Date: Thu, 19 Aug 1999 16:38:50 -0700 From: "Pacifier.com" <Mattnopsamse.com> Subject: Re: Garrett Turbos any good??
The Garrett's have a rep for being long-lived. Some can last the life of the car is treated well and given light duty (say that with a GM or Chrysler/ c.70Kmi unit). SAAB's approach with turbo boost has, since its first use, and excepting the Viggen, been to use a small turbo in order to avoid the dreaded "turbo lag". Turbo lag comes from having to de-tune the engine in order to run the turbo due to fuel pre-combustion. SAAB introduced APC back in the early 1980's, and now uses its Trionic system which integrates the turbo fully into the engine managment system, for better emissions and fuel milage. Because of superior engine managment, the engine DOES NOT have to be detuned (sometimes losing 20% of its torque!)! Another important difference is the size- in using a smaller turbo, the unit spools up sooner (operating in the 1-10,000 rpm range) where other manufacturers operate in the 4-40,000 RPM range (hence, thier lag). This gives a relatively small engine the ability to take on larger 6-pot engines- At least after you hit the sweet spot (apx 3000rpm). One disappointing fact is the lack of violence that the larger units display when they finally do hit. A friend's 300ZX (also a Garrett, only larger) sputters of the line, then spools up its turbo, and LAUNCHES! The action is frantic! Trying to keep up with the inputs is a chore! And when you shift (manual), the Turbo spools back down, you engage the next gear, and must bring the engine rpm's back up to where the turbo is online (using the pedal), or you have to wait for it to spool up again! Driving the car in heavy traffic can be a chore. The SAAB setup is more "real-world" than "race car". You'll see your turbo come online in your daily life... and without the chaos like above. An altogether nicer setup to live with day in, day out, eh? -- -Matt "As children tremble and fear everything in the blind darkness, so we in the light sometimes fear what is no more to be feared than the things children in the dark hold in terror..." Lucretius (c. 60 B.C.)
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