Swedish winter hack
Discussion
Been on here years and never started a thread in this forum!
Anyway, last winter nearly killed my Saab 900 T16S with all the salt, so after an expensive bodyshop visit I decided it would stay well clear of salty roads and idiots who can't drive in ice & snow.
MX-5 proved its uselessness in the snow as well - couldn't even get it off the drive!
The plan was a nice e36 328 Sport and a set of winters, but it appears that there are *no* nice e36 328 Sports left!
Scratched my head, and wondered what the cheapest winter hack I could buy to get through the winter would be. Considered the set of winter tyres on Saab 4-bolt alloys in the garage
So last week I bought this:


Saab 9000 2.3T CSE Anniversary. Few little niggles, most can be sorted with a bit of fettling, synchro weak on 2nd but don't even notice it now as I double-declutch. MOT & Tax until next summer. All for £750. Did 700 miles in 48 hours over the weekend within 24 hours of picking it up and it didn't miss a beat. Most comfortable car I have ever owned. Will stick the winters on it in the next week or so and should do me fine over the winter - heated leather / climate / heated mirrors, etc.
Bring on the snow!
Anyway, last winter nearly killed my Saab 900 T16S with all the salt, so after an expensive bodyshop visit I decided it would stay well clear of salty roads and idiots who can't drive in ice & snow.
MX-5 proved its uselessness in the snow as well - couldn't even get it off the drive!
The plan was a nice e36 328 Sport and a set of winters, but it appears that there are *no* nice e36 328 Sports left!
Scratched my head, and wondered what the cheapest winter hack I could buy to get through the winter would be. Considered the set of winter tyres on Saab 4-bolt alloys in the garage

So last week I bought this:


Saab 9000 2.3T CSE Anniversary. Few little niggles, most can be sorted with a bit of fettling, synchro weak on 2nd but don't even notice it now as I double-declutch. MOT & Tax until next summer. All for £750. Did 700 miles in 48 hours over the weekend within 24 hours of picking it up and it didn't miss a beat. Most comfortable car I have ever owned. Will stick the winters on it in the next week or so and should do me fine over the winter - heated leather / climate / heated mirrors, etc.
Bring on the snow!
It is indeed Buttertubs! Have to say, my T16S, MX-5 or the Mrs.Puma would have been much more fun running around the Dales last weekend, but none of them would have held a candle to the 9000 for the motorway work!
Just out of interest, how far can you get with T5Suite on the standard hardware? How about with a bigger turbo? Just out of interest, like....
MrMoonyMan said:
Ha ha! Was wondering how long till you added one of these stars to your fleet! You're gonna love it this winter.
It wasn't really planned - my Dad has had an almost identical car (in blue) for years and it's great but not really my cup of tea. Gave up on e36s, and this came up. Have to say, I am really enjoying the comfort and not being too worried where I park it! Not planning on modding it partly for reliability and partly for insurance costs!NiceCupOfTea said:
Heh
Nah, keeping this one standard for now!
Really?! Not even a quick t5 suite remap? Go on...
Nah, keeping this one standard for now!Just out of interest, how far can you get with T5Suite on the standard hardware? How about with a bigger turbo? Just out of interest, like....

NiceCupOfTea said:
...Just out of interest, how far can you get with T5Suite on the standard hardware?..
And it starts... 
Do you know which turbo it has?
Assuming the TD-o4 I think at least 250 without changing anything else is easily do-able.
If you really do plan on doing nothing poly bush the rear ARB (takes 1o mins a side) and have a gentle remap...
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