New guy, and an exhaust question

[Aero]

Hey everyone, I just found this site. Looks pretty cool, Ive been hoping there was something for us socal lushes.

So my question is basically more me looking for suggestions. I am in need of someone to fab me a 2.5 or 3"(havent decided just how far I want to go yet.) cat-back exhaust for my 9-5. I know there are plenty of places capable of doing this, but I am looking for someone that is tried/trusted and isnt going to charge me exhorbant amounts of money. I live in OC, but Id be willing to go down to sandy eggo and the like if needed. Thanks for your input, and for the great site.

[scsponger31]

I have a guy in Dana Point, he built everything for my volvo and he will hook it up. Where in OC are do you live?

[bugzy]

im in SD

but welcome to SCE !! happy posting

[stevehayes01]

Aero..... there are allot of options that you can go with. It will run you in the area of $375 to $425 get the system fabricated for you. You can buy the SAAB Sport premade 2.5" for $500 and it is already setup for your car. I currently run a 2000 9-3 HOT and will be finishing my exhaust soon too. What are your future plans for the car? and how far do you want to take it in the ECU remapping stages?

SAAB SPORT (http://www.saabcatalog.com/retail/category.asp?catalog%5Fname=Saab+Catalog&category%5Fname=Drive9395%3A9%2D5+Sport+Exhaust+Sy stem&Page=)

Also try Genuine SAAB (http://genuinesaab.com) as they offer some decent stuff for the SAAB's.

[stevehayes01]

By the way........ Welcome Aero. I used to live in Socal and ran the SoCal SAAb club but recently moved to Florida. If you need assistance for SAAb stuff please feel free to contact me and I will be glad to help. Also look to the following sites for more information.

http://saabcentral.com
http://saablink.net
http://socalsaab.net

[bugzy]

By the way........ Welcome Aero. I used to live in Socal and ran the SoCal SAAb club but recently moved to Florida. If you need assistance for SAAb stuff please feel free to contact me and I will be glad to help. Also look to the following sites for more information.

http://saabcentral.com
http://saablink.net
http://socalsaab.net
FL? you traitor !!

[stevehayes01]

Yeah I took a job out here for Merrill Lynch and had to move in the span of about 2 1/2 weeks last month. I am still running things (web site wise and new membership wise ) for the SoCal SAAB Owners club and still trying to get more SAAB's participating in the SoCal Euro side of things!

I must say though that out here there is no and I mean no Euro scene at all!! Well I take that back I have gotten some love from the JaxDubs club out here but thats just Euro sympathy love for me....like the red headed step child kind!

[Aero]

Hey there! Thanks for the replies everyone. About the Saab Sport exhaust, it was made by Remus of Austria, who has since gone under, so the exhaust is no longer available. There are a few dealers around the country who have one or two left laying around, but after some investigating it turns out its only 2.25" not 2.5". Thats why I decided to go with the custom fab job.

scsponger31 I live in dana point!! well capo beach really, but same thing. where is this guy? I called a few shops around the area, but didnt get very far with any of them. A couple quoted me over $1k... riiiiight.

steve, 9-3 HOT.. that a viggen? I was looking for a viggen to buy before I got the 9-5, but they are tough to come by in decent shape. As for how far I intend to take it, I havent truely decided yet. I know im definitely going stage 2.. but probably will end up stage 3+. The real question is whether to just say screw it and go stage 3 right away, or to take baby steps. I really wish there were more T7 tuners around though..

[stevehayes01]

Well the best bet is to decide it now... If you plan on going Stage 2+ you need to just bite the bullet and go with a 3" system. Stay away from MpPerformance and their system as a heads up. Figure out what your overall plans are and layout your upgrade path from there before spending money.

If you go on http://saablink.com and look up Dasaabguy he has a guy also in the Mission viejo area that can hook you up for $350ish installed. He will be at the Big SoCal Euro GTG with his NG900 Vert....AKA MooseKilla.

As for my car it is not a Viggen but rather the High output version of the 9-3 that is rated at 205HP instead of 185 like the LPT's. In essence it is the Aero version of the 9-3 like your 9-5 is the Aero version. My car with the current mods Dynoed at 218WHP with no ECU work at all.

So if you are going to do your car to a Stage 3 then you will need to do a few things first.

1. Pick up a 3" Exhaust

2. Pick Up a 3" Down Pipe

3. Pick up a 3.5bar FPR (the VW and Audi one for the 1.8T works great and is a cheaper alternative to the one the tuners sell)

4. Optional ---- Upgrade the Front Mount Intercooler on your car( I highly recommend this one)

5. Install a Speedparts Intake

6. Install custom springs on the car to enhance your handling.

Also is your car an Automatic or a stick?? That makes a big difference in the ECU Tuner you choose.

[Aero]

I have the 5 speed auto. I plan on ordering the 3" downpipe from Jak Stoll in the near future, as well as the FPR. Ill look into the Audi/VW one though, thanks for the tip. I also very much plan on doing the FMIC. As for suspension, I have the Eibachs and Koni yellows goin on saturday morning. Also, I really want to stay away from the open-air intake. I was reading on saabcentral where they said upgrading to the 2006 snorkel will be good for up to 350hp, and I dont intend on going much further than that. My concern is all the flooding during the rainy season around here.. lots of giant dips in the roads that turn into 2ft puddles and Id hate to suck in a shitload of water. I will definitely look up Dasaabguy, actually I think ive seen him on the saabcentral forum advertising for the SoCal GTG as well.

I think my plan is to get the exhaust on first, as it doesnt really require a remap(though I also wont see the full HP gain until I remap, I know) and then do the FPR and Downpipe at the same time as the ECU. Thanks very much for your help, I really appreciate it.

[stevehayes01]

Cool. The VW FPR can be allot cheaper than what Jak is going to sell you.
See this thread on SAABLINK (http://www.saablink.net/forum/showthread.php?t=7990)for more information.

As for the open air intake you will not suck water from it. If you had a CAI that routed to the fender well this would be an issue but the standard intake does not do that. I ran a3" Air box mod that put a funnel straight into my lower front fender and never had an isseu with water in my intake or soaked filters in Cali.

I put the DP, and FMIC on at the same time with no software and got 18WHP out of it with no software upgrades. It is nice to do all the upgrades at once but (just my opinion) if you want to see how they affect your car I would do them in stages rather than ECU, FPR and Dp in one shot. If you do all of those you may not be as happy with the afffect of the ECU. Just my observation and opinion. By doing them sepeartly you will see exactly what it did for your car and where it helped and hurt it.


Dasaabguy (andrew) is a good local resource and can really assist you in finding people for all kinds of work on your SAAB. Also check out the SoCal SAAB Owners Site (http://socalsaab.net) and sign up so you can stay up to date on SAAB related events and gatherings in SOCAL>

[Aero]

Maybe the intake is different on the 9-3, but this is what it looks like on a 9-5. It seriously looks to me like I would easily have that thing submerged in a puddle. But, I could be totally wrong, having not seen one in person.

http://www.saabcentral.com/phpgallery/albums/Cosmic-Blue9-5/da632739.jpg

[fcastle]

If you look at the picture though, the top of the filter is almost up to the headlight area. If you are in water that high, you have bigger troubles. I know about how to hydrolock and save a hydrolocked car from experience. The filter would have to be completely submerged to suck up enough water to damage your vehicle.

[scsponger31]

Hey there! Thanks for the replies everyone. About the Saab Sport exhaust, it was made by Remus of Austria, who has since gone under, so the exhaust is no longer available. There are a few dealers around the country who have one or two left laying around, but after some investigating it turns out its only 2.25" not 2.5". Thats why I decided to go with the custom fab job.

scsponger31 I live in dana point!! well capo beach really, but same thing. where is this guy? I called a few shops around the area, but didnt get very far with any of them. A couple quoted me over $1k... riiiiight.

steve, 9-3 HOT.. that a viggen? I was looking for a viggen to buy before I got the 9-5, but they are tough to come by in decent shape. As for how far I intend to take it, I havent truely decided yet. I know im definitely going stage 2.. but probably will end up stage 3+. The real question is whether to just say screw it and go stage 3 right away, or to take baby steps. I really wish there were more T7 tuners around though..
he is right off of camino capistrano, it might still my san juan, but i am coming home on thursday for spring break and I will be home for more than a week. We should meet up and I can take you by so he can have a look.

[Aero]

Hmm, I think I may know what shop you are talkin about. My cousin works down at Ratical off of Camino Cap, I think the muffler shop was right across from them. Definitely should meet up, where you goin to school?

[bugzy]

see ... making new friends already ;)

[stevehayes01]

"SoCal Euro Bringing People Together since the dawn of time" should be the new site slogan!!!

[scsponger31]

Hmm, I think I may know what shop you are talkin about. My cousin works down at Ratical off of Camino Cap, I think the muffler shop was right across from them. Definitely should meet up, where you goin to school?
i go to school at UCSD. Yeah there are to good shops on camino capsistrano south coast muffler (they do good work but are a bit pricey) my dad gets his stuff done there, and then there is my guy Rods Muffler. Granted he his not the brightest bulb out there but he does good work and he honest and he always helps me and my buddies out. it think when it was all said and done my exhuast only cost me about 300 bucks and that if turbo back!

[timmehhhhhh]

Remus Performance Exhaust's! Fits 9-5. 11 Available! $375 Plus Shipping. (http://www.saabnet.com/tsn/class/parts.html)

[stevehayes01]

Theres Tim to save the day!. Hows it going Tim??? Long time no see or talk.

[timmehhhhhh]

Hey Steve, hope you're doin good in Florida

As for how it's going, GM is announcing cuts next week so maybe I'll be pulling out of the Saab family...that is until they offer AWD and I have enough money to afford one of those badboys... haha