Date: Sat, 15 Feb 2003 14:15:10 GMT From: "Spyderman" <buzzoffnopsamfyourbusiness.com> Subject: Re: 2 weeks with the Step 1 Hirsch Performance Kit
I spent the last year "tweaking" my 9-3SE 2001 but elected to go with Abbott Racing instead. I found Hirsch to be way over priced in comparison and not as much ROI in the HP department. I fully concur with the low end torque and I would highly recommend the Abbott steering brace to almost eliminate the torque steer as it did to mine which now pushes about 267 HP, Enjoy the ride. "pablo" <pabloNnopsamsimplyhombre.net> wrote in message news:AYi3a.521$pV.63078607nopsamsvr14.news.prodigy.com... > > Just wanted to report about my experience with the Hirsch step 1 performance > kit - excellent stuff! The power increase does not sound all too impressive > at first - from 205 to 230HP, but the *real* difference is in the torque way > down below. The car is *very* responsive from the get-go. Since I live in > lazy laid back CA these days, I must confess to driving the slush-box > version, and the responsiveness is good to the point of snatchiness off a > start. The hard thing is to not let people think you're trying to impress > them like a teenager. > > I am not that passionate about cars as a rule. I owned a 2000 Jaguar XJR > prior to my current '02 Saab 9-3 SE turbo, which I got with the works > (sports package and whatever else), and then I got the Viggen exhaust put > in there too. This car has turned me into a total fan. Usually, I have the > utter and total rueg to ride my motorcycle whenever I can. Now, with the > Saab, it is a harder decision each morning, darn it....! > > Some people asked me why I got rid of a car as nice as the XJR - the reason > was simple: I wanted to get over the tech bubble image the Jag oozed > everywhere I went. It was nice while it lasted, but it was never me, and in > the end embarassed me. Don't get me wrong - the XJR is a phenomenal car. > Very cozy, but also soft and uninvolving. The performance comes in an > abstract, distant way. The 4-door thing also never was me. When I decided to > repalce it, I set myself a $45k budget. I tried out the usual suspects for > the 4-seat, 2-door convertible category: BMW, Merc, Volvo, and even gace the > Lex SC430 a try. Test-drove them, and had a deal worked out with the BMW > folks (which, by the way, rubbed me the wrong way repeatedly with their > brand arrogance). Then I remembered my long urge to try out a Saab. Always > liked their image, and always had liked the people who drove them (my > ex-girlfriend's dad, an art professor, and my boss as I was a student > working during summer). I liked the difference, it clicked with me > immediately. More direct than any of the others, more in your face, while > having the most comfortable seats and -to me- most well sorted out ergonomy > by a mile. Everything else suddenly seemed very watered-down, well > engineered as it was, the Saab provided a far more direct driving > experience. > > And now the Hirsch kit. Not that it was really necessary, but then again, > why not. It completes the Saab 9-3 very nicely, seems to offer impeccable > quality, and is officially endorsed by Saab (even though not yet sold > through Saab dealerships in the US). I got Saab's written OK that it would > not affect the warranty conditions at all, and it is very well sorted out. > > I have never been as happy with a car as I am now. I have owned 2 Jaguars, 2 > BMWs, 1 Infiniti, 1 Citroen Duck -well, I loved that car, too-, and 1 Fiat. > The Saab takes the cake. I can't put my finger on what it is, but it just is > everything I need it to be - its range is impressive and very well sorted > out. Let's see if the new convertible they bring out this year can follow an > act with such endearing personality. > > Sorry for the rant, but I had a great day. I took the day off, and drove > down highway 1 in CA to carmel, and then 40 miles down to Big Sur, and it > was beautiful... > > ...pablo > >
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