The Spanish side of life? Just an interlude?

A Saab is being sold in Spain. In principle, it is too good to be true. An aero of the first series, less than 80.000 kilometers on the clock. Light interior, midnight blue paint. Midnight blue! My favorite color when it comes to Saab. The Saab comes from a collection, should cost € 6.900.

He's parked in some small Spanish town whose name my Teutonic tongue can't pronounce. A quick look at the calendar makes it clear to me - a flight to Spain is not possible. It's February, just before Corona, and I've been running at 120% professionally for months.

I decide to forget about the Spanish Saab.

But forgot midnight blue? Is that possible? A few days later ... This vehicle won't let go of me. The color combination is too beautiful, the range is right, the price is too good. In Germany it would probably cost € 10.000. I keep looking at the ad. The location of the 9-5 is near Barcelona. Barcelona - there was something. One of our readers, based in Frankfurt and Barcelona, ​​had one Post published on the blog.

I am sending Lizi, as the reader is called, an email. Kind and careful. Maybe he would like to take a closer look at the Saab? He cannot do more than rejections.

One morning in February near Barcelona.

Lizi finds my mail in his mailbox. He knows the ad. The 9-5 Aero has been advertised for some time. Months ago, he himself became aware of the Saab. Because the key data were unusual. Year of construction 2000, not even 80.000 kilometers, beige interior. Very good condition, offered in its neighboring village. In addition, there is the special design of the advertisement. Two 9-5 Aero, silver and blue, in one photo. That is noticeable!

However, the asking price was still quite ambitious at the time. As he says, he kept his distance out of reason. In old age you would be more sensible, and 4 Saabs is really enough.

But Lizi wants to look at the Saab. He immediately agrees and makes an appointment with the owner. And I'm sitting in Germany very excited and waiting to see what happens.

Lizi meets Daniel.

When two Saab fans meet, it becomes entertaining. Daniel comes to the meeting point with his silver aero. It is also in impressive condition, very sporty and equipped with all accessories. Hours then go by in what are called gasoline conversations. Then finally the two of them talk about the Saab on offer.

The key data: Bought first hand about 3,5 years ago. Actually, the automatic is not Daniel's thing, but he wanted to own a “flawless and original” Saab. Since then, it has only driven 500 kilometers with it, and more and more vehicles have been added in the meantime. Now, for budget reasons, the midnight blue has to go.

Sounds exciting and unusual. Off to a test drive! Lizi's expectations are exceeded. The Saab 9-5 Aero is waiting under an original Saab protective tarpaulin. It airs, the paint shines in the evening sun. And when Lizi gets in for a test drive, the scents of new cars beguile his senses. I guess at that moment everything was already over.

The test drive was beyond his expectations. A really like new Saab that is 20 years old. The list of defects is short. Pixel error in the climate display. A few quirks in the paint that I noticed in the pictures. The shift gate cover is torn. That was it!

Due to the shortcomings, Daniel reduced the price. He calls out € 6.500, wants to check the car and change the oil. As a bonus there are 4-month-old Michelin tires that he mounts to replace the outdated tires.

Lizi is, as he later says, completely “high” from the test drive. Meanwhile, I'm waiting impatiently for his call in Germany. The hours go by and I hear nothing. Because Lizi first phoned Juan von berma, the Saab workshop in Barcelona. He knows just about every Saab in the area.

Will Juan find the 9-5 aero good?

Text: Tom & Lizi