PUSHING THE ENVELOPE
This article is from our archives and has not been updated and integrated with our "new" site yet... Even so, it's still awesome - so keep reading!
Published on Sun, May 23, 2004
By: The LACar Editorial Staff
PUSHING THE ENVELOPE
By JOHN GRAFMAN
Both my intrepid co-pilot and myself are hurling along twisties in the Cleveland national forest as if every moment was our last. Well if either of us screwed up enough we would have done a gainer head long into one of the massive out-croppings of boulders. Very fortunately, that didnt occur.
It is amazing how two individuals who have never met before can navigate a car,
neither of which has driven before (more on this later) following a map across
countryside we havent driven, at an impressive clip and somehow managed
not to freak each other out.
As hard as we pushed Saabs new foray into the sport wagon market, the
car ate up whatever was dished out. We literally had our life in the hands of
this car, and we feared not. Seems someone has done their homework.
The Southern California desert on a day such as we had is as picturesque as
it gets. Rocks, cacti, windy, arid roads with few other cars to slow our travels.
We really got a sense of our travels as we noticed an over-abundance of patrol
vehicles with roof-mounted light bars. Normally, we associate that with the
California Highway Patrol or the regional police department. In this case, however,
the local mounty just happens to be the U.S. Border Patrol. Nonetheless, we
moderated our speeds so as not to offend them.
But the real surprise, or maybe lack thereof, was the Saab itself. In reality,
the 9-2X starts life as a Subaru and its then Saabified into our ride
for the day. From the A pillar forward, the exterior sheet metal looks wholly
Saab. Very distinct and attractive. The rear has also been tweaked with the
rear hatch and bumper being unique. However, the disguise is but a thin veil
still easy enough for even the novice enthusiast to see through.
Unlike the big brother, Saabs 9-3, the 9-2X has to emerged onto the market
with somewhat less lead-time prior to design, hence the quasi-Saab. Now while
others will no doubt see the same thing, the execution of the concept was handled
cleverly and effectively. The interior, although up-market from the Subarus
target market, was still not appointed with materials that lead me to believe
this is indeed a vehicle far removed from its Japanese counterpart. In particular,
the plastic that fails to give the impression of metal in the center console
and the styling of the seats are detractors.
While the initial looks dont really win me over or lose me, the road-going
capability of this four-seater is impressing me. Saab took the naturally aggressive
nature of the donor mechanical and ever-so-deftly improved on various suspension
and steering components to make this a car for all ages. The Saab is a pleasure
to drive on all surfaces. The drive is smooth, yet without any wandering on
both highways and streets. The steering proved to be sharp and accurate. A high
percentage of the refinement is attributed to the purpose-built Bridgestone
tires. While they do prove quiet along with being very grippy, they seem to
erode rather fast. In the tires defense, we pushed the 9-2x as hard we could
- not just in the real world conditions, but on a coned track set up for evaluation.
Only a long-term, real world test will show just how durable the rubber truly
is.
The uprated tires that are found on the Aero take some of the credit for the
faster lap times on the track. The base model Linear has a normally aspirated
(non-turbo) engine, which also held it back in the timed laps. When pushed hard,
really hard, the tail can get a little light if the braking isnt completed
prior to entering a turn. Again though, weird behavior can be expected in anything
that is brought to the limits. In this case it is more a factor of driver error
than a problem with the car itself.
We nearly forgot that the 9-2X was indeed a turbocharged car as it was seamless
and smooth as any normally aspirated vehicle. The Aero model had plenty of go
power propelling all four wheels, proving itself more than capable in our numerous
changes of elevation. Even power at lower RPMs were well within the acceptable
level.
While getting in on what Saab perceives as a growing market early in the game
is important, did they dilute the Saab image just a bit? Certainly with so many
of the parts stamped with a made in Japan label, one would think
the diehard Saab fans will be a little confused by some of this. But, once behind
the wheel, Saab believes most will see the positives rather than the shared
bloodline from a distant General Motors relative.
Saab has made a rather intelligent decision on building its brand. Whenever
possible, grab the best parts you can get your hands on. Also, get in on the
ground floor of the development of any new and useful platform being developed
by GM. Always remember what a Saab is supposed to be.
While pushing the envelope on the convoluted roads in our travels, I for one
can appreciate their decisions, particularly the grabbing of the best parts
around. I think my insurance company feels the same way.
For more on Saab please go to www.saabusa.com
SPECIFICATIONS
Price: Base Linear $22,990, Base Aero $26,950 Engine type: Aluminum alloy block, 4-cylinder Horizontally Opposed, SOHC, 4-stroke gasoline engine, Dual Ignition/ Multi-point fuel injection; Linear 2.5 liters, Aero turbo 2.0 liters Horsepower: Linear 165 hp (123 kW) @ 5,500 rpm, Aero 227 hp (169 kW) @ 6,000 rpm Torque: Linear 166 lb.-ft (225 Nm) @ 4,000 rpm, Aero 217 lb.-ft (294 Nm) @ 4,000 rpm Drive configuration: Front engine / all-wheel drive Transmission type: 5-speed manual, 4-speed automatic Suspension: Front: MacPherson strut type Rear: Independent, Dual link strut type Wheels and tires: Front: 16 x 6.5 alloy 5-spoke 205/55R 16 all-season tires, , optional 17 5-spoke twin alloy wheels, 215/45 R17 hi-performance tires Rear: 16 x 6.5 alloy 5-spoke, 205/55R 16 all-season tires, optional 17 5-spoke twin alloy wheels, 215/45 R17 hi-performance tires Brakes: Front: Linear 10.7 in., Aero 11.4 in. Rear: Linear 10.3 in., Aero 10.3 in. 4-wheel hydraulic disc with power assist, 4-channel ABS and EBD (Electronic Brake force Distribution), ventilated front discs Overall length: 175.6 Overall width: 66.7 Overall height: 57.7 Curb weight (lbs.): Linear 3070, 3110 (auto); Aero 3179, 3225 (auto) EPA mileage estimates City/ Highway: Linear 22/29, 23/29(auto); Aero 20/26, 19/25(auto)