Posts: 43
Joined: 11/15/2003 From: United States Status: offline
I think you should get a saturn or a civic or something. The Saleen is way too much power for a 16 year old kid. I just purchased an 01 Saleen S281 SC, and its too much power for me, and I'm 25. Besides, you'll pay more in insurance than you will for the car. Also, the new S281 SC will cost you almost 43 K out the door. If your dad is a truck driver, you WILL NOT be able to afford it. Even if you financed it at 60 mo. your monthly payments will be 700-750 a month. Your insurance will be about 300-400 a month, and your fuel cost will run you about 100 bucks a month. you do the math. 1100-1250 bucks a month. You still want one? Didn't think so.
Another thing. I've been driving for almost ten years now. And I've never had a ticket. I've had my saleen for one week, and was pulled over the other day for the first time in my life. The saleen sticks out like a SORE thumb, and being 16 years old behind the wheel? You'll have your license revoked withing six months of owning the damn thing.
I suggest you wait a few years. Your time will come. And also, if you do get a Saleen, get an S281 SC. The non SC version is NOT that quick. The SC version stock will beat, if not come close to, a stock 03 cobra.
The 04 Saleen s281 SC comes with 375 HP/415 lb. ft. torq. The 03 Cobra has 390HP/390 lb. ft. of torq. My point is.....HP sells cars, but torque wins races.
My 01 Saleen (#36/only one of its kind) has a few mods: 3:73 gears, MAC cold air induction, Pro 5.0 shifter, Bassani hi-flow cats. (x-pipe), and Borla cat back exhaust. I beat an 03 Cobra the other day. But only by a half to 3/4 a car length. Not too much of a difference. My guess is it was due to my lower gears.
01Saleen, they had a used (550mi) 02 S281E in beryllium clearcoat. Pics are posted in these forums. Prior to buying this, I owned (and am now selling) an 01 S281 that i put a procharger on. This new 02 is quite a car. It has a series V Lysholm twin screw blower- unbelievable hp band. it makes 11-12 lbs of boost, stock. I wanted the built motor Saleen puts in the E car as well. E's are equiped with every saleen option, which is nice, but they are a little pricey. If you can get a decent deal on one its worth it, otherwise not. I do like this car, though- its a lot more car than the 01. The 6 speed is sweet, the max grip differential is awesome, and the front brake calipers are capable of putting an unbelted passenger through the windshield.
Posts: 43
Joined: 11/15/2003 From: United States Status: offline
Ive seen the beryllium color it is very sweet. Check out: http://www.fast-autos.net/saleen/saleens281e.html----- that one is an 01, but pretty much the same. I love that color. If I could have afforded an extreme, then I would have bought one. But since I only had to travel 10 miles to get mine, and they paid off my loan on my trade, Im happy. mine is pretty fast, too fast for me. Do you have any idea how many horses Im running??? See the bottom for the mods.
tell me your max boost, then i could get close. Let's assume your boost is stock (around 8), maybe less. Then you're probably around 350 @ the wheels. If you are making 12 psi, then id say 400+
If you're going to spend the money, may as well get a new Cobra. I consume Saleens on a regular basis. Dont get me wrong, they look nice but for money, just get a new Cobra and Saleen-ize it with suspension and appearance mods. I only have $1000 or so in mods and kill most anything on the road from Z06's to S351's. I'd like to kill a Viper but they never want to play. So far, approximately $1000 in mods has netted me roughly 450+ rwhp and similar amounts of torque. Not bad for a few bolt-ons. Suspension and Saleen body kit (including wheels) are scheduled for next year or so. For now, it's just HP mods.
Good luck and be careful about Saleen customer service.
Posts: 43
Joined: 11/15/2003 From: United States Status: offline
Sounds like you have a nice ride pyrro. For me, the nostalgia behind the Saleen is very appealing. There are way to many cops around where I live to be racing any way. Mine is pretty quick enough, not as fast as yours, but its probably faster than most peoples cars. I especially like smoking ricers.
I think the Saleen fits my "overall" needs the best. But if time and money permitts, a new cobra might be in the works for me too.
Posts: 43
Joined: 11/15/2003 From: United States Status: offline
Birdie, tell me the engine horse power, its easier for me to understand the numbers. I know the rwhp is always less, but i want to know the engine hp, so that i can compare with other cars (enging hp wise).
Lets assume i dont have the smaller pully, and my boost is 8 psi, what would the hp be?
Lets assume i DO have the smaller pully, and my boost is approx 10 psi, what would be the hp?
FYI, the max boost for the series II root, is 12psi. Did you figure in the other mods I have done also?
...01Saleen, yes i did figure your other mods. The only real "mods" that your car has vs a stock 01sc are the gears and the x pipe. Those will equate to around 20ish rear wheel hp. The gears obviously don't add hp, but on a dyno the gears will equate to more hp at the wheels. You can typicaly give 15% for rear wheel hp vs hp at the flywheel as a difference. -So if your car @ 8psi makes 385 hp to the flywheel, it makes around 330ish to the wheels, + or -. -And yes i knew series 2 blowers made 12 psi max. Did you know the 03'scs and up got a series 4 screw blower instead of the roots? Much better unit. Go see how much boost your making...
01Saleen, sorry, i forgot the cold air. It probably gives you another 5-10 at rpm, so add that on. You have a series 2 (no more roman numerals) roots. the 03's and up have a series 4 screw. the E has a series 5 screw.
Jeff, on the dyno the gears will help the tourque some. Yes, figure about 380-90 at the fly- unless you're running more boost. -And its highly possible you're only making 6, at your altitude
01Saleen, I don't know the diameter of your pully. Call Saleen tech, and they'll tell you. Yes, the alt. makes sa huge difference in Provo; just wait till it sees sea level- Ooo lala! Then i bet you'll want to change the gears.
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Saleeeeeeeen RULES!!!!!! - 
