Well, took the Goat up to York PA from northern Virginia on a business call. On the way back I first spotted a green 3-something-er-other. Definitely not an M3, but clearly the guy had done something to it. I was just cruising down I-95 south of Baltimore at about 75 or 80 and as I pass him, he suddenly stomps on it.
So I'm thinking, uh, whatever -- I'm just driving home and don't really want a ticket.
He slows up and lets me pass and does it again.
Okay, fine. I'm game. Drop it into 4th and easily pull away. I really didn't punch it too much, but I'm now finding with this car, everyone comes out of the woodwork and wants to either play, or just see what this car's got. At the next exit, the Bimmer peals off.
Then by the time I'm on the DC Beltway merging onto I-66, I spot a Subbie STI actually in a nice silver instead of the usual blue or black. I see he's on his cell phone and not really paying much attention. After I passed him, I also see that it had been modified -- front mounted intercooler rather than in the usual hood-scoop location could be seen peeking out of the lower grill. The guy hangs up and stomps on it. I stomp on it, much to my better judgement (Va State cops are not forgiving at all.).
The STI had some juice, but being all-wheel drive clearly saps much of the power. I know stock they're 300 hp, and this guy had to have had more given the one mod I could see, and there was probably more.
But there wasn't enough, hee hee! He had caught up to me (again, I was cruising) and kept hitting the gas, plus I could hear his blow-off valve chirping.
Again, I drop to 4th at 75, and floor it. The only thing stopping this contest was the State Trooper cruising ahead of us. Trooper and Subbie both exited at Centerville, but as far as I could tell, before encoutering Johnny Law, the Subbie, though quick, and quite possibly close to our 400 crank hp, was hampered by the extra drive line of AWD.
Fun while it lasted!
I now have had 3 kills since picking it up April 29, and two of them (I think anyway) today!
What a great long distance cruiser as much as the kill factor! I'm lovin' it more every time I drive it!
Jim Miller
'06 M6 Phantom Black/Black, 18", Stock for now
'02 Saab 9-5 Aero, Modified
'93 Saab 900 Turbo Commemorative Edition #116 of 325 built, Modified
'91 Saab 900 Turbo Special Edition, stock for now...
It's good to hear you are enjoying this car so much. By the way, were your turbo Saabs stock?
The Aero we bought new, and I've only begun to start the mods (Warranty just ran out in January...). (Remus exhaust, adjustible turbo bypass valve for now, much more to come...)
A previous 900 I had was also stock, and I modified it pretty significantly before I sold it to make room for the Goat. Stock it was a mere 185 hp, 205 lb/ft at the crank, and when I was through with it, it was about 230 hp, 263 lb-ft at the wheels.
The '93 was modified quite a bit by the previous owner, and was/is well known in the Saab community. I'd been eyeballing it for years and grabbed it once it came on the market. I've since thoroughly gone through it and restored it (paint, reupholstered, etc.) and added a few more mods to it. Took it to the Carlisle show this past May and won 2nd place peoples choice out of about 155 Saabs there.
The '91 is also a rare piece and will be going through the restoration process this summer once it gets too hot to put the top down. That one will remain fairly stock, or perhaps very mild modifications. Really a weekend pleasure cruiser.
There are a couple of guys I know in the Saab world getting 400 to 500 hp, but it's very "peaky", and not really streetable. One in particular, and in Sweden, is now producing 850 hp out of a 2.3 liter turbo 4. Very much a race car and not streetable much at all. Blast to see though.
Check out this video. 11.8 in the quarter with a 2.0 turbo, FWD. BTW, that's not MPH, but KPH... In miles, that's 123 mph... Wicked quick for a 20 yr old turbo 4...
If I hadn't ever gotten hooked on V8s, I would have probably been looking for a Saab turbo at some point. I like understated or somewhat sporty performance cars. For instance, I can appreciate the performance of a WRX STi, but it is a bit too gaudy looking for my personal tastes (however, the 07 with the option package that includes spoiler delete sounds interesting, as it also includes the more subdued front end).
I keep hearing about the Viggens being desirable cars.
Yep. Viggens are much like our Goats: Those who don't know them dismiss them, but those who know, love them. My '97, which I just sold to make room for the Goat, was a precursor to the Viggen. Quick and fun little car. But after 9 years of ownership it was time to move on.
There's so much between the cars that are scarily similar -- from switch gear, mirror controls, seats, and more, that are virtually the same. But of course a turbo 4, dual overhead cam engine is vastly different from the pushrod 8.
But after doing research on the LS-series, it's clear to me that pushrod does not necessarily mean "old technology". The materials, engine management software and engineering that's gone into these engines is every bit as technologically advanced as the other engine designs. The performance speaks for itself. It's just a different path to get there.
Still love both the Swedish Meatballs as much as I do the Goat.
Oh, and BTW, Saabers have the same similar disdain for "rice"!
But after doing research on the LS-series, it's clear to me that pushrod does not necessarily mean "old technology". The materials, engine management software and engineering that's gone into these engines is every bit as technologically advanced as the other engine designs. The performance speaks for itself. It's just a different path to get there.
Definately! I think more of the pushrods as a "simpler" technology, rather than an "outdated" technology. Technically, it is an older technology. But older is not always worse.
The pushrods give our engines a smaller footprint and a lighter weight than is possible with OHC, from what I understand.
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Oh, and BTW, Saabers have the same similar disdain for "rice"!
I think you should drop it in 3rd...it runs to 105 or 110 or so.
Yeah, I know, but this was I-66 west of DC. Between Va. State Troopers, and traffic in general, it's not really a smart idea to go too nuts there. Just a quick pull to prove the point, and that was it.
I spot a Subbie STI actually in a nice silver instead of the usual blue or black. -- front mounted intercooler rather than in the usual hood-scoop location could be seen peeking out of the lower grill.
The STI had some juice, but being all-wheel drive clearly saps much of the power. I know stock they're 300 hp, and this guy had to have had more given the one mod I could see, and there was probably more.
Trooper and Subbie both exited at Centerville, but as far as I could tell, before encoutering Johnny Law, the Subbie, though quick, and quite possibly close to our 400 crank hp, was hampered by the extra drive line of AWD.
I think I know the STI, since it got off at Route 29 headed south?? Can't be to many silver ones running around headed my direction with a front intercooler. I looked briefly at buying it. Puts 345 HP to the ground at the wheels, but day in day out it isn't set to make that much boost.
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