FAO: Zak

[Howard]

Saabs rule

We got given a 9-5 estate Auto 2.3t Aero HOT as a hire car for work today (despite asking for something like a 1.6l auto). 256bhp and the same amount of torque, and good lord it's fast... The amount of midrange torque is almost dangerous, there is some violent torque steer at 80mph if you stomp it! And it's no surprise the front tyres are almost bald, it loses grip even in the dry from a standstill once the turbo spools up...

Me thinks that car would be better suited to AWD... I can't be alone surely?

[Moby-Dick]

theres a limit to the ammount of power you can sensibly put down through the front wheels

why waste transmission losses on AWD , just have RWD

best way to counteract torque steer is to stop being such a girl and hold on tighter

[Howard]

That's the way to do it if you don't wanna end up shaking hands with an Armco barrier

[Nemeliza]

I have heard horror stories about the torque steer on the 9.3 Aero's (2.8 V6 Turbo)

It is abit much to be putting through front wheels so its hardly surprising.

Torque steet at 80MPH ... lol, you need to slow down

[Zak33]

ahh.....I spot Thread of ther Week now

A 9-5 Aero is a beast, a great car, that's not as dangerous as you make out. But you're right....it's a handful if you're brutal with it

It's also a traditional Saab engine, unlike the 9-3 Aero V6 which is a Vauxhall/Saab engine (and not my favourite at all)

9-5's are good for many many things. Carrying people in immense comfort (those seats are incredible) very fast, for many miles.

They're also very good value. I'd have one over a 5 Series, put it that way, though it's not an E class.