9-3 Aero woes

Johannes H Andersen wrote:
 >
 > "news.cable.ntlworld.com" wrote:
 >
  >>I've had my 2004 9-3 Aero with the 7 speed auto box for three months now,
  >>Its done 5,000 miles. AND I HATE IT It's the worst car I have ever driven!!
  >>Its road holding with the reAxe is superb, its ride although harsh picks up
  >>all the imperfections on the road and it tramlines on the motorways, you are
  >>constantly fighting to keep it in a straight line on the granny lane. You
  >>could live with all this because its a sporty car, but not with that auto
  >>box.
 >
 >
 > Inner motorways lanes often have deep groves from heavy lorries (M4, M25).
 > They can catch your car like rails.
 >
 >
  >>This box ruins an otherwise good car. There is a 2 second delay between
  >>gearchanges. Even in semi-auto mode there is a delay and sometimes it will
  >>not change up if the revs are too high. Other times it will not kick down.
  >>This is definately not sporty driving. For a 210bhp car, its regularly left
  >>standing by the average kids in hot hatches.
 >
 >
 > 7 speed auto? Sounds like the auto doesn't suit this car.

It's only a 5 speed auto on the Aero's?
A 6 speed auto is available on the 1.9 TiD's 150bhp version.<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: 9-3 Aero woes 

"murphwiz" <murphwiz RemoveThis @REMOVETHEOBVIOUShotmail.com> wrote in message
news:HVFAd.719$AU1.616@newsfe5-win.ntli.net...
 > Johannes H Andersen wrote:
  >>
  >> "news.cable.ntlworld.com" wrote:
  >>
   >>>I've had my 2004 9-3 Aero with the 7 speed auto box for three months now,
   >>>Its done 5,000 miles. AND I HATE IT It's the worst car I have ever
   >>>driven!!
   >>>Its road holding with the reAxe is superb, its ride although harsh picks
   >>>up
   >>>all the imperfections on the road and it tramlines on the motorways, you
   >>>are
   >>>constantly fighting to keep it in a straight line on the granny lane. You
   >>>could live with all this because its a sporty car, but not with that auto
   >>>box.
  >>
  >>
  >> Inner motorways lanes often have deep groves from heavy lorries (M4,
  >> M25).
  >> They can catch your car like rails.
   >>>This box ruins an otherwise good car. There is a 2 second delay between
   >>>gearchanges. Even in semi-auto mode there is a delay and sometimes it
   >>>will
   >>>not change up if the revs are too high. Other times it will not kick
   >>>down.
   >>>This is definately not sporty driving. For a 210bhp car, its regularly
   >>>left
   >>>standing by the average kids in hot hatches.
  >>
  >>
  >> 7 speed auto? Sounds like the auto doesn't suit this car.
 >
 > It's only a 5 speed auto on the Aero's?
 > A 6 speed auto is available on the 1.9 TiD's 150bhp version.

no, the auto is indeed a 7 speed (well, actually a 5 plus 2)...it has two
more intermediate gears on the aero which is supposed to improve
acceleration.<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: 9-3 Aero woes 

"Alistair" <news RemoveThis @alistairbremoveme.co.uk> wrote:
 >Its road holding with the reAxe is superb, its ride although harsh
 >picks up all the imperfections on the road and it tramlines on the
 >motorways, you are constantly fighting to keep it in a straight
 >line on the granny lane.

This may be the fault of the tires, not the car itself. My 9-5 Aero
started traminling badly when I switched to Pirelli PZero Nero
all-season radials. The original tires didn't do this at all.

 >This box ruins an otherwise good car. There is a 2 second delay
 >between gearchanges.

Boy, does that sound familiar. If you've seen any of my rants on my
9-5 Aero, you've seen me complain about the 1.5-2.0 sec delay
between gearchanges. But this is with a manual gearbox, not the
9-3's auto. At least on the 9-5 Aero, the problem is not the
transmission, but the turbo. They use such a big turbo it takes
forever to spin up. And for some reason when you shift and the
engine spins down, they blow off the exhaust fumes in such a way
that the turbo also spins down -- instantly. So after each shift
you have the same 2 second delay.

I don't know if the 9-3 Aero has the same problem with the turbo, but
it sure sounds like my 9-5 Aero.

 >This is definately not sporty driving. For a 210bhp car, its
 >regularly left standing by the average kids in hot hatches.

Hell, I'm often left standing by cowboys in pickup trucks and sometimes
even soccer moms in minivans. When your acceleration goes to near zero
for 2 seconds, you fall waaaay behind. Once the turbo spins up, the
car slams you into the seat, but you have a lot of catching up to do --
and then you have another 2sec pause after the next shift, etc.

Gary<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: 9-3 Aero woes 

"news.cable.ntlworld.com" <luton_lad.DeleteThis@msn.com> wrote in message
news:4zDAd.94$AU1.29@newsfe5-win.ntli.net...
 > I've had my 2004 9-3 Aero with the 7 speed auto box for three months now,
 > Its done 5,000 miles. AND I HATE IT It's the worst car I have ever
 > driven!! Its road holding with the reAxe is superb, its ride although
 > harsh picks up all the imperfections on the road and it tramlines on the
 > motorways, you are constantly fighting to keep it in a straight line on
 > the granny lane. You could live with all this because its a sporty car,
 > but not with that auto box.
 >
 > This box ruins an otherwise good car. There is a 2 second delay between
 > gearchanges. Even in semi-auto mode there is a delay and sometimes it will
 > not change up if the revs are too high. Other times it will not kick down.
 > This is definately not sporty driving. For a 210bhp car, its regularly
 > left standing by the average kids in hot hatches.
 >
 > Its been to the dealer 3 times, all they did was change the accelerator
 > sensor and told me that the car was working fine. (Furneux of Houghton
 > Regis). I only got the auto because the brochure convinced me that it was
 > as good as a manual. As its a company car I have another 6 months to go
 > with this car and I shall not get another Saab. I can't see why it got
 > voted Top Gear car of the year.
 >
 >

this does concern me a little though, I'm picking up my TiD 150 vector in 5
days time...and it's an auto...hope I haven't made a mistake.<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: 9-3 Aero woes 

Alistair wrote:

   >>>
   >>>7 speed auto? Sounds like the auto doesn't suit this car.
  >>
  >>It's only a 5 speed auto on the Aero's?
  >>A 6 speed auto is available on the 1.9 TiD's 150bhp version.
 >
 >
 > no, the auto is indeed a 7 speed (well, actually a 5 plus 2)...it has two
 > more intermediate gears on the aero which is supposed to improve
 > acceleration.
 >
 >

Can't find any info about this '7' speed trans, sounds like dealer speak
for the torque convertor lockups?<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: 9-3 Aero woes 

"murphwiz" <murphwiz.RemoveThis@REMOVETHEOBVIOUShotmail.com> wrote in message
news:33SAd.483$2z1.450@newsfe3-gui.ntli.net...
 > Alistair wrote:
 >
   >>>>
   >>>>7 speed auto? Sounds like the auto doesn't suit this car.
   >>>
   >>>It's only a 5 speed auto on the Aero's?
   >>>A 6 speed auto is available on the 1.9 TiD's 150bhp version.
  >>
  >>
  >> no, the auto is indeed a 7 speed (well, actually a 5 plus 2)...it has two
  >> more intermediate gears on the aero which is supposed to improve
  >> acceleration.
  >>
  >>
 >
 > Can't find any info about this '7' speed trans, sounds like dealer speak
 > for the torque convertor lockups?

The 7 speed auto is referred to as the "Sentronic +2" and is only available
on the 9-3 Aero HOT.
It has 2 paddles on the steering for use in semi auto mode. To quote the
brochure " Two extra intermediate gears permit faster acceleration in
automatic mode and provides even sportier driving." A LOAD OF RUBBISH!!
The Aero HOT should have never been built with this box. If Saab wanted an
auto box on the Aero they should have gone the same route as the Golf GTi
DSG 6 speed automatic, I have driven one and the quick gear change makes
my Aero feel like an old Mercedes taxi.

Luton_Lad<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: 9-3 Aero woes 

"Gary Fritz" <fritzxxx.TakeThisOut@xxxfrii.com> wrote in message
news:Xns95CEAF2AA87BBfritzfriicom@216.17.128.40...
 > "Alistair" <news.TakeThisOut@alistairbremoveme.co.uk> wrote:
  >>Its road holding with the reAxe is superb, its ride although harsh
  >>picks up all the imperfections on the road and it tramlines on the
  >>motorways, you are constantly fighting to keep it in a straight
  >>line on the granny lane.
 >
 > This may be the fault of the tires, not the car itself. My 9-5 Aero
 > started traminling badly when I switched to Pirelli PZero Nero
 > all-season radials. The original tires didn't do this at all.
 >
  >>This box ruins an otherwise good car. There is a 2 second delay
  >>between gearchanges.
 >
 > Boy, does that sound familiar. If you've seen any of my rants on my
 > 9-5 Aero, you've seen me complain about the 1.5-2.0 sec delay
 > between gearchanges. But this is with a manual gearbox, not the
 > 9-3's auto. At least on the 9-5 Aero, the problem is not the
 > transmission, but the turbo. They use such a big turbo it takes
 > forever to spin up. And for some reason when you shift and the
 > engine spins down, they blow off the exhaust fumes in such a way
 > that the turbo also spins down -- instantly. So after each shift
 > you have the same 2 second delay.
 >
 > I don't know if the 9-3 Aero has the same problem with the turbo, but
 > it sure sounds like my 9-5 Aero.
 >
  >>This is definately not sporty driving. For a 210bhp car, its
  >>regularly left standing by the average kids in hot hatches.
 >
 > Hell, I'm often left standing by cowboys in pickup trucks and sometimes
 > even soccer moms in minivans. When your acceleration goes to near zero
 > for 2 seconds, you fall waaaay behind. Once the turbo spins up, the
 > car slams you into the seat, but you have a lot of catching up to do --
 > and then you have another 2sec pause after the next shift, etc.
 >
 > Gary

I don't think the delay in the gearchange is to do with the turbo as the 9-3
doesn't seem to suffer from turbo lag. I've noticed that the turbo gauge
shows midrange most of the time which is indicative of the turbo being
constantly on low boost which I believe is one method that Saab use to
eliminate turbo lag on the 9-3.

Luton_Lad<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: 9-3 Aero woes 

"news.cable.ntlworld.com" <luton_lad.RemoveThis@msn.com> wrote in message
news:F2TAd.1054$fp1.441@newsfe2-win.ntli.net...
 >
 > "murphwiz" <murphwiz.RemoveThis@REMOVETHEOBVIOUShotmail.com> wrote in message
 > news:33SAd.483$2z1.450@newsfe3-gui.ntli.net...
  >> Alistair wrote:
  >>
   >>>>>
   >>>>>7 speed auto? Sounds like the auto doesn't suit this car.
   >>>>
   >>>>It's only a 5 speed auto on the Aero's?
   >>>>A 6 speed auto is available on the 1.9 TiD's 150bhp version.
   >>>
   >>>
   >>> no, the auto is indeed a 7 speed (well, actually a 5 plus 2)...it has
   >>> two more intermediate gears on the aero which is supposed to improve
   >>> acceleration.
   >>>
   >>>
  >>
  >> Can't find any info about this '7' speed trans, sounds like dealer speak
  >> for the torque convertor lockups?
 >
 > The 7 speed auto is referred to as the "Sentronic +2" and is only
 > available on the 9-3 Aero HOT.
 > It has 2 paddles on the steering for use in semi auto mode. To quote the
 > brochure " Two extra intermediate gears permit faster acceleration in
 > automatic mode and provides even sportier driving." A LOAD OF RUBBISH!!
 > The Aero HOT should have never been built with this box. If Saab wanted an
 > auto box on the Aero they should have gone the same route as the Golf GTi
 > DSG 6 speed automatic, I have driven one and the quick gear change makes
 > my Aero feel like an old Mercedes taxi.
 >
 > Luton_Lad
 >

beginning to sound worse and worse for me..

I'm going from a 325 sport auto BMW, which has a fantastic auto box, to what
*might* turn out to be a complete hunk of shite in the shape of a saab...oh
well...lessons learnt and all that..<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: 9-3 Aero woes 

news.cable.ntlworld.com wrote:

 > I've had my 2004 9-3 Aero with the 7 speed auto box for three months now,
 > Its done 5,000 miles. AND I HATE IT It's the worst car I have ever driven!!
 > Its road holding with the reAxe is superb, its ride although harsh picks up
 > all the imperfections on the road and it tramlines on the motorways, you are
 > constantly fighting to keep it in a straight line on the granny lane. You
 > could live with all this because its a sporty car, but not with that auto
 > box.
 >
 > This box ruins an otherwise good car. There is a 2 second delay between
 > gearchanges. Even in semi-auto mode there is a delay and sometimes it will
 > not change up if the revs are too high. Other times it will not kick down.
 > This is definately not sporty driving. For a 210bhp car, its regularly left
 > standing by the average kids in hot hatches.
 >
 > Its been to the dealer 3 times, all they did was change the accelerator
 > sensor and told me that the car was working fine. (Furneux of Houghton
 > Regis). I only got the auto because the brochure convinced me that it was
 > as good as a manual. As its a company car I have another 6 months to go
 > with this car and I shall not get another Saab. I can't see why it got
 > voted Top Gear car of the year.
 >
 >
 >

It is possible that the car was voted Top Gear car of the year when it
was tested with a manual transmission - not an automatic. I prefer a
manual transmission in a car with a turbo - you can take full advantage
of the turbo by keeping your rpms up because you choose when to shift.<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: 9-3 Aero woes 

ma_twain wrote:
 > It is possible that the car was voted Top Gear car of the year when
it
 > was tested with a manual transmission - not an automatic. I prefer a
 > manual transmission in a car with a turbo - you can take full
advantage
 > of the turbo by keeping your rpms up because you choose when to
shift.

Not with the 9-5 Aero, you can't. The instant you let off the gas and
hit the clutch to shift, the turbo **instantly** spins down. No matter
how fast I shift, I can't get it into the next gear before the turbo
gauge drops. A Saab service person, who seemed to know what he was
talking about, said this was done intentionally to reduce pollution.
Don't know if that's true or not, but it sure destroys the car's
performance in shifting situations.

Alistair, I don't know much about the 9-3. In the 9-5 world, only the
Aero has the huge slow-to-spin-up turbo. The lower models have smaller
turbos that deliver less steady-state horsepower, but they spin up much
faster. Your Vector might not have the lag problem. Can't say how the
automatic gearbox will perform, though.

Gary<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: 9-3 Aero woes 

For "sporty" driving, a REAL manual transmission is ALWAYS best!
I've driven and owned various SAABs and my experience with the 5 speed
automatic was better than you describe with the 7. By the way, I thought it
was a 6 speed.
Shelly Rabin
"news.cable.ntlworld.com" <luton_lad.RemoveThis@msn.com> wrote in message
news:4zDAd.94$AU1.29@newsfe5-win.ntli.net...
 > I've had my 2004 9-3 Aero with the 7 speed auto box for three months now,
 > Its done 5,000 miles. AND I HATE IT It's the worst car I have ever
driven!!
 > Its road holding with the reAxe is superb, its ride although harsh picks
up
 > all the imperfections on the road and it tramlines on the motorways, you
are
 > constantly fighting to keep it in a straight line on the granny lane. You
 > could live with all this because its a sporty car, but not with that auto
 > box.
 >
 > This box ruins an otherwise good car. There is a 2 second delay between
 > gearchanges. Even in semi-auto mode there is a delay and sometimes it will
 > not change up if the revs are too high. Other times it will not kick down.
 > This is definately not sporty driving. For a 210bhp car, its regularly
left
 > standing by the average kids in hot hatches.
 >
 > Its been to the dealer 3 times, all they did was change the accelerator
 > sensor and told me that the car was working fine. (Furneux of Houghton
 > Regis). I only got the auto because the brochure convinced me that it was
 > as good as a manual. As its a company car I have another 6 months to go
 > with this car and I shall not get another Saab. I can't see why it got
 > voted Top Gear car of the year.
 >
 ><!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: 9-3 Aero woes 

"Sheldon Rabin" <srabin RemoveThis @earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:KV5Bd.3111$Cc.583@newsread3.news.pas.earthlink.net...
 > For "sporty" driving, a REAL manual transmission is ALWAYS best!
 > I've driven and owned various SAABs and my experience with the 5 speed
 > automatic was better than you describe with the 7. By the way, I thought
 > it
 > was a 6 speed.
 > Shelly Rabin


it's a 5 speed for the petrol versions, a 6 speed for the diesel (150 only)
and 7 speed for the aero<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: 9-3 Aero woes 

On Fri, 31 Dec 2004 08:42:42 -0000, Alistair wrote:
 > it's a 5 speed for the petrol versions, a 6 speed for the diesel (150 only)
 > and 7 speed for the aero

Not the US Aero. Mine is a 5 speed.<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: 9-3 Aero woes