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low end zip - torque vs gearing Posted by Snowmobile [Email]  (#686)  [Profile/Gallery]
(more from Snowmobile) on Mon, 1 Dec 2014 07:35:13
In Reply to: Re: Saab 9-2x vs Golf GTI vs Volvo C30 vs. ?, Henri L, Thu, 27 Nov 2014 07:01:16 Members do not see ads below this line. - Help Keep This Site Online - Signup |
"Our 9-2x is NON-turbo, plenty of low-end zip, not a strong top-end performer which is fine for city driving."
Do you know if SAAB changed the gear box in these vs the impreza? It says the automatic comes as a 4 speed, so I suspect they are both Subaru trannies, but maybe tweaked ratios? Anyway, Subaru does indeed manage to give their cars more low end zip, but they do it through gear ratios rather than engine torque. Basically, they are higher revving engines, and they have short gears for the lower gears to ride up the peak in rpms. SAABs otoh usually have tall lower gears and get whatever off the line zip (not always that much!!) through the engine's torque curve, which in most cases means through the turbo, but even the NA's have flatter torque curves through other design choices. The Asian brands tend to have peaky torque curves and more gears... So a 4 speed Subaru autobox equates to a 3 speed c900 autobox for highway revs, but a bit quicker off the line. 5 speed, like a 4 speed, etc, roughly speaking.
Anyway, that would explain your good "low end zip" even in the absence of much low end torque. It does make the NA Subarus fun city cars, but it is a different kind of driving experience than in a SAAB, especially on the highway (lots of downshifting to pass). Turbo Subarus, while also geared to be quick off the line, are better highway options.
, Mon, 1 Dec 2014 07:35:13 <-- Viewing This Message
, Mon, 1 Dec 2014 15:37:05, Sat, 22 Nov 2014 06:41:34
, Fri, 21 Nov 2014 18:02:44
, Fri, 21 Nov 2014 17:31:29, Sat, 22 Nov 2014 15:20:21
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