The away trip with the dodgy internet connection continues….
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The ruling Swedish government aren’t doing a whole lot to push the Saab-Koenigsegg deal at present, and Di.se report that the 22-member government ministry aren’t fond of Saabs on a personal level, either.
That goes for Volvos, too.
The Swedish Wire provides the news in English:
The Swedish government struggle to get the crisis-hit auto industry back on the road. But on a more personal level the commitment to support the local brands is somewhat shoddier.
Out of Sweden’s 22 cabinet ministers only three drives a Volvo or a Saab, business daily Dagens Industri writes.
Göran Hägglund, Minister of Health and Social Affairs, drives a Volvo V70 and Eskil Erlandsson, Minister for Agriculture, ownes a Volvo S80. Minister for Development Assistance Gunilla Carlsson is the only minister that drives a Saab.
Good to see a Carlsson in a Saab.
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Al Aero’s Trollhattan adventure continues, with the following seen in the Saab factory carpark.
It’s a little bit modified compared to standard, but absolutely magnificent. My dream Saab!
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The article by Ezra Dyer on GM’s sale of Saab, which I referred to via a scan a few days ago, is now online. It’s a satirical piece with Dyer writing from a self-depricating GM’s point of view.
While [Volvo] were rolling out a modern SUV and all-wheel-drive, turbocharged R models, I was busy killing Oldsmobile and wondering if a Saab grille would fit on a Chevy TrailBlazer. (You don’t even want to know about the badge-engineered Saabs that I didn’t build. Let’s just say that Pontiac Aztek tooling was available.)
Recommended reading.
Thanks Roger!
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I didn’t know Koenigsegg had a previous tie-in with BSR, who make the excellent PPC tuning module that’s popular amongst Saab owners.
The Koenigsegg transaction does make me fear a little for Hirsch as Saab’s factory tuners, but then again Hirsch do offer a lot more than just tuning upgrades.
Thanks Martin!
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The Ashes
All of you not from cricket playing nations, feel free to tune out now…..
I love test cricket. The 5-day game is the purest form of the sport and I curse the ADHD-afflicted munchkin who invented 20-20, which might just prove to be the demise of the gentleman’s game as we know it.
But for now, another Ashes series has begun. It’s lunch on day 1 as I write this and whilst I won’t post on the series again (probably), here’s just a few observations from the opening of the latest edition of one of the greatest rivalries in sport:
- That funny looking Welshman singing the Welsh national anthem had a fine set of lungs!
- Didn’t anyone tell the Welsh that cricket is traditionally played on an oval?
- It feels pretty good to have three Englishmen back in the sheds by lunch.
- Why are the commentators only referring to the 2005 series? It’s as if the 06/07 series never happened!
- I believe former Saab mechanic, Matt the fudgepacker, is back in Wales on holiday. I hope you’re at the ground, Matt, and if so then I expect a streak!
- Good luck to Ben Hilfenhaus, the second Tasmanian in the Aussie lineup for this test (and already rewarded with the first wicket of the match.)
Aussie Aussie Aussie! Oi Oi Oi!!
Related posts:
{ 19 comments }
Magnificent looking 99 Tubro!! btw, I happen to have a pic of 99 T on my mastercard. Gotta love that car.
BSR Koenigsegg sounds promising. Nothing against Hirsch though, but who could´ve resist to have Official Koenigsegg – software for their Saab?
The ruling Swedish Government made Volvo the official car of the EU during their six-month presidency which starts Wednesday. And, semi-offical car of the Copenhagen Climate summit.
(I am now following Volvo just to see what the Swedish Government may or may not do regarding Saab)
Gunilla Carlsson, tack för ert stöd ie. thanks for your support. (I sure HOPE thats what it says!)
Gunilla for PM!
For me the BSR-Koenigsegg link is proof that BSR knows what they are doing. Nice feeling, 1 week into my Stage 1…
Zippy.. Correct. even though “Ert” is formal and feels kinda old. “ditt” wich is a less formal “your” feels more apropriate in the less formal country of Sweden.
Sweden.. The land of “Lagom” and milk between low-fat and wholemilk.. ie Mellanmjölk.. “in betweenmilk.. Lagommjölk”
I would never use a BSR program in my car, based on what we know about their programs and the shortcuts they are making to reach desierd power output. Lowering knock sensitivity etc…
What a fantastic satire that piece of write was!
Daniel: Really? Is this from a first hand/ second hand informer?
Daniel P – I know a very satisfied ‘someone’ who has now done about 80,000 hard km (50,000miles) on BSR tunes without incident. Who’s the ‘we’ you are are referring to? Are you comfortable elaborating on your knowledge? Maybe you would also like to nominate which ‘team’ you are on, I presume you are not a SAAB factory tuner…
Geez, having been a BSR user myself for about 50 K without a glitch I wonder who’s giving Daniel such advice. I did though receive these kinds of rhetoric from the Talafeiro crowd at some point suggesting that a full ECU swap was by far better. I only know just another X owner locally who’s already carrying a BSR upgrade in his own X and he is delighted with it. I am very likely to head the same way if there is no clarity on the future of Hirsch access in OZ. So, the comments from Daniel are very strange and unfounded as BSR has been tuning the Ks for many years back. At least 4-5 !!!
Swade
06/07 was cancelled in England due to lack of interest. Today was to Oz by a whisker, I think (dammit)
I agree w/Turbin and Joe Lobo.
I have only good things to say about BSR. I had the PPC for my ’06 9-3 Aero SportCombi and it transformed the car. Easily the fastest Saab I’ve driven. The folks I sold it to have not had any issues as they’ve put some miles on it.
On my current daily driver (’08 9-5 Aero), the BSR unit did not have the same night/day effect because stock the 2.3T is a H.O.T. whereas the 2.8T was definitely what I’d consider a light-pressure turbo.
That’s not to say it isn’t worth the upgrade. It is a hoot, and still returns econocar fuel economy. At 8000 miles my 9-5 is still a baby, but no reflash-related issues as of yet.
The Swedish Wire link has several interesting Saab posts.
SAABS United has many more though
When I first came across BSR, I heard similar stories to the one Daniel mentions; that they good good output by pushing the boundaries a little too far.
Balancing that, though, is the fact that I’ve never heard a bad word about BSR’s tuning from anyone who’s got the tune. No problems and 100% satisfaction from everyone I know.
I don’t know enough technical stuff to understand what they do and whether it presents any danger, but those customer stories are pretty convincing.
This is another very valid point from Peter especially to owners of V6s that claim the fuel economy is not too flash. From my experience the BSR U/G not only gives plenty of additional power, extra KW, New/M etc etc but it also incereases fuel economy. No surprise in this department as you will only press 1/8 of the accelarator whereas before you were on 1/4. If you do not modify your driving habits you’ll be destined to spend a lot more in speeding fines and a potential loss of your drivers license on top !!!
There was some problems with 2.3T (Viggen) engines and BSR software. At least few gyus on finnish Saab forum complained about the software running too lean etc.
I´ve have only good experience with their software. I had BSR tune in our ´06 1.8t SC. It made the engine totally different. Better to drive and more free feeling than 2.0T stock. Just pure excellence and highly recommended anyone who´s driving 1.8t / 2.0t.
Forget about what Daniel says regarding BSR !
He just talks against better knowledge !
We need facts: When was this happening, exact problem, engine type and mileage, car ID and overall condition ect..
Did he get problem solved, how deep was BSR involved in upgrading the car. BSR comments..
Maybe he’s just a type of customer with a car that they better not serve !
BSR’s policies and warranty items is second to none. They are very quick indeed to respond to changing proposals regarding fix’es in software.
I have had 4 Aero’s BSR’ed over time with a total of approx 400K Km, and absolutely no major problems what so ever !
I had a minor incident with a gear shifting pattern (A5)(torque / pressure drop at kick down) but no problem, BSR made a fix in software for my PPC. After a reload, -problem solved within a week!
I can only recommend BSR, and if Kegg can, you can deal with them too
9-3 Aero -02 (B205R) has done some knocking
http://www1.garaget.org/archive/55/54571/48830/48830-1364394.jpg
This wasnt it, 2 pistons had some nice crack on the sides and the little piece that piston left, took its way trough the turbo and down to the cat..
And when we took a little peak in the box, we found this:
http://forumbilder.se/show.aspx?iid=07200992313PMe98b
Also found that the Ign was 3 degrees higher than another big swedish tuner…….
I’m not a tuning fan, but maybe people want to go a little bit too far, and BSR delivers what people ask for. If this was the 1st stage, then blame BSR, but if this is the 2nd or 3rd stage, well ….
I didn’t want to say anything about this
http://www.saabsunited.com/2009/07/death-of-an-aero.html
but looking at this picture
http://www.saabsunited.com/upload/images2009/07/death_of_an_aero/Kaylan9000-Engine-thumb-225×300-1847.jpg
it was the fate of this car.
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