I like it
But then I do like Saabs. Someone at work has bought a fully loaded convertible 9-3, had a poke around and it seems nice. Enjoy it
At least it's a petrol right?
Complete change of heart - new priorities, new spec me
- Thread starter iaind
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At least it's a petrol right?
![[TW]Fox](/data/man-of-honor/2009.png){kind=avatar}
Except for the fact that... it is.Don't let anyone tell you it's a Vectra, it really isn't.
With a happy ending, for me at least - is that not what matters?
Always loved the 9-3 shape.
For comfort and power delivery my 9-5 blows away my 330ci, not sure how different the 9-3 is.
Don't let anyone tell you it's a Vectra, it really isn't.
Which 9-5 is it?
[TW]Fox;16187248 said:
About 0.5s slower with the autobox and 0.6s slower than the e46 328i auto (the closest in bhp I could find)...I'm not going to lose much sleep over that - it's not like I'm taking it to santa pod
Way to compare it to an engine developed in the mid 90's.
Nobody mentioned development time, just 0-60 time considering bhp
I love looking for cars, I think I like the search and the open possibilities better than the point where I have made a decision and committed to something
...as it's all over for a while then.I love looking for cars, I think I like the search and the open possibilities better than the point where I have made a decision and committed to something
I normally enjoy it, but this time it was more distressing because I just couldnt make my mind up about what I wanted. Normally I've made my mind up roughly which car I want and then it's the fun part of finding a good one, test driving etc.
I'm looking forward to some happy years of saab ownership
You do realise that peak bhp means relatively little in 0-60 sprints?
It's more to do with the actual power curve, maintaining torque, and not having power tail off.
So, as I said, way to compare it to a relatively simple engine developed in the mid 90's.
Everyone seems to be ...confused about his choice of an auto, yet it makes perfect sense to me. From personal experience I would say that a good auto is better to use for day to day driving than a manual is (I've no idea how good the auto in the Saab is though). Manual cars are great when you really want to 'drive' ...for the pleasure of it, but the vast majority of the time they aren't so great in my opinion/experience, it's just so much more relaxing driving an automatic on our usually congested roads.
My Leon's been off the road for the last 2 weeks and I've been using our 525d auto.
It's nice to waft along on the motorway, and in town the auto is fantastic but my word does it drink fuel, especially with my heavy foot. I was averaging 26 MPG in a diesel
I don't like the way it doesn't change up when I want it to though. It could be because the ECU has been programmed to my dad's driving, but the Steptronic is very useful and, in my opinion, more economical.
I've found that it's too easy to drive far too fast with an auto though as you just plant your foot and off you go, with no work required at all.
I thought driving an auto exec saloon about would calm my driving, but I don't think it has. Certainly not around town, anyway.
It's nice to waft along on the motorway, and in town the auto is fantastic but my word does it drink fuel, especially with my heavy foot. I was averaging 26 MPG in a diesel
I don't like the way it doesn't change up when I want it to though. It could be because the ECU has been programmed to my dad's driving, but the Steptronic is very useful and, in my opinion, more economical.
I've found that it's too easy to drive far too fast with an auto though as you just plant your foot and off you go, with no work required at all.
I thought driving an auto exec saloon about would calm my driving, but I don't think it has. Certainly not around town, anyway.
My Leon's been off the road for the last 2 weeks and I've been using our 525d auto.
It's nice to waft along on the motorway, and in town the auto is fantastic but my word does it drink fuel, especially with my heavy foot. I was averaging 26 MPG in a diesel
I don't like the way it doesn't change up when I want it to though. It could be because the ECU has been programmed to my dad's driving, but the Steptronic is very useful and, in my opinion, more economical.
I've found that it's too easy to drive far too fast with an auto though as you just plant your foot and off you go, with no work required at all.
I thought driving an auto exec saloon about would calm my driving, but I don't think it has. Certainly not around town, anyway.
You can make them change up when you want them to by using your right foot, it's hard to explain exactly but it's precisely how you modulate the peddle, a tiny shove at the right time etc can trigger it to shift down if you want. This does require you getting used to the car in question though. The BMW adaptive gearbox will have adapted to your driving style by now if you have been using it for a week.
I suspect your fuel consumption is so bad because you're just booting it to get it to shift down or some such, if you just plant your right foot it will be bad
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Why did you go for an auto?
I'm not really a fan of the new 9-3, but as I've never driven one I can't comment.
Enjoy it
I spend a lot of time in traffic, so as above - the downsides for the small amount of time I'd be able to make best use of a manual outweigh the benefits for the majority of the time I spend in a car
It's definitely a marmite car, but good job I like it
I really dont care about 0-60 times, let alone actually doing the sprint in my own car. It means very, very little to me.
If you must make a big deal about technicalities (missing the point I was trying to make), the 325i E90 develops about the same power and is about 1/2s slower...to which my response is still "meh". The original comment of "it develops xbhp but only does 0-60 in x" was by Fox, I was merely making a direct comparison based on those numbers, if you want to explain power curves and torque figures, you're directing it to the wrong person
Err no its no. The E90 325i Auto is almost a second quicker to 60 as well as delivering the same fuel economy.
Obviously 0-60 doesnt matter - I never said it did - but its the only available comparator and I was just suprised that a 30mpg combined 207bhp 'sport' saloon offered such derisory performance. Why pay the running costs associated with 200bhp+ saloons yet not benefit from the performance?
A 320 diesel is quicker!
Are all the automatics adaptive? This is a pre-LCI E60. Although it has become smoother recently. I know how to adjust the peddle to change gear.You can make them change up when you want them to by using your right foot, it's hard to explain exactly but it's precisely how you modulate the peddle, a tiny shove at the right time etc can trigger it to shift down if you want. This does require you getting used to the car in question though. The BMW adaptive gearbox will have adapted to your driving style by now if you have been using it for a week.
I suspect your fuel consumption is so bad because you're just booting it to get it to shift down or some such, if you just plant your right foot it will be bad
When I first got it, it would take forever to shift up. It has got quicker though.. Still not quick enough.
Regarding the 26MPG, I find it too easy to fly past 3,000rpm in that car. In my Leon I rarely go much above 3,000. I short shift almost all of the time.
And I have a very heavy foot. Although I reckon that booting it to 50mph uses less fuel than slowly accelerating to that speed as the BMW fuel consumption guage swings back to the low end much sooner with the former..
Fair point, I wish you many miles of happy motoringI spend a lot of time in traffic, so as above - the downsides for the small amount of time I'd be able to make best use of a manual outweigh the benefits for the majority of the time I spend in a car
It's definitely a marmite car, but good job I like it