Jafo Jafo

Jafo is positively knackered.....

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Jafo is positively knackered.....

The SAAB 9-3 Aero has its New Home

from WinCustomize Forums

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...;)

100,508 views 33 replies
Reply #26 from WinCustomize Forums Top

And I thought only 'girlies' drove Saab softtops............only messing with you Paul............Looks like a great 'bird puller'!!!!!!!!!

Reply #27 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting Leo, reply 26
And I thought only 'girlies' drove Saab softtops
End of Leo's quote

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' ...;)

Elemental: Reforged
Reply #28 from WinCustomize Forums Top

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 #29 from Sins Forums Top

That's awesome Jafo. :-)

Reply #30 from WinCustomize Forums Top

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...;p

Daylesford [Nth west of Melbourne] is a tourist trap - got some great artwork up there....;)

Reply #31 from WinCustomize Forums Top

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 ....

...;)

Reply #32 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting Jafo, reply 20
The garage is so short I need to park the nose touching the end wall...to be sure the roller door will close.
End of Jafo's quote

Wouldn't leave the engine running long...

Reply #33 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting DrJBHL, reply 32
Wouldn't leave the engine running long...
End of DrJBHL's quote

I shut it down immediately...and leave the side door open for cooling.  It's a Turbo ....they get warm...;)