[OoRaven]

Ok here is the deal I get my Saab, first car.. And fun to drive nice pull very quick took on my friends Honda Civic Si V-tec.. beat him by about 4 car lenths and that's because it was only my second day with the car.. He is already makin' plann's for the car and I am to.. But since the car already has some

to it I wan'na make it look nice befor I start to drop engine mod's since right now with little dent's and stock bumpers and front grill it's not looking 100% in my eyes. Any know of any companies/websites here in the US that I could browse around for some body kit's grill, suspension... I have looked on many site's but they keep leaving me out I live in NewJersey and I can't see to find anything.. Please help. I can't let that Civic top me. >=D

 

[billj]

Welcome to Saabscene, OoRaven.

What model and year is your Saab? This will make a big difference as to whether there is anything available. Bear in mind that if your friend's Civic is going to "top" you, it will do it regardless of whether you have a body kit.

For suspension, Abbott Racing should have something for most models of Saab and their suspension upgrades are among the best available for Saabs.

 

[Guy Humpage]

The standard 'sporty' Saab bodykits look pretty good. Stick one of these on, get some decent paint (not too bright a colour though) and bask in the glory of having a fairly unique car anyway, not one of these common as muck Honda Civics.

 

[markcanderson]

ahh,, but that doesn't cut it these days... no no. your car has to have spoilers and body kits the size of a small house, that completely bugger up any aerodynamics the car was endowed with by years of development by the finest aerodynamists.

Making the car accelerate slower under the weight of the excess ABS plastic and drag more than someone with a gammy leg.

ahh.. yes.. and then the required paint job, which has to be louder than an aerosmith concert with more graphics than a manga cartoon.

The Aero/Viggen body kit was designed by Iain Callum (of Aston Marten DB7, Vantage, Jaguar S and XJ fame).. class in a glass - but some of the spoiler kit creations I've been seeing recently on Saabs... oh man.. taste glands have been removed.

The majority of ricer Civics and CRXs (newest Type -R is the exception) are bland, max powered shopping trollys whose owners have prolly had an imaginiation and taste by-pass in choosing one in the first place.

Sorry but no one is particularly impressed by the fact that the car has a 1.6 litre 4 cyl engine with a bazooka exhaust, crapped out, chopped suspension, tiny little brakes, huge wheels, and more plastic than Pam Anderson.

Come on.. do we think Saabs need to be lowered down to this level? (or am I sounding like those Saab Enthusiast Club members who think that the only true Saab is a V4? )

Our credo ? Swedish Models Don't Need Plastic Surgery!

 

[Julian]

(or am I sounding like those Saab Enthusiast Club members who think that the only true Saab is a V4? )
 [/b]

Yes.

 

[john]

Originally posted by Mark(9KAbbott_Stg3    ):
[qb]Come on.. do we think Saabs need to be lowered down to this level? (or am I sounding like those Saab Enthusiast Club members who think that the only true Saab is a V4? )
[/qb][/b]

No, no, NO! They think the V4 is the height of automotive technology and a bit too new. The two-stroke is the only true Saab

 

[markcanderson]

quote:
(or am I sounding like those Saab Enthusiast Club members who think that the only true Saab is a V4? )
 
Yes.  

 [/b]

very cruel

 

[maartenvandorst]

OoRaven, for optical tuning a good start is a meshed grille. Look at this thread for info:
http://www.saabscene.co.uk/ubb/ultimatebb....c;f=13;t=000772

Best looking bodykit for a Saab consists of Viggen bumpers and sideskirts. It's pretty expensive though.

There's a less expensive frontspoiler for your Saab overhere:
http://www.saabcatalog.com/retail/catego...er%2D900&Page=1

Good luck tuning your car, but don't overdo it . The fact you're driving a Saab shows you've got more taste than your Honda friends. They are probably 'all show, no go' .

 

[markcanderson]

I mean do we want our Saabs to be identified along with these hideous creations ?

et cetera

 

[Julian]

Sorry, but I do get annoyed at the 'leave your Saab standard', 'can't improve on what the designers came up with' claptrap that appears on these boards from time to time (Mark - this is by no means a dig at you - you just happened to jog my memory on the subject

)

Anyhoo, I for one welcome modified Saabs, whether they be modified for performance, aesthetics or both - It's about time Saab owners left their pipe and slippers image faaar behind. If someone is willing to expend money, time and effort into getting their vehicle to look/go how they want then fine, go for it and show us the results. If the look you desire involves a huge body kit then go for it and why the hell not? (it's just a shame the aftermarket kits often look *****

) I personally might not like the results but hey, it's not my car and if we all had the same view the world would be a very dull place.

How many people here would still think a 900 Carlsson looks cool if the bodykit was an add on from some aftermarket tuning company and not fitted by Saab? All too often I meet people who refuse to acknowledge something looks good unless it's got a Saab part number on it - utter rubbish. I think my point (if there is one?!) is that Saabs, and most cars for that matter, are designed for Mr./Mrs Average - not too offensive (well, perhaps apart from the Ford Ka and Fiat Multipla) and, quite often, bland. They can be improved upon. If we take off our rose tinted driving goggles for a minute and look at a modern Saab they do not stand out as pinnacles of modern automotive aesthetic. They simply look 'nice', in the same way as Vectra man down the road thinks his SRi looks 'nice'.

Ey-up, I'm ranting now aren't I? Oops. Sorry. Anyhoo - stick a bodykit on your Saab if you want to and if you like the result then fantastic.

However, if you stick neon lighting under the sills you deserve to be shot (even I have standards )

 

[markcanderson]

okay fine thats one point of view.. i have another.. and clearly many 17 year olds out there with Civics, Novas and Escorts have another.

However, I've hardly ever seen any aftermarket body kits that 'enhance' the look of the base car.. except the Zender kit that used to be on E30 BMW 325is..

I'm all for modifing cars.. have no problem with it - but most of these aftermarket kits are bloody hideous.

As a generalisation (and it seems to be proved true) it's all about all show, no go. What is the point of that ?

A body kit is supposed to be about managing air-flow over a car's surfaces to get air where it needs to be , e.g. in the intercooler, brakes, to keep the rear stabalised under high-speed cornering.. how the heck can a 1.6litre Golf corner under the weight of all that **** , where a body kit would do that good?

Bonnet slats? - For getting hot air out of the engine bay (it's not a styling thing..)
M3 Mirrors ? - Cos an m3 has 320HP... and streamlined mirrors cuts down noise and reduces drag.
Rear Wing? - To introduce a drop effect on the rear to keep the rear planted under hard cornering.
Intercooler scoop ? - Just that ! to feed the intercooler.

What are these things doing on Civics or Corsas for crying out loud?

At least when I mod my car it *does* something. It either improves the road handling, or the performance, or the braking etc.. By all means add a body kit.. but at least have a car that can actually use it.

 

[markcanderson]

Sorry but I'm for sure in the plain old 'form following function' school of design asthetics.

 

[StanleyB]

I agree fully that the exterior of my SAAB 9-3 should be "eau naturel" (or whatever...) I have even turned down several good offers to have those 9-3 side skirts fitted.
I am now also considering whether my Viggen exhaust is a liability or not. Perhaps I am a bit paranoid, but I have had so many police cars (undercover and standard) following me since I bought my car, I just can't figure out why. I don't have criminal record other than foor speeding once, so I am getting a bit cheesed off now.

 

[Julian]

it's all about all show, no go. What is the point of that ?

 [/b]

Because that's what some people like. You don't agree (and neither do I on the whole) but that doesn't make it wrong. Not everyone wants to tear around in a 200bhp+ turbocharged Saab: not everyone wants a car to drive and handle like a racing car. Like I said, we all have different views and wanting your Saxo to look different to another Saxo is no more or no less valid that slapping an ECU upgrade on your 9-3. It is just a shame that, as you say, most (but not all) aftermarket kits look [expletive deleted] and most (but not all) 'Maxed' car owners have very little in the way of taste (the current trend seems to be fitting the biggest wheels you can on the smallest car you can find - the fact that the finished product looks more like a roller skate than a car doesn't seem to phase them, bless 'em).

Right, I'm off to give Veilside a ring to see if they can come up with a titanium/carbon fibre Jap style front end for me missus' Skoda

 

[Julian]

I have had so many police cars (undercover and standard) following me since I bought my car, I just can't figure out why.  [/b]

It's because you drive on the pavement

 

[Eric van Spelde]

I think my point (if there is one?!) is that Saabs, and most cars for that matter, are designed for Mr./Mrs Average - not too offensive (well, perhaps apart from the Ford Ka and Fiat Multipla) and, quite often, bland.  [/b]

 

[markcanderson]

hmmm..

I own a Fiat Saab and a GM Saab.. so yaaboo sucks to you Eric

 

[Eric van Spelde]

 The Aero/Viggen body kit was designed by Ian Callum (of Aston Martin DB7, Vantage, Jaguar S and XJ fame)[/b]

So that's where the TWR development funds went, then?

But I agree, it looks brilliant - I'd rather have the Viggen Rescue Kit, though...

 

[maartenvandorst]

An old car with a big stereo, meshed grille, twin tailpipe and bigger wheels than stock

Rice alert!!!!

 

[Eric van Spelde]

hmmm..

I own a Fiat Saab and a GM Saab.. so yaaboo sucks to you Eric[/b]

For which there's no proper excuse anyways except for the fact that they're a bit more reliable...

[yes, you know you want a nice and shiny T16S more than anything else, come to the dark side my friend, muhahahaaa...]