Date: Sat, 29 Jan 2005 16:59:58 -0500 From: ma_twain <ma_twainnospamo.com> Subject: Re: how fast does your Saab go?
I drive manual transmission Saabs. It helps to hear and feel the engine . That way you know when to shift without looking at the speedometer or tach. This allows you to keep your eyes on the road. I often let the sound of the sport exhaust system provide the "music" in my turbo :-) I adjust the volume with my right foot :-) Grand Poobah wrote: > The stereo wasn't so loud as the engine was so quiet. > > "ma_twain" <ma_twainnospamo.com> wrote in message > news:41FBE550.80504nospamo.com... > >>two beers and the radio turned up so load you can't hardly hear the >>engine . . . - Interesting. >> >>I like to push my Saabs to their limits too, but I do it off-road - on a >>track - without the beers and no radio so I can hear the engine, tires, >>transmission, brakes, and suspension. I could actually find the limits >>on a road when I had my 1986 8 valve 900. Now I have a 900 turbo with >>the SPG package - and the common sense to push limits on a track. >> >>There are many cars that are fast in a straight line. Toyata even made >>a Camry sedan with a V6 and 5 speed manual transmission! For me, the >>real fun in a Saab is the way it handles in the turns :-) >> >> >>Grand Poobah wrote: >> >> >>>Dangerous question. >>> >>>I've owned my 1996 9000 CS LPT for 3 and a half years and have 188,000 >>> > km on > >>>the clock with an auto box. The speedo goes up to 250 km/hr and with the >>>open road speed limit in NZ at 100 km/hr, I've always wondered, how fast >>>will my car actually go? I've sometimes touched late 140's while >>> > overtaking > >>>but always felt there was plenty in reserve. >>> >>>Anyway, last Monday while on holiday in Rotorua, I drove down for a >>> > round of > >>>golf at one of the two courses at Taupo golf club with a good mate who >>> > lives > >>>locally. We teed off at about 2.15pm. I shot a 92 (not bad for my first >>> > time > >>>on the course) and ended up losing by one stroke so the beers were on >>> > me. > >>>After a couple of pints (don't worry, I was well under the limit) I bid >>> > my > >>>mate good bye and started to drive the 80km or so back up to Rotorua. >>> >>>The time is about 7.30pm, the light is good, its a Monday evening so >>> > hardly > >>>any traffic on the road. There are a couple of really good long >>> > straights > >>>just north of Taupo and a few things are running thru my mind: >>> >>>Is today the day?- yes, provided there is no oncoming traffic. >>>What are the chances of a cop being on the road- low probablilty, its >>> > summer > >>>on a Monday evening, they're all at home having dinner (I hope!) >>>What happens if I get caught? Automatic loss of licence at 150 km/hr- >>> > lets > >>>not go there. The two beers helped me with this one. >>> >>>So I resolve to "find out" at the first straight, but promise myself >>> > that I > >>>will immediately decelerate if I spot oncoming traffic. If the car >>> > becomes > >>>unstable, I don't want to put others at risk. >>> >>>Onto the straight, all clear, no cars either way. The cruise control is >>> > set > >>>at 108km/hr for the open road ahead. I begin to press the gas pedal- not >>> > all > >>>the way but like I'm in a heavy overtaking situation. The car surges >>>forward. The speedo passes 120-130-140 no problems. >>> >>>At 150km/hr I start getting excited. The car feels rock steady. I can >>> > hardly > >>>hear the engine but the stereo is also up loud so no surprises there. >>> >>>I hit 160km/hr or 100 mph for the metrically challenged. Easy. I haven't >>>done the "ton" for years, the speeding laws here are diabolical and it >>> > just > >>>isn't worth it. This fantastic car is just humming along sweet. >>> >>>170 the car is still pulling strong. >>> >>>180, this is as fast as I've ever gone in any car and that was years ago >>> > in > >>>a rental car. The car is rock steady on the road. I'm so intent on the >>>speedo and looking ahead I can't see what the rev counter is getting up >>> > to. > >>>185, wow. The car is STILL pulling strong and rock steady. I feel safe >>> > as > >>>houses. Exhilirating, thrilling! I am about two thirds down the straight >>> > and > >>>look up to see two oncoming cars. >>> >>>*Damn* As I promised myself, I take my foot off the gas and let the car >>>coast down. We all know our saabs take a while to slow down. I must be >>> > doing > >>>about 140 when the cars pass me going the other way. >>> >>>I can't stop grinning the rest of the way back. I'm tempted to have >>> > another > >>>go at some other straights further along the road, but I've taken enough >>>risks for one day. >>> >>>The roads here are not very good but the car felt safe and under control >>> > the > >>>whole time. Even at 185 km/hr I felt the car had much more to give, I >>> > reckon > >>>I could have made 220 comfortably. No signs that the engine is tired >>> > even > >>>after 188,000 km. >>> >>>So thats my story. I still don't know exactly how fast my saab will go >>> > but I > >>>know that it will go way beyond what is legal and a fair idea that the >>> > car > >>>handles satisfactorily even at extreme speed. >>> >>>I won't be doing this again in a hurry. >>> >>>cheers, John >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >> > >
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