SAAB 9-3 2.0 H.O.Turbo PICS ADDED

[TransAm]

The Trans Am has been replaced by a 2002 Saab 9-3, in Silver. An plug-in ECU upgrade, JR airfilter and exhaust from BSR Sweden gives 255hp.


http://img48.exs.cx/img48/7555/picture0113vb.th.jpg (http://img48.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img48&image=picture0113vb.jpg)
http://img136.exs.cx/img136/6669/picture0094pj.th.jpg (http://img136.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img136&image=picture0094pj.jpg)
http://img176.exs.cx/img176/8804/picture0129nk.th.jpg (http://img176.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img176&image=picture0129nk.jpg)
http://img176.exs.cx/img176/2127/picture0135bu.th.jpg (http://img176.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img176&image=picture0135bu.jpg)

[graywolf624]

n replaced by a 2002 Saab 9-3, 205 hp, in Silver.
thats one heck of a change of pace.

[dons5]

noooo how could u get rid of a WS6!! and whos peice of shit RSX is that

[pzgren]

very good decision, i had a 9-3 troll before and was very very happy with it. have fun with your car!

[laurent.missbauer]

let me know when you have the pics and I will open the topic..

until then :lock:

[blast]

open !

[dingo]

looks pretty good, are you going to post some more pics? :)

[gis]

awesome,the saab's are quicker than they look.you planning to mod it? if so ask jon_s about it,he knows sum stuff on them :)

[TransAm]

gis, to answer your question I've already PM'd everso about ECU tuning!!! I will ask Jon_S or if he reads the post no doubt he'll give me his 2p worth!

According to a well thumbed 2 year old Parkers UK used guide which I bought over with me, the car should do 0-60 in 6.9 and 146mph (with MT) stock - the ECU reduces boost pressure at 143mph to stabilise top speed, according to the owners manual.

I have already ordered:

Stage II Kit which consists of an ECU plug-in tuning device, Catback exhaust, drop in JR filter from a company called BSR in Sweden. Should add 50-55hp and 110-120 Nm (on top of 205 and 250!!!) :!:

Parcel shelf :shock: (my car is ex-lease, some 'people' forget to put these things back in the car)

Performance rear sway bar

Performance steering rack clamp and front subframe clamp (reduces torque steer)

I fixed the Driver information display unit last night - I had pixel loss. I tried a warranty claim with Saab USA however the car is just out of warranty on mileage @ 54k. I was hoping for some goodwill having just come from another GM vehicle but that didn't seem to make any difference. They were only interested if I'd bought it from Saab. It probably doesn't help that I bought the car from a wholesaler for a song. It was worth a try though!

Here are some more pics but they are the dealer pictures from the advert. I'll update with better pics at the weekend. :wink:

http://img106.exs.cx/img106/1039/mvc030s3hl.th.jpg (http://img106.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img106&image=mvc030s3hl.jpg)

http://img42.exs.cx/img42/5127/mvc028s1vd.th.jpg (http://img42.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img42&image=mvc028s1vd.jpg)

http://img130.exs.cx/img130/7279/mvc003s7uh.th.jpg (http://img130.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img130&image=mvc003s7uh.jpg)

http://img114.exs.cx/img114/2483/mvc010s3gd.th.jpg (http://img114.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img114&image=mvc010s3gd.jpg)

Yes it's an auto - but then so are most cars here, alas.

[gis]

nice,that kit sounds interesting.any other plans beyond 250hp......or is that enough for now? surely u want it as fast or faster than the trans am? lol

[TransAm]

/\ Not for now, maybe 17" rims and poly bushes, I like the BBS rims on the 9-5 Aero very much, but we're talking $1200 plus, used...

http://img62.exs.cx/img62/6566/927170660166671931im1main565x4.th.jpg (http://img62.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img62&image=927170660166671931im1main565x4.jpg)

I am told that the stock Bosch (plastic) BPV doesnt handle higher boost very well so no doubt that will get replaced by a metal unit as and when.

[pzgren]

i guess it will be difficult to get more than 250hp with this 2.0 engine. i also had an saab 93 with 285hp from hirsch performance. but they modified the engine up to 2.3. but 250hp is still a lot. and don't forget you have fwd and it is sometimes difficult to get the power on the street. i left a lot of rubber on the streets with my saab.... :D

[TransAm]

Yeah, I don't think there's a whole lot more to get out of a 2.0, I think the max is going to be about 300hp but I don't want to be spending thousands on it, plus I want to keep an amount of reliability as it is my daily car. As you say, fwd limits the amount of power you can put down anyway.

Off topic - I've decided to keep my avatar as a little reminder of days past :wink:

[pzgren]

yeah you're right. i've driven a few times the TROLL R from Hirsch Performance (http://www.saab-performance.com/GB_en/2_3_engine.html) with 305hp. everytime i've accelerated faster i left some rubber and i really had to hold the steering wheel 'cause the car broke out on the front.

[TransAm]

Yeah but 30mpg sounds a lot as well :lol:

[bmwmpower]

thanks, i got 2 questions
1. what do you think about AERO
2. what about FWD and that much power, any problems?

[TransAm]

thanks, i got 2 questions
1. what do you think about AERO
2. what about FWD and that much power, any problems?

1. You mean the 9-5 Aero like the grey one I posted above? Put it this way, if I didn't have a dog to think about, I'd have had one of those instead!

2. Not yet but I haven't fitted the 50hp mod yet either, and even on the stock 205hp boost is limited in 1st and 2nd for this reason.

I've only had the car a few days and been busy at work so I have not had chance to cane it, really.

[jon_s]

Good choice! Nice to see another Saab Aero 8)

I don't know if Hirsch serve the US, but our 95 Aero was tuned by them and they do a seriously good job; even with 305bhp running through the front wheels.

You are certainly going down the right route with the new ECU e.t.c There is not much more to be said that has not already been mentioned; so have fun, keep us informed and hook up on some Saab forums.

[TransAm]

Hirsch do, as do BSR, Maptun etc, well they all have a US distributor, I think. The unfortunate thing for US Saab drivers right now is that current exchange rates are making anything bought from Europe expensive. :wink:

[bmwmpower]

1. 9.3 Aero exist too

but nice car, i like saab style

[TransAm]

1. 9.3 Aero exist too

but nice car, i like saab style

Yep it does, you are quite right...

I'd have liked a Viggen but it's all extra $$$

[SFDMALEX]

Why an automatic. :(

[bmwmpower]

but aero has im not really sure 230 hp ,so not that big distance,
and last question , sound of engine - good or compare to something

[pzgren]

you're right, the new 9-3 aero has 230hp, wonderfull car. hirsch made also a troll version of it with 252hp.

in my saab 9-3 i had to replace the exhaust system. 1st because of the tuning and 2nd because of the sound. the orignal system is to quiet in my opinion.

http://www.saab-hirsch.ch/img/fahrzeuge/1105116448.jpg

[TransAm]

Why an automatic. :(

That's the US for ya...

Seriously though, no MT's in the used marketplace which were close enough to go and view. I'm not too bother as it's a nice change from a manual on the daily commute, and the advantage with Saab autos is the turbo stays spooled up during gearchanges.

When I get back to the UK, most cars will be manual :)

@Bmw and Pzgren - dunno what it sounds like - it's so damned quiet I can't hear it!! I'll post a vid after the mods are fitted!

[hemi_fan]

I would DEFFINITELY prefer the WS6, but to each his own. I also probably would've waited for the new saab, with the new AWD system. I always liked saab, but I HATE FWD cars! Looks like you're settling down a bit now, away from the boy-racer cars and into a more user-friendly type thing. Hope you have a lot of fun with it!

[findleybeast]

Nice car. My roomate has a 2002 (i think) 9-3 convertible and I've driven it a couple times and its a lot of fun to drive. The one I drove was manual though...

Actually hey my roomate has some aftermarket rims he's looking to sell. He got the five-spoke turbine 17x7 saab rims, so PM me if you're interested at all.

[Wutputt]

Very nice car, and it seems you're going to get some more punch out of the engine. That's great, you're not going to regret that when


I'd have liked a Viggen but it's all extra $$$
And the problem with the Viggen is the fact its front suspension setup isn't that great. Parents of a friend of mine have a 9³ Viggen. The problem with its not so good suspension setup is, you can have a lot of torque steer, and sudden understeer when accelerating out of a corner. A suspension upgrade can kill those problems, but that’ll cost some extra $$$$.



in my saab 9-3 i had to replace the exhaust system. 1st because of the tuning and 2nd because of the sound. the orignal system is to quiet in my opinion.
That's so true. Those Saab standard exhaust systems (except for the Viggen) are too quiet and too damped. At home we have a completely standard 9-5 Aero. But if I compare its sound with that of a 9³ Viggen (and certainly with a Saab Turbo with a sports exhaust), it is too quiet, it sounds too damped. It sounds like it's obstructing the exhaust flow a bit. So I would suggest to replace at least the muffler. The car will sound so much better.

[TransAm]

Well I got the ECU and exhaust upgrade, see the pics I've posted at the top of the thread!

It's really quite quick now!

[gis]

very nice mate,lookin good and 255hp must be nice in this car,any chance of you makin a vid of sound of the exhaust? :)

[TransAm]

Sorry gis, missed your request til today. I'll get on it soon!

[saab]

Nice car! 255hp sounds nice too :)
My dad has a '96 9000 Aero, mom has a '99 93 (stock 185hp) bro has '81 900S and '87 900 Turbo. :D Saab family:) I personaly like to drive the 9000 Aero best, the fastest by far. (second gear is a killer ;))