Saab 9-5 Aero Estate
Discussion
petrolveins said:
Did have a look on eBay, seems I could get 4 good winter tyres with 4/5mm left on em for about £180, I'm liking this idea.
One thing to bear in mind is that (I've heard) winter tyres start to drop off in performance at higher tread levels than summer tyres so people change them sooner. Basically, at 4/5mm you might not have much useful life (by which I mean them performing significantly better than a comparable summer tyre) left.Synchromesh said:
One thing to bear in mind is that (I've heard) winter tyres start to drop off in performance at higher tread levels than summer tyres so people change them sooner. Basically, at 4/5mm you might not have much useful life (by which I mean them performing significantly better than a comparable summer tyre) left.
Actually yes; totally missed that part. - The tyre can't work properly (to displace water, snow etc.) if there's not enough tread and as we're talking about tyres that have to do just that, the amount of tread left is more important than summer tyres.Sometimes however, people will get rid of their spare winters (with loads of life left) when they sell their car. This is when you get a bargain. I'm always cautious of part-worn summer tyres though. - If they're still fine, why aren't they still on the car? If the car's been in a crunch, what have the tyres been through? You can't always tell by eye.
petrolveins said:
Hmmmmm... what to do? There are also some very unhelpful eBay sellers out there. 
I wouldn't be so concerned it it wasn't that I'm going to Ireland mid-December for a week. Cold, wet probably icy rural roads, 250bhp.
North or South? I'd love a look at your car if you're past my way.I wouldn't be so concerned it it wasn't that I'm going to Ireland mid-December for a week. Cold, wet probably icy rural roads, 250bhp.
petrolveins said:
Cold, wet probably icy rural roads, 250bhp.
surely the 250hp doesn't come into it unless your hooning? the solution would be fitting the narrowest, freshest winters possible? the beetle was awful with the FAT and quite new deep tread goodyears on but fantastic when i swapped them for the well used whitewalls? I know I don't have ANY high power winter driving expierence, but i've got heaps of low speed expeirence
Fattyfat said:
North or South? I'd love a look at your car if you're past my way.
South and mainly West Coast (Clare/Galway)ALThaus said:
surely the 250hp doesn't come into it unless your hooning? the solution would be fitting the narrowest, freshest winters possible? the beetle was awful with the FAT and quite new deep tread goodyears on but fantastic when i swapped them for the well used whitewalls?
I know I don't have ANY high power winter driving expierence, but i've got heaps of low speed expeirence
This is me, I'm always hooning (or using full throttle a lot of the time at least)I know I don't have ANY high power winter driving expierence, but i've got heaps of low speed expeirence
Skinny tyres would mean new wheels, which I don't want to buy, but it would look superb on some skinny steel wheels, proper winter spec! (Shuffles off to eBay to look)
Mr E said:
No, but big gobs of turbo torque turn up pretty frequently, and it's torque that spins the wheels.
Even in 3rd gear as I found out today. Just had a look at your 9-5 Aero looks lovely, need more pics. Elise is lovely too, very much on my radar alongside TVR as contender next year.Mr E said:
No, but big gobs of turbo torque turn up pretty frequently, and it's torque that spins the wheels.
True, i have no idea what it's like to drive, was just pondering how suddenly or not the torque arrives and weather it would be that much of an unpredictable issue. petrolveins said:
Skinny tyres would mean new wheels, which I don't want to buy, but it would look superb on some skinny steel wheels, proper winter spec! (Shuffles off to eBay to look)
YES Tom, just yes!petrolveins said:
Mr E said:
No, but big gobs of turbo torque turn up pretty frequently, and it's torque that spins the wheels.
Even in 3rd gear as I found out today. Just had a look at your 9-5 Aero looks lovely, need more pics. Elise is lovely too, very much on my radar alongside TVR as contender next year.Original thread here;
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
The wheels are pretty badly kerbed and are bubbling.
The paint is poor on the leading edges and I recently masked up the front of the car to polished the lights. When I removed the tape, this happened;
And someone has nicked the badge and I'm still awaiting a replacement.
Mechanically still sound and the interior is still good. It does the family wagon job rather well.
The Lotus is quite splendid and criminally underused.
Looks really nice, love the walnut trim too. Silver is a bit dull in mine.
Gotta say I'm falling for this car a lot, which is annoying as I'm meant to be selling in March when my E350 arrives.
On the tyre front, I think I'm going to be brave and try the new Uniroyal RainSport 3s recently released, they are a tad cheaper than the Vredsteins Ultrac Sessantas I've had before. I like the idea of maximum grip in the wet.
Gotta say I'm falling for this car a lot, which is annoying as I'm meant to be selling in March when my E350 arrives.
On the tyre front, I think I'm going to be brave and try the new Uniroyal RainSport 3s recently released, they are a tad cheaper than the Vredsteins Ultrac Sessantas I've had before. I like the idea of maximum grip in the wet.
Ved said:
Spot on posh-shed motoring and a bargain price too. I've seen once for £750 with 220k on the clock but to be honest that wouldn't put me off with the right history. £5 says you keep it beyond March 
Let's be clear on this, new car may be delayed to april. But £5 is mine if the Saab gets sold when the E350 fuel of lucifer machine arrives! 
Mr E said:
petrolveins said:
Gotta say I'm falling for this car a lot, which is annoying as I'm meant to be selling in March when my E350 arrives.
Depressingly we're also considering an E350. Estate, obviously.Had a CLS350 CDI recently and loved it, though obviously I would need a big V8 with a manual gearbox to balance it.
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