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Re: 9-3 vs. Monte Carlo
Posted by Goldberger Stephen (more from Goldberger Stephen) on Wed, 29 Dec 1999 21:17:05
In Reply to: , Kok Chen, Sat, 17 Dec 1988 12:00:00 

Imagine our surprise at seeing that this thread was comparing the 9-3 to a
CHEVROLET Monte Carlo, not a 'stroker'.  Anyway, a couple of comments on
main points...I must say, however, that in many regards, the comparison is
certainly valid...

1) EPA Fuel Economy Comparisons.  This is very misleading, since all large
selling domestic cars are designed around the EPA test.  Even Saab, for a
few years, shipped cars to the US with a 'taller' final drive ratio so that
they would do better on the test, but now they are lumped with Suzuki
Swifts in determining their CAFE.  But unless you drive on the EPA
dynamometer,  your mileage WILL vary.  A heavy, large displacement, low
reving Chevy *may* match or beat the Saab on the EPA test, and may even
match it at moderate speed highway driving, but in overall every day use,
the Saab will return better 'real world' mileage, guaranteed.  (this may
not hold true with the Classic 900 and it's antedevulian Borg Warner
3-speed slushbox)

2) Cost wise, a large volume, domestically built vehicle has a tremendous
advantage over a small volume, imported make.  If you could buy a Monte
Carlo in Sweden, the price differential would certainly go the other way.
This is the price you WILL pay for any European built automobile.  Why
would anyone pay the extra?  (and this hold true for the smaller BMWs,
Audis, MB's, Volvos, - and partly true for the VW brand).  All European
cars are designed around high priced fuel, high speed driving, and a level
of driver training which would blanche the average North American.  The
resulting driving characteristics set them apart.  One need go no further
than a Ford showroom to get a lesson in heritage.  Take back-to-back tests
in a Taurus, a Contour, and an Escort.  The Taurus' American Design chassis
feels and drives like any like-sized Olds, Chevrolet, or Dodge.  The
Escort's Japanese Design Chassis has the delicate touch of any of the
Japanese cars of its era.  And the European Derived Contour feels almost
Saablike in its handling and ride.  As manufacturers continue to become
more 'global' in orientation and employ ever greater comonality in parts,
chassis design, and cross-fertilization among staff, perhaps those
differences will narrow.  But the driving environment on the various
continents will continue to be different for the forseeable future, and the
resulting 'home turf' refinement of otherwise similar designs will continue
to result in different driving properties.

3) Saab's hatchback design will do cargo duty that the larger and heavier
Monte-Carlo assumes will be handled by your 'SUV' or 'minivan'.

Stephen Goldberger, Editor and Publisher
NINES, the magazine of the SAAB Club of North America

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