[Big Steve 06]

And in the hands of the only mechanic you've ever trusted her with

 

[blackvanman]

I used to do all of my own mechanics myself but work you can do today is getting limited. But to be fair cars are also much more reliable, but upgrading turbos etc will always be the way forward for us diehards. Lucky you have a good mechanic on hand though.

 

[Big Steve 06]

I'm no mechanic, I did change the speedo dials, fitted xtrons head unit, front grille. Bought the car 13 yrs ago totally standard with 22000 onc one owner, at 70000 now and been modified past 4 yrs, definitely find yourself a mechanic you trust, my mechanic smiles every time I walk in the door as he has a vested interest in it, looks sad as I drive away 😁

 

[blackvanman]

My van was mostly modified in exactly the way I would have gone myself and with credit to the to the guy who did the job it has been 100% reliable. I have done some 18k in 16 months and all I have done is oil and filter changes every 5k and all other filters. I did the head unit as well as it came with a sat nav, then added reversing camera and sensors, then added DAB and will soon be adding a tyre pressure monitoring system. But the one thing I have done which has impressed me the most is adding a pair of Saab 95 Aero HOT seats, heated and electricaly operated. They are the most comfortable seats I have ever found, suffering from a bad back I found Recaros way to firm and grossly overated in terms of distance driving where these Saab seats are so soft yet a match in bolster support for a bit of play come the twisty bits.
Yet Saab seats are pennies compared to Recaros are virtualy a straight swap and the wiring is no big deal either. Leather match to similar GM cars is very good so fitting just front seats they do not look odd, mine were £120 but leather heated Recaros were £650 plus.
Another mod worth every penny is a Whiteline rear sway bar, they are expensive for what they are but the improvement in handling is astounding, roundabouts can be taken at speeds previously unimagineable, the car or van in my case just corners like its on rails. With Bilsteins and Sportline springs its the best handling fwd vehicle I have owned, despite the diesel 1.9 CDTI engine and box being a heavy combination.

 

[Prt]

My van was mostly modified in exactly the way I would have gone myself and with credit to the to the guy who did the job it has been 100% reliable. I have done some 18k in 16 months and all I have done is oil and filter changes every 5k and all other filters. I did the head unit as well as it came with a sat nav, then added reversing camera and sensors, then added DAB and will soon be adding a tyre pressure monitoring system. But the one thing I have done which has impressed me the most is adding a pair of Saab 95 Aero HOT seats, heated and electricaly operated. They are the most comfortable seats I have ever found, suffering from a bad back I found Recaros way to firm and grossly overated in terms of distance driving where these Saab seats are so soft yet a match in bolster support for a bit of play come the twisty bits.
Yet Saab seats are pennies compared to Recaros are virtualy a straight swap and the wiring is no big deal either. Leather match to similar GM cars is very good so fitting just front seats they do not look odd, mine were £120 but leather heated Recaros were £650 plus.
Another mod worth every penny is a Whiteline rear sway bar, they are expensive for what they are but the improvement in handling is astounding, roundabouts can be taken at speeds previously unimagineable, the car or van in my case just corners like its on rails. With Bilsteins and Sportline springs its the best handling fwd vehicle I have owned, despite the diesel 1.9 CDTI engine and box being a heavy combination.

Can you give me more info about saab seats? I have astra 3 doors and where i live seats for him are in worse condition than my and cost more than my car. What about the airbags? Saab have it as well?

 

[Big Steve 06]

Non saab reply, i have heated leather seats which is standard on the sri, sports refiment injection, fitted seat covers which the heat comes through 🙂

 

[Prt]

Non saab reply, i have heated leather seats which is standard on the sri, sports refiment injection, fitted seat covers which the heat comes through 🙂

but you have also 5 doors car
5 doors lets say is more easy to ... problem is 3 doors seats..

 

[blackvanman]

Saabs are based on shared platforms and many parts from a surprising no of cars fit others and one such easy swap is 95 Saab seats into the Astra G and H. Im told that 93 seats also fit but cannot confirm myself. The seats used by me were from a 2004 95 aero HOT and both electricaly moved and heated, but later years also had a cooling option but I have never found them secondhand. They simply bolt in as a direct swap but most be raised by 20mm at the rear or the motors for movement drag on the carpet and disconnect the wiring. The Astra seat belt stalks and pretensioners are reused on the Saab seats but need a slight fold added to fit but otherwise its a straight forward nuts and bolts change. Electrics underneath the seat are plug and play as far as the pretensioners go, as you are using the same parts. Air bags I do not know. The heated seats are another easy fix using connectors off of the Astra at one end and Saab at the other. The electrical supply for the seat motors was taken from the cigarette lighter and with a little easy rewiring is quite straight forward.

 

[blackvanman]

Saab 93 convertables are 3 door cars

 

[Prt]

Saab 93 convertables are 3 door cars

Iam already searching around me. 🤣
Im just a bit scare they looks not have airbags

 

[blackvanman]

You have not said which car/model you intend these seats to fit, but Saab are safety mad and would expect convertables to have even more airbags. But check they are compatable maybe in the Saab forums.

 

[Prt]

You have not said which car/model you intend these seats to fit, but Saab are safety mad and would expect convertables to have even more airbags. But check they are compatable maybe in the Saab forums.

I have a astra H gtc 3 doors my seat tilt thats why i was looking for saab convertible. But opel seats have side airbags ones i saw from saab 93 no. Its possible you send me pictures off yours?

 

[blackvanman]

My 95 seats do have airbags but im guessing side impact ones which I have left disconnected as were the last seats from a twintop fitted to my Astravan H.

 

[Prt]

My 95 seats do have airbags but im guessing side impact ones which I have left disconnected as were the last seats from a twintop fitted to my Astravan H.

yes side impact.. and you Think is possible to connect them?

 

[blackvanman]

I have no knowledge of an airbag system, but logic would suggest that a company like GM the then owners of both Saab and Vauxhall at the time would be unlikely to vary too much. But I do stress check at least a crash damage specialist for advice as its expensive if things go wrong in the workshop and potentialy lethal on the road.