Montreal resident thinking of dropping '99 9-3

If the roads are as bad as you say, go with the shocks and springs, but stick with 16" wheels and slightly higher profile tyres.

They will give more cushioning than 17" and you won't get as much bump steer, or tranlining through the pots. You will lose a little of the possible steering accuracy on smooth tarmac, but you will gain more smoothness on average across all potential road hazards.

Well - after spending almost $100 each to take the bends out a used set of factory wheels following someone else's adventures on low profile tires - I was advised that I should consider a taller sidewall profile than factory on NG/GM SAAB's by at least an inch.

It was explained at the straightening service that the factory wheels I picked up (three spoke 5-bolt) where 'almost as soft' as after market wheels they'd fixed and thusly if you are considering moving to after market 17" wheels - I have to think you are even more likely to bend them. I'm an ex-Montrealer myself, I understand the problem - bet the Ville Marie still looks like it's been shelled.

Anyway, the NG SAAB line is *very* sensitive to wheel condition and will quickly beat out it's control arm bushings and steering rack seals if you are feeling any serious vibration in the wheel. So in operation - you are stuck repairing the wheels or paying way more to repair the damage done once your wheels are bent.

The thinking at the shop was that I could go to a very high profile tire without loosing any 'real world' handling - if I just spent some time shopping for a thick/stiff sidewall. This advise is supported by the fact that the NG steering rack usually needs to be 'braced' to really exploit stiffer springs and shocks.

Frankly, while I am now the first to admit that the overall performance characteristics on the NG SAAB are in fact better than the c900 and in some ways the 9000 lines, the trade off appears to be that the suspension was generally lighter built to achieve it. Less agricultural, less durable = snappier handling at greater speeds.

The reason I dug deep and fixed up a used set of three spoke factory was to try and improve the handling over the factory steel wheels the machine came with - which it actually did - once I dug a lot deeper and had the three spoke rims really properly straightened.

Bon chance whatever you decide mon aimee.

If you are concerned about ground clearance for the potholes, I would think about not doing anything to lower to suspension. I have two Saabs, a normal 900S and a SPG. The SPG is s great handler but it scrapes on speed bumps because it is so low. The 900S had more ground clearance and is great in the winter and with the potholes.

As for the NG Saabs having a "better overall performance" than the Classics, everyone is entitle to their opinion. Perhaps the "more agricultural" design of Classic makes it a great car in the winter. I will test drive a new 9-3 convertible and get a $50 certificate. I will be able to see how it compares to the SPG in handling. There is a big handling difference between the SPG and the 900S. But that is why I own both - one is simply inspiring on smooth roads and the other is unbeatable in snow and ice.

Hey, don't get me wrong brother Mark - we've owned a '79 99GL, an'82 900 three door, an '85 4 door, an '87 4 door and an '89 9000CD Turbo and what I liked about them was - specifically - the agricultural type build, much more like rally cars than sports cars. The '89 9000T being the very best overall family car of them all and in my mind, perhaps one of the most well thought out cars ever built.

All my pre-GM 900's and the 9000 were very literally driven well into the

300 and 400 thousand kilometer range and often used as 1/4 ton trucks when not occasionally blowing off the lower end BMW's and Audi's they found themselves next to on the road at the time. I very much doubt my NG900 (currently in the 225 thousand km range) will likely last as long or survive the hard use I put my any of old ones to.

But, the current '94 900s as compared to c900s's is a more snappy handler at speeds and a bit quicker at the top end. Your SPG is a completely different beast of course as all my 900's were/are stock 4 and 5 speed S types and I should have qualified myself on that. Please forgive the familiar nature of my comments.

Anyway - while I maintain that the stock non-turbo NG900 is a better 'Sports Car' than the stock c900 non-turbo, do not take that to mean the NG900 is desirable to me personally. Being completely frank here, except for the radio I don't actually like my NG900 very much and will be selling it when I find a rust free '89 9000T 5 speed in need of an engine at the right price.

As to the 9-3/9-5 line I can't comment as I haven't owned one yet.

I assume, given they are really still an uprated NG900's under the fancy panels, it will be similar to my current NG900. It should have a lighter touch at speed and should accelerate like a demon one you get above 3400 rpm. Cornering should be very precise and it will have less of a tendency to drift the front wheels at high speed through tight dry corners. However, I found my NG900 doesn't work as well in the snow as my c900.

I think these characteristics are related in that the transverse engine layout puts more weight directly on the wheels - but - given the lack of double A-Arms, the contact patch doesn't seem remain as broad as it did at high speeds on the c900. This might account for more precise handling on dry payment with increasing speeds - but less overall traction in slippery conditions. I haven't pushed mine far enough to find out, but I bet the front end snaps out and hops around rather than drifting politely as did my c900's.

Very interested in your impressions on the latest models - please don't forget to follow up if you can.

I live in Ottawa, and have been debating installing lowering springs on my

9-5. I'm looking for a sportier ride. The lower center of gravity would certainly help ( improve the appearance as well) however, I'm afraid that in addition to lost ground clearance, the car might bounce/skitter on pot hole plagued roads. I've decided to work in stages. I've installed heavier roll bars and Bilsteins on the back ( the front Bilsteins have been ordered). In our area, I doubt that Koni's would remain adjustable for long. I'll be replacing the 16" wheels with 17" wheels, and at that point, decide whether or not to upgrade the springs as well.

I'm not sure if this helps.

BL