Volvo XC90 D5 R-Design + Triumph Bobber
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Last year I sold my weekend car, 2015 981 Cayman S stage 2 after doing the NC500 as it was no longer practical, I also wanted to put the money into a bigger house, I am in the process of moving now. In the mean time my daily car 2005 Leon FR+ TDI 200ps wasn't really getting used either as I didn't want dog hairs all over the black cloth interior, last year it did 600 miles, The missus Fiesta was the dog wagon and both dogs are large!
I'm taking some money out of the house deposit to buy a newer car in the future again, probably a Touareg 4.2 V8 TDI or even Q7 with same engine but thats probably around 6 months time.
Decided a few weeks ago to try sell the Leon and get something a little more exciting but estate, fancied a 159 3.2 V6 in red/manual but not many of them about at all. Then watched a CAR SOS episode where they do a SAAB abroad and started Googling them! Came across the V6 model 9-3's and started searching, plenty of autos but I wanted manual. On the SAAB Facebook page a lad about 30 miles away said he might sell his manual model, so the rush was on to sell the Leon, and actually it went very easily to a local lad! so this morning I have picked up this.
2006 "56" 9-3 Aero 2.8 V6 (with Hirsch Performance software)
119k on the clock, old owner has had it 4 years since about 89k. A very thick file of receipts, old owner has looked after it very well servicing it every 5k miles, in 2020 had new coilpacks, new spark plugs which are 1 step cooler, injector refurb, 4 decent matching tyres, new flywheel and uprated clutch, maptun springs and new bushes!
Because its a late 2006 car its actually a model year 2007 build which means its got the newer dashboard, which means I can buy an eSid3 dongle for it to get all kinds of toys on the dashboard!
First job when I got it home was to remove the new "NEVS" style SAAB badges which turned out to be stickers
The older badges underneath are a little tatty so will order 2 new ones
Drivers seat bolster is a little worn so that will be the next job, get the local trimmer to tidy it up, might ask them to add heated seats to it as well. The black grills at front need tidying up as well as they are just sprayed.
I'm taking some money out of the house deposit to buy a newer car in the future again, probably a Touareg 4.2 V8 TDI or even Q7 with same engine but thats probably around 6 months time.
Decided a few weeks ago to try sell the Leon and get something a little more exciting but estate, fancied a 159 3.2 V6 in red/manual but not many of them about at all. Then watched a CAR SOS episode where they do a SAAB abroad and started Googling them! Came across the V6 model 9-3's and started searching, plenty of autos but I wanted manual. On the SAAB Facebook page a lad about 30 miles away said he might sell his manual model, so the rush was on to sell the Leon, and actually it went very easily to a local lad! so this morning I have picked up this.
2006 "56" 9-3 Aero 2.8 V6 (with Hirsch Performance software)
119k on the clock, old owner has had it 4 years since about 89k. A very thick file of receipts, old owner has looked after it very well servicing it every 5k miles, in 2020 had new coilpacks, new spark plugs which are 1 step cooler, injector refurb, 4 decent matching tyres, new flywheel and uprated clutch, maptun springs and new bushes!
Because its a late 2006 car its actually a model year 2007 build which means its got the newer dashboard, which means I can buy an eSid3 dongle for it to get all kinds of toys on the dashboard!
First job when I got it home was to remove the new "NEVS" style SAAB badges which turned out to be stickers
The older badges underneath are a little tatty so will order 2 new ones
Drivers seat bolster is a little worn so that will be the next job, get the local trimmer to tidy it up, might ask them to add heated seats to it as well. The black grills at front need tidying up as well as they are just sprayed.
Was just about to say - I owned a Vectra VXR (a much better car than people give credit for) and the engine was a peach.
The early VXRs were 250hp, the later ones were 280 out the box, and easily mapped well over 300 wihout needing any changes. The GM Z28NET engine in this should be fundamentally the same but probably a little less tuned and perhaps a smaller turbo. Its a good engine though, very tunable, generally reliable. Sounds good too.
Insignia VXR was the last car in the UK with the same engine variant, they had a bigger turbo still, worth looking out for one as its an easy upgrade.
The early VXRs were 250hp, the later ones were 280 out the box, and easily mapped well over 300 wihout needing any changes. The GM Z28NET engine in this should be fundamentally the same but probably a little less tuned and perhaps a smaller turbo. Its a good engine though, very tunable, generally reliable. Sounds good too.
Insignia VXR was the last car in the UK with the same engine variant, they had a bigger turbo still, worth looking out for one as its an easy upgrade.
Nice!
I am currently eyeing up Saabs, although the convertible iteration. They are such good value for money and I enjoyed my old M reg 900 when I had that.
The estates are a good looking car and much more practical than a convertible, with a large dog, I should probably look at estates instead.
I looked into the RFL and there are some engines best avoided, as I don't want to spend a quarter of the cars value every year on RFL.
I am currently eyeing up Saabs, although the convertible iteration. They are such good value for money and I enjoyed my old M reg 900 when I had that.
The estates are a good looking car and much more practical than a convertible, with a large dog, I should probably look at estates instead.
I looked into the RFL and there are some engines best avoided, as I don't want to spend a quarter of the cars value every year on RFL.
Lovely car OP.
I moved on a 06 plate V6 Aero Convertible 'Cerlean' January last year. It was a beautiful example. Only had 56k on the clock when I sold it. I had it for 2.5 years and in that time the only fault it had was a loose coolant house (on the way home from buying it - (I did worry if i'd bought a lemon!) and a gear knob that kept ejecting itself. Superglue fixed that latter and a jubilee clip the coolant hose.
They are great & the V6 engine makes these IMO. Viewed by many as unnecessary in a car like this which only adds to the appeal. Never saw more than 26mpg....
Build quality is not as good on the GM based ones as the old 900's I have had in my time, but it was so comfy! Manual box in mine was very unusual, and a bit notchy, but Saabs were never known for smooth shifts.
Enjoy the car - I am currently without a Saab in my life but do on occasion look out for one of the TurboX models. I think that would be something....
Pic of mine on the drive hood down one summer.
I moved on a 06 plate V6 Aero Convertible 'Cerlean' January last year. It was a beautiful example. Only had 56k on the clock when I sold it. I had it for 2.5 years and in that time the only fault it had was a loose coolant house (on the way home from buying it - (I did worry if i'd bought a lemon!) and a gear knob that kept ejecting itself. Superglue fixed that latter and a jubilee clip the coolant hose.
They are great & the V6 engine makes these IMO. Viewed by many as unnecessary in a car like this which only adds to the appeal. Never saw more than 26mpg....
Build quality is not as good on the GM based ones as the old 900's I have had in my time, but it was so comfy! Manual box in mine was very unusual, and a bit notchy, but Saabs were never known for smooth shifts.
Enjoy the car - I am currently without a Saab in my life but do on occasion look out for one of the TurboX models. I think that would be something....
Pic of mine on the drive hood down one summer.
Nomadic Mind said:
Lovely car OP.
I moved on a 06 plate V6 Aero Convertible 'Cerlean' January last year. It was a beautiful example. Only had 56k on the clock when I sold it. I had it for 2.5 years and in that time the only fault it had was a loose coolant house (on the way home from buying it - (I did worry if i'd bought a lemon!) and a gear knob that kept ejecting itself. Superglue fixed that latter and a jubilee clip the coolant hose.
They are great & the V6 engine makes these IMO. Viewed by many as unnecessary in a car like this which only adds to the appeal. Never saw more than 26mpg....
Build quality is not as good on the GM based ones as the old 900's I have had in my time, but it was so comfy! Manual box in mine was very unusual, and a bit notchy, but Saabs were never known for smooth shifts.
Enjoy the car - I am currently without a Saab in my life but do on occasion look out for one of the TurboX models. I think that would be something....
Pic of mine on the drive hood down one summer.
Alu56 wheels! Very nice and pretty rare tooI moved on a 06 plate V6 Aero Convertible 'Cerlean' January last year. It was a beautiful example. Only had 56k on the clock when I sold it. I had it for 2.5 years and in that time the only fault it had was a loose coolant house (on the way home from buying it - (I did worry if i'd bought a lemon!) and a gear knob that kept ejecting itself. Superglue fixed that latter and a jubilee clip the coolant hose.
They are great & the V6 engine makes these IMO. Viewed by many as unnecessary in a car like this which only adds to the appeal. Never saw more than 26mpg....
Build quality is not as good on the GM based ones as the old 900's I have had in my time, but it was so comfy! Manual box in mine was very unusual, and a bit notchy, but Saabs were never known for smooth shifts.
Enjoy the car - I am currently without a Saab in my life but do on occasion look out for one of the TurboX models. I think that would be something....
Pic of mine on the drive hood down one summer.
AJB88 said:
Yes this is just the Vectra VXR engine same turbo etc, Insignia VXR turbo is a bolt on for it! Hirsch promise about 275bhp I reckon it feels more than that already.
I had the insignia VXR turbo on mine (18t) really liked it, pretty cheap upgrade but you’ll need a bigger IC, injectors & 3” DP to get the most out of it (plus remap)
Well worth giving Aura a call
So did some "maintenance" today, grill was sprayed and stone chipped when I got it.
Got 2x new badges for front and rear coming, full interior LED kit, LED number plate bulbs.
Indy SAAB have told me the cars registration isn't registered with Hirsch which suggests its not got a Hirsch map on it, wondering if somebody else has mapped it as its definitely not stock! going to copy the file tonight using MPPS and see if can identify it. Might need a trip to Aura.
Got 2x new badges for front and rear coming, full interior LED kit, LED number plate bulbs.
Indy SAAB have told me the cars registration isn't registered with Hirsch which suggests its not got a Hirsch map on it, wondering if somebody else has mapped it as its definitely not stock! going to copy the file tonight using MPPS and see if can identify it. Might need a trip to Aura.
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