Date: Fri, 25 Apr 2003 10:19:01 -0700 From: "pablo" <pabloNOSPAMnopsammplyhombre.net> Subject: Re: Looking for Viggen Convertible info
"'nuther Bob" <nonenopsam.nom> wrote in message news:vggiavgl95pdl2k50kbl8m7o9l7ccgof20nopsamcom... > > First, the difference in HP is negligable. After driving the 2, I agree. Plus I think Saab geared the first gear too tall, especially for a turbo platform, probably to avoid clumsy folk from wheelspinning all too often... finally, while I like the purist aspect of manuals (never had an auto until I moved to the US), commuting convenience in the Bay Area near dictates automatic for an everyday car, in my opinion. I know many people who got manuals, and winded up regretting it when it comes to day to day driving. Only the SE offered auto option, which I think is very well mated to the engine characteristics. > ... Saabs just have a lot of useable torque. I agree, it is very deceptive. All I can say is I used to have a 370hp car before the Saab, and these days I consider it good riddance and never really missed the horsies. > That said, you can also get an ECU upgrade ($500-$1000) and get > the same HP from the 2.0 motor if you think you need it. You can > also get the Viggen exhaust if you care ($400). Yes, you're supposed to be able to take the horsepower *very* safely up to 235hp or so, without any peakiness in the powerband, but rather more overall torque. If you're in the US, and the car is still under warranty, you better think twice about it, though. Supposedly the higher warranty coverage results in Saab USA *really* pushing against factory upgrade kits Saab Europe is so eager to market. > On the suspension, you can upgrade the springs if you want as they > have done in the Viggen. The Viggen is fairly stiff with the factory > upgrades. If it's a late SE model, I think the "Sports Package" gets you the whole Viggen setup, 17 inch wheels and all. I know I got it, and I wish the car was somewhat softer. It's not like it doesn't roill in corners, but it really crashes into the harsh road imperfections that are all over California. And then people ask why folks get SUVs... > ... If you have money > to spend you can throw in Koni adjustable shocks for $550 parts, > the labor is the same for springs and/or shocks (2 for 1). I will most certainly look into this when the warranty for my car is over. How do you actually change the settings? Is it fairly simple, or does in involve crawling under your precariously heightened car in your garage? They should do those things with remote control. Good heavens, Californian lazy convenience has totally taken a hold of me. :-) > ... *Not* having 17" wheels is a good thing in my book, YMMV. They do look very good, though. I think with some suspension works you can make them laregly irrelevant - so many supposed luxury sedans are making it to market on 18-inch wheels these days that I think 17-inchers are not extreme anymore. > On the body, you can get a 9~3 body kit from Saab if you like. Again, get the SE with the sports package, and at least in the US you get the whole shabang. Caution: high CA curbs mean even the not-so-low-to-the-ground Saab will scratch the front spoiler if you don't watch out at times. At least it seems it's hard to really knock it into oblivion, which happened with my 2 previous cars. On the Viggen exhaust - I have it in my car, but all in all I wish I hadn't. Oddly, it does not fit the SE Sport Package rear skirt all that gracefully, it is somewhat off, plus the Saab service folk had a hell of a difficult time making sure it was really solidly in and didn't jiggle like a cheap aftermarket part. They have sports exhausts with a variety of neat tips that might be the better way to go for the SE owners. Just my opinion and experience. > ... Painting would be needed. I noticed that even though they're factory parts, the paint of the skirts etc is slightly off. At least in polar white. I find it yet another amusing idiosynchracy. :-) > The only thing you would not have would be the Viggen leather colors > (you still get leather)... Which only came *dark*, which in turn means a scaldingly hot interior in the CA spring, summer and autumn. Again, the SE packages include something that leads to very, very supple leather with a "turbo" imprint. > So, you could have a nice 9~3 convertible, customized to your liking, > in a choice of colors. Something to think about. Yes, there are far more colors for the basic SE, and I am superstitious and think only white cars will not become a maintenance fiasco. The two times I got other colors I got real lemons! And all my white cars have been darlings. In the end, the only thing you can't get are the Viggen stickers for the side, but they're just glued on. (And, in case you wonder how far I took my pseudo-Viggen charade, no, the stickers aren't on :-) I'll have to upload some pictures with the modifications I did to my car. I receive quite a few remarks about it from both Saab and non-Saab afficionados. A friend of mine who bought a Beemer 330ci at exactly the same time (he the one who regrets the manual choice, and it's a butter-smooth Beemer tranny) openly states he wishes he'd gotten a Saab himself, and seemingly is putting in an order for one of the new ones. ...pablo
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