wilf

Anyone with experience of one of these?

what would scooby do

Hope it handles better than my 9-3 turbo - they suck

still based on the vectra..

wilf

Tried one last week and was really pleasantly surprised. Much more torquey than an '03 WRX I also tested - meant more useable performance. Max torque is delivered at 2500rpm.

Handing was a bit soft but then I found the WRX even softer on the same twisty B road. Saab was a bit more nose heavy. Didnt sense any torque steer guess I can see why EVO were impressed when they drove one.

Interior was v special compared to the WRX.

Best bit is price. At 22k this car is a steal as an all round package looking at all the goodies that come as standard. Compare this to Audi/BMW equivalents and its looking like a bargain.

Toonman1

"I found the WRX even softer on the same twisty B road"

Meaning? It's better than a WRX? God, they have improved on the old model then, as that had pretty awful handling... (and residuals too).

Cheers

Jza

Understeer... torque steer...

I'd go for the lesser models as the suspension copes better with a wee bit less power. Dont think the chassis is up to that much power - especially in the wet

Its a Vectra underneath despite what the marketing men say

Jza

LanCat

My better half has one of the new Aero's. We looked at the competition and found it was the best compromise of spec/performance/price.

Yes the chassis is based on the Vectra, which is one of the class leaders. Criticising it for that sounds like snobbery to me. If you need to worry about torque steer, remind me not to drive anywhere near you on the public road.


What else would you look at in the competition?

BMW - who wants the estate agent image and equivalent performance is way too expensive.
Audi - can't justify the price, especially as it's just a Passat
Jag X-Type - add all the toys and it's expensive.
Volvo - ?

Toonman1

"torque steer"

Hey don't blame the driver for torque steer; look to the manufacturer for not sorting the setup properly...

what would scooby do

MY 9-3 Turbo (used as daily driver) 185BHP, can't keep the damned thing on the road, probably the worse torque steer of any car I have driven. I guess the new model must be radically improved. Not even TWR could sort out the old ones.

DAC

simple suspension mods will cure most torque steer on saabs

my GM900 185bhp turbo - bilstein shocks lowered 25/30mm and uprated bushes.
steering rack bushes also apparently make a big difference.

virtually no torque steer - handles like a sporty hatchback.
it genuinely feels like a different car to a standard one.

will have any scooby in the twisties - LOL maybe a little exageration there. (alright alot of exageration)

Toonman1

"simple suspension mods"

Don't Abbott's do a kit for not a lot of dosh that transforms the car? Why Saab can't do it themselves, I'll never know.

what would scooby do

Yeah abbots do "rescue kits", I will consider getting one shortly..

Toonman1

I've heard they're a top company; really know what they're doing. Please let us know how you get on when you have the mods fitted.

Cheers

sempers

Abbot have raced saabs for a long time.. with a lot of success..

I particularly remember seeing their early GM900 (worst of the breed I'm afraid) at donnington... making escort cossie's look like they were in reverse Ok, so the escort would gain on the first 50ft or so out of the old hairpin, then the saab was gone!

I'd no more think of going to TWR than taking a scoob to a volvo dealer

wilf

I think the point here is that the NEW 9-3 has sorted all the old cars problems this is certainly my experience and the experience from all road tests I've read.

Yes I have tried an old and new turbo and know what torque steers like first hand thanks v much.

I think the new turbo is a bit of a sleeper at the moment as a decent sports saloon. Most people still dismiss it based on the old car. The new model is slowly being discovered and is proving so popular the price is about to go up and equipment dropped.

As for yes its a vectra - well what's an Impreza/Lancer/X type all based on humble saloons. Not forgetting the 9-3 has a different chassis set up, shorter wheelbase and totally different rear suspension to the Vectra for starters.

Toonman1

Sorry Wilf, but the Impreza was built from the ground up to win the WRC. You could argue it's based on a not so humble World Rally Car...

what would scooby do

I'll we'll keep it quite that Subaru is part owned by GM i.e. we are all driving Vauxhalls LOL

Toonman1

Ah, but why did GM want to buy into Subaru? For Scooby technology and chassis technology at that!

LanCat

I guess as we have both I should comment.

The Impreza is faster of the mark and through the infamous twisties but for a longer journey I'll take the Saab every time.
If your trips are mostly short or "interesting" buy an Impreza.
If you travel further regularly then the Saab is a better choice.

IMHO of course.

sempers

Second that.. Did have a scoob, replaced it with a 9-5, reckon it's pretty good.

Don't forget the 'vauxhall' chassis is the floorpan, that gets modified, and has different bits hung off it. Most obviously GM thing is some of the switchgear.

- M.

Toonman1

The Wife and I do 30K non business miles a year and we've both got Scoobs. Even though I'm 6'3" and far too many stones, I still find it the perfect car for long or short journeys.

I take the point about comfortable, long distance cars, but Britain has too few Motorways, and plenty of roads with great corners. The idea of armchair like comfort in a car appeals, but then I just couldn't live with the slop when it comes to the more challenging bits.

Cheers

R.B

I drove one around millbrook last week,ive always wanted a go in a Aero.

Its not a patch on my 330ci sport and wasent that impressed by it.

IMHO

[Edited by R.B - 6/27/2003 5:53:26 PM]

Toonman1

Having said that, I think the 9-3's a fine looking car and I've always admired Saabs. It's just that when it comes time to purchase a car, they just don't really have anything to offer me.

The poor residuals scare the hell out of me too. It was cheaper to lease a 9-5 Estate with bits over 3 years (full maint), than the £15K(ish) old style 9-3...

wilf

330 sport costs nearly half as much again at a similar spec as the Saab! We're talking new WRX money here. You'd feel a bit of a plonker if you blew 30k plus on the BMW and then admitted the saab was better.

Residuals were atrocious on the old 9-3 granted but the're not great on scoobs either at the moment. The new 9-3 is expected to do much better.

JR

I was seriously thinking of getting a new Saab 9-3 aero.
I had read about its specs and performance, and with a low co2 rating (or so I was led to believe) I was all set to buy one, providing the performance was half decent.

IMO (having had a MY97 Subaru for 5 years) the car looked much better than the MY03 subaru. The inside was great and then I drove it.

What a disapointment. Torque steer, slow, soft etc etc.

I then went straight from the Saab section at Bell and Colville, to the Subaru section, got in MY03 Subaru and never looked back.

No competition.

I really do not consider the Saab 9-3 aero a sports saloon. It was no fun. Maybe a got a bad one.

Just my thoughts.

Toonman1

I hope it does Wilf, as it needs to. Saab residuals couldn't really get much lower.

As for Impreza residuals; people keep saying that, usually in here. Come trade in time, at a Subaru dealer, they're fine, and we've just bought 2 new Scoobs in the past 10 months. Maybe it's the North East, maybe I drive a hard bargain, or maybe Scoobynetters just always talk down 2nd hand prices, but I've never had a bad Scooby trade in deal yet!

Cheers