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Re: Say what? Posted by Justin VanAbrahams [Email] (#32) [Profile/Gallery] (more from Justin VanAbrahams) on Tue, 11 Mar 2014 13:06:45 In Reply to: Say what?, ELaw [Profile/Gallery] , Tue, 11 Mar 2014 12:15:43 Members do not see ads below this line. - Help Keep This Site Online - Signup |
What year is your 9000? 2400rpm seems REALLY low for a '90s car on the freeway. I remember quite specifically Saab press touting the 9-5 would turn very low revs on the freeway, and the figure in my head in 2600rpm. Seems odd that they would say that if the 9-5 was actually turning faster than an older 9000. 250lb ft or not, 2400rpm just seems quite low. My diesel Suburban and 7.0l Cadillac isn't much lower!
In any case, don't forget that freeway engine speed is a compromise of a lot of factors. Responsiveness for safe passing and comfortable hill climbing across all of the world is built into each 9-5 - 2200rpm on the freeway might do great for someone in Nebraska, but it'd be a real bitch driving up into the foothills around here - frequent 5-8% grades would necessitate a lot of shifting that isn't necessary with higher cruising engine speeds. Also, with a limited number of ratios you have to increment each gear responsibly. Not all freeway driving is cruising at 70mph. There is a fair amount of slowing to 50 or 60mph, and lugging a four cylinder around 1600rpm would mean not only another downshift, but also revving 4th out to, what, 3700rpm before shifting into 5th in the first place - or making 4th a lot taller, 3rd a lot taller, etc.
I don't think cmyles was suggesting Saabs have a narrow power band, but rather ALL the "moving" gearing - 2nd through 5th - needs to exist within that powerband, at a comfortable audible level, at a reasonable speed for fuel economy. The gearing and spacing between is laid out at the most effective level for all tasks combined, not just optimal freeway cruising on flat-ish land at 70mph.
and guestimates for best-case fuel economy based on real world usage.
posted by 12.195.130...
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