You are browsing the archive for Saab 9-3 TTiD.

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by Rune

MapTun Stage 1 for the 9-3 1.9 TTiD — a quick review

February 3, 2013 in MapTun

Life starts with a turbo

Life starts with a turbo

Last October I was approached by Fredrik Åberg and asked to write a review of MapTun’s Stage 1 tuning kit for the diesel 9-3. Given the rumors last year of future NEVS 9-3s fitted with the diesel engine I thought it was an excellent idea to explore further.

There are three versions of the 1.9 TTiD engine: 130, 160 and 180 bhp. MapTun takes all of them all the way to 210 bhp.

The upgrade was easy enough. I hit a rough spot at first, but after Fredrik pointed me to an updated 64-bit device driver for MapTun’s USB device I was able to upload their engine map to Anna’s 9-3. We were finally all set.

My first impression was that it drove more like a Saab should. The difference between 130 bhp and MapTun’s 210 bhp is of course noticeable. The tendency to eat tyres in roundabouts and faster overtaking is most welcome. Sadly I only got one test run in before it became necessary to mount the studded winter tyres, so more detailed testing of acceleration will just have to wait. There is also the question of the engine’s running-in phase that might skew the results at this point. Read the rest of this entry →

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Avatar of Tompa

by Tompa

Ranting about the media v2.01…ah!

May 5, 2011 in Editorial

Attention please!  Nah, this is Not news. ;-)

It Is a reflection on the media and some of it´s auto and financial journalists.

At first I was going with a total rant about one journalist in particular that I feel often tend to drift to “Saab hatred” named Håkan Matson of Dagens Industri. But I wont do a full article about him.
I´ll give Håkan that he is sometimes right in his assessments and actually writes something worth pondering about at times. But at the same time he is sooo happy whenever given the chance to give his very biased and negative views on a Saab model. As an example his extremely distasteful report from the NYIAS some years ago when the 9-7X made it´s debut and on live television tried to make Fords Head of Design at the moment agree with him that the 9-7X was a crap car and was truly ugly. Of course he was told that “:-No I think it´s a great looking car and wish Saab all the best”. No matter that Håkan was right in a couple of things… The size of engines and engineering of the car was not true to Saabs philosophy of building cars… he still stood there heaving dirt on the Swedish industry.

The often understated 9-7X Read the rest of this entry →

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Avatar of Carl-Henrik

by Carl-Henrik

Teknikens Värld: BMW 3-series vs. Saab 9-3

April 14, 2011 in test drive

Photo: Andreas Libell - Teknikens Värld

Winning by a nose. Photo: Andreas Libell - Teknikens Värld

Here’s a reminder why Saab is worth fighting for.

The Swedish car-magazine Teknikens Värld recently tested the BMW 320d ED and Saab 9-3 1,9 TTiD. I would say that it’s a fair comparison between two good cars. They picked them since they’re both premium segment cars aimed at those who are looking for lower fuel consumption

In short, the Saab 9-3 outperformed and was priced better than the BMW, but the BMW wins over the Saab because it felt newer (even though they didn’t sample a Griffin).

If you want the long version, it’s after the break.

Read the rest of this entry →

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Avatar of Red J

by Red J

Mysterious “Green Car” in Jukkasjärvi

February 19, 2011 in News

Anna Andersson from automotorsport.se seems to have a great time in Jukkasjärvi driving the 9-5 on an ice lake under the supervision of Mr. Per Eklund.

This is one of those telephone calls to a reporter that automotorsport seems to do to grow the interest on the next edition of their magazine.

And so as a last question to her, after talking about the 9-4x Pär Brandt asks her, if she had seen something else over there.

This is the Googletrans of her answer.

Well, we have seen Saab’s new eco-car model. It will be an efficient diesel has a CO2 emissions below 120 g / km. But that should not I tell you, there is an embargo on the car until next week when they celebrate Independence Day in Trollhättan. But I can say as much as it is quite similar to another green car model but looks more spacious out …

Is this “green car” the 9-3SC? Or is she talking about a 9-5 SC, which looks more spacious than a V70?

We will know next week.

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Avatar of Red J

by Red J

Saab 9-3 TTiD SportCombi to get ‘Green Car’ status

February 18, 2011 in News

Moved back to the top – this is by far the most important story of the day. It’s going to impact Saab’s sales in a number of European markets in a huge way.

——

TTela.se has it black on white.

Yesterday on a customer event Kjell ac Bergstöm (Chief executive of Saab Powertrain) announced that during the Independence Day presentations Saab will introduce the 9-3 TTiD Sportscombi with an CO2 emission below the magic 120 g/km value.

They also say that the face-lifted 9-3 called Griffin (or Gripen in Swedish ??) will also be presented, but that is rather old news for a SaabsUnited reader. ;-)

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Avatar of Swade

by Swade

Saab 9-3 TTiD – Why 119g/km of CO2 matters

December 8, 2010 in News

If you’re living outside of Europe, then you might be wondering exactly what all the fuss is about when it comes to Saab’s new low-emissions TTiD engine range.

Comparing the Saab TTiD with its low-emissions competition shows that this new engine range has lefted Saab into a super-competitive position in the European market. There are few, if any vehicles that offer the similar amounts of space, power and low CO2 emissions as the 9-3 Sport Sedan fitted with one of these updated TTiD engines. And they’re close to getting the SportCombi under the 120g/km threshold, too.

So why does all this matter?

Fleet News have done a review of the Saab 9-3 TTiD Sport Sedan and their writeup spells it out nicely:

In addition to the twin turbos, Saab has reduced friction in the engine, added low rolling resistance tyres, lightened the car by replacing the sound deadening material, improved the aerodynamics and altered the gear ratios.

It means the Saab now circumvents first year VED and costs just £30 per year thereafter.

It also means 62.8mpg.

And it will be music to fleet users’ ears that the 9-3 has dropped below the all-important 120g/km threshold for the first time (except Aero models). With that comes BIK tax at 13%…..

….The 180bhp diesel engine is a real cracker and the 9-3 balances responsive handling with pothole-smothering comfort. Tall gearing means it settles at low engine speed on the motorway, nice and quiet….

[The gearchange] and a cabin that’s starting to look its age now are the only real gripes; the 9-3 isn’t a benchmark car in any area, but nor does it feel a generation behind any more.

Verdict

In a nutshell, the 9-3 diesel is better and cheaper than it was before – and you can’t really ask much more than that.

Recommended reading.

–

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Avatar of Swade

by Swade

Saab 9-3 TTiD owner review

March 25, 2008 in Archive

I’m pleased to be able to present this review, sent in by Stefan in Belgium.
I have very, very fond memories of the Swedish highway system thanks to a Saab 9-3 TTiD, one of which is Par Brandt from Auto Motor and Sport looking over and saying “we don’t overtake like that here…” :-)
As I found out last July, the TTiD is one buttkicker of an engine. Stefan is finding that out himself right now!
Click any photos to enlarge.
——
In 2006 I bought my first Saab. A Chili Red 9-3 TiD (150 bhp) Vector Sport (with Aero trim). I loved the car but it lacked some power so I had it Hirsched. Unfortunately I totaled the car a month or two ago (very short story: I turned left and didn’t see the other car and got hit in the passenger side. Nobody got hurt, but my car was a total loss)
Saab TTiDLuckily I had ordered a 2008 9-3 Aero TTiD. Here in Belgium, you can only get the TTiD in Aero trim. Since I was used to the 175 bhp from my Hirsched 2006 9-3SS, this was the only choice.. And let me tell you, it’s a good choice!
It’s Jet Black with the brushed aluminum side mirrors, 18″ wheels, Black Premium Leather Seats, Navigation, BlueTooth, 300w Bose and some more. Since I make about 45000km/year with my car I decided to drive them in comfort and style.
This car is unbelievable! It drives like a 6 cylinder. It pulls from 1500rpm and doesn’t stop… It just keeps on going. The overtaking power is enormous.
Saab TTiD
Some may consider getting a Hirsched TiD but let me tell you, the TTiD is in a whole other league! The Hirsched TiD has some turbo lag, but the TTiD engine responds immediately if you push the throttle. No turbo-lag. Remember the sketch of an exhilarated driver Saab made a few years ago? That’s the feeling you get when you floor the throttle on this car…
Every minute I’m not driving it is a minute lost.
In the two weeks I’ve had the car, I’ve driven about 2500km. The changes they made are incredible. It’s much quieter, less wind and tire/tyre noise, no rattles or squeaks AT ALL! The steering feels a little more direct than the 2006 model. The suspension is great. The 2008 Aero sport suspension with 18″ wheels is more comfortable than the 2006 Aero sport suspension with 17″ wheels.
Saab TTiDI love the new interior. It’s very clean and organized. While waiting for my new car, I drove my parents BMW 525D and I hated the interior: Too many small buttons, too many places to get your information. I spent more time looking which button to push than looking through my windshield.
At first I (as many) was a bit skeptical about the new interior, but it’s great. I even love the “batwing” steering wheel. Also the interior is a lot better put together than my previous car. The dual exhaust makes a very nice sound. You can hear it growl for more.
The only downside about the car is that it’s not possible to get XWD on a diesel engine. I would’ve bought it in a heartbeat. I would love to have 400Nm and 180 bhp on 4 wheels and I know I’m not the only one. It would definitely sell in Europe. Hopefully Saab is clever enough to make it available in the near future.
If you get a chance, go and test drive this car…
Saab TTiD

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