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9-3 Envy
Posted by Tom Lakovic (more from Tom Lakovic) on Thu, 14 Mar 2002 11:01:17
In Reply to: , Kok Chen, Sat, 17 Dec 1988 12:00:00 

I have a 1996 900s. I have loved this car for many years, but am starting to
get a little 9-3 envy. I actually just picked up the 9-3 5-spoke wheels for
a total steal (3 of them for $180). I just need to find a 4th for an updated
look (too bad my newish 15' tires will be lost in the upgrade, but oh well,
Les Schwabb says he'll give me $35 back on each of them, which is so so I
guess).

Anyway, short of selling a perfectly functional 900 (which I love) and
buying another perfectly functional used 9-3 at a $6,000 difference I've
been wondering about the little body changes that make the 9-3 look more
squat, less elongated than the 900, and which I might be able to reproduce
within reason of course. I've noticed the obvious trunk difference and I'm
wondering can one remove the plastic reflector that runs where the licence
plate of the 9-3 goes to make it look 9-3 like? or are there all manner of
holes drilled in there that could not easily be filled/painted over by an
hour of body shop time? If not, I'll just put that crazy idea out of my
crazy head.

Next up. I'm pretty sure the 9-3s ride a little lower/tighter than my 900s.
Maybe it'll look different when I put the 16' wheels on there, but right
now, it's a little ridiculous. I'm not a super-car-tricker-outer with gold
trim and cheap tinting or anything, but come on, it DOES look like you could
fit your whole head between the wheel and the upper wheel well. There's a
difference between refined mods and tacky ones. So perhaps lowering the
suspension even by an inch would look better / more 9-3 like. Is that right?

Also there is something different about the front spoiler or bumper or
something is there not? The 9-3 look like it's squared off more, or
shortened, or shaped to drop closer to the ground or something, whereas my
900 looks more pointy, arrowy, jutty outy. It does have it's own front
spoiler (I guess it's called that -- you know, where the standard fog lights
are down there). Is that a real and true body change, or is it something I
could hope to affect with a 3rd party or saabusa.com front spoiler? If so
what does anyone recommend.

I know these are all superficial body changes, and part of me is embarrassed
by the self-consciousness of it all, but I've bit my tongue for 3 years
about it and don't talk about these things with anyone else (just you guys,
and I'm sure my secrets safe with you)! haha.

Thanks for any comments in advance,
Tom.
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