Swade
10-07-2008, 09:10 AM
There’s reviews by journos who get test cars to drive for a week and then there’s reviews by journos who get flown to exotic places to drive impeccable cars in impeccable conditions after dining on impeccable food served by impeccable waiteresses.
Then there’s reviews like this one. Written by an average guy like Joe Lobo in Sydney, who’s shelled out thousands of his own hard-earned and gave up a magnificent Saab 9-3 Aero as part of the deal.
This guy is fussy. He has some of the cleanest cars I’ve ever seen. I wouldn’t be surprised to hear that he has his family hermetically sealed for hours prior to letting them into the car. And his cars go hard. They aren’t show ponies.
So when Joe wrote this to our little Saab email circle here in Oz, I figured it was something that should be shared here. The words are from Joe, the photos were taken by Richo (and you can see more of Richo’s work here (http://gallery.me.com/richard_young#100085)).
——
…..The area that has impressed me the most is the ride and suspension dynamics despite the 19’ wheels. This car makes my 9-5 feel like a muscle car and too hard on the steering wheel!!! I would have sworn that this comment would have never come from me but credit where credit is due. In this instance the whole of the 2008 range’s ride clearly makes these cars a totally new experience as compared to my 9-5 and my former 2001 9-3 Aero.
It's a totally different ball game as the behavior on the road is very predictable, solid and with a lot more adherence to the road. At times it feels like it’s on rails whilst in some instances you do feel the AWD rather than the XWD. This is by far what impressed me most as I had some fears/reservations on how well the car would handle our roads and if the ride would be too bumpy. They have done a superb job in this area.
http://www.trollhattansaab.net/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/web3-300x200.jpg (http://www.trollhattansaab.net/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/web3.jpg)
In the power department, this car is a monster. When you ask for it, with all this traction, it delivers mighty fast. Coming out of the dealer and accustomed to my 9-3, I drove on to the Princess Hwy and was doing near 110km/h in a 70k zone without even feeling it. Lucky that no one was around. It is true that at times in 1st and 2nd the revs need to increase to get the punch, however it's a Saab after all!!!
You get it in the right conditions (up a hill, preferably), hit the gas and this thing is diabolical. My favorite test drive is going up the hill to Channel 9 studios off Whilloubgy Road (in Sydney). I’ve only done it once and once is just about enough, doing nearly 110k on a 50k road. I purposely do not go on that road as the temptation may be too costly.
At this point a BSR or Nordic ECU enhancement is not a priority as the car is only 1400km old. After it's broken in and loosens up it will go faster. This is a point of debate as all the owners of this masterpiece have only got 5000km or so. I believe that as the car has so much stability and adherence on the surface you get the full 205 kw delivered at its maximum, so we need to wait a bit and establish if the ECUs are a must.
The other mystery that we've all been hearing is the petrol consumption. Unless you are driving it flat to the boards, this car hardly uses any petrol as the torque is massive. They may as well remove 1st gear as the torque kicks in so early that you hardly change down to 2nd in slow traffic. In some instances heading to work, it's like having an auto as I go from 70-80 down to 40km/h through the school zones in 4th and it keeps going. I have made very close comparisons with the 9-3 and the expense per week is the same at worst. The efficiency is magnificent !!!
http://www.trollhattansaab.net/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/web2-300x200.jpg (http://www.trollhattansaab.net/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/web2.jpg)
Inside too is another aspect that also continues to amaze me. Despite all the gripes and criticism, the interior is superb. There are a few little areas where a bit more carbon fiber should have been present, but all in all the ergonomics are magnificent. I do not get the feeling of inferiority as many mention and seeing as it's a Saab, the seats are the best. Your sitting position is beautiful and you are in control. I no longer sit in my 9-5 admiring the interior as I used to as the X has it all, except for the A/C seats.
I got the full blown navigation system and fully integrated premium sound unit as made exclusively by Kenwood. It’s magnificent and the sound is superior. I have a friend with a 530i and my cousin in Colorado has an A4 Quattro, both with their premium Bose sound. Well, mine is better and is complete as theirs does not have the navigation unit. God knows how much extra that will be !!!
Should I mention the exterior looks??? No need to regurgitate the obvious as it’s mean, classy and unique. What a car, what a design, what an end result from Saab. Anyone that criticizes this car out of ignorance needs to get his/her lights punched in as there is nothing left out.
OK, the boot has got only 2 anchor points instead of 4, the key entry is on the left door, the window controls are no longer in the centre console. I couldn't care less and it doesn’t bother me at all. It’s perfect!!! It took me a few days to get used to how mean it looks sitting in my garage next to the 9-5 as it certainly stands up!!!
Before the X, I wouldn't have gone for a black car out of choice. Now, after only one month I have to say there is no other color that fits the character of this car so well. The wheels are magnificent.
If business conditions improve and allow me to accommodate some enhancements, the Hirsch carbon fiber dash fascia is perhaps the only alteration that I would add. Other than that there is nothing else to add/alter/modify.
So, to put it simply, owning the Turbo X as compared to all its predecessors is like having “Mr Smoothie on Steroids”. That's how it feels!!!
http://www.trollhattansaab.net/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/web-300x189.jpg (http://www.trollhattansaab.net/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/web.jpg)
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http://feeds.feedburner.com/~a/trollhattansaab/ceTX?i=DrQXoL</img> (http://feeds.feedburner.com/~a/trollhattansaab/ceTX?a=DrQXoL)
http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/trollhattansaab/ceTX/~4/413791566
Then there’s reviews like this one. Written by an average guy like Joe Lobo in Sydney, who’s shelled out thousands of his own hard-earned and gave up a magnificent Saab 9-3 Aero as part of the deal.
This guy is fussy. He has some of the cleanest cars I’ve ever seen. I wouldn’t be surprised to hear that he has his family hermetically sealed for hours prior to letting them into the car. And his cars go hard. They aren’t show ponies.
So when Joe wrote this to our little Saab email circle here in Oz, I figured it was something that should be shared here. The words are from Joe, the photos were taken by Richo (and you can see more of Richo’s work here (http://gallery.me.com/richard_young#100085)).
——
…..The area that has impressed me the most is the ride and suspension dynamics despite the 19’ wheels. This car makes my 9-5 feel like a muscle car and too hard on the steering wheel!!! I would have sworn that this comment would have never come from me but credit where credit is due. In this instance the whole of the 2008 range’s ride clearly makes these cars a totally new experience as compared to my 9-5 and my former 2001 9-3 Aero.
It's a totally different ball game as the behavior on the road is very predictable, solid and with a lot more adherence to the road. At times it feels like it’s on rails whilst in some instances you do feel the AWD rather than the XWD. This is by far what impressed me most as I had some fears/reservations on how well the car would handle our roads and if the ride would be too bumpy. They have done a superb job in this area.
http://www.trollhattansaab.net/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/web3-300x200.jpg (http://www.trollhattansaab.net/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/web3.jpg)
In the power department, this car is a monster. When you ask for it, with all this traction, it delivers mighty fast. Coming out of the dealer and accustomed to my 9-3, I drove on to the Princess Hwy and was doing near 110km/h in a 70k zone without even feeling it. Lucky that no one was around. It is true that at times in 1st and 2nd the revs need to increase to get the punch, however it's a Saab after all!!!
You get it in the right conditions (up a hill, preferably), hit the gas and this thing is diabolical. My favorite test drive is going up the hill to Channel 9 studios off Whilloubgy Road (in Sydney). I’ve only done it once and once is just about enough, doing nearly 110k on a 50k road. I purposely do not go on that road as the temptation may be too costly.
At this point a BSR or Nordic ECU enhancement is not a priority as the car is only 1400km old. After it's broken in and loosens up it will go faster. This is a point of debate as all the owners of this masterpiece have only got 5000km or so. I believe that as the car has so much stability and adherence on the surface you get the full 205 kw delivered at its maximum, so we need to wait a bit and establish if the ECUs are a must.
The other mystery that we've all been hearing is the petrol consumption. Unless you are driving it flat to the boards, this car hardly uses any petrol as the torque is massive. They may as well remove 1st gear as the torque kicks in so early that you hardly change down to 2nd in slow traffic. In some instances heading to work, it's like having an auto as I go from 70-80 down to 40km/h through the school zones in 4th and it keeps going. I have made very close comparisons with the 9-3 and the expense per week is the same at worst. The efficiency is magnificent !!!
http://www.trollhattansaab.net/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/web2-300x200.jpg (http://www.trollhattansaab.net/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/web2.jpg)
Inside too is another aspect that also continues to amaze me. Despite all the gripes and criticism, the interior is superb. There are a few little areas where a bit more carbon fiber should have been present, but all in all the ergonomics are magnificent. I do not get the feeling of inferiority as many mention and seeing as it's a Saab, the seats are the best. Your sitting position is beautiful and you are in control. I no longer sit in my 9-5 admiring the interior as I used to as the X has it all, except for the A/C seats.
I got the full blown navigation system and fully integrated premium sound unit as made exclusively by Kenwood. It’s magnificent and the sound is superior. I have a friend with a 530i and my cousin in Colorado has an A4 Quattro, both with their premium Bose sound. Well, mine is better and is complete as theirs does not have the navigation unit. God knows how much extra that will be !!!
Should I mention the exterior looks??? No need to regurgitate the obvious as it’s mean, classy and unique. What a car, what a design, what an end result from Saab. Anyone that criticizes this car out of ignorance needs to get his/her lights punched in as there is nothing left out.
OK, the boot has got only 2 anchor points instead of 4, the key entry is on the left door, the window controls are no longer in the centre console. I couldn't care less and it doesn’t bother me at all. It’s perfect!!! It took me a few days to get used to how mean it looks sitting in my garage next to the 9-5 as it certainly stands up!!!
Before the X, I wouldn't have gone for a black car out of choice. Now, after only one month I have to say there is no other color that fits the character of this car so well. The wheels are magnificent.
If business conditions improve and allow me to accommodate some enhancements, the Hirsch carbon fiber dash fascia is perhaps the only alteration that I would add. Other than that there is nothing else to add/alter/modify.
So, to put it simply, owning the Turbo X as compared to all its predecessors is like having “Mr Smoothie on Steroids”. That's how it feels!!!
http://www.trollhattansaab.net/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/web-300x189.jpg (http://www.trollhattansaab.net/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/web.jpg)
-
http://feeds.feedburner.com/~a/trollhattansaab/ceTX?i=DrQXoL</img> (http://feeds.feedburner.com/~a/trollhattansaab/ceTX?a=DrQXoL)
http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/trollhattansaab/ceTX/~4/413791566