I went through the same thought process before ordering my Aero '02 - (leaves the Swedish factory today!). In my personal experience of a couple of manual Saabs (200k+ miles in a 900 and a 98' 9-5) - the Saab manual box is OK (shift quality is acceptable but not brilliant with a long throw between the shifts).

Conventional logic says that lots of torque (usually from big engine) and auto transmission is a good combination, small engine and not much torque is a poor combination (transmission constantly 'hunts' around the ratios).

My test drive (an over-night and a very wet one at that) in an auto Aero Wagon, showed that the max torque available from 1900 rpm to beyond the max power point suited the transmission well - some posts have indicated that the 'box hunts for ratio's - I didn't experience that.

The last thing to consider is your driving style - personally I like vehicles that accelerate very rapidly (the US spec Yamaha Vmax sitting in the garage is testimony to that) - but rarely drive at much over 80 mph (the UK Police usually leave you alone for that). Thus the dual personality of the 5 speed auto suits me well - Sport mode (should be SILLY mode!) for blinding acceleration and then the normal mode for motorway/freeway cruising. I think I'm right in saying that the gearing of the auto is lower - it seemed VERY responsive in SILLY mode.

IMHO - If you drive everywhere flatout - take the manual, if you have a two mode driving style take the auto.

posted by 208.222.1...

• 5-spd auto vs. manual, ed'98, Sat, 27 Apr 2002 00:09:56
  • Re: 5-spd auto vs. manual, AeroLady, Sat, 27 Apr 2002 14:18:42
    • Re: 5-spd auto vs. manual, JT, Sat, 27 Apr 2002 18:57:31
  • 5-sp 'Short Shifter' available?, RLW, Sat, 27 Apr 2002 09:07:17
    • Re: 5-sp 'Short Shifter' available?, Brian, Mon, 5 May 2003 17:21:27
  • Re: 5-spd auto vs. manual, Lou, Sat, 27 Apr 2002 08:16:06
  • Re: 5-spd auto vs. manual, Lou, Sat, 27 Apr 2002 08:15:55
  • Re: 5-spd auto vs. manual, Jeff, Sat, 27 Apr 2002 07:54:00
  • Re: 5-spd auto vs. manual, JohnW, Sat, 27 Apr 2002 06:43:08 <-- Viewing This Message
    • Re: 5-spd auto vs. manual, Simon Watkins, Sat, 27 Apr 2002 07:50:37
      • Forgot to add..., Simon Watkins, Sat, 27 Apr 2002 07:53:36
        • Auto performance, Lou, Sat, 27 Apr 2002 08:26:56
          • Re: Auto performance, Simon Watkins, Sat, 27 Apr 2002 14:55:07
            • One more thing - Resale time, Simon Watkins, Sat, 27 Apr 2002 15:11:01
          • Aero - Flat Out & Autos, johnw, Sat, 27 Apr 2002 09:54:41
            • Adaptive auto function, Thomas L, Sat, 27 Apr 2002 10:58:29
              • Re: Adaptive auto function, Simon Watkins, Sat, 27 Apr 2002 14:58:40

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