission recommended ? Thanks already ! Greeting KIK