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'04 Arc initial impressions/observations
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Posted by Jason 0W-40 (more from Jason 0W-40) on Wed, 5 May 2004 05:51:41 Share Post by Email
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My '02 Aero 5MT is in for its 20K service and they gave me a new '04 Arc 5AT loaner.

Initial impressions/observations...

1. WOW! Sport mode is crazy fun! Boost is always in the red and the tach is somehow always hovering around 5,000 rpm. I know it's rated 220hp, but what's the torque rating? Must be up there...

2. I miss my Aero sport seats already.

3. Engine vibration in "D" while stopped at a light is quite noticeable in the steering wheel compared to a stick shift model idling in neutral, which has no vibration at all.

4. No "W"inter mode button, it's been replaced by a cheap looking plastic plug. I believe you can still get "winter mode" by using Sentronic and manually selecting 2nd or 3rd. Probably unnecessary on a SAAB though--I've never had to do this, even in a RWD BMW 325i riding around on all-seasons in the middle of winter!

5. The spare tire cover has been very much improved, and is split into three sections which fold forward. Solves the problem of the trunk light being blocked by the open cover.

6. The spare tire now sits with the valve stem facing up, and the jack and tools are hidden under it in a molded styrofoam carrier. Makes for a neater spare tire compartment.

7. The oil filter appears to be the same old UK-made #9144445. It's an okay filter, but 15,000 miles on this?!

8. The new SID uses a smaller font which is harder to read, and it only displays one line of information at once. You scroll through the information with +/- keys, unlike before, where it was categorized (left button for trip computer functions, right for info)

9. The ESP button was moved to a location less accessible than before, to the right of the foglight switch, hidden by the steering wheel. Why?

10. OnStar, weather band, and umbrella nets are MIA. The sharkfin cellular & GPS antenna is still present though.

11. The blinker sound from the new SID is now stranger than before and sounds like a chirping bird!

12. SAAB should enable the "RDS" function in the radio for the US market (I believe the European-spec cars have it) because radio stations here are beginning to broadcast this data. Most stations here in the NYC area broadcast station info, song title/artist info, etc.

13. Overall, a great car! I'm going back out for a drive...

posted by 24.46.48...
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