Seabods mid life crisis.
Discussion
I have been a petrol head for some time, it all started when my uncle used to borrow his dads 400bhp 300zx z32 at the weekends and take us out. The power, the uniqueness of something so special got my adrenaline pumping.
I was about 12 during them times and it wasn’t long after my uncle started going through cars like women through underwear. Skylines, Subarus, escort rs turbos, 300zx, Audi coupes, the list goes on. With all that and attending multiple Santa pod days, time attacks and drift competitions you could say I was hooked from a young age.
My first proper car was a Saxo 1.1 spi, while all my friends were stuffing their cars with subwoofers and extra speakers, I was striping every unwanted weight out as I possibly could. Everything inside was stripped and only two bucket seats. I wasn’t interested in music, I wanted to have a driver’s car.
Next up was another stripped out tin can. But this time the engine was a bit more serious. ( yes I was an idiot and it was insured as a 1.2 ) but instead of a 1.2 was a slightly worked on c20let out of a calibra. Around 300bhp and tons of fun until the head gasket went. Yes, I used to be a lifeguard.
The only car that is worth a mention since my younger years and now was a e46 323i that I absolutely adored. It was my first RWD car and I spent plenty of time “drifting” in car parks trying to impress my girlfriends. I was 18 at the time.
All of a sudden life happened. A wife and three kids later and I’m now mid 30’s. I did have a 300zx for a short period but unfortunately that was sold for wedding money.
So here we are today.
I wanted to get back “into” cars for a while. A couple of years ago I bought an Audi TT but was short lived due to being usless at getting the kids in the back.
Since then we have adapted and I don’t really need a car but I’ve had the bug to get one for a while.
I spotted a Saab 9-5 2.0t on Facebook for the grand total of £500. I’ve always wanted a Saab and the plan was to stick on a td04, 3” downpipe, FMIC, and a stage 3 noobtune to get it around 270-290bhp.
Unfortunately removing the plastic side skirts revealed that the sills were softer than fresh marshmallows, although it had 11 months MOT I was unwilling to spend any money on her.
I put the Saab up for sale or swaps detailing what I knew and wasn’t expecting anything other than scrap price or swaps for Chinese mini motos.
That was until a bloke got in touch and asked if I was interested in a s211 e270. He sent pictures and it looked really smart and he seemed very honest. The problem was it had days left on the MOT. I decided to bite the bullet and we agreed to meet at Beaconsfield service station for a straight swap.
I arrived at beaconsfield service station and soon spotted the e270 where we had agreed to meet. Me and the owner got to chatting and it was as simple as he loved Saabs and wanted another estate. We both had a wander around each other’s cars and a deal was made. Only then did he mention that he had put the merc through an MOT the day before and it only came up with a couple of advisory’s. Happy days.
The drive home:
As with any car you have just picked up you take it steady and press every button to find out what it does. It was running smooth and felt exactly how an executive estate was meant to feel. So comfortable and not missing a beat.
Coming onto the m25 from the m40 a bmw 5 series shot up behind me, old shape I’m guessing a 520d or some sort but the kid in me wasn’t happy he was less than one foot from my bumper so I decided to show him who’s boss. Foot down and off she went, for a couple of seconds anyway, until it felt like an anchor had been thrown out. No power, clearly in limp mode. f
k.
Managed to nurse it around the m25 until I got to the London colony turn off instead of the A1. It was back roads from there so I could have a look and try and figure out what was going on. I pulled into Peter rabbit world and just tried the old turn off back on trick. It worked. Back to full power and driving like a dream. 99% sure it’s the MAF.
DRIFT KING:
After regaining full power and still playing with buttons I made a mistake that nearly cost me the car.
I’d come up to a big roundabout and after months of heat it had just started chucking it down. Not only that but I had seemed to have forgotten that RWD cars existed. Along with that I’d also disabled the traction control due to messing around with all the buttons.
It was literally a slight throttle input as I was navigating this roundabout that led to me looking like a hooligan, I panicked but I was scared if I let off I’d snap around and end up in the bushes. So I kept my foot in and managed to power out of the exit I needed. Thank god the police wasn’t there because they rightfully would have thought i was showing off. I was cacking it. BUT this moment it what made me realise that it was fun. I have been obsessed with drifting since I was a child. So this is it. I’m building a £500 mercedes “drift car” that I can daily drive and take to Santa pod for drift what you brung.
Tonight me and my lad jacked it up and got it on axle stands ready to remove the diff for welding.
THE PLAN:
Weld diff. ( have fun )
E230 turbo, 3”exhaust, custom air filter and re map to around 270bhp 550 torque.
Strip interior keeping back seats.
Bucket seat, for me.
Manual swap.
The list is not in order but I’m determined to crack on and get stuff done.
Me and my lad started today after work and managed to get it jacked up and on stands ready to get the diff removed.
Will update when and as I can. Cheers all
I was about 12 during them times and it wasn’t long after my uncle started going through cars like women through underwear. Skylines, Subarus, escort rs turbos, 300zx, Audi coupes, the list goes on. With all that and attending multiple Santa pod days, time attacks and drift competitions you could say I was hooked from a young age.
My first proper car was a Saxo 1.1 spi, while all my friends were stuffing their cars with subwoofers and extra speakers, I was striping every unwanted weight out as I possibly could. Everything inside was stripped and only two bucket seats. I wasn’t interested in music, I wanted to have a driver’s car.
Next up was another stripped out tin can. But this time the engine was a bit more serious. ( yes I was an idiot and it was insured as a 1.2 ) but instead of a 1.2 was a slightly worked on c20let out of a calibra. Around 300bhp and tons of fun until the head gasket went. Yes, I used to be a lifeguard.
The only car that is worth a mention since my younger years and now was a e46 323i that I absolutely adored. It was my first RWD car and I spent plenty of time “drifting” in car parks trying to impress my girlfriends. I was 18 at the time.
All of a sudden life happened. A wife and three kids later and I’m now mid 30’s. I did have a 300zx for a short period but unfortunately that was sold for wedding money.
So here we are today.
I wanted to get back “into” cars for a while. A couple of years ago I bought an Audi TT but was short lived due to being usless at getting the kids in the back.
Since then we have adapted and I don’t really need a car but I’ve had the bug to get one for a while.
I spotted a Saab 9-5 2.0t on Facebook for the grand total of £500. I’ve always wanted a Saab and the plan was to stick on a td04, 3” downpipe, FMIC, and a stage 3 noobtune to get it around 270-290bhp.
Unfortunately removing the plastic side skirts revealed that the sills were softer than fresh marshmallows, although it had 11 months MOT I was unwilling to spend any money on her.
I put the Saab up for sale or swaps detailing what I knew and wasn’t expecting anything other than scrap price or swaps for Chinese mini motos.
That was until a bloke got in touch and asked if I was interested in a s211 e270. He sent pictures and it looked really smart and he seemed very honest. The problem was it had days left on the MOT. I decided to bite the bullet and we agreed to meet at Beaconsfield service station for a straight swap.
I arrived at beaconsfield service station and soon spotted the e270 where we had agreed to meet. Me and the owner got to chatting and it was as simple as he loved Saabs and wanted another estate. We both had a wander around each other’s cars and a deal was made. Only then did he mention that he had put the merc through an MOT the day before and it only came up with a couple of advisory’s. Happy days.
The drive home:
As with any car you have just picked up you take it steady and press every button to find out what it does. It was running smooth and felt exactly how an executive estate was meant to feel. So comfortable and not missing a beat.
Coming onto the m25 from the m40 a bmw 5 series shot up behind me, old shape I’m guessing a 520d or some sort but the kid in me wasn’t happy he was less than one foot from my bumper so I decided to show him who’s boss. Foot down and off she went, for a couple of seconds anyway, until it felt like an anchor had been thrown out. No power, clearly in limp mode. f
k. Managed to nurse it around the m25 until I got to the London colony turn off instead of the A1. It was back roads from there so I could have a look and try and figure out what was going on. I pulled into Peter rabbit world and just tried the old turn off back on trick. It worked. Back to full power and driving like a dream. 99% sure it’s the MAF.
DRIFT KING:
After regaining full power and still playing with buttons I made a mistake that nearly cost me the car.
I’d come up to a big roundabout and after months of heat it had just started chucking it down. Not only that but I had seemed to have forgotten that RWD cars existed. Along with that I’d also disabled the traction control due to messing around with all the buttons.
It was literally a slight throttle input as I was navigating this roundabout that led to me looking like a hooligan, I panicked but I was scared if I let off I’d snap around and end up in the bushes. So I kept my foot in and managed to power out of the exit I needed. Thank god the police wasn’t there because they rightfully would have thought i was showing off. I was cacking it. BUT this moment it what made me realise that it was fun. I have been obsessed with drifting since I was a child. So this is it. I’m building a £500 mercedes “drift car” that I can daily drive and take to Santa pod for drift what you brung.
Tonight me and my lad jacked it up and got it on axle stands ready to remove the diff for welding.
THE PLAN:
Weld diff. ( have fun )
E230 turbo, 3”exhaust, custom air filter and re map to around 270bhp 550 torque.
Strip interior keeping back seats.
Bucket seat, for me.
Manual swap.
The list is not in order but I’m determined to crack on and get stuff done.
Me and my lad started today after work and managed to get it jacked up and on stands ready to get the diff removed.
Will update when and as I can. Cheers all
Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff