I've just been for a drive, and swapped cars, with a mate who owns a manual 250bhp 9-5 Aero (A type of car I considered buying). We took in a mix of situations and it was interesting....

"That is a speedy car!" was his response after we'd driven our own cars in convoy, with him following.

He reckoned that, if anything, mine was quicker, and certainly more responsive, at legal speeds.

He also thought the interior felt well-built and Golf-esque. From a 5mph 'street start' I could certainly keep close the Saab, only losing out once the speeds got higher. On the twisties he was a fair way behind, although I do know the roads better.

Having driven his, it feels monstrously powerful -with wheelspin on tap- and smaller than it looks, but doesn't feel as agile as the Octavia. The Saab pulls like a train though and feels that it would easily hit the speed limiter!

He's now on about getting the Saab chipped:D

I'm not sure if I'm going to bother now... -That's assuming that mine is standard from the previous owner (?)..... I hope so, having no doubt been put on a special list following re-mapping enquiries to the insurance company!

ps. I get 10mpg more than him too!

Boss has a Saab 9-3 Aero (newer one) only has 210hp from a 2.0T lump. NOT the quickest car by any means - I'd almost say my car would have matched it as standard before the remap. Now it frankly pi55es all over it. 250 might be a bit different though.

It seems the 9-3 saloon is a heavy beast and the way the boost kicks in is totally different to a vRS style in my opinion. The 9-3 is thirsty and sluggish for its engine HP.... I wouldn't have one.

Getting a 9-5 Aero chipped to me is utter madness :eek:

My Dad had one on loan from Saab a couple of years ago, for a weekend, and it felt right on the limit of what the car could cope with, with 'just' 250 going through the front wheels. Did you see what happens when you turn the Traction Control off? Didn't like the way it handled either, great in a straight line and a comfortable long-distance car, but it felt like a barge in the corners.

Steve

....Well from the posts on here, Fabia vRS diesels are faster than Bugatti Veyrons!:P

The Saab 9-5 is a good car, much more powerful than the Octavia vRS and I'm sure it would easily out-drag it to 140mph. But it is bigger and trying to get the power down through a similar tyre contact patch. Given drag strip tarmac, slicks and a full-bore start he would probably win by a huge margin!

I'm glad I chose the Skoda in preference though.

My Dad has a 9-5 Aero, and as Steve has said, great in a straight line, bags of torque, and only the esp keeps you alive in the corners. You cant push it as hard as you should be able to in a "sports saloon". On the MWay, it is a mile eater, and petrol guzzler. Limited to 155mph, 60 comes in just over 6 seconds. Nice car, very nice, but not a b road car.

fair coments but there not really cars in the same class, new astra vxr would be a better comparison than the saab

Abbott Racing do superb things for Saabs, and can help put serious amounts of power through the front wheels!

I've had a late 900t which was producing 200bhp+ which had no problem at all putting the power down, but was very wallowy through the corners..!

fair coments but there not really cars in the same class, new astra vxr would be a better comparison than the saab

You missed the point. I'd considered a Saab and test-driven an old 9000 Aero (very wallowy) in the past. So today was a good chance to compare the Two.

-This isn't Top Gear and I don't know anybody with a VXR or new Focus ST (I'm sure they are a bit quicker on the straight, but are less discrete/tasteful, would cost more to buy as they're newer and probably more thirsty)

ps apart from the width, the Saab isn't *that* much more spacious than the Octavia anyway.

Abbott Racing do superb things for Saabs' date=' and can help put serious amounts of power through the front wheels!

I've had a late 900t which was producing 200bhp+ which had no problem at all putting the power down, but was very wallowy through the corners..![/quote']

Saabs are good cars, my dad has had them for the last 15 years. The most interesting one i drove was a 9-3, remapped to 265 bhp, uprated rear arb, springs and dampers. Wasnt fantastic around bends, and in all honesty, totally ran out of go at 120 mph, but good fun.

I Think The New 93 2.8 Turbo Will Be A Differant Story Great New Chassis And Ultra Smooth V6 For The Mature Person Probobly Better Buy Than Boy Racer Type Vxr

I know 4 people with Saabs. Lovely place to be and very pretty, but 3 of them have simply cut out on the motorway and the other one spontaneously combusted through an electrical fault. Totally destroyed...

There'll always be bad apples and post-pub friday afternoon instances, but I don't like them odds!!!

But 3 of them have simply cut out on the motorway

One of mine did that frequently, I later found out, it only happened when below 1/4 of a tank of fuel!! Never did it again after always keeping it above the 1/4 mark!

Probably down to the fuel pump...

I Think The New 93 2.8 Turbo Will Be A Differant Story Great New Chassis And Ultra Smooth V6 For The Mature Person Probobly Better Buy Than Boy Racer Type Vxr

We'll have to wait and see then. But I'm curious, why is every word of your post started with a capital letter :confused:

Makes it pretty hard to read

Steve