Saab 9-3 Viggen '1999-2002

'Thunderbolt'

Source: doublejslist.com

It has been a while since writing anything to this space. Well many things happening, for example moved to Netherlands. Which is the main reason of writing the folowing report. The amount of Saab's is crazy over here. Dunno, how is the situation in Sweden or States, but the Saab 900/9-3 cabrio ratio to other cars (not only cabrios) here is significant and I'm loving it. In my opinion Saab 900/9-3 is one of the coolest cars; can't really come up with any other car that has such a timeless design that is at the same time little weird, different from other's, and sporty, yet practical with a huge trunk.

Naturally in a name of Wolf Cars, this writing considers Viggen -the hottest model named after a fighter jet!

Cabrio version. Source: doublejslist.com

The original car was launched in 1998 and it looked pretty much as the previous 900, that has to do with the fact that it was based on the old model and only 1100 components were changed or improved. Viggen was the first fruit of Saab's SVO (Special Vehicle Operation) program in collaboration with TWR. 

 Viggen was also produced in 5 door version. Source: autogaleria.hu

Two-tone leather and center placed ignition -sweet! Source: uwwica.com

In 1999 the Viffed hitted the showrooms with a new B235R -engine having 14% higher volumetric efficiency than a Porsche 911 Carrera 3.6! The powerplant produces 230hp and Nm from 2.3 litres four cylinder with a help of turbo and intercooler. Same engine was used later in 9-5 Aero. Well, Saab is famous about it's FWD, thus the car torquesteers like a mother fucker.TWR tweaked the chassis as much as they could, but I quess with such a old design (originally from 70's) there wasn't real solutions to solve power delivery problems.
Addition to power increase and chassis tweaking the exterior and interior got some final touches to compete with it's well known German enemies. Well, it wasn't really sale success, but makes a really unique option for M3 or C AMG with it's hooligan FWD nature. We used to have Saab's in family when I practiced driving and this exceptional brand will always have a place in my heart.

BTW, Wiggen means thunderbolt in Swedish. 

In details:

Engine 
- R4, 2290cc, 16-valve, Turbo 'B235R'
- 9.3:1 compression ratio
- Custom "Trionic-7" fuel-injection system and direct-ignition  - Large oil and water-cooled turbocharger
- Maximum boost pressure of 1.4 bar,

Numbers
- 225hp/5500rpm (limiter 6300rpm)  
- 342Nm/2500-4000rpm (approx. 122-195hp)
- 0-100Km/h: 6,8s
- 0-400M: 15, 3s
- Top speed 250 Km/h - 1395Kg

Transmission
- 5 speed manual, FWD
- Upgraded clutch assemply
- Larger diameter and stronger driveshafts and strengthened CV joints
Chassis
- Stiffer springs and dampers
- Anti-roll bar in front
- Upgraded steering rack mounts - Ventilated and grooved disks (308mm) front and 287mm (grooved) disks rear - 17x7,5" exclusive 5 spoke alloys with 215/45ZR17 Dunlop tires
Exterior
- Unique bumpers and rear spoiler (reducing aerodynamic drag by 8% to a 0.31 coefficient and reducing lift forces over the rear wheels by 60%)
- Sport exhaust tip
- Exclusive 'Viggen' plates 

    Interior
- Sport seats (by Lear) - Unique two-tone leather interior - Sport steering wheel - Extra gauges
- Custom dashboard
- Exclusive 'Viggen' plates

Other
- Limited colors awailable; blue in 1999, with silver and black added in 2000, other colors like red later
- Less than 3000 Viggens were ever made (including 3D, 5D, and cabrio versions)

Saab 9-3 Turbo X '2008

'Darth Vader'

Evil eye. Source: jdpower.com

On the other day I got bored with my Volkswagen's polished functionality and design that's lame enough not to disturb anybody. I'm driving my 6th VW and have owned only one Toyota and Ford in between that makes me a real VAG whore. So, as car change became current I decided ones again look something different, something that has emphasized features, something that makes the car hated or loved, something that makes it stand out. Task seemed to be easy, world is full of different cars, but when affording only one car it has to comply many things and satisfy certain level of practicability and reliability. It's somewhat lame to claim that Dub's design and quality is sophisticated, they drive well enough for daily driver, usually are one of the most affordable cars to insurance and service, usually are reliable enough that no one makes a big noise about it, and have suitable image for every situation, but sometimes these are features that I find people driving with other brands arguing in newer-ending discussions about best cars.

Turbo X SportCombi. Source: saabvereld.net

After browsing several car advertisements Saab started to stand out: it fascinating brand drawing from aeroplanes, represents Scandinavian functionality and it's rare enough that you always found your timelessly designed vehicle from parking lot. Even GM tried to eliminate features that Saab is known and transform it to be premium Opel, it survived to keep odd features like night panel and ignition switch between seats. Additionally there's a rumor that GM bosses ones game to Saab factory to see how it's possible that Saab 9-3 is so much more expencive to manufacture than almost equivalent Opel Vectra and people at Saab told GM guys to break the cars in parts for comparison and GM newer returned to the topic, because Saab was so well built. 

Turbo X SportSedan. Source: pcwalls.net

When writing for Wolf Car blog the standard is always the fastest and rarest model available and in case of 9-3 it's Turbo X that was manufactured in very limited numbers in 2008 in both SportSedan and SportCombi versions. It's the fastest Saab ever and perhaps the meanest with dark colour scheme with black exterior and interior available with matte dark grey detailing. Actually there was about to be even faster Saab in the eighties when Saab's R&D was designing to V8 to be installed into classic 900, sadly this newer happened. Turbo X's celebrate Saab's 30 year history of charging engines in production cars. Actually, I'm still not sure which of the first Turbo cars produced in series is the first: BMW 2002 Turbo, Porsche 930 Turbo or Saab 99 Turbo? Special editions are equipped with the state of the art technology: engine is nominated to Ward's one of the world's 10 best engines in world and all-wheel-drive and electronic slip-differential lock technology was one of the most advanced of that time and Swedish. Usually facelifts are not succesfull, but in 9-3 the year 2008's make-over totally transformed the car from something odd to a classic, even so seen clear tail lights started look cool in Saab. 

Dark interior and unique propeller styled alloy. Source: motivemag.net

So this could be one solution for my need of unique, yet functional family car that can thrill the driver, but how to find myself 9-3 Turbo X SportCombi's, there's none in sale!

In details:

Engine
- V6, 2792cc, 24-valve, Twin-scroll turbo (LP9)
- Compression ratio: 9.5:1
- Intercooler
Numbers
- 280hp/5500rpm (limiter in 6400rpm)
- 400Nm/2150-4500rpm
- 0-100Km/h: 5,7s
- Top speed limited to 250Km/h

Transmission
- 6 speed manual or automatic gearbox, AWD
- Haldex -XWD cross wheel (4WD) drive system, system can deliver minimum of 4% on the rear wheels or much as 85% for the single wheel if needed
- Electronic slip differential lock (eLSD) in rear axle
Chassis
- MacPherson struts, gas shocks, anti-roll bar, and hydroformed sub-frame at front
- Independent 4-link, coil springs, self-leveling shocks, anti-roll bar, sub-frame, and rear-wheel steering system
- Lowered -10mm from Aero model
- Ventilated disks front and rear (345x30mm & 292x20mm)
- Steering ratio: 16.0:1
- Steering wheel turns, lock-to-lock: 2.97

Exterior
- Re-profiled front bumper and deep front lip spoiler in matte grey titanium
- Re-profiled rear bumper with integrated diffusor in matte grey titanium
- Rear spoiler in both sedan and SportCombi
- Unique 'Turbo X' alloys in 18x7,5" in matte grey titanium and 235/45R18 tires (19" optional alloys) 
- All in 'Metallic Jet Black' colour

Interior
- Black leather interior
- Carbon fibre detailing in fascia, door inserts, glove box, and centre console
- The 'Batwing' multifunctional steeringwheel
- 'Ready to take-off' or driver's name appearing on the display when switching on the ignition

Other
- 2000 units produced
- 600 units sold in U.S and 500 in UK

Saab 900 Enduro '1980

'Steroid poppin' Swede'

Today found something mind blowing: The Saab 900 Enduro! This boxy goes back in 1980 when Saab Australia decided they need a racy version of the 900 Turbo. What they did was: boosted turbo up to 1,2 bars, fenders were flared to ultimate, fitted new rims and paid some attention into details with brave stickers. Of course chassis was tuned to handle upgraded 175 horses! Only 12 were made for Australian markets only. Here's a cool sound spectrum of the beast.

Saab 900 with steroids. Source: autofriends.com

Source: sutospeed.com

In details:

Engine
R4, 1985cc, 8-valve, Bosch fuel injection (B201)
compression ratio 7.2:1

Garrett T3 turbo

Water injection
Numbers
175hp/-rpm
236Nm (standard model figure) /-rpm
Top speed: 200km/h (standard model figure)

0-100km/h: 8,9s (standard model figure)
1130kg (standard model figure)
Transmission
4 speed manual, FWD
Chassis
Steel monocoque, wishbones and coil springs  (f)
beam axle, leading and trailing arms, panhard rod and coil springs (r)

Upgraded suspension (Bilstein shocks)

Wider track, 4 inches (f) and 9 inches (r)

Disks all round

Simmons ‘P-4’ 3-piece alloys 7,5x15” with 225/50VR15 tires
Exterior
Rear and front wheel arch flares with integrated front spoiler

Wider rear tailgate spoiler

Bonnet, side window frames and rear spoiler were painted in Dulux “GT Satin Black”.

"ENDURO" logos emblazoned on the bonnet (on some)

“Turbo” logos with the famous “turbine” symbol added to the rear three-quarter panel
Interior

Three extra gauges (oil pressure, battery voltage and ammeter)

Special steering wheel
Other
Painted in 2-pack Dulux Acran enamel in "Aquamarine Blue Metallic" (137B), “Acacia Green Metallic" (148B), “Solar Red” (121B), and "Marble White" (152G)

Eurovox MCC-9090R Autoreverse Dolby System cassette player and electronic search tune AM/FM stereo radio with digital display!