I think I agree with you in your situation I would probably do the same. More than AWD, the difference in clearance on rough roads + deep snow is huge! To me, the low clearance is the big drawback to modern saabs (vs the 2 c900's we've got).

I got around 32mpg on the highway in the 9-5 arc (~75mph avg speed) on a 1000 mile trip. Both Subarus were low 20s on the same road. Funny: EPA says they should be about the same! The c900's get low to mid 20s highway with the 3 speed auto (I should do a 5 speed conversion), and the 2.3L + auto Subarus cruise at just slightly lower revs.

Some Subarus are available with a turbo, and that would change things. But the price for one here is more than a Saab! I imagine the 6 gets some more low end torque. I drove a top of the line 2002 Outback on a long trip through a blizzard in the Rockies: AWD + clearance was great, my main beef with that car (aside from the seats) was the tranny. To pass (non-blizzard), it was, wait.... wait... wait... (I counted 7 seconds one time for the downshift)... ZOOM! (at which point I had already ambled by the other car)... They've improved that 4 speed a lot: normal + sport are quicker than before (though still slow even by c900 standards + flobber up and down incessantly on the 2.3L), and the manumatic almost saves the day. 6 cylinders + manumatic would be pretty decent. With the 2.3L, lack of low end torque = constant downshifting...

One thing I take for granted (and would look for in a replacement) coming from Saabs is low end torque. Even the 2.0L NA engine from the 1980s has a broad flat torque curve (even if absolute torque + hp is low). Asian cars typically go for a high peak at the expense of breadth + make up for it with higher gear ratios (and therefore need lots of gears). No surprise the Asian makes are going to CVT etc. Helps sell cars in a short test drive, but I find that makes the cars less enjoyable + unpredictable when combined with an auto tranny (though perhaps fun with a stick). Volvo + Audi have that nice broad curve, and to me, that's what makes a European car special... I'd go so far to say it's a big safety feature...

Anyway, in spite of my comments, most Suby drivers I know love them, so they're doing something right!

James...


posted by 67.158.7...

• If not a SAAB, then.....what?, 9-3 Talladega, Mon, 30 Nov 2009 09:54:23
  • Buick (+), vvk, Wed, 2 Dec 2009 08:19:31
  • NOT a GM product..., Henri L, Wed, 2 Dec 2009 08:14:36
  • Then I'll get a TurboX on the cheap, AdamB , Wed, 2 Dec 2009 08:13:12
  • If SAAB goes belly up..., Alex, Tue, 1 Dec 2009 17:00:34
  • I'm already shopping CPO Audi A4 and BMW 3 Series..., Sebastian, Tue, 1 Dec 2009 12:08:16
  • Two wheels but my 9-5 stays, BrianG, Tue, 1 Dec 2009 09:48:34
    • I don't get it..., No Snaab, Thu, 3 Dec 2009 07:12:02
      • Comfort, speed, and safety, BrianG, Mon, 7 Dec 2009 08:25:31
  • Keeping my 9-5 Aero wgn, just bought a BMW 335d, Paul H, Tue, 1 Dec 2009 09:35:18
    • Re: Keeping my 9-5 Aero wgn, just bought a BMW 335d, B Millar , Tue, 1 Dec 2009 09:40:08
      • Rented an Alfa 159d in Italy - smitten, Bill Homer , Tue, 1 Dec 2009 11:14:03
        • Turbo diesels are great, even ordinary ones, Noel, Wed, 2 Dec 2009 07:54:02
        • blows me away n/m, JohnA , Tue, 1 Dec 2009 19:41:36
  • SAAB...."I don't want to go on the cart"., RobsSaab, Tue, 1 Dec 2009 07:06:50
  • Re: If not a SAAB, then.....what?, coggs, Tue, 1 Dec 2009 05:54:04
  • Jaguar XF, houstonsaabs, Tue, 1 Dec 2009 04:09:18
  • 3 series BMW or Mini Cooper S, eric, Mon, 30 Nov 2009 21:44:56
  • Hate to say it but ...., DivrDon , Mon, 30 Nov 2009 20:45:57
  • Chevy Volt Electrons are the future.. n/m, Steve, Mon, 30 Nov 2009 20:08:38
  • Why are we picking out our next cars post-SAAB?!?, turrbo , Mon, 30 Nov 2009 19:45:50
    • Boring - this thread happens every week, so boring..., Scott Paterson , Tue, 1 Dec 2009 10:48:25
      • BIll Homer has the best post on the thread though, JohnA , Wed, 2 Dec 2009 06:45:11
    • Re: Why are we picking out our next cars post-SAAB?!?, rico567, Tue, 1 Dec 2009 06:39:55
  • something from zee Deutschland, Trev, Mon, 30 Nov 2009 18:29:30
  • Not Audi, but an MB and a Porsche, dw, Mon, 30 Nov 2009 18:21:03
  • Re: If not a SAAB, then.....what?, AeroLady, Mon, 30 Nov 2009 16:52:17
    • Sounds a lot like a, No Snaab, Mon, 30 Nov 2009 19:36:25
      • Regarding Subaru..., PGAero , Tue, 1 Dec 2009 11:40:07
        • Re: Regarding Subaru..., No Snaab, Tue, 1 Dec 2009 18:54:46
          • Re: Regarding Subaru..., PGAero , Wed, 2 Dec 2009 14:11:20
            • Re: Regarding Subaru..., No Snaab, Wed, 2 Dec 2009 17:59:07
              • Re: Regarding Subaru..., PGAero , Thu, 3 Dec 2009 09:31:26
                • Let me know, No Snaab, Thu, 3 Dec 2009 18:54:29
      • different experience with Subaru, James, Tue, 1 Dec 2009 05:18:25
        • Re: different experience with Subaru, No Snaab, Tue, 1 Dec 2009 07:19:48
          • Re: different experience with Subaru, James, Tue, 1 Dec 2009 09:15:42 <-- Viewing This Message
    • Re: If not a SAAB, then.....what?, AeroLady, Mon, 30 Nov 2009 19:09:38
  • alfa romeo 159 sportwagon, don_young , Mon, 30 Nov 2009 14:56:58
  • Re: Volvo or Mercedes-Benz..., Dano in Texas , Mon, 30 Nov 2009 14:54:17
  • Peter Egan mobile..., Mike Lynch , Mon, 30 Nov 2009 14:53:39
    • Sportsmobile - 4wd Vans's, Trev, Mon, 30 Nov 2009 18:35:58
  • CPO Mercedes wagon, JMF, Mon, 30 Nov 2009 14:44:29
  • Re: If not a SAAB, then.....what?, Lawrence, Mon, 30 Nov 2009 14:38:34
  • IDK -- my 9-7 lease is up in January - BMW? Acura?, Pete Saab 9-7 9-3, Mon, 30 Nov 2009 14:04:59
    • Have you seen the XC60?, B Millar , Mon, 30 Nov 2009 14:08:43
  • Subaru Outback n/m, sonique, Mon, 30 Nov 2009 13:13:35
    • Re: Subaru Outback n/m, rico567, Mon, 30 Nov 2009 15:16:24
      • Used to be true, No Snaab, Mon, 30 Nov 2009 19:22:59
  • Audi, B Millar , Mon, 30 Nov 2009 13:11:14
  • Depends on which car we're replacing., Noel, Mon, 30 Nov 2009 13:02:34

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