9-3 impovements please

[markh]

Hi I have 2000 Saab 9 3 SE which has been my every hack for a couple of years and is just coming up to 100k, she still feels like new uses no oil water on the whole pretty good. I feel that the drive could be improved in the handling department, feels a bit spongy and has too much torque steer for my liking, can anyone point me in direction of some sensible mods, I was also looking at a set of 17 wheels (factory type). I am not looking for a ‘hard core’ track day machine (I have the TVR for that) just sharpen up the drive and maybe later give it a bit more go.

Cheers Mark

[Prof Beard]

Abbott Racing do various handling kits - have a look at their website.

[LongQ]

I've been getting mailshots recently re official Saab performance upgrades or various models - all it seems except mine! Databases eh?

There are three or four alternatives on the engine tuning side but I'm not sure how many retrofit suspension mods are available at a sensible price.

I'm sure Matt FP could come up with some suggestions as could one or two others who are bound to pass by soon.

[Prof Beard]

Abbott's "Viggen Rescue Kit" (not exclusively for Viggens) claims to deal with the handling issues you describe, including reduction of torque-steer - others on here have spoken well of it in the past.

[NiceCupOfTea]

I assume it's a turbo (actually I think they all are these days aren't they?).

The world is your oyster!

There are various places doing tuning options - Speedparts, Abbott, Maptun, etc.

Biggest bang for buck is the stage 1 for an LPT - 150bhp up to 220 or so for a few hundred

First thing that needs doing as others have said, is tidying up the handling. VRK is good, but Abbott are very expensive.

It consists of a steering clamb that stops flexing, some new bushes, and an anti-roll bar for the front. By all accounts is transforms the car.

You can find alternatives from other Saab performance places.

As far as wheels are concerned, some of the Saab 17" wheels look great, but they may destroy the ride and make it tramline like crazy, so approach with care

Have a look here at chips : www.elkparts.com/index.php/cPath/74_139

A decent indy will be able to advise - as usual I will recommend speaking to John at WMSS if you are anywhere near the Midlands.

[markh]

will have a look at the site, my car is 2.0Turbo SE Sport, which I belive is 200/2005bhp

[NiceCupOfTea]

You'd have to check, but as far as I can work out this is what you want :

www.elkparts.com/index.php/cPath/74_139_580

Takes you from 205 bhp / 280 Nm to 248 bhp / 369 Nm

And for £523.08! Do it yourself - exchange ECU and swap in air filter. Should take 20 minutes

[Aerofoil]

NiceCupOfTea said:

You'd have to check, but as far as I can work out this is what you want : www.elkparts.com/index.php/cPath/74_139_580 Takes you from 205 bhp / 280 Nm to 248 bhp / 369 Nm And for £523.08! Do it yourself - exchange ECU and swap in air filter. Should take 20 minutes

Do you really think it's that simple, if so I may buy this. Also I have noticed that mine feels quite wallowy at the front and instead of turning is sharply, seems to lean quite a lot and make you feel wary about attacking corners that quickly. Has anyone had any suspension/braces etc fitted that sort this out?

[si_j]

You can go for the AR "rescue kit" but others have found that upgrading the bushes to poly works wonders.
Also add another (i.e piggyback) ARB on the rear.

[NiceCupOfTea]

Aerofoil, as I understand it - yes, it is that simple! Just plug in the new ECU and there you go Might do to ask in the 9-3 forum on SaabCentral or something to make sure.

As for the wallowy front, Viggen Rescue Kit is definitely what you need - there are cheaper alternatives to this though with the same result. You get :

- steering clamp
- new poly bushes at the front
- new front ARB.

A decent indy would be able to sort you out something similar. Should transform the car

[Aerofoil]

Do you know any decent indies in the hants area who would know a thing or two about it?

[NiceCupOfTea]

Can't think of any off hand - I use West Midlands Saab Specialists in Birmingham.

There are a couple of decent ones in Bristol - is that far?

Definitely recommend you check out some of the Saab sites and do a search!

www.uksaabs.co.uk
www.saabcentral.com
www.saabscene.com