... at least, for sporting handling. Underneath, most of it comes from the Opel Vectra, a far more modest machine than the Saab pretends to be. IMO Abbott Racing's website is spot on in their assessment of the various Saab models. If it's gotta be newer and more refined than a c900 but you don't want to spend the cash on a 9-5, I would look at a 2.3 liter 9000T model.

Mind you, the gearbox on a Classic 900 _is_ a weak point, but those who overshoot its limits either by way of too much torque or their driving style are likely to have taken the car out of its engineering limits in other respects IMO. Damien Shulock takes his ca. 275 hp SPG -which is sensibly engineered in all respects- to track events on a regualr basis, seeing off things like '90s 911's and Audi S4's on many occasions, all that with a stock gearbox. I really doubt you can do the same with an NG 900 on a similar budget even though the -drivetrain- can take far more poer/torque: the suspension layout just is not up to it. See: the '89 Opel Vectra on which it was based was never meant to work with anything more than a 2.0 liter 16v NA engine -even the comparatively gutless 2.5 V6 was something of an afterthought. The 9-3 saw many worthwhile improvements, but dropping in a 2.3 high output turbo engine (Viggen) highlighted its basic shortcomings. Now why would you want 300-something hp with a chassis which is seriously overwhelmed even with 225? Of course, there is Abbott's Viggen Rescue Kit which pretty much sorts out a stock Viggen (and IIRC all the items can be used on the NG 900), but when you start adding more power, everything starts all over again...

The bottom line: even though the c900 gearbox design is responsible for drivetrain losses in the 20-23% range and put a limit on how much torque you can put through the front wheels in the long run, as a base for something truly sporting I'd take it over a NG any day because of its rock solid suspension design.

posted by 213.117.0....

• NG900 Transmission...better than 900C?, Jay Hassinger, Sun, 6 Jan 2002 15:17:05
  • Re: NG900 Transmission...better than 900C?, ckpaden, Sun, 6 Jan 2002 19:35:23
  • I have both a C900 SPG and an NG900, '97 Talladega, Talladega900, Sun, 6 Jan 2002 16:25:03
    • Re: I have both a C900 SPG and an NG900, '97 Talladega, ckpaden, Sun, 6 Jan 2002 19:44:05
  • Re: Yes... but suspension layout is worse..., Eric van Spelde, Sun, 6 Jan 2002 16:09:16 <-- Viewing This Message
    • Re: Yes... but suspension layout is worse..., Kevin K , Sun, 6 Jan 2002 18:43:39
    • Re: Yes... but suspension layout is worse..., Jay Hassinger, Sun, 6 Jan 2002 17:21:58
    • ...and coz the NG looks like dog's breakfast! :) n/m, Vince T, Sun, 6 Jan 2002 16:42:02
      • If this is dog breakfast, Jay Hassinger, Sun, 6 Jan 2002 17:17:13
        • Jay, where did you get the rear upper spoiler at? n/m, Todd , Mon, 7 Jan 2002 11:52:46
          • That's not my car!, Jay Hassinger, Mon, 7 Jan 2002 11:58:15
        • Beautiful car - I say go for it! n/m, SteveY, Mon, 7 Jan 2002 11:03:12
        • Re: If this is dog breakfast, Vince T, Sun, 6 Jan 2002 20:31:34
          • That is the rumor..280hp awd. n/m, ckpaden, Mon, 7 Jan 2002 11:26:45
            • dude! no longer rumour..., Vince T, Mon, 7 Jan 2002 12:24:21
              • Re: dude! no longer rumour..., ckpaden, Mon, 7 Jan 2002 15:43:22
        • Haave you thought of >, StanleyB, Sun, 6 Jan 2002 17:44:33

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