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Date: Sun, 30 Jan 2005 09:39:11 +1300
From: "Grand Poobah" <grandpoobahNOSPAMnospamdise.net.nz>
Subject: Re: how fast does your Saab go?


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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