While I would consider myself a car enthusiast, it’s not in the way of owning vehicles with large engines and high price tags. This story is about my Saab. Since a kid I’ve been fascinated with design, power, feel, and the sound of vehicles. I’ve gone to many car shows with friends and family and enjoy the atmosphere and personality of the industry. In general, there is a uniqueness among car people that is inviting and fun to be around.
There are car clubs in nearly all forms – BMW, Corvette, Ferrari, Jeep, Mustang, Porsche, muscle cars, euro cars, car mods, you name it… and many are organized non-profits run by volunteers that benefit their communities in some way. So that feels good. Here locally, Rolling into Roanoke has many community beneficiaries.
Some of my favorite drives have been to car events and even better with nowhere to go with one of my kids – for a long talk, for an afternoon drive to enjoy the fall leaves, even for a late night run to the store. I’ve even run out of gas, running from appointment to appointment too busy to take care of what I should. That day it was as if my Saab pulled me in and said “slow down there big fella and take a break.” It was right, I needed to pay attention to the things I ought to!
I’ve always noticed cars and their types, the brands, and styles. Not everyone is like that, the ones that do are usually some form of car enthusiast. Growing up we had a family friend that had a red Saab 900 “Classic.” It looked quirky and I loved it. It inspired me. He was a successful businessman. I had dreams of becoming a successful businessman. Match made.
Fast forward to a time of transition of my work life as an employee of a billion dollar insurance company to jumping into ownership in a local insurance agency. With five kids in the house, my wife and I talked about trading my six speed Mercedes to one she was more comfortable driving when I was driving the family mover. I found a gem in the 2010 Saab 9-5 Aero, a cream puff of a car with one prior owner. It’s all the quirky personality I expected with that brilliant Saab design too. Mine is 1 of 3,419 imported that year and 1 of 137 in my color, carbon grey. These are car people stats. For perspective there were 327,553 Toyota Camry’s sold in the USA in 2010.
While my identity is wrapped up in a deeper faith in Jesus, I do love the car piece of my life. You’ll see in the pictures my 9-5 in the parking lot solo. It’s a bleak looking photo, kind of dreary and dark, but I won’t forget it. It was a Friday, late, I was the only one in the whole building finishing up work for a new client. Who is happy to be in the office late on a Friday? Somehow I was. As I was leaving it echoed childhood dreams of “successful businessman” coming out to my Saab.
I don’t think I’m the only person out there that thinks the same things.
Some of us remember doing ridiculous things in the car as a teenager, or riding around with Dad, or washing the family car, or smelling the carburetor fumes of old, or seeing grandpa change his oil, or as a child touching the curves of your dream car. The stories to be told. Actually they are endless and they are told by car people. Everywhere.
Jeremy Hyde | Colligan & Company
How to insure your special or collector car? That’s a different story but can be found here.
I have a number of collector cars so I appreciated this story and I’m glad I found it. Hagerty insurance is one of the better insurance companies out there, I didn’t know about the other companies that will also do it well.
I love Saabs and other fun cars like Alfa Romeo. The car community is interesting and I think local independent agents serve them better than the big name brands people hear about on tv.
That was a fun story about your car, Saab’s have a unique design. A lot of car companies have lost a real flare of good design.
I have had many Volvos over the years and love their design. Saabs too.
I’ve known some people that had Saab’s and loved them, glad you liked yours too
Collector cars can be expensive but they also bring a lot of people happiness. Thanks for sharing your Saab story
I have a Saab 93 convertible, love it
I love Saabs, cool cars. I really love cars
You car story is great. Saab design is legendary. Reliability speculative :)
Good Saab story, nice little pun you made there. I have an old Ford Mustang I have great stories to tell…
Thanks for sharing your Saab story, I loved it. I have a few stories from my Volvo, Saab, and Mercedes as well! :)
Saab cars are too cool
I love car stories and glad I ran into your Saab story. I wonder how many people love their cars, like as in really love them. I’m sure you help a lot of people of collector cars too
I have a Porsche 944 Turbo and love it, maybe like you love your Saab
Saab are unique cars… expensive to fix and expensive now to find replacement parts!
That Saab really should be on a collector car!
Nice Saab story!
…It’s a social collective of people who share and have the same experiences, dreams, and mindset. Saab is not just a brand of car, it’s a way of thinking, being, and existing. That is what makes a true culture of social Saabism and those who own, drive…and love the Saab brand are true Saabist at heart!
C.S.B. Aujuard, a 2011/12 Saab 9-5 owner.
Sacramento, Cali.
Yes! :)
– Jeremy
I really love car stories. I agree Saab’s are unique and well designed! Very similar styling to Volvo
Thanks for sharing Jeremy, I have quite a few “cool” car stories myself.
Nice car story
Collector cars are awesome but you have to love them because they are also a pain
Thanks Jeremy, good job :)
I have a Ferrari story to tell!
Thanks for sharing, thats cool
I have a fun story in my F100!
I have a great Fiero story
I have a great Corvette story
good story, I’ll have to tell you about my Camaro story
Thanks for letting me know about your happy Saab story
Saabs are definitely a classic
That’s a fun car story. Thanks
Love the Saab story
Go cool cars
I love car stories
I like hearing these car stories, that’s how you found you on the internet!
Madella Gratt
Thanks for sharing, this is a fantastic post. Much thanks again. Awesome. Anastasia Wake Takeo
Thanks for the article, love it
Really fun story on the blog, that actually how to do blogging. Alvina Kelvin Sterner
Pretty! This has been an extremely wonderful article. Many thanks for providing this. Alyda Sigismundo Matless
Saabs really are a classic car, good story. Patty Sanders Luthanen
Good job author, fun story. Torey Salomo Pazit
Looking forward to reading more. Great blog post. Really thank you! Fantastic. Mariellen Cross Caundra
Thank you for your blog article. Really thank you! Fantastic. Phil Gaby Gerfen
Thanks to my father who shared with me regarding this Saab story, this website is genuinely amazing. Brynna Gerhard Cassondra
You have a nice little blog there. I did a search on the issue and found nearly all people will consent with your blog. Arabelle Meisel
Great Saab story! :) Brodie Derina
Good Saab story, car stories are nice
Having read this I believed it was really fun. I appreciate you spending some time and effort to put this content together. I once again find myself personally spending a lot of time both reading and posting comments. But so what, it was still worthwhile! Regine Taylor Frederico
I have some fun car stories I have picked up along the way too. Sarai
We love this Saab post, Rosemarie & Mike Veleda
I like that, no sob story lol
Car stories are great, this is nicec
This is a fun story, you should do more
What about some of those old Volvos? Those were some cool designs too
Thanks for the fun story, it was pretty cute
That’s a fun blog, way to incorporate personal stuff, car stuff, insurance stuff…
Some people really love their cars, I wonder why, just expensive transportation
Fun story, I have some fun stories with my 76 Corvette
Hello, Saabs just have that flair that not very many auto makers have been able to make. Glad you got to taste it. Keep writing, you do a good job with it
Fun car story, thanks for sharing
That is really fascinating, You are an overly professional blogger. I’ve joined your feed and sit up for seeking more of your great post. Additionally, I have shared your website in my social networks
Love this post, thanks for sharing your car story
In love, great story, good tie in to life and insurance
Who wouldn’t love this story, go you. Thanks
Way cool, some valid points! I appreciate you making this article available, the rest of the site is also high quality. Have a fun.
That’s fun, good blog on your personal experience. Cars do bring people together
Pretty! This was a really wonderful post. Thank you for your story
Good efforts you have put in writing this blog. I am hoping the same high-grade blog post from you in the upcoming as well. In fact your creative writing abilities has inspired me to get my own blog now. Really the blogging is spreading its wings quickly. Your write up is a good example of it.
The blog was how do i say it… relevant, finally something that helped me that was fun to read and helpful. Thanks:)
Good info. Glad I found your website by accident.
Your style is so unique compared to many other people. Thank you for publishing when you have the opportunity,Guess I will just make this bookmarked.
Good story. Lucky me I reach on your website by accident, I bookmarked it.
I still have Saabs. Two 2011 9-5 Aero and on 9-4x. Still the most unique design out there
I agree!! Great design!!
Great read. I have a 2011 Saab 95 Aero, attracted by its unique design – it looks like nothing else on the road. It drives well also! Just a shame that Saab didn’t get the chance develop this car further, a few tweaks and this car could have been a world beater!
I absolutely agree. The design from 2011 still holds up too! Glad to see another big fan! :)
Great wordpress blog here.. It’s hard to find quality writing like yours these days. I really appreciate people like you! take care
These are great cars… were… should have never stopped making them
The real sob story here is the totaled out 2000 9-5 Saab that was bought new by my mom and hit by a stolen pkp in Denver on Thanksgiving 2021.
My son inherited the car and is left without a car that was in excellent condition with 82k miles…
A sad end to a great car.
Maybe the Saab will become an organ donor but will never be replaced and driven again.
Yes, that is a Sob story! And too often a Saab story these days! Thank you for sharing
My mother loved the Saab.
She was a Montana country girl and definitely pushed the limits of the 9-5. It was a great ride.
Terrific article! That is the kind of info that are supposed to be shared across the internet. Disgrace on the search engines for now not positioning
this put up higher! I love Saabs, Thanks =)
Fun car article, just what I needed.
Thanks for the fun blog, nice story on the Saab. Great design!
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