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First Drives: 9-3 Linear & Vector (long)
Posted by WASSAAB (more from WASSAAB) on Fri, 6 Sep 2002 09:53:13
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Saab USA graciously invited me to join their US media launch for the new 9-3. About 20 automotive journalists and I (not an automotive journalist!) convened in downtown DC for a drive out to Gaithersburg, MD, along some incredible back roads that I, a Marylander all of my life, did not know were there! These roads will be used for future club events!
The new 9-3 offers a fantastic ride with loads of performance. Torque steer is not evident AT ALL in the 210 hp Vector model, due to loads of modifications, such as special engine mounts and Trionic 8 engine management. The Vector comes with a Td04 mitsu turbo, boosting to .85 bar, while the Linear comes with a Garrett GT20, boosting to .7 bar. Both have internal bypass valves. The Vector has more agressive camshafts as well (among other goodies).
I drove a 9-3 linear out of the city, and for much of the day. At 175 hp, it feels very powerful and extremely refined. The Vector model was a true blast to drive, though! I was fortunate enough to drive that one all the way back into the city.
While out in G'burg, they let us autocross a new 9-3, and provided a BMW 325i and Audi A4 1.8t for comparison autocrossing. The FTD for the Audi was 5 seconds slower than the Saab & BMW. The Saab beat the BMW by 1.2 seconds, on a 40 second auto-x course! We were driving the crap out of these cars, too.
Saab definitely has an awesome product on their hands. The journalists no. 1 question for me, as the resident Saab enthusiast!, was will the Saab faithful scream bloody murder about the absence of the hatchback. After my experience with the car today, it's a moot point. The benefits outweigh the costs by far, and the seats still flop down, with a special new change that allows you to release the seat latches while standing at the trunk. The added interior space is obvious, and the safety factors are excellent as well. I have some great crash test pictures, if anyone is interested.
A truly awesome Saab day! :o)
Mike
88 SPG
95 Aero
posted by 12.40.175...
Posts in this Thread:
- First Drives: 9-3 Linear & Vector (long), WASSAAB, Fri, 6 Sep 2002 09:53:13 <-- Viewing This Message
- Make mine Hirsch equipped!!!! n/m, matt 94 aero, Sat, 7 Sep 2002 23:42:13
- I'm trying to plan on buying one in two years., Jeff Cunningham, Fri, 6 Sep 2002 20:23:28
- Just as I had hoped (thougth)...., Richard P., Fri, 6 Sep 2002 14:35:58
- Would have had loved to have seen it!, ckpaden, Fri, 6 Sep 2002 13:52:53
- This shows the power of TSN! A thought about this., Texron, Fri, 6 Sep 2002 12:15:32
- Thanks!, WASSAAB, Fri, 6 Sep 2002 23:59:03
- Re: First Drives: 9-3 Linear & Vector (long), Andrew
, Fri, 6 Sep 2002 10:41:48 - Re: First Drives: 9-3 Linear & Vector (long), Kevin K
, Fri, 6 Sep 2002 10:39:37 - Re: First Drives: 9-3 Linear & Vector (long), kpmviggen00, Fri, 6 Sep 2002 10:35:50
- Re: First Drives: 9-3 Linear & Vector (long), MichaelG, Fri, 6 Sep 2002 10:30:54
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