My new to me Saab 2.8T and previous car history...

My new to me Saab 2.8T and previous car history...

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philmots

Original Poster:

4,634 posts

261 months

Monday 22nd August 2011
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Thought I'd share my new car with you guys, along with some pictures of my previous ones.

It's a Saab 9-3 2.8T Aero... Great engine which is the same as the Vectra VXR, in 250hp guise.

Really love it, it's got under my skin for some reason. It also doesn't attract any wrong sort of attention which was one of the reasons for buying it.!

A map will be on the way. I think i'm going to use Vtuner which should give 320hp/400lbft. 250hp/260lbft standard.

If you look closely you'll just make out the PH smiley.







Previous cars... ST220 - Lovely handler, a tad quicker than the 330i, terrible on fuel, it was an itch i had to scratch.



My OH's 206 GTI - Cheap and so far cheerful.



330ci Sport Auto (excuse the 'plate!) - bought as the 330cd was too expensive.



330cd Sport Auto - Lovely car has pretty much every option.



Megane F1 - 262hp/302lbft - Quick! a bit brash looking back.



Clio Cup - This was my first 'proper' car, i added genuine xenons to it. Loved it.


philmots

Original Poster:

4,634 posts

261 months

Wednesday 24th August 2011
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Cheers all.

They do map well, and it is a Q car.. Both high up on the reasons for buying it!

It does look subtle, there's the Aero kit on it, bigger wheels and the 2 zorsts give the game away slightly.

Cheers.

philmots

Original Poster:

4,634 posts

261 months

Saturday 27th August 2011
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Thanks for the positive comments...

Compared to the ST220 you wouldn't be disappointed.

The brakes on this are fantastic, standard are 314mm discs up front, they're specific to the 2.8T. I don't find this set up in the slightest bit vague or spongy. That's compared to the ST220, though. Which easily had the worst brakes of any modern car I've driven. They're the same as on the boggo 1.8 petrol and really not up to the job.

Handling wise I agree with the above poster. The steering is very light and there's a real lack of feel, it's hard to know how much grip you have. Having said that if you trust that the car will grip it can be hustled on at some pace, you wouldn't lose out to an ST or 330 on a back road and it's quite chuckable. It's very stable mid corner which inspires confidence in higher speed stuff. The main problem is you have to know it can do it rather than feel that it can.

I bought it more as a cruiser though so to me it's the better car by a long shot. Epic overtaking ability even with no remap.!

philmots

Original Poster:

4,634 posts

261 months

Saturday 27th August 2011
quotequote all
Waugh-terfall said:
Love the Megane and the Saab, with this talk of re-mapping, what are the gearboxes like these days? Vauxhal items?

Oh and Life Saab Itch will be humping your leg in 4....3......2.....
I don't know for sure about the gearbox but I'd take a guess that the vauxhall gearbox will be the same as this. It'd make sense to use while engine and 'box together. Also the 2.0T of this age turned to a 5 speed box from 6 speed as the 6 speed had some issues.. No issues reported on the 2.8 leads me to think it's different. The VXR's don't seem to have issues with the torque.