Raced a Saab 9-3 2.0T today. . .

[TitaniumSpeed24]

I was rolling in a school zone at like 25-30 mph with a friend of mine in a Saab 9-3 next to me and i said hey, when you hit the "End school zone - 45 mph" sign, go. So we went from like 25 or 30 to maybe 60 and i lost. . . i didnt lose by a mile but i lost by more than a few feet and i really feel like i should have beat him - the 9-3 is 2.0T, 210 hp, auto, and quite a bit heavier - arent they supposed to run like 7.9 0-60 at best? Its not my driving because it was from a roll in 2nd gear and my 2-3 shift is prett fast and I was losing before that. . . now heres the question, 2nd gear has seemed really slow to me in that, if im going under 4,000 RPMS and i step on it, it feels REALLY boggy and slow - i can hear spooling but it just feels SLOW - like, when i shift to third it accelerates exactly the same if not faster. 2nd starts pulling harder at like 6,000 but by then its too late. . . However, if i'm going like 4000 consistently in 2nd and THEN i step on it, the turbo immediately spools and it takes off - it just feels like its not the same type of boost when i run from 2,000 - 6,000 as it does when i go from 4,000-6000. This has been going on for a while and I feel like if I had had 4,000 rpms in 2nd when i started, I might have taken him. I'm in the process of contacting my dealer to see when i can bring it in to get it flashed - is this the problem you think? Would the reflash help my 2nd gear pull? Also, my only mods are an air filter (not a CAI but just a filter), Forge BOV, and an axleback N1 style muffler.

 

[mazpro]

I used to have an '04 Saab 9-3 2.0T 6speed and it's not that slow. I raced a friend's msp when he was pretty much stock engine wise and killed him, any gear or speed. Once he got the upgraded side mount and full Vibrant exhaust, he started pulling on me, with just those 2 mods.

so with your mods, I can see him beating you no problem.

get the car checked out anyways, because from what you are making it sound like, you are spooling very late.

 

[msp35]

3 things,
1) the forge BOV is a piece of s***. (better off with the stocker)
2) you need some fuel control. the msp has bad tuning.
3) Just an air filter will suck in a lot of hot engine air. (Better off with the stock intake)

 

[jred321]

I was rolling in a school zone at like 25-30 mph with a friend of mine in a Saab 9-3 next to me and i said hey, when you hit the "End school zone - 45 mph" sign, go. So we went from like 25 or 30 to maybe 60

seriously? a school zone? i'm not one to preach morals but...

 

[TitaniumSpeed24]

alright, yeah, ive been meaning to buy a BPV - i'm gonna get one - could the forge be leaking boost? i dont really understand wastegates but it feels like i'm either bogging or not boosting = maybe i'm not getting boost? but i can hear it spooling and the boost guage says 7psi so it would have to be a leak or something . . . and it only really happens in 2nd so that cant be it i guess. . . so im guessing its just fuel? oh, jred321, haa, i meant coming OUT of the school zone like, where it ended it immediately goes from a 25 to a 45 so i figured that was the perfect way for me to get a rolling start (i dont dump my clutch. ever. i dont want a broken lsd).

 

[msp35]

(i dont dump my clutch. ever. i dont want a broken lsd).

Neither did I. Simply floored it in first (8psi)......snap, crunch rolled 1/2 mile and parked.

 

[Protege52003]

the saab 2.0 is a pretty strong engine......my mother has a 97 and my mother has an 04 with the 5-speed auto......

-R

 

[dirtysouth_msp]

I walk all over 9-3's. But then again I'm far from stock. I think you should start at a higher rpm anyway 2000 seems a little low. If you started at say 3200 rpm I think you'd be giving him a better race. Then again it seems like I remember my msp losing power after 5000 rpm or so when I was stock, so I dunno...

We just replaced the head on a 9-3 2.0T automatic a little while back at my shop. I drove it a good bit afterwards and was not very impressed with the car to tell you the truth.

 

[4drboost]

I walk all over 9-3's. But then again I'm far from stock. I think you should start at a higher rpm anyway 2000 seems a little low. If you started at say 3200 rpm I think you'd be giving him a better race. Then again it seems like I remember my msp losing power after 5000 rpm or so when I was stock, so I dunno...

We just replaced the head on a 9-3 2.0T automatic a little while back at my shop. I drove it a good bit afterwards and was not very impressed with the car to tell you the truth.

I have worked on a few at my work also, and I agree, I was not impressed at all, harsh ride, rough engine. I dont know, just my opinion. My neighbor has that new 9-3 auro v6 turbo, and I walked on him like three times.

 

[Prodigy]

Neither did I. Simply floored it in first (8psi)......snap, crunch rolled 1/2 mile and parked.

ouch...



I love my quaife.

 

[yashooa]

3 things,
1) the forge BOV is a piece of s***. (better off with the stocker)
2) you need some fuel control. the msp has bad tuning.
3) Just an air filter will suck in a lot of hot engine air. (Better off with the stock intake)

The early tests back in 03 prove that an open filter just tossed in place of the stock air box will actually make your car slower.
When the stock airbox was put back in place it was faster. Look up KwikTSI tests (JoeP) there may be a couple of others you can find.

And my LSD broke while gently pulling away from a redlight.

 

[TitaniumSpeed24]

wow, lots of valuable info here and after you guys' comments on the airfilter, i'll definitely be looking for an Injen CAI. I just dont know if the gains justify the price seeing as im 16 and moderately broke after buying my car - i start my job next week so i should be making some money soon.

And now the good stuff - The kid with the saab was up for a little rematch so him and another kid riding shotgun drove out with me to an empty road - we did a couple of third gear pulls from like 40 and up and I pulled on him by just a little bit every time. maybe an inch a second? it was close, fun, and a good match - i pulled him once from 2nd gear at like 4,000 rpms and BURNED him BAD but I think he wasnt on it all the way / he didnt know i meant go. . . but anyway, my original low rpm suspicions were confirmed - i can beat him from a higher 2nd gear roll. With a passenger at least. =P

 

[ItsSlow]

3rd gear from 40? s***, thats why its so close.. Next time race him from a 2nd gear 40 mph roll and brake boost.. You should put car lengths on him easily..

 

[Dr.Sound]

The early tests back in 03 prove that an open filter just tossed in place of the stock air box will actually make your car slower.
When the stock airbox was put back in place it was faster. Look up KwikTSI tests (JoeP) there may be a couple of others you can find.

ME! you foolio

cone filter on MAF (or with an elbow) = (-10) WHP at least. AND bad gas milage.
add a bad bov to the mix and u'll lose to a civic.

 

[Dr.Sound]

wow, lots of valuable info here and after you guys' comments on the airfilter, i'll definitely be looking for an Injen CAI. I just dont know if the gains justify the price seeing as im 16 and moderately broke after buying my car - i start my job next week so i should be making some money soon.

don't waste you money.
CAI on a turbo car = no gain. (only sound).
get yourself a drop-in K&N filter for $50 (to free up the restriction). stock box is designed very well.

put whatever you save on NOT buying a CAI to you SMIC fund.
the most restricting part of MSP's induction system is the stock SMIC.....NOT the airbox.

 

[lisevolution]

/\/\/\/\/\ taking that a step further and saying skip the SMIC and just save for the FMIC

 

[Dr.Sound]

^ not neceserally.
unless running over 10 psi, FMIC will be a hinderence.
slow spool up, bogging at shifts, and other effects of a larger core will be in evident.

dont forget, our small turbo has to fill up all those extra long pipes and 2x larger core with more air. that takes time. that means boost lag.....

but i guess people will say: "WOW, cool FMIC man!" (ughdance)

now, if u're running more boost (or larger turbo) AND engine management, then sure go for it. u'd be crazy not to.