93 185bhp vs 150bhp which is which!

[barryof]

I'm interested in buying a pre-2003 93 - ie: the hatch. I believe theres two versions a 150bhp and a 185bhp.

How can I tell which is which? From what I've seen, most of the 2002 Anniversary editions are 185 but I might be wrong here. Is there any way of telling just from the edition etc?

Also, I'm presuming the 150 is the lpt and the 185 is the HOT?

Finally, i drive an Octavia RS (180bhp) at present and find kind of power great - anyone feel that the 185bhp 93 is a better bet over the 150?

Cheers,
Baz

[rrsaab]

the 185hp is a 2.0 turbo,the 150 horse is a 2.3 non-asprated ,they say it right on the valve cover. go with the turbo

[Jeremy R.]

In Europe there was a lower horsepower turbocharged 9-3, the LPT. In the US we only had two engines, the 185hp turbo and the 205hp HOT. There was also the Viggen, but that's another story.

[barryof]

Ah, right well I've defo seen 2.0L turbos that are 150bhp over here in Ireland and recently I'm starting to see more 2.0L turbos that are 185bhp! So realistically theres no way of telling from the edition (ie: SE, Anniversary etc) which it is?

[Dommett]

I'm no expert, but 9-3 in UK came with either 2.0 normally aspirated but I think that was dropped for later cars, which either had a 2.0t (150bhp light pressure turbo) and the 2.0T 185bhp Turbo, as well as the 2.3T in the Viggen only.

A way to tell is if it has a turbo gauge in the instrument panel, it's a 2.0T (185bhp) otherwise it's a 2.0t (150bhp).

Depends on how you'll drive it, I test drove the 150bhp and found it adequate. I think it's only when pushing hard the 185 has a bit more to give, whereas the 150 goes flat, but up to that they are similar.

[petrolhead]

Well I have both these cars.

The 150bhp feels more potent at town speeds but runs out of puff very quickly (different turbo). The 185 has more life after 4000 revs. If you like torque steer buy the 185...

Do you want to mod the car?

[barryof]

Some good advice there folks. I like the 'look for the turbo gauge' in the control panel bit. Theres quite a few on the market second hand here and its often really difficult to tell from the descriptions the garages put on them, whats what.

I like the sound of the 185, but is it a tyre killer? Anyone got any recommendations there?

Not sure if I'd want to mod it or not - presume a ECU remap is an option?

[coolman1987us]

Originally Posted by rrsaab

the 185hp is a 2.0 turbo,the 150 horse is a 2.3 non-asprated ,they say it right on the valve cover. go with the turbo

Naturally Aspirated

[Dommett]

I have done 7000 miles on some not new Pirelli P6000 and they're still going, I'm not adverse to a squeeling from the tyres from time to time when pulling away (well, a chirping, I dont sit there smokin' them!). I would guess 12k is easily acheivable driving normally.

So I dont find it a problem, and I dont have traction control.
My old Volvo S40 T4 used to eat them quicker with traction control, just could spin the wheels in third at 40.