According to How Many Left, genuine Saab 9000 Aeros are getting rarer each and every year, with the Autos down in to their 20's this year in the UK. That's not counting the one's currently SORN, but even then, we're talking very low numbers.
Along with the Saab 9-5, the 9000 Aeros have always been a personal favourite of mine, the understated luxury and quality of build still surprises me today, beautifully solid composure and one of the best Saab interiors of all time, but they're getting old and tired and most have covered hundreds of thousands of miles.
It's one of the reasons I find it hard to turn down a genuine Aero, I just feel they deserve to be kept on our roads and the reason I'm so proud of this Silver 9000 Aero.
It's been a slow process, almost a year since I was offered it, but time has been well spent, the integrity of the rear half has been cleaned, welded and protected, new suspension, new brakes, wheels refurbished, new Michelin tyres and new stainless exhaust, whilst mechanically, it's been given a good overhaul with numerous parts replaced, and is now running as smoothly as I'd hoped for.
Whilst I love the manual gearbox, I also feel that the Auto suits the big 9000 to perfection, a genuinely capable cruiser with 275hp on call to keep up with modern traffic. Shift is smooth and refined for a 90's car and happily sits for hundreds of miles at high speeds for road trips in style and comfort.
The interior remains flawless, every dial and every switch remains working and the more you're in a 9000, the more you become addicted to its simplicity and form. The Recaro designed seats still haven't been bettered in my eyes and feel both supportive and comforting to spend drive time in.
It has just come out of the bodyshop, where they've managed to remove a large dent in the door, a nasty crack in the rear bumper and also resprayed a number of panels including a replacement front wing and rear spoiler and truly looks exceptional again.
With these rescues, I'm never after perfection, I don't look to build them 'as new', far from it, I love the integrity of time, preservation rather than renew, it produces a Saab with more stories to tell and enjoy, a Saab that remains affordable, yet reliable and ready for many more journeys. With numbers dwindling, these Aeros offer rare and individual ownership, a chance to enjoy what Saab called their ultimate specification.