Discussion
Tailgate a lorry for 40 miles on the motorway and you'll get close to 40mpg! I somehow managed to get from the middle of London back home with the fuel light on all the way, display said I had 8 miles left before I put half my wages back in. That was on a 9000, it was a very boring journey though.
Great engines, very comfortable cruising and lots of power when you want it, mine just doesn't do cornering though. It's not just bad, it's scary. Enjoy it
Great engines, very comfortable cruising and lots of power when you want it, mine just doesn't do cornering though. It's not just bad, it's scary. Enjoy it
7000 miles and 2.5 month update:
I have been threatening to sell it for the past month as I was shelling out an awful lot of cash on fuel, Circa €550/600pcm! but I was made redundant a few weeks ago so its staying.
It is a lovely car, in fact my OH loves it more than I do which is ironic considering she thought I was mad to buy it.
Impressions:
Exterior: It has taken some time 'get' its looks as its neither aggressive nor elegant, its more of a pacifist, unassuming if you will. However I do think that it looks both newer and more expensive that it actually is. Worth noting that the headlamps are excellent!
Interior: Really very nice place indeed. The heated seats are a treat in this weather and warm a supremely comfortable seat quickly, its wearing very well and nothing rattles or squeaks (pet hate of mine). Everything works as it should and the SID display remains faultless. I only wish the rear seat heaters heat your back as well as your bum but you cant have everything I guess. Harmon Kardon sound system is very good if not perfect, it seems to be optimized for listeners in the front as apposed to the rear were it is a little too 'bassy' to properly enjoy. oh and a HUGE boot!
Engine and Gearbox: Torque!!, this thing flies! and not thrashy in the slightest, it feels quite effortless, which I like, its nothing like a ATR etc. The gearbox is the the only flaw really, Its the 5speed auto, which 90% of the time its fine, shifts smoothly etc but its the other 10% that I find find frustrating, it lacks enthusiasm if that makes sense and not suited to B-Road blasts as it turns hooning into hard braking and wheelspinning (unintentially btw). One thing I will say though is that its the only car I have owned that seems unaffected buy weight and load, 5 people and a boot load of gear and it seems to pull as it would with just me onbourd, very impressive actually, makes for light work.
Brakes and suspension: EBC greenstuff with Brembo drilled and grooved discs sound good but not really all that impressive, don't get me wrong, they always stop me its just that don't 'feel' powerful through the peddle. Will look into a different set up come renewal. The suspension is admittedly comfort based but then like I said earlier this is not a ATR. I will also look into upgrading this with a Eibach/Koni parts.
So far its not cost me a penny other than copious amounts of juice.
I have contacted 'Noobtune' aka Karl to see what other magic he can wave over it in the form of a stage 3 upgrade etc, as I am all to used to the stage 1 now.
Will keep this updated.
I have been threatening to sell it for the past month as I was shelling out an awful lot of cash on fuel, Circa €550/600pcm! but I was made redundant a few weeks ago so its staying.
It is a lovely car, in fact my OH loves it more than I do which is ironic considering she thought I was mad to buy it.
Impressions:
Exterior: It has taken some time 'get' its looks as its neither aggressive nor elegant, its more of a pacifist, unassuming if you will. However I do think that it looks both newer and more expensive that it actually is. Worth noting that the headlamps are excellent!
Interior: Really very nice place indeed. The heated seats are a treat in this weather and warm a supremely comfortable seat quickly, its wearing very well and nothing rattles or squeaks (pet hate of mine). Everything works as it should and the SID display remains faultless. I only wish the rear seat heaters heat your back as well as your bum but you cant have everything I guess. Harmon Kardon sound system is very good if not perfect, it seems to be optimized for listeners in the front as apposed to the rear were it is a little too 'bassy' to properly enjoy. oh and a HUGE boot!
Engine and Gearbox: Torque!!, this thing flies! and not thrashy in the slightest, it feels quite effortless, which I like, its nothing like a ATR etc. The gearbox is the the only flaw really, Its the 5speed auto, which 90% of the time its fine, shifts smoothly etc but its the other 10% that I find find frustrating, it lacks enthusiasm if that makes sense and not suited to B-Road blasts as it turns hooning into hard braking and wheelspinning (unintentially btw). One thing I will say though is that its the only car I have owned that seems unaffected buy weight and load, 5 people and a boot load of gear and it seems to pull as it would with just me onbourd, very impressive actually, makes for light work.
Brakes and suspension: EBC greenstuff with Brembo drilled and grooved discs sound good but not really all that impressive, don't get me wrong, they always stop me its just that don't 'feel' powerful through the peddle. Will look into a different set up come renewal. The suspension is admittedly comfort based but then like I said earlier this is not a ATR. I will also look into upgrading this with a Eibach/Koni parts.
So far its not cost me a penny other than copious amounts of juice.
I have contacted 'Noobtune' aka Karl to see what other magic he can wave over it in the form of a stage 3 upgrade etc, as I am all to used to the stage 1 now.
Will keep this updated.
Had it serviced yesterday as it had done 6k since its last one.
-Sump Dropped and cleaned, although not needed as it was perfectly clear.
-Rear pads - Mintek
-Gearbox flushed
-Oil
-Plugs - Replaced the expensive Iridium plugs which were gaped at the recommended 1.1mm with NGK BCR7ES plugs but gaped at 0.9mm instead which was recommended to me by Karl at Noobtune, he said it would make the car less sensitive to regular fuel (these are tuned to run on super unleaded).
My god was he right, the Saab was always quick but its swear out loud fast now, the quickest it has ever been and now I can feel the tune, AMAZING DIFFERENCE!!!
I cannot believe the difference it has made to the cars performance, chuffed to bits.
-Sump Dropped and cleaned, although not needed as it was perfectly clear.
-Rear pads - Mintek
-Gearbox flushed
-Oil
-Plugs - Replaced the expensive Iridium plugs which were gaped at the recommended 1.1mm with NGK BCR7ES plugs but gaped at 0.9mm instead which was recommended to me by Karl at Noobtune, he said it would make the car less sensitive to regular fuel (these are tuned to run on super unleaded).
My god was he right, the Saab was always quick but its swear out loud fast now, the quickest it has ever been and now I can feel the tune, AMAZING DIFFERENCE!!!
I cannot believe the difference it has made to the cars performance, chuffed to bits.
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