Saab faster than 911 Turbo - Top gear claim

[andyvdg]

I thought I heard it right. Now if I remember correctly Volvo and Saab used to claim that their turboed cars would accelerate faster than a 'rrari - but if you looked at the small print is was in 4th gear from 50-75 or something like that. But I'm sure I heard Clarkson say that in 2nd gear a Saab will accelerate faster than a 911 Turbo from 30-70 mph. That must be bo11ocks, mustn't it ?

Any facts would be helpful as I have a smug Saab owner at work here....

Cheers,

Andy.

[docevi1]

it was 40-70 in second gear.

[granville]

docevi1 said:

it was 40-70 in second gear.

Testicolata scratchismo.

[Buffalo]

Saab has always marketted its turbo cars as faster than a 911 (in certain gears and between certain speeds) - it has always been true too as far as i know.

they are truely stunning in the right gear at the right revs!

Obviously outside of this small margin the 911 has the saab licked, but the saab has it where it counts! 3rd and 4th gear acceleration times are also very respectable.

>> Edited by Buffalo on Monday 10th November 17:05

[v8thunder]

Testiculata Scratchismo? Is that a new Ferrari?

>> Edited by v8thunder on Monday 10th November 17:01

[pesty]

Best way to wipe the smile off a smug Saab driver?

Ask him how much hes lost in depreciation in the last year

Sorry but ive known a few now, one of them really anoyed me But he mysteriously went quiet when he sold it

[docevi1]

thats what I was wondering.

[dazren]

I find the statement hard to believe. Although if anyone wants to chuck me the keys to the Saab I'll have a go and report back.

DAZ
(Er After last weekend, Miniman can comment on the 996tt being caned through 2nd 3rd and 4th from about 20mph upwards.)

>> Edited by dazren on Monday 10th November 17:05

[raf dug]

What you have to remember here is that clarkson hates 911's I have a video of his where he blows one up by dropping a caravan full of butane gas on it,so he might be biased.

[JonRB]

derestrictor said:

Testicolata scratchismo.

Buono estente! Ethethhtheth ethethetheth Chris Waddle. Scorchio.

(For the few who haven't got a clue what I'm talking about, click here)

[Matt_T16]

Drive Mine

[dazren]

Matt, hasn't yours has been modded.

DAZ

[Mad Dave]

raf dug said:

What you have to remember here is that clarkson hates 911's I have a video of his where he blows one up by dropping a caravan full of butane gas on it,so he might be biased.

Other way around mate - he dropped the 911 into a Caravan.

He also dropped a Piano on it, drove it into a wall, shot it with a 12bore and poured acid over it!

[ew_topcat]

i was driving my 1993 911 turbo this morning down the 303 and came across 8 saab turbos none of whom fancied putting their saab to the test!!! I just smiled to my self and know its not true, blooming sweeds!!

[AC79xxx]

Any big turbo motor will take longer to spool up off boost than a small turbo'd motor.

The point was proven the day after a Stella fuelled Friday night debate whether my Fiat Uno turbo could out accelerate my mate's Escort Cossie in 3rd gear 30-60mph.

The outcome was Fiat 1 - Ford 0

[Boosted LS1]

They are quick at certain points. I've read tests where the 9000 2.3 T clearly out accellerated a Testerossa in several magazines. As for depreciation, buy an old one for £300 and thrash that.

[raf dug]

Mad Dave said:

raf dug said: What you have to remember here is that clarkson hates 911's I have a video of his where he blows one up by dropping a caravan full of butane gas on it,so he might be biased. Other way around mate - he dropped the 911 into a Caravan. He also dropped a Piano on it, drove it into a wall, shot it with a 12bore and poured acid over it!

Yeah your right mate i forgot i have lent the video to a mate.brilliant video though id love that buggatti,and he does hate 911's with a passion.

[domster]

All these 'family saloon murders supercar' claims are great, but just marketing hype. I should know - I currently work for one of Saab's ad agencies

It's simple.

You find a car like a Zastava Shitpot Turbo Diesel 1.9 that can't pull the skin off tepid Ambrosia.

You measure the time from 40-60 mph etc in a suitable gear (let's say top gear as this makes the claim more impressive). It may take 20 seconds in top for the spooled up 4 speed Zastava to crawl through the increment.

You then get a Ferrari Enzo, with 6 speeds, that would shake its engine off its mountings at 40mph in top. So you do, and watch it splutter from 1k revs to 2k revs until it gets to 60mph 21 seconds later.

Then you write a headline that says:

"The new Zastava Shitpot. Quicker than a Ferrari Enzo*."

*small print needs to go in, obviously

Technically it is true. But in reality it is an unfair comparison as normally one car suits the rev range and speed increment better than the other.

If a Saab beat a Ferrari from 0-120 through the gears I would certainly pay attention tho'

[DustyC]

but the speed range in which the saab is geared it is easier to have faster acceleration.

For example the saab designed to accelerate from 40-70 in 2nd/3rd (whatever) gear.

The Porker is probably desigend to accelerate from 70 to 100 in the same gear.

The real test should be testing the acceleration in the same gear RATIO. Not just the number on the gear knob!

BTW:
I can out-accelerate a Ferrari F40 to 10 MPH on my push bike in 6th gear.

Edited: Domster, if I had hit the enter button just marginally quicker I would have beat you to it!

>> Edited by DustyC on Monday 10th November 17:39

[v8thunder]

raf dug said:

Mad Dave said: raf dug said: What you have to remember here is that clarkson hates 911's I have a video of his where he blows one up by dropping a caravan full of butane gas on it,so he might be biased. If you look though, it's not a 911 - it's a knackered 912 with a dodgy Carrera RS bodykit, probably worth next to nothing. Other way around mate - he dropped the 911 into a Caravan. He also dropped a Piano on it, drove it into a wall, shot it with a 12bore and poured acid over it! Yeah your right mate i forgot i have lent the video to a mate.brilliant video though id love that buggatti,and he does hate 911's with a passion.