My long way to a Saab

I grew up in the 60igers in a village in northern Saarland in close proximity to several garrisons of the US armed forces. So it was normal for many Americans to live around these garrisons and park their vehicles on the street.

Saab 9-3 Cabriolet. Image: Saab Automobile AB
Saab 9-3 Cabriolet. Image: Saab Automobile AB

And so one day, I saw a US-registered vehicle with a body shape that I'd never seen before. It was the body shape, the massive bumpers in the front and the leather interior trim, yes, what can I say, it was love at first sight. Unfortunately, I can not remember the model name anymore.

I had never read the name Saab before, let alone seen such a vehicle before. In any case, it was much more elegant for me, the boy from the village, no more sophisticated than any car I've seen so far, and I was inspired by the desire to You also want to drive one of these once. At that time, such a wish was almost equated with the desire to have a spaceship like the Orion (for all the next-born - the spacecraft Orion from the film series Space Patrol, the science fiction classic par excellence).

I got older and the Saab faded in the memories. So I drove later then first a Peugeot, several Renault, a Mazda, a BMW and also several VW Passat station wagon.

The children were already big, so I did not need a station wagon anymore, but a new vehicle had to be produced. When looking for an adequate vehicle, I came across a blue Saab 9-3 at a dealer in Kaiserlautern and it clicked, the spilled memories suddenly came back up and also the desire to drive such a vehicle. Although the vehicle was in very good condition with low mileage, it was then not considered. I want to buy a diesel vehicle because of the distance from my place of residence to the workplace in Kaiserslautern.

But I was again infected by the Saab virus and was now looking specifically for a Saab diesel. I found a car dealer in Heppenheim and bought a green / gray Saab 9-3 Diesel and I was happy.

Unfortunately, my luck was only a little more than 4 years and 90.000 km and due to chassis problems and the associated high repair costs, I unfortunately had to separate 2006 from him. My wife now wanted a vehicle with more overview and higher seating positions and thus another Saab unfortunately no longer came into question. But the Saab virus was not killed but just lurked at his chance to get active again.

This chance came in the summer 2014. We discussed the question of buying a motorcycle or a cabriolet. Although my wife tended more to the motorcycle but I wanted, after I drove my sister's VW convertible for several weeks, a convertible and, how could it be otherwise, a Saab convertible.

The Saab virus had left its way out of the subconscious mind again when I saw a colleague a year ago his Saab 9-3, 2.2t, Cabriolet. The desire for a Saab was present from there again.

I managed to convince my wife of the benefits of a convertible and then went in search of a suitable vehicle. But I wanted a vehicle from year 2006 with low mileage and the vehicle color should be neither black nor silver.

On the search engine autouncle.de I found then on a Sunday a promising offer in Schweinfurt. It was just the car description but no pictures set. However, this did not stop me from calling the company the next day and having the vehicle reserved for me. I packed my wife in the car and on Tuesdays we drove to Schweinfurt for a car sightseeing and test drive.

The vehicle was a blue 9-3 Cabriolet 2.0t Vector. It was in good general condition until maturity, all papers were available, 6. Gear transmission, year 11 / 2006 with 57.000 km, so perfect first. The test drive went to my satisfaction and my wife was thrilled with the vehicle and the virus had since found a new victim.

After some negotiations, I was able to buy the vehicle for a good price and was happy, I finally had a Saab again. On the following Saturday we took the train to Schweinfurt and happily received our cabriolet. On the way home, our enthusiasm for the good driving qualities of the vehicle grew steadily, we had made a good purchase.

Since then, I am again the proud owner of a Saab, which I certainly will not give it. He is cared for and cherished and I can hopefully pass it on to my grandson. I hope I have already passed the virus to him, because as a baby, he received from me a body with a self-signed Saab convertible on it.

Thanks to Arnold for his Saab Story! Do you also have something to tell about Saab?

The story of an unforgettable vacation trip, a restoration? The first contact with the cult brand from Trollhättan or simply why Saab belongs to the automotive life.
Whatever it is, write us.
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Hans S.
Hans S.
7 years earlier

Yes, dear Arnold, that's it, and it will not let you go!
Nice story you have told!
I got my 10 in the fall. Saab, an 93 2005 convertible bought in Lime green metallic. So it happens that I currently have 4 Saab, not one too many.
Good time! Greetings from the CH, Hans

9-5 Aero
9-5 Aero
7 years earlier

Some time ago, I also wrote a report. This one is located here:

http://saabblog.net/2015/09/22/saab-langzeitbericht/

In the meantime, I no longer drive SAAB. I did not want to join the transition to a Youngtimer brand because I need a current vehicle for everyday business. The SAAB time was still something special, away from the mainstream.

Bjorn
Bjorn
7 years earlier

Great story! It's always exciting to see how people got to Saab, and how the story went on and continues today. This and technical aids should make this blog. Please continue.

Edgar Neumann
Edgar Neumann
7 years earlier

I love these stories, always get goose bumps when I read them.
Also have a story to tell, they only have to prepare.
I lost my first SAAB in 1987 in a moose accident in Norway ... 3 more Saab followed ...
As I said I will report the complete story soon.

Higgens-69
Higgens-69
7 years earlier

Yes, thank you for the report. I had addressed the set photo. A convertible in Electric-Blue (or alternatively in Lime-Yellow) attracts me magically. Really striking, beautiful colors for an extraordinary (air) vehicle. I share the enthusiasm with you.
Thank you for the effort and the setting of the story.
Happiness and many sunny days next spring / summer.

Kochje
7 years earlier

Great cars, wonderful story. I wish you a very long time to be able to ride this pleasure with it, and then your grandchildren :). Saab will drive around with such owners for a long time.

mac9-5
mac9-5
7 years earlier

Nice report, very nice car, great photo!

It was similar with me as a “little boy”.
First contact with a building contractor (friend of my parents) who drove this “strange new Eastern European car” (a 900 Turbo 16V hatchback in black with rubber spoiler and beige leather), although otherwise he only had the most expensive and fastest ovens ( Alfa, Porsche, Mercedes, Quattro, Jaguar, etc.).
Strangely enough, I found the car very slanted at that time, but I was absolutely fascinated by it (not knowing what Saab is or means), so I always remembered the vehicle (and I never was a big car fan). It was not until many years later that I realized what exactly that car was.

And when my father no longer wanted a BMW years later and was looking for an alternative, I then recommended Saab to him as a “growing up” (among other things because a Saab branch had just opened with us ... and Saab was real “racing machines” at the time had in the program).

Well ... and since then my father drove Saab until I handed in my driver's license…. and I “live” this tradition in a special version now (hope for as long as possible !!!)!