Check for a complete service history, or as good as possible.
Rust isn't too bad on these cars, but check on the wheel arches, under the flares.
Don't use an MBC. The APC system is fairly advanced, and you'd just be taking away from the knock detection and engine protection. There are several way to cheaply tune the 9000 to 270+ hp.
You can do the easy* (it's all relative) tuning on cars that run Trionic 5, like the 96 Aero you're looking at. Search for threads that talk about T5 Suite. Its a DIY tuning program. There are some extra parts you need, but they are usually cheap.
No clue on the 89 9000 valve tapping.
As far as tuning the 89, yes anything is possible, but it's generally considered to be harder to tune the older Bosch LH cars. (Bosch LH and Trionic 5 are different engine management systems.) I'm not even sure what version the 89 9000 turbos use.
Tuning Trionic 5 is childs play* compared to DIY tuing of the older stuff, but there are fuel chips made that you can look into. Some tuners will actually retrofit Trionic 5 to the older cars (same basic engine) to make it easier to tune, but that's a big job for someone who may not be that experienced.
I actually just did a T5 Suite tune for my Aero... stage 2. It destroyed the clutch in about 4 hours, so I've been working on replacing it... actually just got it bolted back on, taking a break now, and I think it's about to thunder and pour down hard.
do you have any pics of the 96 Aero, or a link to an ad for it?
Is the Aero an auto or a manual? The autos don't respond well to heavy tuning.. they're quite fragile transmissions and can't handle a lot of torque. If it is an auto, at that milage it would have almost definitely been rebuilt at some point.. look out for that in the records if there are any. Also the autos, although nicely responsive, don't feel as fast as you'd expect in a straight line. On the upside, they're nice and smooth and still a pleasure to drive. Then again if it's a manual, go nuts!
That's good news then! There's nothing that special to look out for other than the usual stuff really. I found this site quite helpful when I was looking around for my Saab. Oddly, the backgrounds have vanished on some of the pages though so you have to highlight some text to see it as it's white-on-white.
If there's one thing I learnt when I was looking for my 9000, it's don't get too over-excited about a car before you see it I was disappointed too many times before I found the right one. But I've had mine for a month or so now and it's a completely awesome car, I have no complaints at all I really hope for you that this car turns out to be the one, so good luck!
And we all love pics, so make sure you get some for us!
I found this site quite helpful when I was looking around for my Saab. Oddly, the backgrounds have vanished on some of the pages though so you have to highlight some text to see it as it's white-on-white.
When I got it? After driving it, I drove it some more I always take the long way home now! As far as servicing stuff goes though, just a coolant and oil flush. I was lucky enough to get a very comprehensive service record with the car.. it had a full service done 2,000kms before I bought it so nothing major had to be done. From now though I'll probably be looking at a full service every 10k, a flush every 5k. As long as these cars have been looked after well, they can last for a very long time and are pretty bulletproof. Same as Volvos really! Mine has done 215,000kms (around 133k miles) and it drives almost like a new car.
That's just across the bay from here, Kaiteriteri beach. Just near the beginning of the Able Tasman national park, New Zealand. Just about as far away as you can get from anywhere. That's the way I like it.
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