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Without the heavy German feel.... Posted by Mike Lynch [Email]  (#81) [Profile/Gallery]
(more from Mike Lynch) on Fri, 14 Apr 2006 14:52:33
In Reply to: light steering, etc., jerryf, Thu, 13 Apr 2006 22:05:47 Members do not see ads below this line. - Help Keep This Site Online - Signup |
It's been a long time since I was heavy into VWs and Audis and the feel of negative steering roll radius. There's two ways for a steering wheel to kick back when it hits a bump depending on what side of the steering, negative or positive, the feedback is engineered into. VW touted the negative steering roll radius as a safety feature for years and it gives VW/Audi products a unique feel.
9-3SS steering feel has been criticized as being somewhat light, but I think that's more of a reaction to other brands and previous Saabs. I think you can only make the steering seem light in a FWD car when the engineers have done an extra good job of making the steering accurate, direct, communicative and free of vices like torque steer.
IMHO the chassis that the 9-3SS steering is connected to is far better balanced than the nose heavy, inline engine with a cast iron block, Passat clone of an Audi. VW/Audi does a very good job of disguising that flaw, but that's one of the reason so many VW/Audi customers come to Saab, because they prefer the handling. And the handling is the 9-3SS secrect weapon. The transverse all aluminum engine, aluminium hood and other lightweight components take a way the nose heavyness of a traditional FWD car and the Saab ReAxe rear wheel steering kills any trace of that plowing or understeering feel and that makes a 9-3SS one sweet handling car.
You don't need RWD to make a great handling balanced car and a 9-3SS when driven back to back with the supposed RWD handling king of luxury imports acquits itself very well and is especially pleasant, even preferrable, without the heavy German feel.
, Mon, 17 Apr 2006 11:04:00, Fri, 14 Apr 2006 14:52:33 <-- Viewing This Message, Sat, 15 Apr 2006 13:10:31
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