Comments on: Volvo throw down a performance gauntlet – in Australia http://inside.saab.com/volvo-throw-down-a-performance-gauntlet-in-australia/ Lorum Ipsum tagline Tue, 27 Dec 2011 02:03:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.1 By: Anonymous http://inside.saab.com/volvo-throw-down-a-performance-gauntlet-in-australia/#comment-5612 Anonymous Fri, 16 Dec 2011 13:17:00 +0000 http://inside.saab.com/?p=4341#comment-5612 Ah, the 900 Aero. Well, that's another issue. Ah, the 900 Aero. Well, that’s another issue.

]]> By: David Blumberg http://inside.saab.com/volvo-throw-down-a-performance-gauntlet-in-australia/#comment-5611 David Blumberg Fri, 16 Dec 2011 12:32:00 +0000 http://inside.saab.com/?p=4341#comment-5611 Indeed, whole-heartedly agree. I see two 900 Aero's (known to me as T16S) parked side-by-side on my way to work. Both are absolutely immaculate and look just stunning in their full Aero outfit. I hope I'll spot the owner one day and can go for a little test drive :) Anyway, my point was that Saab needs to build a modern equivalent to the 900 Aero. It MUST have the same effect on people as the 900 did back in the days. That's my new-years wish! Indeed, whole-heartedly agree. I see two 900 Aero’s (known to me as T16S) parked side-by-side on my way to work. Both are absolutely immaculate and look just stunning in their full Aero outfit. I hope I’ll spot the owner one day and can go for a little test drive :)

Anyway, my point was that Saab needs to build a modern equivalent to the 900 Aero. It MUST have the same effect on people as the 900 did back in the days. That’s my new-years wish!

]]> By: Anonymous http://inside.saab.com/volvo-throw-down-a-performance-gauntlet-in-australia/#comment-5610 Anonymous Fri, 16 Dec 2011 12:25:00 +0000 http://inside.saab.com/?p=4341#comment-5610 Steven Great post. I agree the standard Turbo X was more a Madras than the full Vindaloo, but that was easily remedied with the Hirch upgrade to 300bhp, which took my manual Turbo X to 0-60mph pretty much on 5.0sec dead and it was ferociously fast through 2nd to 4th from 30mph to 70mph - dare I say it going into M3 / RS4 territory and definitely a far cut above the top of the range 335i  or 3.0T BMW / Audi models of the day. I still miss mine terribly (even though I have the significant consolation of a Hirsch-tuned 2.8T Aero 9-5 now). And finally, the Turbo X exhaust note was the best even at idle - my 2 year old daughter (at the tiem) always knew when Dad was pulling up home from that unmistakable noise. Finally, slightly off topic, I was delighted to see a fully Hirsched 9-5 2.8T XWD in Fjord Blue when travelling in Hong Kong last week. I must admit I has rim envy when I saw the 20" alloys on that beauty. Steven

Great post. I agree the standard Turbo X was more a Madras than the full Vindaloo, but that was easily remedied with the Hirch upgrade to 300bhp, which took my manual Turbo X to 0-60mph pretty much on 5.0sec dead and it was ferociously fast through 2nd to 4th from 30mph to 70mph – dare I say it going into M3 / RS4 territory and definitely a far cut above the top of the range 335i  or 3.0T BMW / Audi models of the day. I still miss mine terribly (even though I have the significant consolation of a Hirsch-tuned 2.8T Aero 9-5 now). And finally, the Turbo X exhaust note was the best even at idle - my 2 year old daughter (at the tiem) always knew when Dad was pulling up home from that unmistakable noise.

Finally, slightly off topic, I was delighted to see a fully Hirsched 9-5 2.8T XWD in Fjord Blue when travelling in Hong Kong last week. I must admit I has rim envy when I saw the 20″ alloys on that beauty.

]]> By: Robert Newton http://inside.saab.com/volvo-throw-down-a-performance-gauntlet-in-australia/#comment-5608 Robert Newton Thu, 15 Dec 2011 21:42:00 +0000 http://inside.saab.com/?p=4341#comment-5608 The T16S was the full fat turbo, you are confusing it with the 900S. The T16S is probably the finest SAAB ever made. (Yes Ok, I've had mine for the better part of 20years) The T16S was the full fat turbo, you are confusing it with the 900S. The T16S is probably the finest SAAB ever made. (Yes Ok, I’ve had mine for the better part of 20years)

]]> By: Anonymous http://inside.saab.com/volvo-throw-down-a-performance-gauntlet-in-australia/#comment-5604 Anonymous Thu, 15 Dec 2011 14:21:00 +0000 http://inside.saab.com/?p=4341#comment-5604 S? I have one of those. S is said to stand for "snik" (cheap) as it used a low pressure turbo and had no turbo pressure gauge. In some markets it was called EcoPower. While it gives good mileage it's not that impressive. Talking about the Aussie market there was the Saab 900 Enduro available there. S? I have one of those. S is said to stand for “snik” (cheap) as it used a low pressure turbo and had no turbo pressure gauge. In some markets it was called EcoPower.
While it gives good mileage it’s not that impressive.

Talking about the Aussie market there was the Saab 900 Enduro available there.

]]> By: David Blumberg http://inside.saab.com/volvo-throw-down-a-performance-gauntlet-in-australia/#comment-5600 David Blumberg Thu, 15 Dec 2011 12:58:00 +0000 http://inside.saab.com/?p=4341#comment-5600 There's only one solution. Introducing the Saab 900 T16 S. You know what will happen when you see it on your rear-view mirror. You just know.  There’s only one solution. Introducing the Saab 900 T16 S. You know what will happen when you see it on your rear-view mirror. You just know. 

]]> By: greg j http://inside.saab.com/volvo-throw-down-a-performance-gauntlet-in-australia/#comment-5599 greg j Thu, 15 Dec 2011 12:37:00 +0000 http://inside.saab.com/?p=4341#comment-5599 Interesting move by Volvo Australia. Competitive price-hp outcome. Unsure about the S60 but the V60 looks good in the flesh. Will help to keep customers engaged by offering some affordable "execlusivity". Unsure where Saab Australia should go when things get going again. The Australian market is very price sensitive and Saab dealers will have some hard years ahead. Lack of competition [dealers] is a major drawback. Before i sold out i was quoted AUD$400 for a replacement dame edna key...good work swade... Interesting move by Volvo Australia. Competitive price-hp outcome. Unsure about the S60 but the V60 looks good in the flesh. Will help to keep customers engaged by offering some affordable “execlusivity”. Unsure where Saab Australia should go when things get going again. The Australian market is very price sensitive and Saab dealers will have some hard years ahead. Lack of competition [dealers] is a major drawback. Before i sold out i was quoted AUD$400 for a replacement dame edna key…good work swade…

]]> By: Sapan Dhora http://inside.saab.com/volvo-throw-down-a-performance-gauntlet-in-australia/#comment-5593 Sapan Dhora Thu, 15 Dec 2011 04:37:00 +0000 http://inside.saab.com/?p=4341#comment-5593 Only one Problem here Volvo does not offer any more manual transmissions unless you get the Small C30 Hatch. I could say the Same about the 9-5 with the 2.8L V6 but I guess thats a luxury model and they didn't think to offer it in manual form. Only one Problem here Volvo does not offer any more manual transmissions unless you get the Small C30 Hatch. I could say the Same about the 9-5 with the 2.8L V6 but I guess thats a luxury model and they didn’t think to offer it in manual form.

]]> By: Anonymous http://inside.saab.com/volvo-throw-down-a-performance-gauntlet-in-australia/#comment-5592 Anonymous Thu, 15 Dec 2011 03:32:00 +0000 http://inside.saab.com/?p=4341#comment-5592 a bit more food for thought - I was finishing holiday shopping at Woodbury Common (NY State - USA) and met two charming Swedish couples - when they said they were from Sweden, I said so is my car - they are hoping and so must we - they haven't given up, we cannot either. a bit more food for thought – I was finishing holiday shopping at Woodbury Common (NY State – USA) and met two charming Swedish couples – when they said they were from Sweden, I said so is my car – they are hoping and so must we – they haven’t given up, we cannot either.

]]> By: Andy Rupert http://inside.saab.com/volvo-throw-down-a-performance-gauntlet-in-australia/#comment-5591 Andy Rupert Thu, 15 Dec 2011 03:02:00 +0000 http://inside.saab.com/?p=4341#comment-5591 Being that I work at a Volvo/Mercedes dealership, your comments made me smile. Every time an S60R or V70R comes in, I want to take it out for a drive. They are amazing machines. I have yet to drive a Polestar S60 T6 yet, though, since it is installed after the car is sold. But after driving the T6, an additional 25 hp would only make a great thing even better. Have you ever driven a 900 SPG? I put an SPG APC box in my 900T and it only bumped it up 5 hp. But ... the difference was night and day! It was incredible! So, don't get too worried about the numbers, just enjoy the added performance. I do hope that SAAB both survives, becomes profitable, and eventually offers some competition to the likes of AMG, M-Series, and R-Design. That will be a happy day. But I'm not sure how soon that should be with the way things have been going. Maybe once production starts again and a good year is under the belt, SAAB can think about branching out a bit. Being that I work at a Volvo/Mercedes dealership, your comments made me smile. Every time an S60R or V70R comes in, I want to take it out for a drive. They are amazing machines. I have yet to drive a Polestar S60 T6 yet, though, since it is installed after the car is sold. But after driving the T6, an additional 25 hp would only make a great thing even better.

Have you ever driven a 900 SPG? I put an SPG APC box in my 900T and it only bumped it up 5 hp. But … the difference was night and day! It was incredible! So, don’t get too worried about the numbers, just enjoy the added performance.

I do hope that SAAB both survives, becomes profitable, and eventually offers some competition to the likes of AMG, M-Series, and R-Design. That will be a happy day. But I’m not sure how soon that should be with the way things have been going. Maybe once production starts again and a good year is under the belt, SAAB can think about branching out a bit.

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