Date: Sun, 18 Jan 2004 20:36:11 GMT From: "JNGold" <zjngoldnopsamspring.com> Subject: Re: My test drives of 9-3 Linears
I posted this on a Saab forum some time ago after getting my new Continental 17" ContiExtreme All Season. It might apply here. Just got back from my getting my new ContiExtreme AS put on. My initial thoughts based on just riding around town is that these tires live up to the high expectations I had for them. First of all, they are quiet. Now I can REALLY hear the passenger-side window rattle! But seriously, they are noticably quieter around town and at highway speeds. Second, they seem better able to take the rigors of the bumps and road irregularities much better than the stock Pirelli's. With the Pirelli's I noticed hitting any decent size bump would jar the steering wheel in my hands. The Conti's seem more forgiving and shock absorbant even when hitting some of the same bumps that I travel daily. In all, the harsh Vector ride just got a little smoother, thanks to these seemingly fine tires. "Bob H" <iamafigmentnopsamurimagination.net> wrote in message news:1MxOb.1903$Fp1.1229446nopsam1.news.adelphia.net... > Drove two new 9-3 Linears yesterday, both automatics. > > -2003 with 17"s, too much tendency to follow road irregularities; squirrelly > at high highway speeds (90 mph) > > -2004 with 16's: eliminated 95% of the tendency, and about 90% of the > squirrelliness > > Both car interiors seemed somewhat loose fitting, like trim parts were > rubbing and jiggling over the worse roads (that shuffling sound over the > bumps and poor patches), and weren't tightly assembled, or poorly designed, > or both. The dash area seemed tight, it was aft that seemed loose. The > interior just felt somewhat like a flivver to me. But maybe that's just me. > > Struts on the 03 sounded noisy, and also sounded like something was loose > underneath whacking the floor pan- probably easily adjusted. The strut > noisiness was worrisome, though. > > Decent acceleration. Gas hungry when pushed, though. Smallish fuel tank if > you plan on driving somewhat aggressively, or like to stomp it, or cruise > over the limit. > > Steering boost was a bit too high, but not objectionably. Handling is right > on for FWD. > > Loved the size both inside and out. > > Was all set to do a deal on the loaded 2003 with 200 miles. Sweet pricing. > > What killed it for me was the tremendous road noise infiltrating the cabin > (both cars) at both low and high speeds, no way could I live with that. > Sounded louder than the 03 Malibu rental I drove last summer. And the > Malibu's interior seemed better screwed in place. I was really surprised at > this on both vehicles (the '04 had 11 miles on it). > > GM's cost cutters have shown their faces, and the sight is not pretty. > > After spending about 4 hours researching this car on the 'net, I really > wanted to fall in love with it. But the cost-cutters stole that joy from me > and stole a sale from their employer. > > Next stop: the Acura store. > > begin 666 icon_frown.gif M1TE&.#EA#P`/`-4``````,38ZY2GS2U6J0`SF;S)X]WI\Z2YV_+W^T)IL]/B M\,/.Y>;O][7%X1% GY"LU,[?[[W4Z?___SEBL$QQM\_6XIVVV.#K]>OR]\C; M[=WI]*:[W-#6X];E\2Y7J4IML[7.YO;Y_+K1Z,78ZN_U^IRUWE)TN:[ WI2O MUCICM>WM[0`````````````````````````````````````````````````` M`````````````````````````````````"'Y! 44`"H`+ `````/``\```:5 M0)50)RHGnopsamC($$P+H;PP8%5>;nopsam-`"nopsamI `9D"-'nopsamgt;P`!F0%(&(IX>QF: M$2))#6N?D $1JRA*%&$*;;(B(B 32QX;'0"nopsam#W$J' X'"nopsam\.'$T> 0$P>I%nopsam;S4Q$1DA*3$$`.P`` ` end
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