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I mentioned all this in the other thread, but this TAQ upgrade limits 1st gear to about 10 PSI, but 2nd is near max boost, at maybe 17 or 18. My stock unit was near max in 2nd too, maybe 13 PSI, despite references here and elsewhere that 2nd gear is severely limited. The last three geats let it all hang out at 19-20 with 93-octane gas. Zeke reported that he got 21 PSI with this same TAQ ECU using Sunoco 94.
I agree with Sully that stop-light-to-stop-light drags aren't the Saab turbo's niche, and I won't do them for that reason and to show mercy on my tranny. But a 2nd- or 3rd-gear roll-on is a real rush, and the car with this upgrade is going to be very hard to beat from that point on up.
The more I drive with the 3" system, the more I like it. It doesn't intrude at highway speeds with windows up, but is pleasantly throaty at idle and on acceleration with windows down. IMHO, a high-performance car should sound like one, unless you're going for the maximum stealth factor. I have not noticed the droning I experienced before with the stock system sans resonator, which is a good thing. I will have to muster some restraint, even more than before, when opportunities arise to demonstrate the car's prowress. An M3 beside me on the I-10 will be impossible for me to ignore now. I just hope John Law and heavy traffic are somewhere else at that time.
As I said before, drivability is flawless and economy seems to be at least as good. It pleases me greatly getting this much performance gain without seeing fuel economy suffer. In two days of driving, I'm seeing 26.5 mpg in suburban driving, which is in the upper range of what I had before the upgrade. I previously saw 25-27 mpg in the same conditions, which is the best of the five Saabs I've owned.
I'm not a prolific spender when it comes to this type of thing, and I'm out about $1600 with this upgrade:
ECU: $750
DP: 200
Muffler and cat: $225
Installation: 380
But at this point I think it is worth it for the performance increase, but if I had it to do again I would probably buy a ready-made 3" exhaust system, reportedly at around $500-600, and install it myself. This I think would save about $300.
posted by 68.11.185...
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