Back in 2011 I took delivery of a new Carbon Grey 9-3 TTiD Turbo Edition, it not only featured plenty of lovely Saab options including premium leather and navigation, but I managed to squeeze virtually every available item from Hirsch Performance, including the exceptional Nappa leather steering wheel.

More recently in 2017, I rescued a beautiful 9-5 Aero that also had a Hirsch steering wheel, and once you’ve had one, it’s very difficult to forget how beautiful they look and feel. Sadly, Hirsch no longer manufacture these steering wheels, but the kind folks at cardyourcar commissioned a number of exclusively crafted replicas, I’m not entirely sure if they came from the same factory, and some contouring it different from the Hirsch version, but non the less, it looked beautifully made.

I made the leap and ordered one on Monday from Germany, it arrived Wednesday and was on the car that same day. First impressions are excellent, the contours are different, but have been carefully considered and provide exceptional grip, materials seem to be equal to the Hirsch ones, and has definitely given a final bit of luxury to my newly refreshed Aero interior.

An early morning country drive with glowing sunlight seemed like an ideal opportunity to snap a few photos, I still can’t praise the Saab’s interior enough, it really is timeless, it just makes me smile every time I drive it, and with the new steering wheel, it really is pretty much perfect.