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Those wheels don’t look too bad at all, eh?
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Those wheels don’t look too bad at all, eh?

April 23rd, 2008 · 27 Comments



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Given that my Viggen’s a fair chance for getting fixed now, I can seriously start turning my thoughts towards questions like what wheels to put on it. The stock wheels are too soft and at least two of them got bent up in the accident, so a new set of rollers is in order.

I’m considering any one of three options.

1) The 17-inch version of Hirsch’s six spoke wheel, available through Elkparts. There’s a lightning blue Viggen with these on here.

2) The 17-inch Saab 9-3 Aero wheel as seen below

3) Some 18-inch Turbo X wheels if I could ever get someone to smuggle a set out of Sweden (and if they’d fit, which I think they would)

I don’t really think #3 is a realistic option, though I might try anyway. I worried about #2 mainly because I’m a confessed badge snob and I didn’t really want to use wheels on the Viggen that were found on any other Saab that wasn’t a limited edition like the Viggen was.

But, having a look at these fitted on a Viggen, they really do look pretty darn good…..

Saab 9-3 Viggen

There’s nothing shabby-looking about them at all! Very classy, actually. Jeff K, you may start gloating now :-)

I guess it will all depend on what price I can get them for and how the repairer will want to go about it, but this photo has definitely given me food for thought.

Anyone want to photoshop some Turbo X wheels onto a Viggen ? :-) :-)

——

The photo above is another in the series taken on the weekend by Richo. I showcased a number of the photos here yesterday.

Below is a beautiful profile shot of Joe Lobo’s 9-3 Aero from the same photo shoot. It’s been lowered, BSR’d and Joe slapped huge 19 oops 18-inch wheels on it. I drove it last year and it goes like stink!

Saab 9-3 Aero

If any Aussies are interested in it, drop me a line. There’s a good chance it’s going to have to make way for a Black Turbo, so you might be able to snatch up a gem of a car that’s been beautifully set up and maintained.

Tags: Saab Goodies

27 responses so far ↓

  • 1 alaeroNo Gravatar // Apr 23, 2008 at 9:55 pm

    HIrsch 18’s not the 17’s or the 19’s on Joes car (I thought they were 18’s), yes i know you have a steep drive way but you will soon learn to go up sideways :)

    Hope that helps :)

    a.

  • 2 Brian MillsNo Gravatar // Apr 23, 2008 at 9:58 pm

    Tell your wife uyour getting the hirsch buy the Aero #2 option and the extra dollar difference buy tuning products ie) air intake

  • 3 eggsngritsNo Gravatar // Apr 23, 2008 at 10:05 pm

    Well, you know me enough by now to know that I’ll lean toward the three-spokes every time. The “Quad” Three-spokes here would be nice…

  • 4 JNo Gravatar // Apr 23, 2008 at 10:07 pm

    I have a solution:

    Put a pair of double-3 Saab wheels on one side of the car, and a pair of Hirsch 5-spokes on the other side!

    ;-)

  • 5 PTNo Gravatar // Apr 23, 2008 at 10:11 pm

    I’m pretty sure Joes wheels are 18’s too swade. I spend enough time thinking about ways to buy his car, I should know.

    EnG – if the ones you like are the ones I think they are……are you sure? Taste is an individual thing but these are pretty out there. For me, its either classic simplicity like Joes 5 spokers or the more modern 10spoke turbine style.

    I really like the little 15″ Aeros on my 900S but they don’t come in large sizes to my knowledge. These are the best 3-spoke Saab wheels IMO.

    Nice problem to have Swade.

  • 6 eggsngritsNo Gravatar // Apr 23, 2008 at 10:13 pm

    J: That’s how this guy got started….

  • 7 eggsngritsNo Gravatar // Apr 23, 2008 at 10:17 pm

    PT: I am kidding.

  • 8 PTNo Gravatar // Apr 23, 2008 at 10:20 pm

    EnG. Whew, I was really struggling to keep up with you there man.

  • 9 SwadeNo Gravatar // Apr 23, 2008 at 10:29 pm

    Pete, you’re spot on with Joe’s wheels. My mistake. Buy the car – you know you want to.

    That car of wood is unbelievable!

  • 10 PTNo Gravatar // Apr 23, 2008 at 10:37 pm

    There’s no question I’d like to buys Joes car but…..the main motivation for a new car is more space. Hence I’m looking at 95 wagons. Now, no wagon is ever going to handle like Joes 93 – although that 2.3 will pull pretty well in a straight line. Plus I can get a surfboard & a dog in the back.

    PS – did you mean Woodz car?
    BTW – strange how the photos make Joes car look silver when its really a metallic gray/green. Is that yours with the BSR logo on the front intake Joe?

  • 11 lanceNo Gravatar // Apr 24, 2008 at 2:19 am

    Surely the quinessential 93 Saab wheel is ALU 36 – the 3 by 3 spoker Aero wheel as sen on the blue viggen in the photo?

    These also look very good on the 95 as a retro fit- they were never standard on it – were they?

    Or what about thsoe swirly 3 spoker Hirschers?

  • 12 JNo Gravatar // Apr 24, 2008 at 2:33 am

    Holy cow, Eggs! How the heck did you find a ride w/ different wheels on each side? Good find! I hope that car owner doesn’t smoke!

    :-)

  • 13 jeff kNo Gravatar // Apr 24, 2008 at 3:28 am

    Hahahaha, thanks Swade. :)

  • 14 RobbieNo Gravatar // Apr 24, 2008 at 5:46 am

    Hirsch it out!! :D

  • 15 gunner712004No Gravatar // Apr 24, 2008 at 6:04 am

    i am about to deck my viggen with a set of 18inch five spoke star alloys, a saab accesory wheel, take a look on the accesory site, i would be interested in opinions

  • 16 jayarekay338No Gravatar // Apr 24, 2008 at 6:20 am

    Always thought that the 9-3 anniversary wheels from a couple of years ago would look great on a viggen. Keeping somewhat of a five spoke look, but updated.

  • 17 RMinNJNo Gravatar // Apr 24, 2008 at 6:28 am

    Weren’t the original viggen wheels quite soft and many ended up with bent wheels? I think you should get the klingon wheels (aka 2000-2001 9-5 aero wheels). I’d stay far away from the original viggen wheels unless your roads are good.

  • 18 SwadeNo Gravatar // Apr 24, 2008 at 7:30 am

    Gunner @ comment 15 has just emailed me the 18-inch wheels he’s going to put on his Viggen and they look mighty mighty good. Similar to the wheels on Joe’s car (pictured above) but genuine Saab wheels and a bit more Viggen like.

    RM – the softness of the Viggen wheels is legendary, unfortunately. We’ve got brilliant roads here in Tasmania but I’d still prefer to change them out.

  • 19 RichoNo Gravatar // Apr 24, 2008 at 7:44 am

    ok..

    Jose has 18’s but they’re not Hirsch. Yes PT it is Jose’s Aero in all those shots. And Swade for the record it has to make way for a Turbo X, not a Black Turbo.

  • 20 zippyNo Gravatar // Apr 24, 2008 at 10:16 am

    Swade, glad to hear your Viggen will get the TLC is deserves. Damned insurance adjusters, they make you pay thru the nose for insurance and then screw you over when its time to make a claim.

  • 21 swadeNo Gravatar // Apr 24, 2008 at 10:21 am

    Richo – how quickly we forget. The Black Turbo is the Turbo X. That’s the name by which it was originally referred to before the Turbo X name was known.

  • 22 RichoNo Gravatar // Apr 24, 2008 at 11:07 am

    Umm Swade, not according to Saab Oz. Black Turbo and Turbo X…

    since when have you taken notice of anything Saab Oz have to say, Richo? :-)

  • 23 RichoNo Gravatar // Apr 24, 2008 at 11:11 am

    right for some reason my links have been taken out so you can have them in long form!!!

    http://www.saabterms.com/BlackTurbo/?Referer=SaabWSBlkTrbo

    http://www.saab.com.au/main/AU/en/turbox_unleashed.shtml

    Looks like 2 different cars (here in Oz) to me :)

    And since Jose is in Oz, he is ordering a Turbo X, not a Black Turbo. Or has Saab Oz confused things again???

    It’s a fair cop, but I knew what I meant. – SW

  • 24 RichoNo Gravatar // Apr 24, 2008 at 11:56 am

    Either way, the Aero is for sale and it would have to be the best example I’ve ever seen and i also know how well it’s been looked after. Towels on the seats no less!!!!

  • 25 PTNo Gravatar // Apr 24, 2008 at 8:58 pm

    If that is Jose’s car in all shots, does it actually have a BSR emblem in the lower air intake as seen in the front on shot? Nice touch if it does.

    You’re right richo, Joses car is immaculate.

  • 26 PTNo Gravatar // Apr 24, 2008 at 8:59 pm

    Ps – did you guys put them on the dyno while you were there? If so – what were the outputs?

  • 27 Joe LoboNo Gravatar // Apr 25, 2008 at 10:35 am

    Guys I had an absolute bomber of a day yesterday that totally blocked me form getting in to any dialogue. I guess by now everyone can sense when workload/commitments are high as some simply disappear altogether. Anyway, thanks for all the compliments and yes the Aero is up for sale. I’ve never dynoed it but I am sure you will get a few more KW/HP by doing so. The BSR logo spot looks very classy however its no longer exclusive as this fine touch has been copied by others !!! (Have you noticed that in one of the 2 Viggs on that day ???)