Date: Mon, 10 Jan 2005 17:46:27 -0500 From: "The Malt Hound" <1nospamcommmode> wrote in message news:crs7n8$50s$1nospam6.svr.pol.co.uk... > Hi all, just after a bit of advice from the group's collected wisdom... > > Just got a 9-3SE Turbo after changing jobs and losing my company Ford > Focus ST170 (bit of a toy, high-revving rollerskate that handled like it's > on rails) > > I'd always wanted another Saab, since selling my 1998 900i a few years > back. So I picked up this SE which looks great, loads of power when the > turbo decides to get out of bed, everything works despite it's 97k miles > EXCEPT... > > It handles like an oil tanker. Admittedly I've been spoiled in the > handling department by the Focus, but it just wallows. And if you get it > wrong and the turbo comes on song in the middle of a damp corner, well, > it's Say Goodnight to the Folks, Gracie. And now I've found out it's a > bloody Cavalier underneath! Robbed! > > It feels like when Wile E Coyote puts on rollerskates and straps an Acme > rocket to his back. Fine on the straight bits, not so good on the twisty > canyon roads (OK, so there aren't any canyons in Norfolk, but you get the > picture) > > What does the group think (sounding like a Radio 4 panel show) would be > the most cost-effective solution to my handling woes? The car only cost > me £4000 so I'm not spending more than, say, £500 on this. I saw a Koni > spring & damper kit for £425 which looked OK, but a bit of feedback from > you guys would be great before I splash out my hard-earned wedge. > > Oh, and tyre choice, too, if it's not too much trouble. As this car is > ex-fleet they put any old rubber on it, whatever the tyre depot has in the > right size. So the rears have P6000s, but the front is a right old > mixture. I think there's a Pilot Primacy on one side, and a different > Michelin on the other. Come to think of it, I reckon matched rubber would > probably help somewhat, but that doesn't solve the body roll! > Do all the bushings and all the dampers. Skip the springs. You won't need them unless you want it to ride rough. By the way, I don't know who told you it's a Cavalier underneath. It most certainly is not and I would doubt thast there are too many Chevy parts even though it was made by SAAB while it was owned by GM. MaltHound
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