Anyone got a Saab, and willing to admit it ?
Discussion
If you can, look into the suspension companies I mentioned. Eibach makes a kit which transforms the car!!!! Every driven a AERO? It will run circles around the non-aero suspension. I have been on a track with a few 9-5 wagons & IF the right suspension is on the car (be it aero or eiback) it will go through thw turns very well! I actually drive a 400hp 88 900 SPG (aero for you non US people) which sees lots of track time.
Well, I have to get my two penny'woth in now. I've got 2 Saabs, an old 91 Carlsson (225bhp) and one of the last 9000CSE 2.3Ts. However, its been fully done by Abbott Racing and loves to surprise Scoobies by sitting up their arse and not moving no matter what they do. Abbott suspension conversion is great and if you check out their website they are currently developing a full kit for a 9-5 with Project 9-5.
Incidently I do have a Tiv as well, a Chimy!!!!!!!!
Saabs can be cool especially when they disappear past you round a corner when you least expect it!!!!!!!!!
Incidently I do have a Tiv as well, a Chimy!!!!!!!!
Saabs can be cool especially when they disappear past you round a corner when you least expect it!!!!!!!!!
Jaydee....be interested if the shocks etc make any eral difference. I borrowed a few Saabs from work (a 9000 with a dash like the Millenium Falcon and a 9-3 IIRC). I nearly died at the very first corner....which I took at what I considered a VERY reasonbale speed....and it just plowed merrily straight onwards. The 9-3 weren't any better. After then catching the key with my coat sleeve and turning the engine off at 70mph I kinda gave up!
), new shocks all round, geometry reset and new tyres - all on the warranty !!! Only bad news, they're threatening me with a Yaris for a week I have a 9-5 with 90K on the clock. Just had the suspension done at Abbott Racing. TRANSORMED the car. I had new shocks, springs and anti-roll bars (plus uprated disks and pads) Much better. Before the 9-5 I had a 9000 CS CArlsson with all the Abbott stuff. Pushing 300bhp! After that, I found the 9-5 a bit soggy, but the new suspension has made a big difference. They have a demo car you can try.
Jon H
Jon H
Jaydee
Unfortunately I've think you've missed the point about owning a Saab, it is not a performance car of any kind but is an extremely comfortable machine, with geat seats, climate control and stereo.
Well, there are different sorts of Saabs, you know. The 9-5 is quite heavy at around 1,600 kgs (but in Aero form, still most definitely a perfomance car!) and frankly, from a handling point of view the less said about the last-generation 9-3 the better (although even these can be transformed into credible 'Ring chariots with a stack of proper suspension components!) - but the high performance versions of pre-GM models were pretty good (a bit rougher around the edges than your average BMW, but far more exciting in their power delivery and general feel - should strike a responsive chord with TVR drivers...
) and after driving the new 9-3 SS extensively at the press launch last year, I believe they have refound the plot with that car (except for the lack of real weight in the steering). A friend of mine in the UK has a seriously sorted 9000 Aero (300+ bhp, AP racing four pots, LSD, the works...) and he was humbling 911's, Chims and a 348 at his second ever trackday at Goodwood...
Me, I've got a rather special classic shape 900 in the works. That car is going to be as close to a four-door tintop TVR as you can get as the intensity of the experience goes - it's loud, stiff and uncompromising (and as for outright pace: with a projected 280-300 bhp on 1,200 kgs kerb weight it's bound to be er, a bit nippy), yet still is quite easy to drive in traffic. Even during running in and in its presently largely unsorted state of tune, you can feel she's a real hooligan, with excellent feedback through the steering like you won't find in todays 'sports' saloons anymore, lots of grip (no struts, twin wishbones up front unhampered by torsion bars or excess rubber mounts for NVH purposes) whilst retaining a playful balance on her relatively narrow tyres and a hollow rumble not unlike a flat plane crank V8 morphing in a very satisfying growl if you give it some stick, and a grin inducing 'phht' from the open induction system as you back off, accompanied by the odd pop on the overrun. Think Mini Cooper S with a more charismatic engine and some serious pace, a blend of FWD hot hatch agility and accessability with STi/Evo-class pace, and you're not far off the mark.
Most of all, it's very discreet to look at and unlikely to create resentment with fellow road users, and it doesn't have the sting in the tail of a RWD car with a comparable power/weight ratio, despite being quite adjustable in its cornering stance (a rather substantial torsion bar at the rear and none in the front sees to that...).
I have a mere Citroën ZX 1.4 as a daily car, which I plan to replace with a TVR (probably Chim) one day.
The Saab will be my turbo nutter car for high speed cross country blats, 'Ring visits and track days on venues with fast open bends. Plus it has five doors and a huge boot which do come in handy every now and then. I find the shape far more interesting than those of current 'practical' performance saloons/hatches/estates, too.
The TVR will inject some excitement into my otherwise p*** boring commuting and running errands, make me feel like I'm *driving* a car even when I'm not going that fast, plus it will be fun burning rubber and doing bad Tiff Needell impersonations on airfield track days. Still I think it would somehow be the more 'sensible' car of the two - I'll leave it to the dealer over here to maintain her, and I wouldn't dream of taking it to the 'Ring.
I think I'm going to be a very happy chappy, motoring-wise
[edited for dodgy typing
] >> Edited by 900T-R on Wednesday 28th May 20:48
I had one of these as a company car for a few years - I found it great fun. It was a car that on the face of it was a bit of a boat, but if you took it by the scruff of the neck would handle quite well, although it did roll a fair amount. It had an amusing habit of smoking the inside front tire when you were pressing hard round corners.
scoobysnax1963 said: Well, I have to get my two penny'woth in now. I've got 2 Saabs, an old 91 Carlsson (225bhp)
Had real character! (also used to blow up ECUs like they were going out of fashion)
My first post and where better to do it on a Saab thread.
We actually have 6 cars in our family (excessive I know). Out of the 6, 4 are Saab's. All turbo's, all decent models.
I drive a Vauxhall Astra Estate. Not keeping inline with the Saab family tradition but my estate serves it's purpose (drummer and cannot afford anything else!). Also a Relient Scimitar GTE SEA5 which we are restoring at the moment.
Onto the real thing.
First up we've got a 99 turbo (1980),2dr booted in red with 35,000 genuine miles. A 1991 900 T16S in red with Trent Saab stage 1 conversion and lowered suspension. A 1988 900 T16S Convertible in black, and last but by no means least, a 1997 9000 Aero in red.
The 1991 T16S is inline for more power. When it was modified, we had a fan-cooler fitted which took power to around 240bhp but this is coming off and going on the convertible. It will then have bigger injectors, water-injection and a Volvo intercooler as the 900's are small! Power is expected to be around 280-300bhp and the gearbox will be left on the road.
The 9000 Aero on the other hand, may be taking a trip to a dealer in Glasgow who is certified to fit Maptun products. Stage 3 is on the cards and for 10% of the cost of the upgrade, the fuel system will be re-mapped to produce about 306bhp!! Nice [url]www.maptun.com[/url]
I'm not embarassed about admitting it, I love Saab's, If I could afford it, I'd have a 900 Carlsson with about 350-400bhp but I can't so I'll have to stop dreaming. Hope this has been of interest to you all!
Regards,
Scotty Mc
>> Edited by scotty mc on Sunday 8th June 21:18
We actually have 6 cars in our family (excessive I know). Out of the 6, 4 are Saab's. All turbo's, all decent models.
I drive a Vauxhall Astra Estate. Not keeping inline with the Saab family tradition but my estate serves it's purpose (drummer and cannot afford anything else!). Also a Relient Scimitar GTE SEA5 which we are restoring at the moment.
Onto the real thing.
First up we've got a 99 turbo (1980),2dr booted in red with 35,000 genuine miles. A 1991 900 T16S in red with Trent Saab stage 1 conversion and lowered suspension. A 1988 900 T16S Convertible in black, and last but by no means least, a 1997 9000 Aero in red.
The 1991 T16S is inline for more power. When it was modified, we had a fan-cooler fitted which took power to around 240bhp but this is coming off and going on the convertible. It will then have bigger injectors, water-injection and a Volvo intercooler as the 900's are small! Power is expected to be around 280-300bhp and the gearbox will be left on the road.
The 9000 Aero on the other hand, may be taking a trip to a dealer in Glasgow who is certified to fit Maptun products. Stage 3 is on the cards and for 10% of the cost of the upgrade, the fuel system will be re-mapped to produce about 306bhp!! Nice [url]www.maptun.com[/url]
I'm not embarassed about admitting it, I love Saab's, If I could afford it, I'd have a 900 Carlsson with about 350-400bhp but I can't so I'll have to stop dreaming. Hope this has been of interest to you all!
Regards,
Scotty Mc
>> Edited by scotty mc on Sunday 8th June 21:18
The 1991 T16S is inline for more power. When it was modified, we had a fan-cooler fitted which took power to around 240bhp but this is coming off and going on the convertible. It will then have bigger injectors, water-injection and a Volvo intercooler as the 900's are small!
I am currently thinking this through - I have the Trent fancooler and water injection - what would upgrading the IC be good for if you have water injection anyways? I can imagine there's a fair bit to be gained in throttle response if you can build a custom IC that flows significantly better (say, 400 cfm instead of 100) but as for outright cooling efficiency, why bother when water injection takes care of an additional 20-30 C intake temp drop?
Power is expected to be around 280-300bhp and the gearbox will be left on the road.
At your projected power level, it would be very wise to leave peak torque at roughly the same level and extend the power curve towards higher rpm with better cams, mapped ignition (I just converted to a custom programmed DI), a hybrid that is built for better flow at high rpm, etc. It's not like the front wheels can bring much more low/midrange grunt to the tarmac anyways, so why exceed the relatively modest torque capability of the c900 gearbox any further?
Thinking long and hard about getting a 9-3 as my next car. I've always loved the shape and the image, but the drives I've had have been disappointing.
I currently drive a Rover 25 1.6 - hardly a sports car, but really quite nimble and nippy, good handling for a shopping car. Whenever I've driven a Saab I've just felt it too big and heavy to drive very well - especially with such a heavy lump at the front forcing it to plough on understeer at every opportunity.
My question - should I persevere with the Saab line of enquiry (was just very close to snapping up a 205bhp HOT) and add the Viggen Rescue Kit? Or would I be better off going down a more focussed route? Had also been considering a Nissan 200SX Touring....
Does the VRK really make that much of a difference?
I currently drive a Rover 25 1.6 - hardly a sports car, but really quite nimble and nippy, good handling for a shopping car. Whenever I've driven a Saab I've just felt it too big and heavy to drive very well - especially with such a heavy lump at the front forcing it to plough on understeer at every opportunity.
My question - should I persevere with the Saab line of enquiry (was just very close to snapping up a 205bhp HOT) and add the Viggen Rescue Kit? Or would I be better off going down a more focussed route? Had also been considering a Nissan 200SX Touring....
Does the VRK really make that much of a difference?
Yes, the VRK does make a lot of difference, but frankly I would be hesitant to bother with the GM900/9-3 if anything more than fast and relatively smooth motorway cruising is called for. The 9-5 is an altogether more convincing and satisfying option, although a bit soft and heavy.
If you want 'focused' - get one of the latest Classic 900T16's ('91-'93). Yes, that's old, but with a build quality as brilliant as on these you won't mind. A freind of mine owns a '92 T16S with a just a basic Trent Saab Stage 1 conversion (220 bhp and a shedload of torque) and a 9-3 TiD, and he admits the 9-3 is only there to keep him from doing stellar mileages on the 900 which he wants to keep forever. It still looks and feels like a brand new car, and I can certify it is fast enough to royally p*** off Boxster owners (although in his defense, one we saw off several times to his dismay, was being quite nice about it when we met him on the Dover-Calais ferry, genuinely surprised though at how fast the Saab was) and alarm Scooby pilots. Plus it is a timeless classic that you lucky UK fellas can snap up for pocket money right now and won't depreciate further.
Alternatively, if you can live with the light controls, the new 9-3 Sports Saloon has a very accomplished chassis (something you could never accuse the old 9-3 of). Even though the shape is moregeneric, I'd definitely hold out for one of those provided it must be a newish car.
>> Edited by 900T-R on Monday 23 June 12:43
>> Edited by 900T-R on Monday 23 June 12:45
If you want 'focused' - get one of the latest Classic 900T16's ('91-'93). Yes, that's old, but with a build quality as brilliant as on these you won't mind. A freind of mine owns a '92 T16S with a just a basic Trent Saab Stage 1 conversion (220 bhp and a shedload of torque) and a 9-3 TiD, and he admits the 9-3 is only there to keep him from doing stellar mileages on the 900 which he wants to keep forever. It still looks and feels like a brand new car, and I can certify it is fast enough to royally p*** off Boxster owners (although in his defense, one we saw off several times to his dismay, was being quite nice about it when we met him on the Dover-Calais ferry, genuinely surprised though at how fast the Saab was) and alarm Scooby pilots. Plus it is a timeless classic that you lucky UK fellas can snap up for pocket money right now and won't depreciate further.
Alternatively, if you can live with the light controls, the new 9-3 Sports Saloon has a very accomplished chassis (something you could never accuse the old 9-3 of). Even though the shape is moregeneric, I'd definitely hold out for one of those provided it must be a newish car.
>> Edited by 900T-R on Monday 23 June 12:43
>> Edited by 900T-R on Monday 23 June 12:45
Recently bought a 9000 as a Work Horse. I'm not beemer man and have a Cerb for playin in.
Can honestly say the 9000 is the biz. Saying that, it dosn't go round corners and takes a week to hit terminal velocity, but u could drive the length of the country & feel like you've just popped to the bottle bank!
K1 CERB
Can honestly say the 9000 is the biz. Saying that, it dosn't go round corners and takes a week to hit terminal velocity, but u could drive the length of the country & feel like you've just popped to the bottle bank!
K1 CERB
Hmmm...
Would love a 9-3SS Aero - saw one on the A12 yesterday, looks very nice.
Sadly a little beyond my means. 9-5 is out as I really don't like the looks. Classic 900 I like, but when it comes down to it the newest example is 11 years old, and I need a 100% reliable daily driver.
A/c is a must too (given the weather!) - have ruled VW Corrado out on account of this...
So really it's 9-3 or not Saab
If only I had room for 2 cars....
Would love a 9-3SS Aero - saw one on the A12 yesterday, looks very nice.
Sadly a little beyond my means. 9-5 is out as I really don't like the looks. Classic 900 I like, but when it comes down to it the newest example is 11 years old, and I need a 100% reliable daily driver.
A/c is a must too (given the weather!) - have ruled VW Corrado out on account of this...
So really it's 9-3 or not Saab
If only I had room for 2 cars.... Never mind admitting....
I have a 9000CS Turbo and proud of it. Lovely car, clocked 130,000 miles and still going strong - they're indistructible (although servicing bills have wallet running for cover)! Previously had mk1 9000, which saved my wife's life after a scrap with an artic' hence the second one.
However, I now have a TVR S3, so when my wife gets a company car later this year, guess which one's going!!
>> Edited by S3 Kieran on Wednesday 25th June 13:14
I have a 9000CS Turbo and proud of it. Lovely car, clocked 130,000 miles and still going strong - they're indistructible (although servicing bills have wallet running for cover)! Previously had mk1 9000, which saved my wife's life after a scrap with an artic' hence the second one.
However, I now have a TVR S3, so when my wife gets a company car later this year, guess which one's going!!
>> Edited by S3 Kieran on Wednesday 25th June 13:14
I own one!! 298bhp of Classic 900 Aero. Details on www.faulksperformance.co.uk
All being well I'll be cannon balling in it this year.
Matt
All being well I'll be cannon balling in it this year.
Matt
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