Saab Turbo X

[Zak33]

I do know all about it.... well...a little

i'm more intrigued as to why they mailed you on it...maybe you're on a prospective mail campaign list that we brought in?

But onto the car....

Lets first knock the Vectra thing on the head. It has Vectra parts, such as door handles, but the chassis thing is irrelevent. I own a Mark 3 Astra that will outhandle any Mark 5 Astra or tbh a BMW 3 series....

It's sorted. But its old.

So the age, or even "pedigree" of the "chassis" means nowt. A Pug 106 is ancient....but it is sublime. Saab 93 and Vectra don't feel similar at all.

Saab have launched a twin turbo V6 with a proper 4x4 system. Vauxhall have nothing like it. It is supermely neutral. That means Mr TVR /BMW far wont love it...cos it wont go wiggly. But they also wont smack it up so easily.

But....if you wanted to go from A to B ...and then C...and then onto Z on a long long day of driving, in all weathers.....this kiddy will be the KING!!

The torque split front to rear is predictive, because the programmers realised that there aint no point waiting for the front wheels to spin....if the car is stationary, load the back wheels BEFORE anyone opens the Loud Tap....

I have to be honest...the thing is a monster but apparently behaves like a well trained labrador. And as Rave points out, it's supreme value for money. I'e not had the pleasure yet. my bosses have. They are happier than happy people who are winning the happy competition.

500 cars is the really pity.... so few.

Most of the dealers have already sold a couple each, so the remaining few will prolly be gone fairly soon...and there are none to drive yet!

[Zak33]

by the way..... Saab still dont have any pretense of competing with BMW or Merc, or Audi...or Skoda...or Ford....

They just do....there own thing. Most people who buy them, do for that reason.

And the vaue.....the value is amazing.

TTiD for example...

[Rave]

Lets first knock the Vectra thing on the head. It has Vectra parts, such as door handles, but the chassis thing is irrelevent. I own a Mark 3 Astra that will outhandle any Mark 5 Astra or tbh a BMW 3 series....

It's sorted. But its old.

So the age, or even "pedigree" of the "chassis" means nowt. A Pug 106 is ancient....but it is sublime. Saab 93 and Vectra don't feel similar at all.

Yes but- your Astra has....a rollcage. Which probably does a bit to improve its stiffness. That's one of the big benefits of the huge improvements in computing power over the years and thus the power of Finite Element Analysis- stiffer structures and/or less weight.

Autocar were less than complementary about the base model 9-3 in their group test last week. I freely admit that my experience of driving cars less than ten years old extends to- three or four hire cars, in my entire lifetime. So my opinion is by definition secondhand, and that said- my impression of Saab at the moment is that they're selling badly out of date machinery at a fairly premium price. I don't think GM have invested anything like enough in the brand. I hope you won't take this personally Zak as I know they're your employer and you're keen on them. I really do hope the Turbo X is a great car, because I like fast cars, and I like competition.

I hope to buy a Saab soon actually- a 2.3 turbo 9000 (an Aero if I can find one at the right price). It'll then get treated to a remap. And, I suppose if I've got any sense, some refreshed brakes, proper tyres, and maybe some polybushes and Bilsteins to go with its 320bhp.

[dave87]

Erm- Saab £32k, Audi £50k? Of course it's not going to beat it the RS4, that doesn't mean that it's poor value for money.

Although it is apparently based on the previous generation Vectra.

I'm sure they drop a little second hand. And aren't they capable of quite a few more horsies?

Your second point is a fair one though.

[Saracen]

Thanks, Zak.

....

i'm more intrigued as to why they mailed you on it...maybe you're on a prospective mail campaign list that we brought in?

If so, they obviously don't know my reaction to junk mail. Let's just say my reaction to unsolicited mail is not positive.

The only reason I can think of is if it's come from a company I've dealt with in the past that also has a Saab dealership, like the Malaya group. But the mailshot seems to have come from Saab, not a dealer. And if it was Malaya, they were certainly told that under no circumstances whatever were my details to be used for any form of direct marketing, and most definitely were not to be given to anyone else. I'd be surprised if that were the source.

By "we have brought in", do you work for Saab, Zak? If so, you (the company, I mean) might want to reevaluate the criteria the people who generate your lists use, because I'm certainly not in the market for a car, and if I were, frankly, Saab don't interest me at all. And even if they did, mailing me is more likely to turn me off than raise my interest. Oh, and I'm on the MPS, too.

[Saracen]

by the way..... Saab still dont have any pretense of competing with BMW or Merc, or Audi...or Skoda...or Ford....

They just do....there own thing. Most people who buy them, do for that reason.

Maybe most people that don't, don't for that reason, too.

[Zak33]

Yes but- your Astra has....a rollcage. Which probably does a bit to improve its stiffness. That's one of the big benefits of the huge improvements in computing power over the years and thus the power of Finite Element Analysis- stiffer structures and/or less weight.

Autocar were less than complementary about the base model 9-3 in their group test last week. I freely admit that my experience of driving cars less than ten years old extends to- three or four hire cars, in my entire lifetime. So my opinion is by definition secondhand, and that said- my impression of Saab at the moment is that they're selling badly out of date machinery at a fairly premium price. I don't think GM have invested anything like enough in the brand. I hope you won't take this personally Zak as I know they're your employer and you're keen on them. I really do hope the Turbo X is a great car, because I like fast cars, and I like competition.

I hope to buy a Saab soon actually- a 2.3 turbo 9000 (an Aero if I can find one at the right price). It'll then get treated to a remap. And, I suppose if I've got any sense, some refreshed brakes, proper tyres, and maybe some polybushes and Bilsteins to go with its 320bhp.

well....the list prices are premium....but go see what you can find pre reg

And one year old is ... amazing value. Stonking amazing, mind bending value.

The 93 Turbo X is only going to do great things for us, because it can't be a bad thing. It's fast, good value for the competition, and different enough to be on many shopping lists

I dont agree on the road tests....but then most people know I disagree with a lot of road tests that I read. Agenda, political and otherwise, influence road tests far too much. The 93 is a great range, and I for one, would choose a 93 over a Vectra every day of the week. 93 steering response, in my quite good experience now, is not as direct at latest Vectra but Saab coujld sort that if they wanted. Would be very easy. But the car is so neutral as to be worthy of leaving alone for a while.

[Saracen]

My problem with Saab, and it's a very personal viewpoint, is that I just don't like the styling.

I don't know how good they are, or how good value even. I've never looked closely enough to find out. I don't even know what they look like inside. I don't know what it is about therm. I used to class Saab and Volvo as both in the "not for me" category, but even Volvo come up with some decent-looking cars these days.

I can't see me ever buying one, unless things change radically, essentially 'cos I think they're butt-ugly.

Oh, and by the way, I ditched the mailshot. I wasn't even interested enough to stick the USB thingy in the 'puter to have a look. Nor would I, had it been Ferrari, or Porsche, or Merc or BMW.