2003 Saab 9-3 Arc & Vector

BDawg

Lifer
Oct 31, 2000
11,631
2
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The Vectors are S-W-E-E-T!

Although I would still rather have a hatchback Viggen.
 

BDawg

Lifer
Oct 31, 2000
11,631
2
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(There have been Arc and Vector versions of the 9-5 sedan and wagon for about two years now.)

No there haven't been. The 9-5 forms are as follows:

Linear (2.3t) -> Arc (3.0t) -> Aero (2.3T)
 

PricklyPete

Lifer
Sep 17, 2002
14,582
162
106
I love this car. Definitely wouldn't mind purchasing one of those Vectors in the next few years.
 

MikeO

Diamond Member
Jan 17, 2001
3,026
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Yeah.. my dad bought the Vector. He haven't seen the car ever since he gave me the keys :D I seriously love this car, it's so goddamn nice and fun to drive.
 

prodigy

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
14,822
1
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Originally posted by: PricklyPete
I love this car. Definitely wouldn't mind purchasing one of those Vectors in the next few years.

Me too, gimme one in black. :D
 

gregshin

Diamond Member
Jul 13, 2000
3,273
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this car is TRASH for $30K I'm sorry i test drove one for my GF and it felt like driving a turbo charged accord 4 banger.

POWERTRAIN: 2.0-liter, 210-hp, 221-lb-ft turbocharged four @ 12 PSI.
that is also a joke...Nissan's famous SR20det S14 engine makes 220hp and 205lbs at 7 PSI. The SR20det S15 engine makes 250hp and 220lb of torque at 7 PSI.
 

KokomoGST

Diamond Member
Nov 13, 2001
3,758
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Well, comparing it to a SR20DET is not a valid comparison. Consider that both the EJ20 and 4G63T also run Mitsu and Garret turbos, but also run MUCH higher standard boost pressures than the SR20DET. They make just as much, if not more hp than the SR depending on how much boost you throw at them. And both of those engines have been reknowned for their ability to take boost. The S14's turbo runs out of gas at around 13-15psi... a 16G turbo will push past 20psi and the stock internals of the 4G63T can take it. Max effective psi on the S15 is a tad higher at 17psi.

They're made/tuned differently... plain and simple... now in regards to the Saab Arc/Vector getting a TD04 housing turbo (heck, there are quite a few TD04s) if you can turn up the boost pressure with a chip or simple manual boost controller, it should help a lot. It really depends on which TD04 Mitsu turbo is in there... and it really depends on the strength of the factory internals and fuel to determine how friggin fast you can go after that.

All that being said... the Saabs weigh how much? Silvias weigh what?
 

gregshin

Diamond Member
Jul 13, 2000
3,273
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0
both cars are turbo charged so in my opinion they are valid comparisons. I would rather take a lower PSI turbo engine that makes more power with less effort. S14 and S15 turbos are T-28's
 

prodigy

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
14,822
1
0
But how easy is it to get a DET in the U.S. and then swap it in? Most consumers, especially middle aged people who would be considering this car wouldn't want to go through all the trouble.
 

Glitchny

Diamond Member
Sep 4, 2002
5,679
1
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Originally posted by: BDawg
The Vectors are S-W-E-E-T!

Although I would still rather have a hatchback Viggen.

this viggen is amazing, my dad has one and it flies... 125 in fourth gear and not redlining it... and i was going uphill
its a beast
 

gregshin

Diamond Member
Jul 13, 2000
3,273
0
0
Originally posted by: prodigy69
But how easy is it to get a DET in the U.S. and then swap it in? Most consumers, especially middle aged people who would be considering this car wouldn't want to go through all the trouble.

im not saying i would swap a SR20DET engine in the saab...my point is that the saab engine is a POS
 

BDawg

Lifer
Oct 31, 2000
11,631
2
0
Originally posted by: Glitchny
Originally posted by: BDawg
The Vectors are S-W-E-E-T!

Although I would still rather have a hatchback Viggen.

this viggen is amazing, my dad has one and it flies... 125 in fourth gear and not redlining it... and i was going uphill
its a beast

Is it yellow? :D
 

Wolverine27

Platinum Member
Dec 7, 2000
2,350
0
0
Nice looking car...but 0-60 in 7.58 seconds??? I'd expect better from a car in this price range.
 

NFS4

No Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
72,636
46
91
Originally posted by: Cfour
"Rubbery Shifter" - gimme a break.. guess they really needed to find something to complain about


Speaking of shifting, another Saab quirk is a rubbery shifter that caused some missed shifts in this six-speed manual transmission, described by one tester as ?awful.?

During our test we had numerous problems with the second-third shift during acceleration runs.

Sounds justified to me
 

mAdD INDIAN

Diamond Member
Oct 11, 1999
7,804
1
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I love Saabs!!

Also about the turbo issue -- Saabs are known for their 4-cyl turbo motors. They are also known for their lag till it hits peak boost. Its just a Saab trait. You cant' expect a SR20DET-style power delivery since well, it isn't an SR20DET.

Saabs are known for their:
- console ignition (actually a safety issue so the key won't bang in your knee during collision)
- sloppy handling (which is fixed in this new 9-3)
- crazy torque steer (makes the Max/Alti look tame)
- best seats in the world

In sum, the engine is just part of Saab tradition.
 

ElFenix

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Mar 20, 2000
102,380
8,509
126
Originally posted by: gregshin
Originally posted by: prodigy69
But how easy is it to get a DET in the U.S. and then swap it in? Most consumers, especially middle aged people who would be considering this car wouldn't want to go through all the trouble.

im not saying i would swap a SR20DET engine in the saab...my point is that the saab engine is a POS

no, probably just has a lower compression ratio...