Date: Tue, 10 Aug 1999 10:44:10 +0200 From: "Van Bourgognie Filip" <Filip.VanBourgognienopsam.be> Subject: Re: 9.3 - am I disappointed ?
Hi Luc, I own a 1987 900 turbo 8valve which has exactly one horse more under the bonnet than your new 9-3 S lpt. I was just wondering what the torque figures were on your car. I just popped out to the car park to check mine and here they are: maximum torque is 240Nm at 3000rpm (I have NO katalyst converter). I always said that my next Saab would be a classic 900 LPT but some friends warn me that the 8valve full blown turbo kick in the back will be gone when swapping the one I have for an LPT. I believe them to some extent but I am willing to give up some of the brute acceleration force to get rid of that huge turbo lag which a full blown turbo has to cope with. There are screws to turn and tuning to so in order to get rid of some of the lag but I try to keep my Saab on the road as long as I can. Somehow I fear that I will kill the gearbox and other things soon if I start tweaking with apc-settings and everything. Have you ever driven a full blown turbo before so you can make the comparison between before and after lpt-conversion? I'd appreciate your thoughts on this. Regarding colour, I agree fully. I had a 1984 black 900 GLi before and that was dirty after a short drive just after washing and polishing it for a whole afternoon. Now I have a silvergrey one and it needs a wash every 10.000 kms ;-) English or Dutch will do fine when replying. -- Filip Van Bourgognie Webmaster Belgian Saab 96 Club http://come.to/Belgian-Saab-96-Club Luc TINTILLIER <equipe.systemenopsamir.be> wrote in message news:01bee308$0521d760$cd2b00c3nopsamult... > Hi Guy, > > Here are some considerations from a (happy but objective) 9-3 owner. > > > Not only does it accelerate like a truck, but it also behaves like one, > especially on slopes... on a 4% slope, while pushing the pedal to the floor > and [I was] unable to go faster than 120km/h. Is that normal... ? > > Alas, yes! 2.0i 16V was introduced in 1986 or somewhat, for the old 900 > model (1200kg). Now the 9-3 weights 1400kg or more with AC! The problem > doesn't come from the power, it comes from the torque (torque = > acceleration capability). A 177Nm torque, especially at 4300rpm, is > definitely insufficient for this car... Western Europe is the last > remaining market where 2.0i engine is offered; everywhere else the engine > range begins with 2.0t 154hp (LPT), and even with 2.0T 185hp in US and > Canada (but 9-3 is considered there as a "niche" model). > > When I planned to buy a 9-3, I testdrove the 2.0i and I was disappointed: > I've no sporty habits at all, but I like to have some extra power in > difficult situations, such as overtakings... and the 2.0i doesn't have this > capability. > > If I had wanted a stick, I would have chosen the 2.2TiD. I testdrove it > too, and I was really impressed: you almost forget it is a Diesel... Since > the auto box was unavailable with 2.2TiD, I chose the 2.0t (LPT) 154hp, > probably the best engine/box combination for this type of car, except if > you want to race with everybody :-) . I chose an auto box only for traffic > considerations: I live near Brussels and I suppose you know about the > traffic problems on the Ring... I highly appreciate this auto box, and I > doubt I will buy a manual ever again :-) . > > > I could easily fry an egg on an ejected CD. Again, is this normal? > > Err... sorry but I didn't notice that. Yes, when you eject a CD, it's hot, > but not THAT hot, maybe 40°C ? And AC has nothing to do with this > phenomenon, since hot air exhaust is outside of the car, near the rear > bumper. > > > I find it to be a very noisy car, especially the cooling fan(s?). > > What do you mean with noisy car: inside or outside? If you mean inside, > it's about vent fans: yes they make noise, but the "efficiency/noise" rate > is great. I never had a car so "silent": in my Volvo 440, with vent fans at > full speed, you couldn't listen to each other :-( . > > > Also the wind noise at speeds higher than 100km/h is rather disturbing... > > Yes, I agree. I think it is because of the windshield shape. BTW I like > almost vertical windshields: you have a feeling of space and you don't get > the sun visor just in front of your eyes... So I considere the wind noise > as "a price to pay" for comfort. Furthermore, the car is well isolated, so > the wind noise seems more important. > > > ... not to mention that high-frequency engine noise when revving up... > > Yes. Again, it is because of the weak torque: you've to compensate it with > high engine revs... I like the noise of a Saab revving up, but up to > 5000rpm; beyond that, engine seems to scream :-( . > > > "low washer fluid", I didn't use the washer! > > Classic problem (but I didn't have it so far...). Washer level sensor is > faulty or something, get it replaced under warranty. > > > The front shield just cracked... while being parked. > > Yikes! I wouldn't have liked that too... :-( . Was it a badly mounted > windshield? About Saab Assistance, it seems that everybody complains :-( . > Fortunately, the 1st year it's free! Afterwards, I will keep my Touring > Assistance and drop the Saab one... > > > The car leaks some fluid ... coming from the airco? > > Yes it does. It's only condensation water, since air coming from outside is > dried when running through the AC system. > > > Heavy rainstorm and... the car's windows got all damped within minutes! > > Err... 'comprends pas. Such a phenomenon is practically impossible with an > AC! Sorry but... did you operate the ventilation system well? I mean, > playing with windshield defrosting, AC on, full speed fans, electrical > rearshield defrost, ...? Watch out! if fan speed is on "0", AC and > ventilation don't work! Personally I never had such a problem when driving. > It usually occur at first start, when it rains and the car is outside: with > ACC, I just select the defrost program (electrical rearshield defrost > symbol) and everything disappears within seconds! > > > Other than that, the black color is really nice. > > Hell yeah! Nothing is nicer than black, especially on Saab! But I had 2 > black cars (Volvo Amazon 121 and Volvo 440), but it easily gets dirty and > it is too difficult to keep this painting intact, I mean avoiding "clouds" > when waxing, ... OTOH black is easy to repair. Personally I chose the > wonderful Frost Grey. > > > Back to Honda the next time, or am I overreacting? > > Hmm... too early to say that. Actually, the 9-3 is a GREAT car: it is > solid, comfortable, designed for long distances travels; it has a high rate > safety (crash test results, airbags, SAHR, safety cage, ...), the BEST > seats in the world (for driving, not for relaxing), a wonderful ergonomic > dashboard, a GIANT trunk; the car itself is almost bullet-proof, but > today's cars are stuffed with so much electronic devices (gadgets?) and I > fear about having problems with electronics, since mechanics are not > engineers... However, I'm sorry to say again that the 2.0i engine is a > handicap, and with it the car cannot behave as well as it could be :-( > > If you wonder about 9-3 reliability, I would suggest you to visit "The Saab > Network" Web site at "www.saabnet.com" . It's a VERY good site (not an > official Saab one, thus unbiased) with plenty of info and bulletin boards > about 900/9-3 and 9000/9-5. Each day there are +/- 50 questions on each BB, > and practically each one gets (at least) one answer. > > Good luck with you 9-3! > > Regards, > Luc > 1999 9-3S 2.0t 154hp Auto "Saabine"
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