Future Collectible? 2004 Saab 9-3 Aero

The other day, I was motivating northbound on I-75 in South Florida, and saw a late-model Saab parked on the southbound shoulder. The orange tag on the windshield told me that the Florida Highway Patrol had tagged it as disabled. I hadn’t thought about Saab in a long, long time, and I speculated what was likely wrong with that blue sedan. More importantly, I wondered if the Saab’s malady would be a game-over scenario, as in the inability to source some unobtanium part. As Saabs become less common, will they ever reach collectibility status? I can’t say with certainty, but if there were such a Saab, it would probably be this 2004 9-3 Aero cabriolet. This 117K-mile example shows beautifully, so let’s dig in and see what this Aero business is all about. Tom V. gets the nod for this Champlain, Ontario find, and it’s listed here on Facebook Marketplace for CDN $8,899 (U.S. $6,300).

So, a little research indicates that the Aero designation first appeared in 1984 on the 9000 model and continued at least through 2009, when GM gave the marque the bum’s rush. The primary differences between the Aero and the more pedestrian 9-3 on which this Aero is based are suspension mods, body skirts, and leather upholstery. Power-wise, at least for 2004, there appears to be no difference. The Aero package was available on all 9-3 body styles, and Esaabparts.com states 1,452 Aero convertibles were assembled in 2004. The seller suggests, “Finish in excellent condition; this car has been meticulously cared for and never winter-driven,” and then further adds, “Finding one that is completely rust-free and has been spared the harsh Canadian winters is becoming increasingly difficult.” Yup, this Saab looks great; it’s clean as a whistle with a deep, uncommon lime-yellow finish and no sign of road rash or parking lot mishaps. It’s amazing when you consider this car’s twenty-two years of existence and 117K miles of experience. Even the fabric top shows like new.

Aero power is a 207 net HP, turbocharged 2.0-liter in-line, four-cylinder engine, driving the front wheels via a six-speed manual transaxle. The six-speed arrangement is not that common for ’04, with just 342 convertibles so equipped – a five-speed manual was still on the order sheet that year, along with an automatic. The seller posits, “The combination of the Aero performance model, 6-speed manual transmission, and convertible body style makes this a particularly appealing Saab for the enthusiast and collector.”

As goes the exterior, so goes the interior; it’s as good as new! There is some gentle wear visible on the leather-upholstered bottom rest of the driver’s seat, and that’s about it as far as use is concerned. The seller describes the environment by describing it as “well preserved, and everything works as it should.” The instrument panel, with its easy-to-read gauges, is well laid out and purposeful. This is another example of a convertible that has not spent too much top-down time in the sun.

So, a future collectible? Maybe, maybe not; it’s hard to say, though this Saab would certainly be one to nominate for that category. More importantly, considering this car’s condition, price, and equipment, I think I’d just appreciate it for its motoring fun factor; how about you?