Rhonda,
Thanks for bringing this up.

I've been driving my 9-5 auto Arc wagon for a month now, and had been wondering if there was any earthly use for the Sentronic paddles on the steering wheel. I live in NJ, where the only hills are rollers.

This past weekend, I was attending a dog show in central PA (Bloomsburg...coal country), where the hills are very steep (6-9% grade, some more in stretches) and frequent. It's like a roller coaster...no level ground anywhere.

I put the transmission in "M" for the first time since taking ownership, and spent a great deal of time in 3rd gear, especially down the three mile twisty descents, and didn't have to touch the breaks very often at all. I forget the RPM range. But it wasn't remarkably high. The car just sort of found a comfortable, steady pace and dropped down the hill. On the ups, 3rd gear was fine too. I'm no engineer. But from my understanding, lugging the engine in low RPMs is worse than using a gear in it's useful range.

The only time I spent much time in 4th gear was Sunday afternoon when I somehow got caught up in some traffic leaving early from Pocono raceway. I still can't believe I did this , but I actually got somewhat caught up in the lemming-like urge to get down to sea level on PA Rte #61 between Frackville and St. Clair at or near the front of a small group of mini-vans, SUV's and an Acura (I did not see another Saab all weekend). I've never been able to drive like that in my life. What a remarkable car.

All I could think of was how much trouble I could get into in an AERO!

But yeah. Now I no long think that the Sentronic is a wasted feature. It has definite practical benefits in the hills.

Page 167 in my owners manual more or less corroborates the brake-sparing effect of Sentronic.

Best,
Greg



posted by 68.193.67...

• My brakes are gone..., Rhonda, Tue, 10 Jun 2003 08:53:45
  • Re: My brakes are gone..., Bob T in Ct, Tue, 10 Jun 2003 23:24:50
  • Lower Gear (Long), Faux Paws, Tue, 10 Jun 2003 12:57:43 <-- Viewing This Message
    • lugging--auto and stick, Jason 0W-40, Tue, 10 Jun 2003 13:29:20
    • GREG: Re: Lower Gear (Long), Rhonda, Tue, 10 Jun 2003 13:24:02
      • Ramapo, Jason 0W-40, Tue, 10 Jun 2003 13:39:29
        • Re: Ramapo, Rhonda, Tue, 10 Jun 2003 14:08:49
          • need more room? may I suggest..., Jason 0W-40, Tue, 10 Jun 2003 15:24:07
            • Good car!, Stephen Goldberger, Wed, 11 Jun 2003 10:28:56
  • *IF* you are sure you will turn it in at the end, Stephen Goldberger, Tue, 10 Jun 2003 10:16:08
  • Re: My brakes are gone..., Jason 0W-40, Tue, 10 Jun 2003 09:51:43
    • Re: My brakes are gone..., Dean, Tue, 10 Jun 2003 10:43:34
      • Re: My brakes are gone..., Rhonda, Tue, 10 Jun 2003 11:30:51
  • Yes, you can use a lower gear in an automatic...., REM in Seattle , Tue, 10 Jun 2003 09:18:35
  • Re: My brakes are gone..., Dean, Tue, 10 Jun 2003 09:13:39

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