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Date: Mon, 27 Jun 2005 15:17:56 -0400
From: Malt_Hound <Malt_Houndnospamm*yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: Maintain Your Identity - Saab


John B wrote: > On Mon, 27 Jun 2005 12:05:12 -0400, Tex <texnospamm101.org> wrote: > >>OK..._you_ tell me if I pushed the 9-3 hard enough. On several runs I got >>it up to 60-65 mph (100 km/h) then, at short distance (less than 40 >>ft...about 1/2 sec of drive time) and w/o braking (and other runs w/braking >>but f/higher speeds / & w/& w/o esp), steered it around an object directly >>in the line of travel. Now, I can't say it was easy doing this maneuvre, >>but the car definitely followed my command unhesitantly. >> > > > I took our 2001 9-3 on a drive through some very tight S-curves on a steep > uphill, under full turbo boost. This resulted in a real wresting match between > me and the torque steer. Fortunately I won :) I've driven the same thing in a > 2.5 L 6 cyl BMW Z3 convertible, and found myself with an understeer problem > (rear wheels breaking free of the road a bit). In both cars, the traction > control system kicked in. On the whole, I think the BMW has the advantage. It > definitely would if I had more experience driving RWD cars. > > I guess my impression of the 9-3 is that it can easily generate more torque > than I can control in tight curves (due primarily to torque steer). I bet the > 9-3 could take the 2.5 Z3 in out-and-out acceleration, which is impressive > given that the 9-3 is a way heavier car. I don't know what the actual 0-60 time > of each car is, so this is all utter speculation. > > John It is probably not a very fair comparison as the Z3 is a sports car (2 seat roadster) and the SAAB is a sport sedan, but you do confirm my assertion about the handling characteristic difference between FWD and RWD. Just for fun... from the following web page: http://www.albeedigital.com/supercoupe/articles/0-60times.html The fastest SAABs: 2000 Saab 9-3 Viggen 6.4 sec 1999 Saab 9-3 SE Conv. 6.6 (I had a 2000 and I think it was faster) The Fastest BMWs: 2002 BMW M Roadster 4.5 sec 2002 BMW Z8 4.5 2002 BMW M3 4.7 A "standard" SAAB sedan: 1999 Saab 9-3 SE 6.8 sec 2000 9-5 Aero 7.0 sec A "standard" BMW sedan: 1999 BMW 328i 6.9 sec 2001 BMW 330i 6.1 sec 1997 BMW 528i (manual) 6.8 sec So, you can see that the BMWs elite cars are far faster. Even with the turbo vs NA, they are quite close in terms of 0-60 acceleration when you look at the models that we "mere mortals" might be driving... though my Z3 does have some pretty good numbers: 1997 BMW Z3 2.8L 6.2 sec -Fred W

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