Jafo is positively knackered.....
The SAAB 9-3 Aero has its New Home
Tuesday, August 13, 2013 by Jafo | Discussion: Everything Else
Now, before anyone rushes off in horror that this poor lad has had his 'family jewels' handed to him on a platter.....
....it's common Aussie 'strine' for being stuffed...aka worn out....
Oh, and 'strine' is....er....strine for 'Australian'....
....but no, for the past 4 weeks-odd I have been busy hurting muscles I didn't even know I had....[or anyone else did, for that matter]... busy completing works on a garage that began in February, 1987 ....when we bought 'the worst house in the street'.
Yes, it might have taken 7 years to get the toilet indoors....but it took since 1987 to get the car into the garage.
Today, at 4.00pm I finally dun it.
It was a case of necessity....having gone through one of 'those years' that includes a mid-life crisis....[ok...so I'm late to that one too]...as I'd bought a nice new [to me] 2007 SAAB 9-3 Aero Convertible ... something that NEEDS to be off-street and protected.
OK, so I need a shoe-horn to fit it into the garage [I have about 8" each side and to the rear....when parked hard to the nose..... but it's done.
Below is the critter as advertised online [needless to say now a wallpaper]. Bought in the depths of winter.....still waiting for decent weather to get it topless and eat bugs.
It has a 'wee bit' of get-up-and-go .... turbo-intercooled 2.8l V6 puts out around 250hp, with a wide torque curve that essentially eliminates lag.
Bottom line IS 'the bottom line'.... paid 70 thou less than its purchase price new.
IF I can find a way to take a snap of it whilst in its garage I'll post that.... it's a good thing it's a convertible....as I had to climb over the door to get out. 'Tight space' doesn't really cut it ....even if it weren't a prohibited ride for a Probationary driver...I can bet they'd never get it in or out of the garage without dinging it...
Ah.... roll on summer...
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Reply #22 Friday, August 16, 2013 12:24 AM
Just how long do you need to exhale to be able to exit the cockpit, or are you going the convertible top/skylight/ejector seat route?
P.S. You may need to move it over just a bit, you still need to get a Bushmaster in there....
Reply #23 Friday, August 16, 2013 1:10 AM
Yes....the reason it's in a garage is because it's a convertible....and the reason it's accessible [ingress/egress] in this garage is because it's a convertible.
Step one ....open roof.
Step two.... step out.
Step three.... close roof.
Reply #24 Sunday, August 25, 2013 9:52 AM
More than a week later and my arms still ache.....
...but then yesterday I was 'painting' the car roof....one coat of cleaner....and 2 coats of proofing.
Meanwhile.....the weather is 'turning'....and spring is on its way.....almost time to get topless...
Reply #25 Monday, August 26, 2013 9:31 AM
I've actually managed to exit the car with the roof on. Added a grab handle to the left side wall to make the process a little more 'elegant'.
Probably would be handy though if I were in a LHD part of the world...but I ain't...so I have to skrunch across to the passenger seat to get out...
Reply #26 Monday, August 26, 2013 10:06 PM
And I thought only 'girlies' drove Saab softtops............only messing with you Paul............Looks like a great 'bird puller'!!!!!!!!!
Reply #27 Monday, August 26, 2013 10:27 PM
Probably thanks to the early versions which were a little bit 'limp spaghetti' in the chassis dept.
This one is 200kg heavier than the sedan thanks to proper stiffening...and has enough power to 'need' torque limiting in the lower gears. That means speed 'off the line' isn't all that wild....but once rolling its acceleration is quite significant.
....and only children and cop-bait get all 'moist' over traffic-light drags. Grown-ups tend to be more interested in dynamics, not 'noise' ...
Now, if I get all silly and look at a stage 0 remapping I can bump the HP from 250 to 320 with next to no effort...but I'm not yet convinced that's going to be the way to treat the tranny....but Hirsch has a warranty-safe mod to 275 that apparently improves fuel economy...so that might be the go...and Swedish Prestige has the 'kits' ...
Reply #28 Friday, August 30, 2013 9:58 AM
Well....I seem to have gotten the knack of getting the car in and out of the garage....that's gotta be a plus.
....and the weather's getting better...
Reply #30 Sunday, September 8, 2013 10:35 AM
Yep, getting out is a simple back-and-turn....and getting in is a 'two bites at it' sort of thing....turn once...back....and turn again.
It'll never be 'brainless'....and I'd defy any of those auto-park thingies to be able to handle it....not without knocking off a few corners...
Overtaking is kinda - um - fast. I have to get used to the idea of backing off BEFORE you pull out.....cos hitting 140kph isn't conducive to keeping your licence....
Did 250k on Saturday with the roof off....Terry said it was cold...but I was enjoying it too much to care....besides...she had her electric seat on...
Daylesford [Nth west of Melbourne] is a tourist trap - got some great artwork up there....
Reply #31 Wednesday, November 6, 2013 7:13 AM
Sabrina [did I mention Terry names the cars?] had her first service [with me] today.
It's always a plus when the CEO of the Garage says 'gee it's a nice car'.... and she got her Hirsch Chip installed ....even comes with a certificate certifying noise and emissions, etc. [something to do with Euro regs].
Now the 2.8 is producing 276 hp at 5670 rpm [202kw]...and 400 nm of torque [295 ft lb].
It's mandatory to be running Premium Unleaded [98] but fuel economy is supposedly better [provided there's not too much lead in my socks...
Driving back from the service - in peak hour traffic was still enough to notice the difference.
And the finishing touch....a neat little emblem added to the boot [trunk] beside the '93' logo ....
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Reply #21 Thursday, August 15, 2013 11:48 PM
Very ingenious, and again pinball friendly. lol I wouldn't be able to wait, she would be on the road if she were mine. Beauty!