Date: Fri, 16 Oct 1998 09:24:15 GMT From: "Geoff" <Jeffe_Verdenopsamail.com> Subject: Re: turbo
Chris- you got some great technical answers, but no one answered "so what's it mean to me". A well designed turbo system (which the Saab has), allows a motor to make peak horsepower similar to that of *much* larger normally aspirated motor. In the real world, that means my 2.4 liter turbocharged 9000 (with automatic trans), can smoke a much smaller, lighter BMW 528 with a 2.9 liter motor. More significantly- against a 4.4liter 740i, my *little* 2.4l only gives up about 20 yards in a 0-80mph run. Put me in a 5 speed 9000 Aero, and the 740's gone too. Cruising on the highway, a quick downshift kicks in the turbo, and you're *instantly* going 15mph faster. But for all that, I still get 20/mpg around town (and I'm in the turbo all the time). On the highway, if I make a point to stay off the boost, I can cruise at 75 and get 28mpg.