Date: Wed, 12 Aug 1998 12:00:22 -0400 From: morr <morrnopsamu.ca> Subject: Re: 1997 900 S Test Drive
Its fixed on the 1999 9-3, the clutch is a very sweet hydraulic job. Excellent take up. Mark anon wrote: > Sonnysdad wrote in message > <1998080914492300.KAA17832nopsamer01.news.aol.com>... > >I test drove a 97 900SE 5-speed a few months ago and loved the car, except > for > >the extremely heavy clutch--the last time I expended so much effort > shifting > >was on the farm in my old man's '64 Chevy one-ton flatbed. Hence my > question > >to 900 SE owners: > > > >Does one just get used to the clutch/shifting? Or does one just put up > with it > >because the car is otherwise such a blast to drive? > > > >Thanks in advance. > >Jeff M. > > Jeff, > > I drive the same car. I have found that a heavy clutch is a matter of > opinion. > > I rally a Land Rover Defender 90 and have found a Nautilus workout to be > easier on my left leg. On the otherhand, I test drove a new Beetle last > month with hardly any resistance in the clutch and had a hard time finding > the friction point. So, I guess you can say I prefer a 'heavier' clutch as > it affords me more control, especially in rough terrain. > > I double clutch on downshifts. One trick I learned early is to take > advantage of the seat adjustment to sit high and upright so you can put some > weight behind your left leg when clutching - it becomes effortless. With my > own '97 900T, my only gripe about the transmission is that it's a bit > notchy. I have heard that Redline MTL will smooth out synchro engagement > (Saabs are preloaded with 10W30) and am waiting to reach 20,000 miles before > replacing the tranny lube. I have yet to find a shifter with action as > smooth as Honda's. > > Since getting into Saabs with the '97 900, I am constantly grinning > everytime I drive it. Being good on gas makes owning one even sweeter. If > the Saab in question is being offered at a good price, buy it. > > Alex C.