Pollhattan Saab - tuning
I’ve been so immersed in Saab ownership in the last 5 or so years that I took for granted what a great base these cars are as performance machines.
Tomorrow morning I’m going to chip my Alfa. In doing so I’ll gain around 11hp and 15Nm. When I was looking at a chip tune for my Viggen, the basic stage one tune from BSR delivered 44hp and around 70 or so torques. Turbocharging gives you great tuning advantages.
Unfortunately I’m going to have to remain satisfied with tuning the Alfa just a little as neither of our Saabs are good candidates for tuning. I’d like to keep the 900 as it is, and the 900 is a family hauler and I don’t think my wife will appreciate me messing with it (and I’m not sure there’s much you can do with a LPT automatic 9000, anyway).
Our 17 year-old is in car-buying mode at the moment. It would ruin his insurance prospects (and possibly do him physical harm), but I could so easily encourage him into a NG900 that would be inexpensive to pick up and easily tuned to totally irresponsible levels. And it’d be so much fun……..
So what to you think about tuning. I know we talk it up a bit, but is it worth it? And if you are into it, then why?
Maybe you’re more into preserving the cars the way Sason/Envall/Mauer/Lo intended? The challenge of keeping a car in showroom condition can be just as daunting as creating a monster.
Whatever your thoughts, express them in the poll and expand on them in the comments if you so desire.
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nnSaab modifications - Have you done any? Do you plan to?
Note: I’m mainly talking about performance mods here, too, but handling mods are almost as essential (some would argue more so, esp on certain Saabs) and if you want to talk about cosmetic modifications (e.g. plaid interior panelling) then feel free.
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And coming up soon - what’s the best Saab for tuning?? Put your thinking caps on now!!
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The best Saab for tuning? 9-3SS has a LOT of mods, but just hard to find many..
the 9000 is decent to mod too…
but the absolute best is the NG900 by far. easily fit 9-3 parts too.
I CAN tell you the worst Saab for tuning:
1999-2001 9-5 with the V6. Most Tuners and Swedish Saab workshops wont even touch it.
The only things my Saab requires are better handling and better braking. I would add some 17″ Volk TE37 rims with summer tires, coilover suspension, thicker rollbars, strut-tower braces, SS braided brake lines, and performance brake pads. However, for the cost of all that, I would much rather use the money for a STi.
I’ve had my share of bad luck with modifying vehicles and it’s not something that interests me anymore.
I’ve come to the conclusion that tuned cars are almost always worse than the original.
I don’t know how things are in Australia, but the tuning scene here in North America consists mostly of Japanese cars that accelerate like eighteen wheelers, and ride like skateboards.
The worse thing is when you see a nice car that has been butchered by some punter, like an NSX with huge rims and a fat wing at the back. Christ, Ayrton Senna set-up the handling on that car, and you think you can do better?
Yeah, there are a lot of those in the states!
Cheaper, safer, and usually more reliable to “trade up” to a well maintained stock car, used or even new at year-end clearance time. Modified vehicles have almost certainly been driven “harder” and even when not the mechanicals have been stressed more. Some very basic new cars can run circles around higher end vehicles only a decade older . . . plus the air conditioning works and there is a warranty.
Cosmetic stuff (dash trim, floor mats, chrome exhaust tips, wheels, etc.) are fine and immediately enjoyed.
In my case, the car’s (’96 900) handling had to be addressed; hence, the suspension upgrades helped a lot. Then, I ventured on to the hardware/software part. The reason for the “tuning” is because I feel that the autobox is too slow for my taste. While I really and truly enjoy the results, a bone-stock car has its charms!
9-3SS is the best Saab for power mods, I would say. The chassis can actually handle a good amount more power, stock. Through in a LSD, new springs/shocks and bigger brakes and it can practically handle 400 hp.
A weekend driving school is the best most cost effective mod you could buy, and it won’t lower the resale value of your car.
How many cars do you see with thousand spent on rims, tires, exhaust and who knows what else, and the driver hasn’t spent any time finding the correct driving position.
Plaid door inserts are the best thing I ever did for my C900T.
Actually, the best “mod” I did to that was replacing the APC box with one from an SPG. The difference was phenomenal.
As to what others have said, it does seem that the order of what is replaced is important. Starting with the suspension and brakes is good seeing that a non-stoppable modded car will soon be worth much less.
Hi Steve, long time reader, first time responder. Along with the many I appreciate what you have accomplished here at Trollhattan SAAB. Regarding your entry on mods. I have two NG900’s and am constantly looking at improving the units. One is a 97 900 coupe which I am about to change the wiring loom/instrument cluster on so that the unit can run the SID 3 panel etc.
The other is 94 900S (2.3) sedan. I have been looking at the sound systems on these and have been somewhat frustrated with cassette adaptors for MP3 players (unfortunately they are not a standard double DIN). I have had thoughts about manufacturing an inbuilt MP3 player into the existing radio/cassette shell leaving all the functionality for the CD stacker and the radio in place, but re-chipping the SID 3 display and re manufacturing the control buttons on the cassette control so that the MP3 is integrated into the unit in place of the cassette player.
I have the contacts to do this ( and probably will do it for my own satisfaction) but I was wondering whether anyone else was interested in this mod?
Once again, I appreciate all your effort.
John
Nothing to do with a CSE lpt auto, eh?
Most of my clients with LPT 9000’s complain about the lack of power. The good news is that can be easily fixed! Take an BPC valve and an ECU from an Aero, install it, then chop pin 14 on the ECU harness (this pin tells the car whether the attatched gearbox is 5spd or auto, and 5spd maps yield more power). This gives the same power as the aero (as close as you can get without the TD04, anyway), and can usually be done for under $200.
It’s hard to argue with a 30ish hp gain for under $200. =)
-Chad
The Saab i want (’99-’02 9-3) will see some mods, as i’m quite sure it won’t come w/ ‘em.
The mods will bring the 9-3 to it’s true potential, as Saab held them back a bit, or in the case of the Viggen: underestimated the power of that 2.3 (or is that overestimated the chassis/suspension?)!
My NG900 has had quite many “stages” from different suppliers: BSR -> Speedparts -> Maptun and currently I’m driving with the software from Nordic Tuning.
Driving the original: no f**king way!
Of course I try to preserve the outfit of the car as close to original as possible but if the car has a turbo, why not to tune it?
And speaking of that Saab 9-5 3.0V6t, Nordic Tuning does have a tuning kit for it.
The absolute no risk low cost best accessory you can buy for any Saab is a membership to your local Saab owners club. You want quality information on mods , look to a local club as you will find many club members who have spent time and money on performance modding on a range of models and will share advice as to what they did and the outcomes. Best advice is look for those that have already upgraded their car
i have the BSR stage 3 tune on my car and all the applicable growly bits. i loved my car before, but i really enjoy what it’s become. it seems pretty easy to tweak these cars b/c there are quite a few options readily available. if you’re looking for a little more power, why not? it beats selling the car for something else. it’s nice to know there are options out there.