Saab 9000 Aero: The First Official 9000 Spotting

Hidden behind the bushes is one of the greatest sleepers of the late '80s and '90s. The Saab 9000 Aero is a car that looks very unassuming, which is what I believe led it to be overshadowed by other '80s European sports sedans of its class, like the BMW 5-Series and Volvo 740 Turbo. 

Today, the 9000 status hasn't changed much. It remains the underdog of the '80s Saab lineup, with the 900 Turbo holding the spotlight. However, for those who know about the legend of the Saab 9000, know just how quick these cars are. 

The Saab 9000 totes a 0-60 of roughly 6.4 seconds, according to Car and Driver magazine. That's a very good number for a turbocharged four! 

This was the first 9000 I had ever seen. Although my grandparents owned a gold 9000, which I supposedly had been driven in when I was very young (and got in an accident with for that matter), I was too young to remember that car, so I don't really count it. While I have also probably seen a few others in my lifetime, being an enthusiast and knowing what these cars are, I count this black Aero as my first sighting. As you could imagine, that was pretty exciting to see. 

This barn appeared to have several other Saabs, which seemed to consist mostly of classic 900s. They were parked on the other side of the barn, so I couldn't grab any photos of them.