Had the pleasure of driving the company Saab a good 80 miles+ this morning!

As nice a car as it is (plush leather, all the tricks) I can't help but dislike the engine. We were running late so I was encouraged by my boss to give it some stick whilst she did some work in the back seat (another colleague was along for a jolly too. ) - 40 miles of single carriageway road at 8.30am... Meant some serious overtaking would be required to get us there on time.

ONE thing I don't like is the power band - sure its fairly torquey low down, but it feels gutless until the revs hit about 4000rpm on full chatter, then it takes off and gathers pace very nicely, but I kept bouncing the car off the limiter due to wanting more speed, and NOT wanting to have the waste of changing gear whilst on the wrong side of the road.

When all 210 horses are pulling, its nice, but I much prefer the VAG 1.8T engine for the thorough amount of power there is from say 2500RPM and up. The Saab just feels like a cruiser, and not a car that wants to be pushed.... I still say it does not drive like a true turbo 2 litre. :(

And don't get me started on the fact the mpg never went above 25mpg for the whole trip - even with quite a bit of 6th gear 2000rpm cruising! :thumbdwn:

mine pulls like a train from 3000rpm to 6000rpm

petrol turbo is the future

Mines pulled fine too, its even better now after a remap

Brian

I had an old saab 900 turbo, I fixed the power problem by upping the boost from the turbo! was great for about two weeks, then I blew a hole through one of the pistons! :( not a very strong engine.....

I love saabs, but aren't they vauxhall vectras if truth be known?

petrol turbo is the future

I think your Crystal ball is on the blink Bengie

Diesel engines have come on in leaps and bounds in the last few years Common Rail / PD Injection to name a few while petrol ones haven't IMHO made much headway, I believe the new FSI lump has issues using British grade petrol and is not as efficient as say 100 ron petrol

I believe a lot of parts are shared with Vauxhall, yes. The engine could well be the 2.0 ltr ecotec.

No, they're GM built but they share very few components with the Vectra. They're closer to Subaru believe it or not.

No, they're GM built but they share very few components with the Vectra. They're closer to Subaru believe it or not.

I believe the Saab 900 shares the chassis with the Vectra, but the engine is Saab's own creation. The new Saab is being built with Subaru and is likely to have their chassis and possibly AWD technology........

Chris

I believe the Saab 900 shares the chassis with the Vectra' date=' but the engine is Saab's own creation. The new Saab is being built with Subaru and is likely to have their chassis and possibly AWD technology........

Chris[/quote']

Sounds

Think they should use the scooby engine by the sounds of it

Have that fantastic sound it makes as well as having plenty of go

Sounds

Think they should use the scooby engine by the sounds of it

Have that fantastic sound it makes as well as having plenty of go

Would definitely be a street sleeper. Can just imagine doing a B-road blast whilst sat in huge heated leather armchairs

Chris

now im not sure id i have this right but a saab dealer was telling a story about the engine badges on the back of the saab...something like there either all 2.0ltr even tho there is a 1.8ltr babdge on them...or is the other way round there actually all 1,8ltr even tho they have a 2.0ltr badge.... basically saab just slapped on a diffrent badge if it has more or less bhp but there all the same engine!

Joel

Joel

now im not sure id i have this right but a saab dealer was telling a story about the engine badges on the back of the saab...something like there either all 2.0ltr even tho there is a 1.8ltr babdge on them...or is the other way round there actually all 1' date='8ltr even tho they have a 2.0ltr badge.... basically saab just slapped on a diffrent badge if it has more or less bhp but there all the same engine!

Joel

Joel[/quote']

Sounds like BMW's. The 316's are actually 1.8 due to emission.

When all 210 horses are pulling, its nice, but I much prefer the VAG 1.8T engine for the thorough amount of power there is from say 2500RPM and up. The Saab just feels like a cruiser, and not a car that wants to be pushed.... I still say it does not drive like a true turbo 2 litre. :(

I think it comes down to the gearbox more than the engine...the VAG gearboxes are always quite "lively", while a lot of other manufacturers make them more for economy and cruising...

Rob.

Im more inclined to think that your just not used to driving a petrol car...

diesel cars feel faster for less driving "effort"

Im more inclined to think that your just not used to driving a petrol car...

diesel cars feel faster for less driving "effort"

Probably right! Was building up a good sweat driving the Saab.