More accurately: scientific method is important. - Saab General Bulletin Board - Saabnet.com
The banner above is an advertisment - if it asks you to download software, please ignore.
Site News -
4/9 Saab Owners' Convention Day Pass Raffle |
3/26 M Car Covers (by State of Nine)
[General |
Members |
C900 |
9000 |
NG900 & OG93 |
93 |
95 |
NG95 |
99 |
Sonett |
Vintage Models |
Clubs |
Other Cars |
FAQs |
Gifts |
Member Photo Galleries |
Member Directory |
Classifieds |
Manuals |
*Buddy Registry |
*Mileage Registry |
Polls |
What's New |
Raffle |
Photo of the Month |
Sponsors]
So Adam, I agree with you that Norm has some pretty fantastic sounding (unachievable for me in our 9-5) MPG numbers (often then compared against other cars EPA), but I agree with Ultimated that Saabs for a long time got better than EPA numbers, at least on the highway, while many other brands did worse than EPA. So simply comparing EPA numbers alone is also not fair. I think the 9-5 highway is 28, and most people with non-broken 9-5's (ie not "tuned" but also not with vacuum leaks, old plugs, and a failing DI) are getting around 30-32mpg while driving in a sporting fashion at higher speeds than EPA (like 70mph)... I know that was true for us also (I continuously monitor our fuel economy through odometer readings and pump receipts).
When I drive American or Japanese rentals on similar highway trips (I have fuel receipt data for these also on the same highway runs in the same conditions), I regularly get under EPA. Sometimes much less than EPA. Much like with the safety (Saab designed Saabs to be safe - others designed their cars to pass the test, it's a philosophical thing mainly), I suspect Saab tried to make these cars pretty efficient while driven at speeds they might encounter in Europe (almost regardless of EPA)... whereas other manufacturers are keen to get the highest EPA number for marketing reasons. Then again, it might just be a lot more to do with turbo vs non-turbo cars (or more exactly flat torque curve vs peaky torque curve cars), irrespective of brand... maybe this is what Norm is finding with the Verano.
Consumers will Jump all over a 30mpg car being better than a 28mpg car even though the savings at the pump are essentially negligible! Many of the fuel sipping NA econoboxes get there through the autobox always going for top gear (Asian especially!!!), even around the city... so if you drive in a sporting fashion, it always has to shift down, which wastes energy and lowers the MPGs below the EPA rating... I know the Mazda 5 was great on gas when you left it alone, but it would need to double downshift in the city to keep up with traffic... miserable to drive imho, but that's the consequence of going so crazy over an EPA number...
apologies for the rant!
->Posting last edited on Wed, 25 Sep 2013 06:56:42.
Posts in this Thread:
- So a question for everyone. Short answers for now., Noel, Mon, 23 Sep 2013 13:27:09
- 2nd Telsa S burns after crash., Norm9-5, Tue, 29 Oct 2013 05:57:27
- Graphene - Supercapacitor - Video, Scott Paterson , Thu, 26 Sep 2013 11:21:21
- Re: So a question for everyone. Short answers for now., dr fall, Thu, 26 Sep 2013 09:30:27
- Long term, I'd like one of the cars all electric., EricG, Thu, 26 Sep 2013 09:20:25
- Re: So a question for everyone. Short answers for now., Dave Chicago, Thu, 26 Sep 2013 09:10:09
- Re: So a question for everyone. Short answers for now., steven, Thu, 26 Sep 2013 06:22:43
- Not for Awhile, DE , Wed, 25 Sep 2013 11:03:21
- Re: Not for now, AeroDave, Wed, 25 Sep 2013 08:47:47
- I'll try to find a used E55 / E63 AMG Wagon..., Tulsaab , Tue, 24 Sep 2013 18:09:06
- No - especially with no Saab wagon/hatch..., Scott Paterson , Tue, 24 Sep 2013 16:14:24
- Re: So a question for everyone. Short answers for now., Snowmobile , Tue, 24 Sep 2013 10:34:31
- My next car will be a diesel, AdamB , Tue, 24 Sep 2013 08:52:59
- When you look at ROI, diesel is the only answer…, Savary , Tue, 24 Sep 2013 08:22:56
- Re: So a question for everyone. Short answers for now., Brad Svatek, Tue, 24 Sep 2013 07:57:34
- Eventually, but nothing currently meets my needs, NCCaniac , Tue, 24 Sep 2013 06:57:44
- Yes., B Millar , Tue, 24 Sep 2013 05:49:27
- My wife loves her Volt, ELaw , Tue, 24 Sep 2013 05:34:27
- Diesel, Ultimated, Tue, 24 Sep 2013 05:12:39
- Re: So a question for everyone. Short answers for now., TML , Mon, 23 Sep 2013 23:32:59
- Re: So a question for everyone. Short answers for now., bobc , Mon, 23 Sep 2013 21:09:46
- Re: Electric or diesel?, BobS, Mon, 23 Sep 2013 18:56:08
- Yes and Yes, MI-Roger , Mon, 23 Sep 2013 17:09:21
- None for me, JerseySaab , Mon, 23 Sep 2013 16:57:34
- Re: So a question for everyone. Short answers for now., JTRI , Mon, 23 Sep 2013 16:53:29
- Re: So a question for everyone. Short answers for now., No Snaab, Mon, 23 Sep 2013 16:14:29
- Bought a 2014 Volt, Bill Homer , Mon, 23 Sep 2013 16:03:12
- Re: Bought a 2014 Volt, Jeff, Fri, 27 Sep 2013 13:01:44
- What is your cost per kWh?, dmz789qqq, Mon, 23 Sep 2013 19:18:31
- Re: govt rebates, Dano in Texas , Mon, 23 Sep 2013 16:39:32
- Re: govt rebates, Bill Homer , Mon, 23 Sep 2013 17:56:39
- Wow, No Snaab, Tue, 24 Sep 2013 04:27:17
- Hybrid/EV: NO .... Diesel: YES nm, Trev, Mon, 23 Sep 2013 15:49:25
- Uncertain, Justin VanAbrahams , Mon, 23 Sep 2013 15:36:46
- BMW 335d in the driveway along with my Saabs., Paul H, Mon, 23 Sep 2013 14:39:01
- Re: So a question for everyone. Short answers for now., andym, Mon, 23 Sep 2013 14:10:41
- Re: So a question for everyone. Short answers for now., Steve T., Mon, 23 Sep 2013 14:01:47
- Re: So a question for everyone. Short answers for now., Notnoel , Mon, 23 Sep 2013 13:31:13
Members do not see ads below this line. - Help Keep This Site Online - Signup
Post a Followup
No Site Registration is Required to Post - Site Membership is optional (Member Features List), but helps to keep the site online
for all Saabers. If the site helps you, please consider helping the site by becoming a member.
StateOfNine.com
|
SaabClub.com
|
Jak Stoll Performance
|
M Car Covers
|
Ad Available
|
Random Saabnet.com Member Gallery Photos (Click Image)
This is a moderated bulletin board - Posting is a privilege, not a right.
Unsolicited commercial postings are not allowed (no spam). Please, no For Sale or Wanted postings, SERIOUSLY.
Classifieds are to be listed in The Saab Network Classifieds pages.
This is a problem solving forum for over 250,000 Saab owners, so expect to see
problems discussed here even though our cars are generally very reliable. This is not an anything goes
type of forum. Saabnet.com has been a moderated forum since 1988. For usage guidelines, see the
Saabnet.com Mission and Purpose Page. Please remember that you are
not anonymous. Site Contact | Site Donations | Other Sites by SP -
Poverty2Prosperity.org | Run Club Menlo Park | ScreenBot
Site Members do not see red text instructions, bottom of the page anchor ads, or box ads.
Click here to see all
the Site Membership Benefits!