The Saab I4 is 9.3 CR I think. The WRX is 8.2, which is very low. That will kill MPGs.

The WRX and 9-3 carry around perhaps an extra 300 pounds of drivetrain. Which might not be so bad except that you now have losses in a rear differential and the u/CV joints of three drive shafts. There is a 'transfer case' and a front-rear differential as well. I might not have all the details right, but that is extra weight, lots of places for more mechanical losses and lower CR. I am wondering if the boxer engine format has more losses from oil getting thrashed around.

The WRX engine is not transverse. So the gearcase probably has a hypoid gear to get to the front drive shafts. And the rear will have one too. These are not the most efficient things.

I bet that Saab could help get the CR and MGPs up a bit.

Drove a full size buick rental this summer in Detroit. 3.8L V6 which has lots of power and fantastic MPGs. Yes, the RPMs were very low at highway speed. Very impressive for a large and heavy vehicle.

Look at the pix, the transmission is huge! Rear subframe looks heavy too. But the added weight is down low and the center of gravity is not messed up at all.



posted by 65.68.1...

• Why low MPG for 4cyl turbo cars, TSR, Thu, 4 Nov 2004 17:16:25
  • Driving 55 MPH, I got 44+ MPG on my 900T 16..., Street, Sun, 7 Nov 2004 07:51:56
  • Much down to test conditions vs. real world, Pa Taket, Fri, 5 Nov 2004 07:30:24
  • Re: Why low MPG for 4cyl turbo cars, RobInfo, Fri, 5 Nov 2004 06:08:05
  • modern vs older maybe? EPA rated the 9-3 33, Scott Paterson , Fri, 5 Nov 2004 00:40:28
  • Low compression&offboost=poor economy nm, Drew in Houston, Thu, 4 Nov 2004 22:51:00
  • hmm, i do pretty well --, Ram'89SPG, Thu, 4 Nov 2004 20:19:09
    • oh yeah>> that's with 3bar FPR, stage II APC, etc. n/m, Ram'89SPG, Thu, 4 Nov 2004 20:20:24
      • I make prety good power & ger 30MPG on the highway, jak , Thu, 4 Nov 2004 20:22:49
  • no tall overdrive 6th gear for starters NM, Trev, Thu, 4 Nov 2004 18:17:05
  • Re: Why low MPG for 4cyl turbo cars-not too low..., steveC, Thu, 4 Nov 2004 17:25:53
    • Re: Why low MPG for 4cyl turbo cars-not too low..., TSR, Fri, 5 Nov 2004 00:41:57
      • see the WRX drivetrain, Dean, Fri, 5 Nov 2004 05:47:08 <-- Viewing This Message
        • Averaging about 23.5mpg combined with my 92x, Chad, Fri, 5 Nov 2004 06:37:21
          • Getting 26 mpg avg. in my old 99 turbo, John Blas, Mon, 8 Nov 2004 21:36:38

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