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1.) Yes, it will make for a happier and longer low maintenance relationship if you keep boost to a minimum until the car is warm (out of the blue on the temp gauge). On the other side of operation, doesn't hurt to let the car run for a little bit prior to shutdown (especially if driven hard). Also, remember to run the correct oil in the car. Your spec should specify a synthetic blend or full synthetic oil fo rthe car. Given your previous fleet I suspect you are keen on self maintaining an the type of lube
2.) Second gear will probably be a little notchy even with the MTF swap (it helps but doesn't eliminate). I would do the fluid upgrade even if your dealer will not cover under warranty as it is not too expensive and typically yields great results. It was one of the best things I've done for my 9-3... Then, if you still have any weird voodoo you have a firmer foundation to stand on (no other options aside from rebuild kit). Not too sure what you mean with the whole clutch in thing. The clutch in my 9-3 does seems to have a higher release point thatn my wife's Accord, but otherwise feels pretty normal. Provide a bit more detail and I will try to throw my two cents in.
3.) Higher octane will yield better performance except in the winter where the lower is easier to ignite in colder temps. Engine knock will also be reduced as you go up in octane level too. Given the marginal difference in price I would run the 92-93 octane even if the 90 is rated as acceptable. There were several threads back in the winter about octane, might try searching for those to get more thoughts/opinions/details.
4.) I haven't used my fold down seat in a while so I'm going from memory here... It sounds like the latch mechanism might be stuck. Have the dealer peek at it and if they report no trouble, have them offer a tour on how they got it to work. Remember to remove the headrests before laying it down too.
5.) Driving with boots can be a challenge in the winter. My feet are not huge (size 11) but boots definitely crowd the pedals. Be prepared to use your whole leg to shift and not just the foot & ankle. I've found that with boots on it is really easy to snag pedals if you try to shift like you do with normal shoes, moving just your foot & ankle. Also move the seat back a tad to facilitate the extra movement.
5.5.) Winter tires are recommended if you receive a good amount of snow. The car is wonderful in the snow with the fat amount of torque available at low rpms, it is easy to scoot around in. I had fantastic results even with my summer fun Bridestone RE730 GII tires this past winter in a 6" blitz we had one day, a good testament to the right combination of the engine, chassis and gearbox. Search previous threads on Nokian, Pirelli, or Vredestein for a zillion discussions on winter tires. The TireRack sells nice packages with steels/hubcaps/tires at reasonable prices (http://www.tirerack.com). You can also haunt the classifieds here at SAABNET for deals on rims/tires.
6.) MBC=Manual Boost Controller, such as a Dawes. Check it out at: http://www.dawesdevices.com A MBC basically allows for boost to spool up quicker, probably one of the best low $$$ upgrades a T5 equipped SAAB can get. A bit more complicated on a T7 equipped car as you have to run MBCs in a series. If you have a T7 ECU, search for discussions from Dean. He has a great deal of knowledge in general and offers good input for combining a T7 with a MBC.
Hope my two cents help. As noted, post more detail on the clutch and I can try to offer some insight on that.
Glad you like your SAAB and I hope you have a great time with it like I have with mine!
posted by 68.32.9...
, Mon, 28 Jul 2003 12:08:45
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