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Flashes of inspiration come at the strangest times. Usually it’s in the shower, but today it was at the shops.
I was walking back to the Monte and just casually observing who freaking darn good my wheels looked. It’s hard to know which money was better spent – the $7,000 for the car or the $1,000 for the wheels and tyres.
But that got me wondering – what do others consider to be their best use of automotive-related funds this year?
Was it the new car you bought? Or something smaller like a SID rebuild to get rid of those dead pixels or even some floor mats to spruce up the interior?
It might not have been directly for the car at all. Perhaps you picked up on of Eggs’ 2-stroke coffee mugs (mine arrived yesterday – outstanding!) or a new Saab watch.
Did you go gung-ho on tuning stuff in the last year? Maybe it was a new tool kit so you could get all DIY in the garage?
Neons for your under-carraige? OK, maybe not.
Whatever it was, let us know in comments.
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34 responses so far ↓
1 Etienne Saabhuy
// Jan 22, 2009 at 6:16 pm
A wooden steering wheels Nardi for my 900 that I pay 10% more than the price of the whole car !
2 alaero
// Jan 22, 2009 at 6:24 pm
Koni Adjustable Springs and Shocks
GS Polyurethane Bushings
GS 3inch Downpipe
GS Turbo Intake pipe
]Abbott 3inch Stainless cat back, with high flow cat
Forge Intercooler
Forge Bypass
3.5 bar fuel regulator
Parts for Saab Rac and Clamp brace
Custom T7 Suite tune with active sid mod
and the one i choose is:
THE ABBOTT EXHAUST!!
3 swade
// Jan 22, 2009 at 6:27 pm
So which was the best, Al? Surely the tune is more enjoyable than the Bypass.
Etienne, are you like me? If that was me with the Nardi steering wheel, I would have winced at the price and then once it was in my hands I would have forgotten how much I paid and just enjoyed it.
That only happens with real quality products. They make you forget the price (until some blogger writes something to make you remember).
4 Etienne Saabhuy
// Jan 22, 2009 at 6:31 pm
Exactely right Swade
5 alaero
// Jan 22, 2009 at 6:33 pm
Swade,
The exhaust is hand down the best part i have.
its was pricey yes, but so worth it both performance wise and defiantly in quality wise.
a.
6 WooDz
// Jan 22, 2009 at 6:49 pm
There are a few things I purchased for the Viggen in the last 7 months but the best has to the Bilstein B6 Sport suspension. They have add so much to the ride quality. A lot of people rate Koni. I haven’t tested them but my dealer has and he said for track use only. The Bilstein’s are “Nürburgring” tested but give a far more balanced ride for everyday use. Big recommendation from me.
7 sid6.7
// Jan 22, 2009 at 7:06 pm
My ‘93 9K Aero died and I needed a car. Bought a monte carlo yellow viggen, and 8 months later it makes my heart skip a beat, JUST LOOKING AT IT! Pure lust.
8 Paul Humpage
// Jan 22, 2009 at 7:08 pm
New headlights for the 6er. The old ones had gone cloudy and as they’re sealed you can’t get inside to clean them up. It makes a world of difference to how it looks with it all sparkly and new. AU$480 a pop for low beam and AU$220 for high it better have been worthwhile.
http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u281/Hergest/trx5.jpg
9 ctm
// Jan 22, 2009 at 7:19 pm
My best purchase was gas for under 10 Swedish Krona per liter in December (down from like 13.50 only 5 months earlier. (And I’m too lazy to convert that to this stupid Dollar per gallon).
10 gpg
// Jan 22, 2009 at 7:40 pm
The Viggen(107k) has been reborn with a 3″ DP & BSR-PPC STAGE 1 from GS 1/21/09. The performance upgrade is unbelievable.
11 PT
// Jan 22, 2009 at 7:45 pm
Some Griffin badges from Ivan in Hungary – two of which are now on a BMW……ahem.. But really, it was the wholesale replacement of our NG900 with an 06 Sportcombi.
12 TTAero
// Jan 22, 2009 at 7:50 pm
Well, it’s nowhere near any kind of “best spent” or even “god spent” money. A new car never is.
I’ve done the obligatory calculation where I can se benefits…like lesser fuel consumption, less insurance costs and so on (no need for new tires the first 2 years), but of corse, I’ve also done the obligatory exclusion of the costs of the decreasing value of the “thing”….
But the felling in a brand new TTiD is nice. The seating is a bit less good than the 9-5: s, the quality of the interior isn’t as good as the 9-5 and the stereo doesn’t fit in as in the pre 07 models.
But boy it’s fun to drive! Way better than 9-5.
By the way, the lesser fuel consumption gives me 1300 km on 58 litres when hi way cruising. Now that’s good spending gas(diesel) money.
13 Richo
// Jan 22, 2009 at 7:59 pm
Well apart from the 3, I think the best thing I bought for the Viggen was the new donk! Susanne now can enjoy the benefits.
14 Ed K.
// Jan 22, 2009 at 8:48 pm
For me, it has to be the second cup holder I purchased for the universal slot to the right of the parking break on my ‘95 9-3 Sportcombi. the car comes with something that can hold five coins or so (but nothing else). Now, when the lady friend and I both bring a drink into my car, we both have a place to rest them (without having to empty the storage bin in the middle console which can also be used as a cup holder.
Only complaint is the cost – not a very complicated or high quality piece of plastic, yet still retails for over EUR 50!! Cannot image why it would cost more than EUR 5 to build….
Otherwise, I have not purchased any extras for my car other than the rubber mats (which were also well worth it). I am thinking however about installing Aero spoilers and 17 inch wheels….any thoughts on this?
15 Per
// Jan 22, 2009 at 9:27 pm
9-3SC 1,8t MY 06 Fusion Blue – First Saab ever, and I`m one happy customer..
Maptun Stage 1, same goes for this..
16 Bjorn
// Jan 22, 2009 at 9:55 pm
A Sony Ericsson P1i phone to replace my old Nokia, that was not able to send the phone book via Bluetooth to my 2008 9-3 SS. I quickly got bored talking to the “Swedish lady in the car” every time I wanted to dial a number (voice dial). Although my Norwegian is not that different from Swedish, she tended to misunderstand me more often than I liked. Now I have my phone book in the SID and have no need to remove my hands from the steering wheel when using my cell phone.
Actually this was the only car related purchase I did last year, my Saab has everything I need (and more).
17 Brian Mills
// Jan 22, 2009 at 10:15 pm
2007 9-5 Aero Combi
18 wfg
// Jan 22, 2009 at 10:17 pm
If you ask me what was the best vehicle related purchase in the last 12 months, I cleary state its the BSR tuning for my beloved 9-5 Aero. It, truly, is fabulous and takes less gasoline!
For sure, my next Saab 9-5 (2010?) will get such refreshment too.
19 chrisF
// Jan 22, 2009 at 11:18 pm
My 2004 9-5 Arc wagon in Nocturne Blue.
The best improvements to an almost perfect (for me) steed?
35% window tinting. – It looks great! Not too dark but definitely improves the looks of an already good looking wagon. I constantly get compliments on the tinting (and the car).
After that? I installed a Pioneer AVIC-900 with the iPod cable, HD radio, and XM modules. Absolutely fabulous! Sounds great and has all the features i wanted. I was looking at getting a bluetooth hands-free kit (~1$75) and an AudioTroll ($180) and a nav unit (~$200). For about the same price (I payed $480 for a new-not a refurb’ed unit, after the 25% Microsoft Live Search discount) i have an integrated solution that looks great and performs well.
Chris
20 Kurt W. Krauss
// Jan 22, 2009 at 11:41 pm
The 4 Gislaved Nordic 5 snow tires I had installed on my 9-5!
21 saabyurk
// Jan 22, 2009 at 11:42 pm
A pair of custom made, stainless steel, throttle return springs for my strokers.
22 detroitsaab93
// Jan 23, 2009 at 12:32 am
I am “in tune” with wfg. The BSR ppc for my 9-3 was by far my favorite car item for 2008.
23 zippy
// Jan 23, 2009 at 12:57 am
Our 2004 9-3SS affectionately known as Thor.
24 NineTwoX
// Jan 23, 2009 at 1:55 am
Purchased a 09 Subaru STi.
25 Mats
// Jan 23, 2009 at 2:25 am
My ‘03 Golf TDI that I bought in july, 130 hp, 310 Nm, 6 speed gearbox and it has averaged 45 mpg [US] since I bought it.
26 Eirik
// Jan 23, 2009 at 2:38 am
My new 99 of course! Bought it a couple of months ago
http://www.garaget.org/?car=123460
27 Kroum
// Jan 23, 2009 at 2:49 am
A six-speed Turbo X.
28 MarkoA
// Jan 23, 2009 at 2:55 am
#1 Saab 900 dash facia, mint condition
#2 New set of OEM shocks for my C900
#3 New Subaru Outback Diesel.
In this order ;D
29 Conan/Barbarian
// Jan 23, 2009 at 3:49 am
6 CD changer for my 9-5 SE, 1999 model, trunk carpet with Saab logo. Now I can sleep in the trunk if the wifey gets cross or cruise with choice music while dodging traffic.
30 Steven
// Jan 23, 2009 at 8:12 am
4 months ago, we got our 3rd Saab, a 2008 9-3 2.0T Sedan, Laser Red with the sweet 5-spoke 17″ wheels (same as the 2006+ 9-3 Aero wheels). So far it’s gone 7300 miles (< 500 hwy) and STILL not a single tank under 30.1 MPG. Most have been 32+ MPG Love the XM and MP-3 CD. Hate the OnStar. Getting ready to by 4 new Bilsteins for the wife’s 9-5 SW
31 1985 Gripen
// Jan 23, 2009 at 10:48 am
Pioneer car stereo with HD Radio adapter, USB port, iPod interface cable, and integrated Bluetooth car kit for my ‘85 C900T. Best purchase possibly EVER. Couldn’t be more pleased. Shouldn’t have waited so long to upgrade the audio cassette deck!
32 Bruce
// Jan 23, 2009 at 12:50 pm
For the 07 9-5 2.3T: Top of the line polymer liquid wax (with UV protection for the dark red paint) that turns the finish into almost a mirror and leather conditioner (slathered on by hand–prevents wrinkles on both Dame Edna and me). Clean, shiny cars run better!
33 Burbs
// Jan 23, 2009 at 3:38 pm
Two days from now (so technically not the last 12 months)… picking up an ‘06 9-5
34 Susanne
// Jan 23, 2009 at 6:53 pm
Late to the party on this one I know but it is defnitely by a country mile a certain Viggen as mentioned above… role on this Wednesday!