We've been car shopping, and what you say is true- comparable 4-cylinder engines have a difficult time matching the SAAB 2.3L. You've obviously considered some of the issues, but I think there are others. In addition to the SAAB's good aerodynamics and weight, the engine itself is the subject of twenty years of refinement. I believe that the original version of the 2.3 engine appeared in the 9000 series around 1985. We have driven the 2.3 in three 9000s and two 9-5s, and our only consistent complaint is the almost predicable failure of the serpentine belt system, and I suppose there are those who would say that the belt & associated components aren't strictly a part of the engine at all. We have experienced -NO- other problems with the 2.3, and we ran one of our 9000s to almost 150,000 miles with no problems.

SAABs philosophy of getting more performance out of a smaller-displacement 4-cylinder has paid off. It doesn't matter how you refine a 6- if it displaces more, you've got to put more air-fuel mix in that space, and you can only hedge by lean burning, stratified charging, and variable valve timing so long....and then the 4-cylinder comes through. And SAAB has experience refining and getting the most performance out of 4-cylinder engines since 1978 or so, when they put the first B-engine turbo in a 99 (I think- maybe a 900).

I should state that I am a big believer that "oil is the engine's blood" and I practice very regular oil & filter changes. On our 9000 2.3s, I changed every 3K, and with our 9-5s, I change every 5K with Mobil 1 0W-40, ONLY. While doing this, I have experienced none of the sludge issues that seem to occur with this engine.

posted by 66.158.16...

• What makes the SAAB 2.3 so much better, anthony, Sun, 1 Apr 2007 18:20:08
  • You guys must talk about a different 2.3, DJ in OTT, Wed, 4 Apr 2007 14:31:23
    • You must have a sick 2.3, 8AA2YM, Fri, 6 Apr 2007 10:15:39
  • GM claims, Rafe, Mon, 2 Apr 2007 22:37:42
  • Engineered with different goals than the others, Joe , Mon, 2 Apr 2007 13:26:23
    • "The turbo's power comes on at high"..Huh?...., Mike Lynch , Tue, 3 Apr 2007 11:58:52
      • Different words that's all, Joe , Wed, 4 Apr 2007 12:44:13
    • Re: Engineered with different goals than the others, Ian Glenday , Mon, 2 Apr 2007 15:23:54
      • I agree, Joe , Wed, 4 Apr 2007 12:58:07
  • Well..., 8AA2YM, Mon, 2 Apr 2007 11:52:48
  • Re: Light weight + FWD + good engineering, anthonySF, Mon, 2 Apr 2007 11:29:48
  • Well, I can tell you this, Oscar, Sun, 1 Apr 2007 22:46:19
    • P.T. Crusher..??!!, K. Daehnke, Sun, 1 Apr 2007 23:10:55
      • Mileage was bad.., RMinNJ, Mon, 2 Apr 2007 07:47:27
        • Yes, it is surprisingly small, Oscar, Mon, 2 Apr 2007 09:11:51
          • I hope people realize (+), vvk, Mon, 2 Apr 2007 11:39:38
            • Re: I hope people realize (+), Kirk, Mon, 2 Apr 2007 16:45:52
      • Terrible seats, JMJ in NC, Mon, 2 Apr 2007 05:05:06
  • Re: What makes the SAAB 2.3 so much better, rico567, Sun, 1 Apr 2007 19:33:59 <-- Viewing This Message

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