Hardtop to Ragtop?

[Wadeski]

Owning a saab 9-3 2.0T as i do, i occaisionally have a hankering for a bit more excitement in my daily drive.

Unfortunately, a sportscar is out of the question for insurance reasons (yay for insurers that require 2 years no claims before insuring you on anything fun!)

this leaves me with the option of visiting nice Mr.Maptun, for a healthy boost in torque and some handling upgrades, or doing something a bit different and losing the roof.

no, im not going to take an angle grinder to my Saab, but trading it in for an identical, but convertible, model.

Having looked at (but not driven) one, i know i lose out on a lot of boot space, and (imho) the looks with the top up arent as good.

but i have heard the handling really suffers due to chassis flex -is this something that is likely to irritate me coming from a hardtop 9-3? Can it be fixed with a steering rack brace or subframe connectors?

basically im tempted by the idea of exactly my car, but with the roof down in spring / summer - am i likely to get more than i bargain for in terms of problems?

thanks

[john]

Having looked at (but not driven) one, i know i lose out on a lot of boot space, and (imho) the looks with the top up arent as good.

but i have heard the handling really suffers due to chassis flex -is this something that is likely to irritate me coming from a hardtop 9-3? Can it be fixed with a steering rack brace or subframe connectors?[/b]

Welcome to Saabscene!

If you are talking classic 900 convertible, GM900 convertible or Saab 9-3 convertible (M98-03) then the scuttle shake is shocking, the chassis flexing, the ride unnerving and not particularly enjoyable, especially if you are then looking to make go faster. They are not sports cars.

The 9-3 Sports Convertible M04- is said to be much stiffer than the preceding model and suffers less shake ...but then with all that weight, and different engines taking longer for the 0-60 dash, it ain't no sports car either.

I know that there are fans of convertibles, but I just don't understand why someone wants to be on view to all around them to see what an uncomfortable ride they are having? But then, I am sure you will get some positive feedback from rag top owners.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

[mark e]

Unfortunately, a sportscar is out of the question for insurance reasons (yay for insurers that require 2 years no claims before insuring you on anything fun!)

this leaves me with the option of visiting nice Mr.Maptun[/b]

Which will probably set you back more in insurance premiums than buying a more sporty model- modifications tend to attract a hefty premium.

Getting a full Viggen Rescue Kit from Abbott Racing will make the car feel a lot less jelly like, but won't eliminate the rattles. Again, depending on your insurer, it may attract a premium.

Ragtops are not cheap to insure, either. e.g. my other half (female, over 30) pays the same for a bog standard C900 vert as I do for C900 T16s with declared suspension and exhaust mods.

But for all the downsides they are fantastic in summer and surprisingly warm in winter.

[Wadeski]

Thanks - i would look at an 00-02 classic 9-3 ragtop, same generation as my hardtop.

i am a big fan of open-air driving, especially in summer - but if the scuttle shake and ride is as bad as you say, it makes me think again!

[john]

i am a big fan of open-air driving, especially in summer - but if the scuttle shake and ride is as bad as you say, it makes me think again![/b]

Well, I don't like the shake and rattle that comes with the roll, but you shouldn't believe everything you read on the interweb. Go and test drive one and see if you can live with one.

[Zaphod Beeblebrox]

Well, I don't like the shake and rattle that comes with the roll, but you shouldn't believe everything you read on the interweb. Go and test drive one and see if you can live with one.[/b]

The lockable back seats fold down, too, to give you more luggage space.

I maintain that convertibles are to be seen in, and not to be driven to the limits. To me, the shake, rattle and roll, comments as per /john, do not apply.

HTH

[john]

I don't drive to the limits, Zaphod

[GerrardSpear]

Thanks - i would look at an 00-02 classic 9-3 ragtop, same generation as my hardtop.

i am a big fan of open-air driving, especially in summer - but if the scuttle shake and ride is as bad as you say, it makes me think again![/b]

My somewhat partisan input:

I have an '02 9-3 2.0FPT SE Anniversary Auto. I agree that the 4 9-3 convertibles I test drove did not have great rides, and they got worse as you went up the range. A '01 2.0LPT SE with 15" wheel rode better than an Aero of half the miles and 2 years younger on 17" rims.

However I still fancied one as no other car fitted the 4-people-in-a-convertible for non-astronomic prices bill and I preferred the look of the car. Nor is it a ubiquitous 3-series BMW.

I bought mine and following research on this great forum shipped it off to Abbot Racing for the full suspension monty. Abbot Coils, Koni adjustables (removing scuttle shake as the OEM springs are too soft and dampers too hard), Poly TCA bushes that all but eliminate wheelspin and torque steer, and the Viggen Rescue Kit and fatter rear ARB that tighten up the steering and improve the handling dramatically. Cost about £1600 all fitted.

Now I have a 7.5sec 0-60, 140+ MPH 4 seater convertible that corners on rails giving you the confidence to chuck it around and is capable of handling that sweet SAAB engine bhp and torque. OK the ride is firm and communicative, but far better than the 2 stock Aeros' I tested. £380 to insure fully comp with all the mods declared and 6yrs NCB for me (43) and the Mrs (35) through Chris Knott as a SAAB Owners Club Member.

I would not change it for the world and the only time the roof is up is when it is precipitating.
I would extend an earlier comment that a converible is not just to be seen in, but to see more in and get that wind in the hair, full immersion driving experience.

[Zaphod Beeblebrox]

I don't drive to the limits, Zaphod [/b]

Neither do I - that I can remember, that is .
FTR, my vehicle has the wider Viking Alloys, which is an improvement cf Mrs B's standard 900 alloys, but the steering is noticeably heavier.
HTH

I would not change it for the world and the only time the roof is up is when it is precipitating.

I would extend an earlier comment that a converible is not just to be seen in, but to see more in and get that wind in the hair, full immersion driving experience.[/b]

Just a wry comment.
This reminds me to

a) Fix the roof - I suspect a micro switch is out of synch.
b) That I once had hair.