a good sport...

I know many of you are good customers of Lionel...but..

How often is it that people ship their cars abroad just to get them to work on their cars?

I called them about a few mailorder items, 'why don't you bring your car across and we'll fit the stuff for you'... hmm okay I thought.. When I asked?... how's tomorrow they said.. okay..

I grabbed the hoek of holland ferry (4 hours later) I arrived at their place (they met me at the ferry terminal at harwich).. started the work.. and loaned me a 9000 turbo to have a little drive and pub lunch while I waited.. while I was there I enquired about a new backbox for the car.. no problem they gave me a choice of new exhausts or ones that had recently been removed from viggens.. I said yep and in no time that was modified to fit on the car.....

I mean where do you get service like that?..

In one day.. between ferry crossings.. TiD upgrade fitted and tested, Viggen Exhaust modified and fitted and Abbott steering clamp done.. with little warning.

Brilliant...

Must admit the only negative thing I've ever heard about Abbotts is that they're not on the cheap side.

I will visit them one day - just need to save the pennies.!

I'd never have any hesitation in buying a car with Abbott mods!

Kevin Mc

I'd have to agree, a damn fine bunch of blokes who know their Saabs. Completely transformed my C900 Convertible.

And the loan car and the pub lunch are definitely part of the experience

Hmmm. I didn't get that pub lunch. Must have a word with Dan. And those darn barking alsetians scared my kids...

Hmmm. I didn't get that pub lunch. Must have a word with Dan. And those darn barking alsetians scared my kids... *[/b]Not the only "barking" thing around here it seems.


I'd never have any hesitation in buying a car with Abbott mods![/b]Yeah, wish I'd bought that CS Carlsson I looked at last year. That baby was LOADED, BEGF Head, Full exhaust, APC upgrade, LSD, 17" Azevs. Even with 115K and the turbo possibly needing a rebuild, it was probably worth the £3500 he was asking.

Did get the boot sticker though, and a cup of tea...

Well, on the pub lunch front.. that was for me to pay.. but the loan car was free....

And it was fun to compare his 9000 turbo along those backroad lanes to my car....

All in all - a nice day out!

Question is Mark, was yours better than theirs?

I only went to get a new waste gate fitted, because my own garage (Two Stroke)didn't have one in stock. And since they and Abbott work closely together, they arranged for me to go down to Abbott and pick one up. But Dan fitted the part there and then. He did a test drive and was shocked to find out that my 9-3SE was more powerful than the Abbott's own 9-3SE upgrade chip! But Two Stroke are keeping quiet about what they have done to my car... Trade secret I suppose.

Well, to tell the truth, it's difficult comparing an older car with a new car.. but here goes..

I'm pretty sure the 9000 wasn't standard.. (does anyone know the specification of the red saloon 9000 turbo with AZEV wheels at Abbotts?)

It drove well, with a little turbo lag (i was a bit scared to give it too much gas - since it wasn't mine). It turned in well and reasonably flat on the roads and galloped on.. but it creaked and sometimes felt a bit ponderous.

Of course, my daily drive is an uprated 9-3 TiD, in the suspension and engine departments... My car probably has more torque at 340NM (about 240Lb/ft - i think) compared to his and mine maybe is lighter, so on the back roads I didn't feel a huge difference... just that mine felt tighter and nimbler.

gave me great service
But they are dear (well I am a scotsman !)
But discounts are negotiable