Date: Sat, 31 Jul 1999 18:00:51 -0700 From: tignopsamnet Subject: Re: How to drive a Saab Turbo (properly)?
You don't specify what model or year SAAB you have, so my info may not apply. My '88 SPG's turbo provides boost right up to the redline (and i see that redline a lot <smile>). For my car the optimum shiftpoint seems to be at about 5000 (redline at 5500). As to front drive "push"... yes, you will experience a little understeer but my feeling is that the clipping point is about the same as it would be with rear drive. If you were to make any adjustment I'd turn in a bit *later* to make sure I had enough track out room. I find the front drive of the SAAB (as opposed to other front drive cars I've driven) to be very responsive and very forgiving. I've embarassed the hell out of a whale tail Porsche and a 5 liter Audi on a stretch of twisty... and pressured my friend in his RX-7 across the same piece of road (until I had to back off to let the oil cool). My friend is a former racer and he drives very well, so maybe the car gets the credit here. (I've also raced a bit which may account for the Porsche and Audi.) Yes, I agree that SAABs are meant to be *driven*. Enjoy! Tom Josh Orfanakis wrote: > I don't have much experience with Turbocharged engines. From my reading > and observation I have gathered that the turbo is disengaged at some point > as the revs increase. So what is the quickest way to accelerate? Should I > rev until the point where the turbo boost goes down and then shift, or > should I continue to rev past that. The boost meter usually drops at around > 4000 RPM, so you have 2 more to go until redline. > > From a standpoint of feel I feel like i am being pushed back into the seat > by keeping the revs in the boosting range, but is that the fastest? > > Then since this is a torquey front wheel drive car how is cornering > different than a rear wheel drive car? I would guess that front wheel drive > would understeer more so the apex of a corner would actually be a little > sooner than where it physically is, since you can expect the car to push > some, you can slide around the corner. Again this is just my guess. > > I wish I could go to that driving school they send you to if you buy a > Viggen! Or at least get the information they teach you. > > TIA for any resources or info or advice. I do realize this only matters when > you are aggresivley driving this car, but it is such a nice car I think it > deserves to be DRIVEN occaisionally, in safe places. > > JO
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