Comments on: Edmunds provide puzzling Saab Turbo X road test

By: uncle fester

uncle fester — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 04:41:06 +0000

I’ve had my TurboX for two months now and I agree with Barry:
– My butt would hit the seat memory buttons on the way in/out of the car, so I just programmed all of them to be the same
– I have the annoying sunroof rattle on hotter days. It is actually very annoying. Now that fall is coming and days are cooler, my car is nice and quiet. There were significant improvements to ride noise/interior quality from my MY2006 9-3. This car rides very quietly and solidly.
– I like the exhaust note. I agree that it could be less boomy, but I particularly like the exhaust note at start-up.
– I agree with the Edmunds reviewer – the stereo sounds great when listening to a CD (or iPod), but is mediocre when listening to XM or the radio.
– Cup Holders? For me, the center console cup holder is adequate. No complaints.
– I really enjoy driving the car in Sport mode (I have an automatic). Makes the car much more zippy. To get the most out of this engine (particularly the way they tuned it), you need to be in the 3000+ RPM range – if you stay here, the car pulls and pulls.

I don’t like Saab/GM’s practice of high sticker/high discount pricing, but at the end of the day, I too received a nice chunk off the sticker price. At the end of the day, one needs to be happy with the car that they bought for the price they bought it at. I am happy with the car for the price I paid. A similarly equipped 328xi would have been 20% more expensive (similarly equipped is almost $49k), less powerful (no turbo butt-torque) and much blander in styling. No doubt the BMW is a nice car with a great ride, but I will take my unique Turbo X any day over the BMW for $40k.

By: Dippen

Dippen — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 09:48:19 +0000

2008 Saab Turbo X XWD: Still A Jet At Heart

http://www.canyon-news.com/artman2/publish/kyleskars/2008_Saab_Turbo_X_XWD_Still_a_Jet_at_Heart.php

By: Kroum

Kroum — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 04:00:31 +0000

Ken, it’s beyond me how you don’t like the exhaust note.

I dread the oncoming winter just because I won’t be able to drive with my windows down. Looney Tunes!

By: Barry

Barry — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 02:45:06 +0000

Well having owned my Turbo X std sedan now for 3+ months, I can truly talk about a few things I don’t like about it. Or I could write 20 pages of what I love …

Exhaust note: don’t LOVE it in the infamous zone, especially when the windows are all closed, or all open. When just the fronts are open, it seems to be cancelled out enough. I don’t mind loud, it’s just the frequencies in this case are boomy. I wish it were a little more raspy. Would I change it ? I’ld rather spend the money on some Advil and save the change for the BSR stage 1 (coming soon because I like torque below 2000 RPM ).

Cup holders … I’m too busy having fun driving the car to be drinking anything .. no seriously, I actually liked the cup holder from my 9-5 better but this one is OK not great. The console cup holder actually works better for me.

Rattles: Only one Im looking into; it seems the plastic trip on the inside lip of the sunroof surround crackles a bit when driving on hot days (and maybe cold ones too). Are there any other rattles ? Not yet.

Gas mileage: If I PLAY, I PAY, 22 MPG here in the USA. If I’m careful, 26. If I’m frugal, 29. Yep it’s possible. I don’t live in the city. Wouldn’t want a car like this living or commuting in the city. Mostly back roads and highways.

Ergonomics: Only two that bug me. 1) I seem to brush my butt against the seat memory buttons when I get out so I wind up pressing my wife’s program. OUCH. I replicated my program to all buttons . 2) The driver window switches are too far back and my elboe bangs in the side bolsters … I suppose if I was 50 lbs lighter it wouldnt be an issue but so is life.

Price: I knew it would be a little high. I accepted it to some degree after accepting theover elevated price of the V6 compared to the 4cyl in general. Compared to the competition ? Well maybe they can’t touch Japan, but the BMW 335xi with ALL the options the SAAB has, costs at least 6K more in the USA. And I did manage to get a June extra rebate from GM that took an additional $3500 off. Is it right to over price and rebate ? NO.

Barry

By: Beren Erchamion

Beren Erchamion — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 01:29:20 +0000

Good luck on the change Ken – to each his own. I love the sound, but I would be shocked if a decent shop couldn’t set you up with something silent and silky.

I’ll never forget when I first heard the car…I almost cried Grrrr…

By: SaabLance

SaabLance — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 20:48:01 +0000

Second and third points on this and most other Turbo-X reviews:Why are almost all of these reviews being done on Auto.Trans.equipped models.I’ve driven both AT and Man. equipped and the manual trans.smokes the automatic (0-60 in 7.4…are you kidding me?!?!?).And then to make matters worse they feel compelled apparently to use the steering wheel mounted shift paddles.Believe me when I say that the shift lag they always comment on is NOT there when you become adept at “flicking” the shifter when in the sentronic gate.I base that on 3 years in a 2.0T Vector and the last 4 months driving a 2.8 Aero.

By: Ken B

Ken B — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 14:55:29 +0000

BrianL, I am eagerly awaiting the arrival of the Aero XWD to see how it sounds. If it’s quiet, I may approach the dealer again about a fix.

Beren, I heard those audio clips, but I swear that it’s louder on the inside than the outside.

Zippy, no trades — I may hate the noise and the gas mileage, but I love the ride. I’m pretty sure that some of my mileage deficiency is due to how much fun I had at the TurboX Driving Academy and my daily attempts to replicate it on the way to work and back.

By: Francoism

Francoism — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 13:24:53 +0000

My Volvo S4o T5 had worst cup holders than my new Turbo X. I’m actually glad that my car can’t accommodate giant “Big Slurpees” and other oversized drinks. If you want a 2L coffee mug: get a Ford Expedition.

By: Joe Lobo

Joe Lobo — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 10:39:10 +0000

Well guys I can now submit comments with a degree of assertion as I am driving one. Still scared to push but amazed by the engineering end result of this car. I would refute the fuel consumption as being poor unless you are clearly pushing it hard. The car has so much torque that in city conditions they may as well remove 1st gear and make 2nd gear the one to take off. The car is simply to stable and with so much traction that you don’t need to push more than 3 mm or so on the accelerator to feel the punch otherwise your petrol costs are going to be miniscule compared to the fines you’ll be clocking.

By: Joel

Joel — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 04:57:17 +0000

I hate Edmunds so much. I disregard any of their brain-dead reviews