Renault, Saab(s). Brief car history.
Discussion
Hi
Been on here a few months now, so probably a good time to post in this forum.
My first car wasn't actually mine, it was my Mum's. I passed my test and was lucky enough to be insured from day 1. It was a 1999 Renault Clio 1.4, which was very nice to drive around in at that age, and it served me well for the 1 year 10 months I drove it. Before I got hold of it, it had only done 27,000 miles in 10/11 years, and it became mine in all but paperwork.
Only 1 picture of this one...
After saving up hard earned money from my first job, I started looking at getting my own car. I wanted something that looked good, was practical, reasonable on insurance, and a bit quicker. My search led me to a 2001 Saab 9-3 Aero. Being a Saab, it had lots of toys, comfortable seats, and being an Aero, went well. Not bad for a first (properly owned) car...
More pictures of this one, but will post one of the better ones. Cheddar Gorge, May 2013.
Had it remapped by Abbott Racing as well, for extra...progress...
After owning this for 11 months, and realising that the suspension being so stiff, and the roads around our house being so bad, I decided to get something more comfortable, and better on the motorway (in case of job related travelling). I still wanted something well equipped, but it had to be comfortable, and just as quick if not quicker than the 9-3. Of course, that took me to a 2006 (pre Dame Edna) Saab 9-5 Aero. The chap I bought it from looked a bit bemused when a 19 year old turned up.
Not got any decent pictures of this one (bought it a week ago), so here's an Internet photo, identical down to the wheels.
Will be taking it to get remapped when it has been run a bit longer than a week, but for now, I'm rather enjoying wafting about!
Will get a better picture soon, promise ;-)
Edit to add a picture of the actual car :-P
Been on here a few months now, so probably a good time to post in this forum.
My first car wasn't actually mine, it was my Mum's. I passed my test and was lucky enough to be insured from day 1. It was a 1999 Renault Clio 1.4, which was very nice to drive around in at that age, and it served me well for the 1 year 10 months I drove it. Before I got hold of it, it had only done 27,000 miles in 10/11 years, and it became mine in all but paperwork.
Only 1 picture of this one...
After saving up hard earned money from my first job, I started looking at getting my own car. I wanted something that looked good, was practical, reasonable on insurance, and a bit quicker. My search led me to a 2001 Saab 9-3 Aero. Being a Saab, it had lots of toys, comfortable seats, and being an Aero, went well. Not bad for a first (properly owned) car...
More pictures of this one, but will post one of the better ones. Cheddar Gorge, May 2013.
Had it remapped by Abbott Racing as well, for extra...progress...
After owning this for 11 months, and realising that the suspension being so stiff, and the roads around our house being so bad, I decided to get something more comfortable, and better on the motorway (in case of job related travelling). I still wanted something well equipped, but it had to be comfortable, and just as quick if not quicker than the 9-3. Of course, that took me to a 2006 (pre Dame Edna) Saab 9-5 Aero. The chap I bought it from looked a bit bemused when a 19 year old turned up.
Not got any decent pictures of this one (bought it a week ago), so here's an Internet photo, identical down to the wheels.
Will be taking it to get remapped when it has been run a bit longer than a week, but for now, I'm rather enjoying wafting about!
Will get a better picture soon, promise ;-)
Edit to add a picture of the actual car :-P
Edited by CB2152 on Wednesday 26th June 14:22
) before getting a 05 93 aero - loved that car.Excellent choice OP. Seats alone are worth it on the 95 and 93. Only thing that puts me off is the steering feel. There was absolutly NO communication from the front end regarding grip levels when I drove a knackered 93 2.0t a while back.
Please tell me this utter rubbish. The Aero models better?
Please tell me this utter rubbish. The Aero models better?
Thanks, yeah, I effectively spent 7 hours in Saab seats when I took mine to Abbott Racing. Got home and didn't feel any more fatigued than my 10 mile drive to work...
Regarding steering, mine seemed to be fairly communicative, not as much as the Clio, but not bad at all. Probably would've been better with new tyres as well to be fair :-P
Hopefully retained some faith there :-D
Regarding steering, mine seemed to be fairly communicative, not as much as the Clio, but not bad at all. Probably would've been better with new tyres as well to be fair :-P
Hopefully retained some faith there :-D
Time for a thread bump I think 
After 6 months, the 9-5 is going well! I had all the brake discs and pads replaced, and two new rear tyres. And a service. Other than that, nothing has gone wrong or broken!
Back in September, someone knocked me at a red light. Fortunately it was only paint damage, which the chap eventually agreed to pay to have fixed. Because it was the whole right hand half of the bumper, the only way to properly fix it was to completely respray it. This did work out somewhat in my favour as it got rid of a few other chips and scratches...
Before:
After:
In other news, I have a 3.5 bar fuel pressure regulator sitting in my bedroom waiting for a 3" downpipe to be built. Then it will be time to take it to stage 3, and get some new front tyres to cope...I have found that it seems to be better in the mid corner than the 9-3 though. Continues to turn where the 9-3 would start washing out wide.
Also, I have replaced the sidelights and fog lights with LED bulbs, which looks a lot better, and I made a complete hash of the rear number plate bulbs, meaning one is currently LED and one is filament. Hopefully get that sorted tonight though...
Will update again in due course, but so far I'm loving this
After 6 months, the 9-5 is going well! I had all the brake discs and pads replaced, and two new rear tyres. And a service. Other than that, nothing has gone wrong or broken!
Back in September, someone knocked me at a red light. Fortunately it was only paint damage, which the chap eventually agreed to pay to have fixed. Because it was the whole right hand half of the bumper, the only way to properly fix it was to completely respray it. This did work out somewhat in my favour as it got rid of a few other chips and scratches...
Before:
After:
In other news, I have a 3.5 bar fuel pressure regulator sitting in my bedroom waiting for a 3" downpipe to be built. Then it will be time to take it to stage 3, and get some new front tyres to cope...I have found that it seems to be better in the mid corner than the 9-3 though. Continues to turn where the 9-3 would start washing out wide.
Also, I have replaced the sidelights and fog lights with LED bulbs, which looks a lot better, and I made a complete hash of the rear number plate bulbs, meaning one is currently LED and one is filament. Hopefully get that sorted tonight though...
Will update again in due course, but so far I'm loving this
I had a 9-3 too in that colour. Wasn't an aero but had the bodykit and was an FPT remapped by SaabNoob. Dear God I miss that car 
If you ever sell the Saab, can I have first refusal please
My 9-5 is getting a little tired at the moment so I am in the market for a facelift 9-5 aero. It looks ace!
If you ever sell the Saab, can I have first refusal please
My 9-5 is getting a little tired at the moment so I am in the market for a facelift 9-5 aero. It looks ace!
CB2152 said:
Time for a thread bump I think
After 6 months, the 9-5 is going well! I had all the brake discs and pads replaced, and two new rear tyres. And a service. Other than that, nothing has gone wrong or broken!
Back in September, someone knocked me at a red light. Fortunately it was only paint damage, which the chap eventually agreed to pay to have fixed. Because it was the whole right hand half of the bumper, the only way to properly fix it was to completely respray it. This did work out somewhat in my favour as it got rid of a few other chips and scratches...
Before:
After:
In other news, I have a 3.5 bar fuel pressure regulator sitting in my bedroom waiting for a 3" downpipe to be built. Then it will be time to take it to stage 3, and get some new front tyres to cope...I have found that it seems to be better in the mid corner than the 9-3 though. Continues to turn where the 9-3 would start washing out wide.
Also, I have replaced the sidelights and fog lights with LED bulbs, which looks a lot better, and I made a complete hash of the rear number plate bulbs, meaning one is currently LED and one is filament. Hopefully get that sorted tonight though...
Will update again in due course, but so far I'm loving this
Get those foglights off!After 6 months, the 9-5 is going well! I had all the brake discs and pads replaced, and two new rear tyres. And a service. Other than that, nothing has gone wrong or broken!
Back in September, someone knocked me at a red light. Fortunately it was only paint damage, which the chap eventually agreed to pay to have fixed. Because it was the whole right hand half of the bumper, the only way to properly fix it was to completely respray it. This did work out somewhat in my favour as it got rid of a few other chips and scratches...
Before:
After:
In other news, I have a 3.5 bar fuel pressure regulator sitting in my bedroom waiting for a 3" downpipe to be built. Then it will be time to take it to stage 3, and get some new front tyres to cope...I have found that it seems to be better in the mid corner than the 9-3 though. Continues to turn where the 9-3 would start washing out wide.
Also, I have replaced the sidelights and fog lights with LED bulbs, which looks a lot better, and I made a complete hash of the rear number plate bulbs, meaning one is currently LED and one is filament. Hopefully get that sorted tonight though...
Will update again in due course, but so far I'm loving this
elephantstone said:
Get those foglights off!
I don't drive with them on, don't worry 
I did have a "before" picture with LED sidelights and standard fogs. They looked like candles in comparison!
I tend to use fog lights either for their intended use, or when parking in my road. I want to be seen, but don't want to be projecting a focused beam of light into people's rooms late at night...
One month on and another update 
I had new front tyres put on it (the old ones were "points bald" as the chap at the garage put it) and sorted out the rear number plate bulbs so they are now both LED. Also put LED puddle lights, boot light and glove box light in.
Oh, this turned up about half an hour ago as well:
3" downpipe with 200 cell cat
This will sit in the house until later this week (hopefully) when I can have it fitted...once it is and it's all running well it'll be time for the stage 3 remap...
That should be fun
I had new front tyres put on it (the old ones were "points bald" as the chap at the garage put it) and sorted out the rear number plate bulbs so they are now both LED. Also put LED puddle lights, boot light and glove box light in.
Oh, this turned up about half an hour ago as well:
3" downpipe with 200 cell cat
This will sit in the house until later this week (hopefully) when I can have it fitted...once it is and it's all running well it'll be time for the stage 3 remap...
That should be fun
Another update. I had the stage 3 remap done in mid February by Saabnoob. Top man he is, very knowledgeable and very generous with the knowledge
Anyhow....it's rather amazing...I've driven a C63 with the performance pack and the new E63 both flat out, so it's not quite the fastest thing I've driven, but my word it can shift now, lots of torque and a healthy increase in power
So far it's elicited such reactions as: "It definitely sounds more turbo-ishoooohhhhhh my god!", "wwooaahhhoooo", and "ooohhf
kinghell".
In other news, I now need a new clutch.
Anyhow....it's rather amazing...I've driven a C63 with the performance pack and the new E63 both flat out, so it's not quite the fastest thing I've driven, but my word it can shift now, lots of torque and a healthy increase in power
So far it's elicited such reactions as: "It definitely sounds more turbo-ishoooohhhhhh my god!", "wwooaahhhoooo", and "ooohhf
kinghell".In other news, I now need a new clutch.
Oh, this turned up about half an hour ago as well:
3" downpipe with 200 cell cat
This will sit in the house until later this week (hopefully) when I can have it fitted...once it is and it's all running well it'll be time for the stage 3 remap...
That should be fun
[/quote]
Nice!
Who made the downpipe for you and what's the approx cost if you don't mind me asking?
3" downpipe with 200 cell cat
This will sit in the house until later this week (hopefully) when I can have it fitted...once it is and it's all running well it'll be time for the stage 3 remap...
That should be fun
[/quote]
Nice!
Who made the downpipe for you and what's the approx cost if you don't mind me asking?
After a couple more months with the Aero, all is still going well!
Recently bought a Saab 6 CD changer to go in the boot, after realising that long journeys with constantly fluctuating radio signal and only one CD in the dash can get really boring!
Obviously being a Saab it isn't simple, I wired it into the power lead which was already there, and the lead which transmits the audio, and the earth lead. Then had to go to a Saab independent for a Tech 2 session as it transmits the audio through a data bus in the security system, meaning the changer has to be coded for the specific VIN of the car.
Got that done and.....it wouldn't work. Annoying.
Turns out that in my idiocy I'd wired the earth lead to the painted metal mounting bracket expecting it to work, but it couldn't get a good earth. After taking the boot trim apart (again), I connected it to the proper earth point and it works!
I think the next thing is going to be the suspension components, it's still on original bits AFAIK and is getting a bit tired.
Also, the lumbar support on my driver's seat broke, so I got the seat replaced so it's now not only electric and heated, but also has the memory function as well
For now, a gratuitous picture of it clean(ish)
Recently bought a Saab 6 CD changer to go in the boot, after realising that long journeys with constantly fluctuating radio signal and only one CD in the dash can get really boring!
Obviously being a Saab it isn't simple, I wired it into the power lead which was already there, and the lead which transmits the audio, and the earth lead. Then had to go to a Saab independent for a Tech 2 session as it transmits the audio through a data bus in the security system, meaning the changer has to be coded for the specific VIN of the car.
Got that done and.....it wouldn't work. Annoying.
Turns out that in my idiocy I'd wired the earth lead to the painted metal mounting bracket expecting it to work, but it couldn't get a good earth. After taking the boot trim apart (again), I connected it to the proper earth point and it works!
I think the next thing is going to be the suspension components, it's still on original bits AFAIK and is getting a bit tired.
Also, the lumbar support on my driver's seat broke, so I got the seat replaced so it's now not only electric and heated, but also has the memory function as well
For now, a gratuitous picture of it clean(ish)
Wow, nearly 5 months since the last update!
Since then I have had a new clutch fitted as the old one was slipping quite a lot. This one still slips slightly but as long as I don't floor it from silly low revs it's fine. I don't think I've had it slip in a couple of months now.
I also had it serviced in July. Halfway through the day I got a call asking if I had done anything to the front shocks because they were pretty much solid. I hadn't, by the way. Apparently my rear shocks were also starting to leak, so this was the kick I needed to justify some new shiny bits
After much deliberation I decided on Koni Frequency Selective Dampers. I wanted a comfortable ride but didn't really want it to be any more boat-like in the corners. These seemed to be the best option for what I wanted, and they arrived on Tuesday! (I did say "much deliberation", it was very much.)
^^ They have a girl on the front, so they must be good, right?
Had them fitted on Wednesday and the difference is quite noticeable. It no longer crashes into bumps and holes, and absorbs them very well. Cornering is improved as well, doesn't seem to understeer quite as much now. Hopefully once they're settled in they'll be even better
I'm wondering what to do next now...I was seriously tempted by a Hirsch brake upgrade kit which I saw recently, but I couldn't really justify the cost, considering I'd just spent £520 on the Koni's...
Oh, I've also managed to get the selectable engine modes to activate the right way. Good stuff...
Since then I have had a new clutch fitted as the old one was slipping quite a lot. This one still slips slightly but as long as I don't floor it from silly low revs it's fine. I don't think I've had it slip in a couple of months now.
I also had it serviced in July. Halfway through the day I got a call asking if I had done anything to the front shocks because they were pretty much solid. I hadn't, by the way. Apparently my rear shocks were also starting to leak, so this was the kick I needed to justify some new shiny bits
After much deliberation I decided on Koni Frequency Selective Dampers. I wanted a comfortable ride but didn't really want it to be any more boat-like in the corners. These seemed to be the best option for what I wanted, and they arrived on Tuesday! (I did say "much deliberation", it was very much.)
^^ They have a girl on the front, so they must be good, right?
Had them fitted on Wednesday and the difference is quite noticeable. It no longer crashes into bumps and holes, and absorbs them very well. Cornering is improved as well, doesn't seem to understeer quite as much now. Hopefully once they're settled in they'll be even better
I'm wondering what to do next now...I was seriously tempted by a Hirsch brake upgrade kit which I saw recently, but I couldn't really justify the cost, considering I'd just spent £520 on the Koni's...
Oh, I've also managed to get the selectable engine modes to activate the right way. Good stuff...
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