Date: Fri, 02 Oct 1998 12:57:34 -0700 From: Justin VanAbrahams <jvanabranopsamnet> Subject: Re: Horsepower or Torque? Which is more significant?
Garry wrote: > > > At low speed - nothing exiting. The big difference if rpm > 2,500. Feels like > a good V6. Acceleration is pretty good if you keep rpm's high. I thing it has > just a bit less under steering in the corners, then a stock Maxima without > bar. I would guess someone did not take care of the turbo then. In a 1989 or 1990 2.0l 9000 the turbo should start to spool around 1800 and hit you with full torque (188 lb ft) no later than 2200 or *maybe 2300. By 2500rpm my 9000 was screaming like a wet banshee... 900s, OTOH, are worthless below 2500rpm - no boost at all - but right around 2500 it spools up and starts helping you out. Unless it's an SPG - in which case hold on. > Suspension. I felt almost every bump on the road. Maxima's suspension to me > is more refined: it is soft enough on the straight road and firm in the > corners. And in generally 9000 didn't feel as solid, as I expected from > exterior look. Non-stock shocks will do that. Most people replace the stock, very nice Bilsteins with KYBs, which do exactly what you observed. On a 3400 lb car (the '88+ 9000Ts weight about 3375) shocks don't last all that long. > In term of space for passengers, much less than in Maxima, and an addition to > this it feels smaller because of square design. Although I liked the trunk. Never having ridden in a CD (blech!) I wouldn't know, but I'll tell you the hatchback 9000 was the largest car sold in America in 1986 - it has more interior volume than any other car - including the likes of the Lincoln Town Car and Continental. Today, the S-class and 7-series give it a run for its money, but the 9000 hatch has MUCH more room than a Maxima. Like I said - don't know about a notchback... but they are the same from the c-pillar forward, so? > This car leaves you with a different feelings. I liked the turbo, but you > need to accelerate car up to 30-35 miles per hour in order to "turn it on". > In city driving - you will miss the turbo many times. Probably on a freeway > or in country side you will have more chances to enjoy this car. Suspension > is not perfect and probably less durable. You were driving an 10-year old, 80,000 mile car, what did you expect? Your '95 Maxima is 6 years never and probably half the miles... not a fair comparison, for one thing. > > All my observations may be subjective, but I tried to be as objective as it > is possible. I think new SAAB does not make sense, too expensive for what you > get, used ones pretty inexpensive (6,500 in my case with a decent alarm, hand > free cell phone, Pioneer cassette player, 12 band Equalizer and 12 cd > changer). The 9-5 is about $30k here in the states ($35k for a V6 SE), which is 1.5k more than my friend paid for his '98 Maxima. I think it's a DAMNED good deal for that kind of a car... > > Justin. Tell your friend that it is not wise to race a new car, you get much > better performance after 15,000 miles on the speedometer. I bet first > hundred feet he was ahead of you, but later you catch him with the help of > turbo. Too late... it won't be his in another year... he buys new every three years, paying cash. That was ho only need come up with 3.000 or so every three years to get a new car. Wouldn't work with a Saab (due to high depreciation), but on more common cars, like Maximas, he's got no issue turning it over... -Justin
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