<![CDATA[2008 Saab Turbo X Hits The Track, Goes Head-To-Head With The Subaru WRX STi, BMW M3, BMW 3-Series And Audi A4 - Jalopnik Comments]]> <![CDATA[2008 Saab Turbo X Hits The Track, Goes Head-To-Head With The Subaru WRX STi, BMW M3, BMW 3-Series And Audi A4 - Jalopnik Comments]]> <![CDATA[2008 Saab Turbo X Hits The Track, Goes Head-To-Head With The Subaru WRX STi, BMW M3, BMW 3-Series And Audi A4]]> @kleinlowe: i agree. i'll take the 900 turbo in the picture above please! much love for when the cars were actually swedish

aychseven

]]> <![CDATA[2008 Saab Turbo X Hits The Track, Goes Head-To-Head With The Subaru WRX STi, BMW M3, BMW 3-Series And Audi A4]]> Why does everyone test and compare performance cars on their different stock tires? Are they testing the car or the tires? Please put the same tires on the cars before testing for comparison of performance otherwise the test is pretty well useless.

Subpra

]]> <![CDATA[2008 Saab Turbo X Hits The Track, Goes Head-To-Head With The Subaru WRX STi, BMW M3, BMW 3-Series And Audi A4]]> So the "safe" AWD car was the quickest in the dry, but the 400hp RWD monster was faster in the wet?

I think that without disabling traction control, this is a pretty useless test as far as any comparison of the cars' true capabilities.

Sketch242

]]> <![CDATA[2008 Saab Turbo X Hits The Track, Goes Head-To-Head With The Subaru WRX STi, BMW M3, BMW 3-Series And Audi A4]]> $53k.? Try $42,500 with all you need other than Nav.
600 units for U.S applies only to the Turbo-X edition,9-3 Aero with same 280hp.,Haldex X-wheel drive and E-LSD available by early summer for high $30k.range.
Please stop with the same-old rebadged whatever B.S. Platform sharing means exactly what? A Toyota Camry drives just like a Lexus RX-330?A VW Golf drives just like an Audi TT?Please!! And I find it pretty amusing that some of the posters would presume to take shots at a Formula One drivers lap technique!

saablance

]]> <![CDATA[2008 Saab Turbo X Hits The Track, Goes Head-To-Head With The Subaru WRX STi, BMW M3, BMW 3-Series And Audi A4]]> First time on site...WOW!What a mishmash of opinions on the turbo-x and this test!First off..600 units pertains only to the Turbo-X model,the 9-3 Aero will be available toward the end of the '08 model year with the same powertrain,Haldex X-Wheel drive system and Electronic limited slip differential(suggestion:go to Trollhattan Saab for a direct comparo chart 9-3 Aero XWD vs. 9-3 Turbo-X) Secondly,the car should come in at about $42,500 in the U.S.($53K.!!!where did you get that info.?)Very competitive with the Bmw 335xi,and the Audi Quattro.Third point,some of you guys have the cojones to put down a Formula One racers driving skills and techniques!!!Are you guys F-1 certified?if not..STFU!!LOL!

saablance

]]> <![CDATA[2008 Saab Turbo X Hits The Track, Goes Head-To-Head With The Subaru WRX STi, BMW M3, BMW 3-Series And Audi A4]]> @ranger88: That system looks awesome but heavy. I wonder how much more it weighs than an open rear diff or even a rear torsen diff. The 335xi and A4s have an open rear diff, no?

AndyDuncan

]]> <![CDATA[2008 Saab Turbo X Hits The Track, Goes Head-To-Head With The Subaru WRX STi, BMW M3, BMW 3-Series And Audi A4]]> too bad this saab 9-3x costs about the same as an M3. I think $53k. Not even saab drivers will be dumb enough to buy it.

dizzle84

]]> <![CDATA[2008 Saab Turbo X Hits The Track, Goes Head-To-Head With The Subaru WRX STi, BMW M3, BMW 3-Series And Audi A4]]> I can't wait for the rematch once the Bimmers get the X6's torque-vectoring system.

deus ex wagon

]]> <![CDATA[2008 Saab Turbo X Hits The Track, Goes Head-To-Head With The Subaru WRX STi, BMW M3, BMW 3-Series And Audi A4]]> Just 280hp? That's only 90 more than what my '94 Dakota had. I know it's a small V6 and "there's a lot more power in that motor" but it seems like they would have at least pushed it up over 300hp, for conversation's sake if nothing else. A V6 Accord is almost as powerful...and it won't be worth half its sticker price in two years.

pl8ster

]]> <![CDATA[2008 Saab Turbo X Hits The Track, Goes Head-To-Head With The Subaru WRX STi, BMW M3, BMW 3-Series And Audi A4]]> Looks nice. Sounds like they rebuilt a 2000 S4 :)

I like the way they had the balls to bring all that competition. Makes it feel more straightforward and honest than the comparo where your car always wins. My only complaint would be not mounting the camera and the one handed driving technique ;)

Turboner

]]> <![CDATA[2008 Saab Turbo X Hits The Track, Goes Head-To-Head With The Subaru WRX STi, BMW M3, BMW 3-Series And Audi A4]]> LOL. and the "cool" techno music in the background. Amateur hour indeed.

relmone

]]> <![CDATA[2008 Saab Turbo X Hits The Track, Goes Head-To-Head With The Subaru WRX STi, BMW M3, BMW 3-Series And Audi A4]]> @Benovite: So I dropped my keys and inadvertently started the car... I hate when that happens.

I, too, will never own two Saabs again!

.: R32-PΩWER ™

]]> <![CDATA[2008 Saab Turbo X Hits The Track, Goes Head-To-Head With The Subaru WRX STi, BMW M3, BMW 3-Series And Audi A4]]> @Ray Wert: Yeah, that article was from 2006... they were thinking about it at that time, but that was when they thought they were getting a lot more Raptors to replace them.

I believe its still part of a proposal to kill them in order to buy more Raptors, but I don't know where its at. I don't think they're actually retired yet. At least, not according to GlobalSecurity:

[www.globalsecurity.org]

Buzz Killington

]]> <![CDATA[2008 Saab Turbo X Hits The Track, Goes Head-To-Head With The Subaru WRX STi, BMW M3, BMW 3-Series And Audi A4]]> It's just a GM now. The window switches are on the door. My love is gone forever and the cold gray winter will never give way to the warmth of spring! O woe! O agony! All beauty has been cast from the world by coarse and cruel evils! Why? Why? WHY?

And seriously, WHY?

Saab's interior design was so perfect and sensible, so elegantly designed in a sea of 'hey let's just glue more chrome buttons on' mentality, so elegant and unconventional! What have we done to merit it torn so rudely from us?! O ANGST! O TORMENT!

As an industrial design student and someone committed to design that not just accomodates use but simplifies and enchances it, I pledge, nay, VOW, that, in the fullness of time, you will suffer at my hands for this, GM! ARGH!

kleinlowe

]]> <![CDATA[2008 Saab Turbo X Hits The Track, Goes Head-To-Head With The Subaru WRX STi, BMW M3, BMW 3-Series And Audi A4]]> I've owned 2 Saab's and it's NFA for me.

(btw "NFA" means Never Fucking Again)

Benovite

]]> <![CDATA[2008 Saab Turbo X Hits The Track, Goes Head-To-Head With The Subaru WRX STi, BMW M3, BMW 3-Series And Audi A4]]> @SinisterSaracen: He knows how to drive: [en.wikipedia.org]

AndyDuncan

]]> <![CDATA[2008 Saab Turbo X Hits The Track, Goes Head-To-Head With The Subaru WRX STi, BMW M3, BMW 3-Series And Audi A4]]> That was interesting, although the SAAB Turbo X is all wheel drive, right? How about a rally challenge with the same cars?! Now that would be fun to watch! Some rally style jumps should thin the herd ;)

In terms of looks, I would have to put the M3 first and the SAAB second, the 3 series BMW and Audi are OK, but boring, and dear god what happened to the STI? The STI looks like a cartoon character, did they really need to up the "boy racer" look?

In terms of safety, all of these cars are rated good for most IIHS crash tests, with the SAAB 9-3 as a best pick. The BMW still falls a bit short with its Acceptable rating for rear crash tests, as its headrest lets your head separate from your body on impact. Although, given the usual attitude of BMW 3 series drivers in LA, this may not be viewed as a bad thing.

Basically, these are all good cars but I am not sure how well any of them will sell with gas prices skyrocketing.

bynddrvn

]]> <![CDATA[2008 Saab Turbo X Hits The Track, Goes Head-To-Head With The Subaru WRX STi, BMW M3, BMW 3-Series And Audi A4]]> lets be a little honest here... It is only in the same class as the 335xi and a4, although with the 2009 a4 with the weight drop and more HP it will push the a4 ahead of the 335xi and Saab, the STI and M3 are in a different world.

Overall there is nothing really all that interesting here. The M3 should eclipse the sti in the dry and the sti should have an edge in the wet.

I still do not like Saab interiors, the new ones are blah and the old ones are well... Saab...

Foo2rama

]]> <![CDATA[2008 Saab Turbo X Hits The Track, Goes Head-To-Head With The Subaru WRX STi, BMW M3, BMW 3-Series And Audi A4]]> One-handed driving on a track? While cornering? While cornering on a track?

Learn to drive, man.

SinisterSaracen

]]> <![CDATA[2008 Saab Turbo X Hits The Track, Goes Head-To-Head With The Subaru WRX STi, BMW M3, BMW 3-Series And Audi A4]]> @Matt Hardigree: well we won't be on a track but it should be good.

Rabbi Dave

]]> <![CDATA[2008 Saab Turbo X Hits The Track, Goes Head-To-Head With The Subaru WRX STi, BMW M3, BMW 3-Series And Audi A4]]> Why did they use a 3.2 (really a 3.1) A4 vs an S4 which would be more on par with the others in terms of power output and suspension setup?

Never really been a big fan of Snaabs -this video really didn't change much.

40Valve

]]> <![CDATA[2008 Saab Turbo X Hits The Track, Goes Head-To-Head With The Subaru WRX STi, BMW M3, BMW 3-Series And Audi A4]]> @Trotskyite: Again, that was Magnussen. I don't have blonde hair.

Ray Wert

]]> <![CDATA[2008 Saab Turbo X Hits The Track, Goes Head-To-Head With The Subaru WRX STi, BMW M3, BMW 3-Series And Audi A4]]> It sounds pretty awesome, but it's disappointing that it's is a limited production model.

If it makes a big splash, though, perhaps GM will be inclined to add the Haldex XWD system to some other cars. Some SAABs, sure, but what about some other Epsilon platform-mates?

Put that setup in a G6 and the Pontiac brand could actually have some sporting credibility (of the unmulleted variety, G8 notwithstanding.)

stu-rock

]]> <![CDATA[2008 Saab Turbo X Hits The Track, Goes Head-To-Head With The Subaru WRX STi, BMW M3, BMW 3-Series And Audi A4]]> please allow me to wipe the egg off my face Ray... hard to critique a former F-1 driver, even if his best finish was 6th in his last race :P

Watching it again, from the way the cameraman is being tossed around back there Jan wasn't doddling along, but still I would have liked to have seen him catch a slide with one hand on a fast sweeper!

(looks pretty young for a 35 year old!)

Nurburgringer

]]> <![CDATA[2008 Saab Turbo X Hits The Track, Goes Head-To-Head With The Subaru WRX STi, BMW M3, BMW 3-Series And Audi A4]]> Heel-toe FTL.
Fail.

diskreet

]]> <![CDATA[2008 Saab Turbo X Hits The Track, Goes Head-To-Head With The Subaru WRX STi, BMW M3, BMW 3-Series And Audi A4]]> @Nurburgringer:
Indeed. You can always tell its amateur hour when homeboy can't get his hand off the shifter.

Trotskyite

]]> <![CDATA[2008 Saab Turbo X Hits The Track, Goes Head-To-Head With The Subaru WRX STi, BMW M3, BMW 3-Series And Audi A4]]> @Nurburgringer: That was Magnussen.

Ray Wert

]]> <![CDATA[2008 Saab Turbo X Hits The Track, Goes Head-To-Head With The Subaru WRX STi, BMW M3, BMW 3-Series And Audi A4]]> Several points...

1) The Turbo-X is available as a wagon
2) The trick rear diff will be available on non-Turbo-X once the limited edition run is completed per internet rumor
3) The 280 hp is the result of fairly modest boost pressures, maybe 15 psi (I can't recall exactly). More performance is lurking in that engine
4) The Subaru engine by far sounds the best of the cars in the video

saabophile2

]]> <![CDATA[2008 Saab Turbo X Hits The Track, Goes Head-To-Head With The Subaru WRX STi, BMW M3, BMW 3-Series And Audi A4]]>

@Buzz Killington: Umm, I dunno -- the Air Force website:

[www.af.mil]

Ray Wert

]]> <![CDATA[2008 Saab Turbo X Hits The Track, Goes Head-To-Head With The Subaru WRX STi, BMW M3, BMW 3-Series And Audi A4]]> so who was driving in the video, Wert or Magnussen?

good read on the review BTW, but if that was you behind the wheel some driver training would be money very well spent!

Nurburgringer

]]> <![CDATA[2008 Saab Turbo X Hits The Track, Goes Head-To-Head With The Subaru WRX STi, BMW M3, BMW 3-Series And Audi A4]]> Oh, and wait until the Trollhattan tuners get their hands on it. I'd rock a 600 horsepower Saab that's using a Scania truck turbo.

elwood

]]> <![CDATA[2008 Saab Turbo X Hits The Track, Goes Head-To-Head With The Subaru WRX STi, BMW M3, BMW 3-Series And Audi A4]]> @Rabbi Dave: Ha, I think we're going to have a fun time in a couple of weeks. And for the record I drive much better than Ray.

Matt Hardigree

]]> <![CDATA[2008 Saab Turbo X Hits The Track, Goes Head-To-Head With The Subaru WRX STi, BMW M3, BMW 3-Series And Audi A4]]> @long_live_the_E36: Epic depreciation, eh? I am so there in about 10 years. I plan to tour various used car lots, with a copy of the Lord of the Rings soundtrack (to play up the epic part).

I'd also like to think this helps vindicate the 9-2X. I don't know if there are many vehicles that are better suited to badge-engineering a Saab than a Subaru.

Maymar is convinced M.C. Escher engineered his car

]]> <![CDATA[2008 Saab Turbo X Hits The Track, Goes Head-To-Head With The Subaru WRX STi, BMW M3, BMW 3-Series And Audi A4]]> So it beat an A4? Even the beefiest stock A4 should only pull 240 hp, right? That puts it on par with the WRX but not the STI. The A4 may cost the same, but they're a lot nicer on the inside.

clank-o-tron

]]> <![CDATA[2008 Saab Turbo X Hits The Track, Goes Head-To-Head With The Subaru WRX STi, BMW M3, BMW 3-Series And Audi A4]]> If it were regular production, and depending on the price, I could seriously convince my dad to buy one of these. He's been a Saab guy since the 900, and is driving a 9-5 Aero now.

elwood

]]> <![CDATA[2008 Saab Turbo X Hits The Track, Goes Head-To-Head With The Subaru WRX STi, BMW M3, BMW 3-Series And Audi A4]]> @Ray Wert: Ah it's ok. I treat everything with kid gloves though so I'm sure a lot of the crazed journos call me all sorts of different names.

Rabbi Dave

]]> <![CDATA[2008 Saab Turbo X Hits The Track, Goes Head-To-Head With The Subaru WRX STi, BMW M3, BMW 3-Series And Audi A4]]> FYI-- the F117 is on the books with the Air Force until 2018.

Who told you they were retired??

Buzz Killington

]]> <![CDATA[2008 Saab Turbo X Hits The Track, Goes Head-To-Head With The Subaru WRX STi, BMW M3, BMW 3-Series And Audi A4]]> @FLAT4-PΩWER ™: In a street race, so much of it comes down to the driver. A slow shift can easily be the difference between an STI and a Ferrari.

But yeah, I'm not sure if Saab intended this to be an advertisement for the STI, but that seems to be the takeaway. Since the turbo X is what, $5k more?

AndyDuncan

]]> <![CDATA[2008 Saab Turbo X Hits The Track, Goes Head-To-Head With The Subaru WRX STi, BMW M3, BMW 3-Series And Audi A4]]> @Rabbi Dave: Thanks, that makes me feel oh-so-much better.

Ray Wert

]]> <![CDATA[2008 Saab Turbo X Hits The Track, Goes Head-To-Head With The Subaru WRX STi, BMW M3, BMW 3-Series And Audi A4]]> @13oostedwgn: That would be Jan Magnussen. My hunch is that he only needs one hand because, well, this ain't no F1 car.

Mark Arnold

]]> <![CDATA[2008 Saab Turbo X Hits The Track, Goes Head-To-Head With The Subaru WRX STi, BMW M3, BMW 3-Series And Audi A4]]> Ray, that's some "Saab" story about the clutch. Get it? Sob? I crack myself up sometimes.

NovaloadMissesPolar

]]> <![CDATA[2008 Saab Turbo X Hits The Track, Goes Head-To-Head With The Subaru WRX STi, BMW M3, BMW 3-Series And Audi A4]]> just watched the video. Classic wert. just classic.

Also maybe a track guy could help out but I usually do my shifting as fast as possible on the track to get both hands back on the wheel. Is this not right? it would also help with Wert's clutch problem.

Rabbi Dave

]]> <![CDATA[2008 Saab Turbo X Hits The Track, Goes Head-To-Head With The Subaru WRX STi, BMW M3, BMW 3-Series And Audi A4]]> Saab = Irrelevant

Rotang

]]> <![CDATA[2008 Saab Turbo X Hits The Track, Goes Head-To-Head With The Subaru WRX STi, BMW M3, BMW 3-Series And Audi A4]]> @FLAT4-PΩWER ™: Except not gettin extra foam on his/her latte.

Also, after watching the vid, who the hell drives round a track with only one hand on the steering wheel? Prelude Pose FTL.

boosted-lego-wagon

]]> <![CDATA[2008 Saab Turbo X Hits The Track, Goes Head-To-Head With The Subaru WRX STi, BMW M3, BMW 3-Series And Audi A4]]> @AndyDuncan: The guy on the San Mateo bridge driving the M3 was a little skeptical until I put a beat-down on him in my "07 STI LTD.

Nothing pisses off an M3 driver quite like getting beat by a lowly Subaru.

.: R32-PΩWER ™

]]> <![CDATA[2008 Saab Turbo X Hits The Track, Goes Head-To-Head With The Subaru WRX STi, BMW M3, BMW 3-Series And Audi A4]]> @FLAT4-PΩWER ™: hear hear!

GO SUBIE!!!!!!

Unregular

]]> <![CDATA[2008 Saab Turbo X Hits The Track, Goes Head-To-Head With The Subaru WRX STi, BMW M3, BMW 3-Series And Audi A4]]> @long_live_the_E36: *load tape* click *play* "... it's not an Opel, they're only sharing the platform, all of the components have been specifically developed for Saab.."*stop*

I noticed no one had given out the standard Saab-disclaimer yet.

TurboBrick

]]> <![CDATA[2008 Saab Turbo X Hits The Track, Goes Head-To-Head With The Subaru WRX STi, BMW M3, BMW 3-Series And Audi A4]]> Subie Power. Horizontally opposed power-plants + symmetrical AWD = Total domination.

For under $40k

.: R32-PΩWER ™

]]> <![CDATA[2008 Saab Turbo X Hits The Track, Goes Head-To-Head With The Subaru WRX STi, BMW M3, BMW 3-Series And Audi A4]]> Look, I love the STI, but I'm a little skeptical of any results that put it ahead of the M3 on a dry track.

AndyDuncan

]]> <![CDATA[2008 Saab Turbo X Hits The Track, Goes Head-To-Head With The Subaru WRX STi, BMW M3, BMW 3-Series And Audi A4]]> @ash78: well done Ash.

for the record, I first looked at the ole 900 Turbo (nice one, btw. SPG?), then the oh-so-bland-in- comparison X.

mehugtree

]]> <![CDATA[2008 Saab Turbo X Hits The Track, Goes Head-To-Head With The Subaru WRX STi, BMW M3, BMW 3-Series And Audi A4]]> @speedform: I'm always surprised at the level of driving of some journos and how little regard they have for the cars. At least I admit I'm a novice on the track. Doesn't mean I can't enjoy it though.

I will say I haven't "ruined" anything though. Sorry Ray.

Rabbi Dave

]]> <![CDATA[2008 Saab Turbo X Hits The Track, Goes Head-To-Head With The Subaru WRX STi, BMW M3, BMW 3-Series And Audi A4]]> @oldskoolparts: Well, these days, being a Saab fan is it's own strange perversion...

long_live_the_E36

]]> <![CDATA[2008 Saab Turbo X Hits The Track, Goes Head-To-Head With The Subaru WRX STi, BMW M3, BMW 3-Series And Audi A4]]> I'll mine in as a SportCombi wagon, please.

Naters4

]]> <![CDATA[2008 Saab Turbo X Hits The Track, Goes Head-To-Head With The Subaru WRX STi, BMW M3, BMW 3-Series And Audi A4]]> @Ray Wert: I say your Jeep on Jefferson yesterday, but sadly it had T-Boned a police car and the horn was still blaring when I passed. Black on black with no rust, what a shame.

prndl

]]> <![CDATA[2008 Saab Turbo X Hits The Track, Goes Head-To-Head With The Subaru WRX STi, BMW M3, BMW 3-Series And Audi A4]]> @oldskoolparts: No. SAABophiles are a strange species that expect to find the ignition switch next to the gearshift...

FLB

]]> <![CDATA[2008 Saab Turbo X Hits The Track, Goes Head-To-Head With The Subaru WRX STi, BMW M3, BMW 3-Series And Audi A4]]> @Mad_Science: I had a job interview at a SAAB/Saturn dealership last week. The ratio there is one SAAB salesperson per FIVE Saturn salespeople...

FLB

]]> <![CDATA[2008 Saab Turbo X Hits The Track, Goes Head-To-Head With The Subaru WRX STi, BMW M3, BMW 3-Series And Audi A4]]> I picked up my only 95 Saab 9000 in 97 at less than half-price.
It had a kind of rubbery shifter, so if thinks haven't changed in the last dozen years I could see how you could burn a clutch. Of course I have only heard rumors of such a think happening so fast ;-)
My 88 GTX is still on its first clutch and 150,000+ miles.

prndl

]]> <![CDATA[2008 Saab Turbo X Hits The Track, Goes Head-To-Head With The Subaru WRX STi, BMW M3, BMW 3-Series And Audi A4]]> saabophiles? is that like pedophiles, just more expensive?

oldskoolparts

]]> <![CDATA[2008 Saab Turbo X Hits The Track, Goes Head-To-Head With The Subaru WRX STi, BMW M3, BMW 3-Series And Audi A4]]> so - on the dry track - the order was 1) turbo 4-cyl
2) na 8-cyl
3) 2X turbo 6-cyl
4) turbo 6-cyl
5) na 6-cyl

4-cyl wins the day, again.

Unregular

]]> <![CDATA[2008 Saab Turbo X Hits The Track, Goes Head-To-Head With The Subaru WRX STi, BMW M3, BMW 3-Series And Audi A4]]> Sounds like an excellent performance package, eerily similar to my Speed6. Wait till they've been sitting on the lot for 6 months and you can probably grab one on the cheap.

danms6

]]> <![CDATA[2008 Saab Turbo X Hits The Track, Goes Head-To-Head With The Subaru WRX STi, BMW M3, BMW 3-Series And Audi A4]]> So this will actually give Saab owners a little something to brag about. "Well the Turbo X almost beat a WRX and M3 and squashed an A4 on dry, and beat all but the M3 on wet." To that I would say Bork! Bork! Bork!

banner77amc

]]> <![CDATA[2008 Saab Turbo X Hits The Track, Goes Head-To-Head With The Subaru WRX STi, BMW M3, BMW 3-Series And Audi A4]]> So who's the retard driving with one hand on the shifter the whole time?

I guess "proper technique" isn't a requirement to be able to critique the performance of a car?

Disclaimer: I'm not a Saab fanboy. Could care less about them.

ucben

]]> <![CDATA[2008 Saab Turbo X Hits The Track, Goes Head-To-Head With The Subaru WRX STi, BMW M3, BMW 3-Series And Audi A4]]> And to think that the Subaru and the Saab used to be kissing cousins. Sounds like a well refined high performance package for the Saab.

grzydj

]]> <![CDATA[2008 Saab Turbo X Hits The Track, Goes Head-To-Head With The Subaru WRX STi, BMW M3, BMW 3-Series And Audi A4]]> @Mad_Science: It's cool that they're making a car like this, but damn is it expensive. That's why they can only import 600 units -the hardcore Saabophiles (or what's left of them) are the only ones willing to pay this much for an otherwise mediocre car that'll have epic value depreciation.

long_live_the_E36

]]> <![CDATA[2008 Saab Turbo X Hits The Track, Goes Head-To-Head With The Subaru WRX STi, BMW M3, BMW 3-Series And Audi A4]]> Don't worry Ray. Of all the auto journo's we've had to (suck up to?) work with at these types of events, only a hand-full knew how to properly drive a car on track. So your in good, if unseasoned company. ;)

speedform

]]> <![CDATA[2008 Saab Turbo X Hits The Track, Goes Head-To-Head With The Subaru WRX STi, BMW M3, BMW 3-Series And Audi A4]]> So, they sent Magnussen out with all the nannies fully engaged? I want to see what it does without the safety features slowing things down.

börk! börk! börk!

Bret

]]> <![CDATA[2008 Saab Turbo X Hits The Track, Goes Head-To-Head With The Subaru WRX STi, BMW M3, BMW 3-Series And Audi A4]]> The details of the lap times are irrelevant, it's just cool that SAAB (GM) is making a sport sedan that can run with this crowd.

That this is only worth 600 units to GM's US market is the real tragic detail here.

It highlights the difference between what I wish the automotive ecosystem was and what it really is.

Mad_Science

]]> <![CDATA[2008 Saab Turbo X Hits The Track, Goes Head-To-Head With The Subaru WRX STi, BMW M3, BMW 3-Series And Audi A4]]> @Ray Wert: Well, to be fair, aren't you just making excuses for the re-badged Opel with a trick AWD system?

long_live_the_E36

]]> <![CDATA[2008 Saab Turbo X Hits The Track, Goes Head-To-Head With The Subaru WRX STi, BMW M3, BMW 3-Series And Audi A4]]> So Ray, that Jeep you're looking for? It's an automatic, right?

graverobber- My Yugo Nova!

]]> <![CDATA[2008 Saab Turbo X Hits The Track, Goes Head-To-Head With The Subaru WRX STi, BMW M3, BMW 3-Series And Audi A4]]> long_live_the_E36: Well, to be fair, I started the clutch burn coming out of the third corner when I got lazy and was just kind of absent-minded about where my foot was. Then I killed it by keeping it on WAY too long out of the rest of the corners on the first lap. I finished frying it with a missed shift and grind on the last corner of the first lap and everything was kind of down hill from there.

Ray Wert

]]> <![CDATA[2008 Saab Turbo X Hits The Track, Goes Head-To-Head With The Subaru WRX STi, BMW M3, BMW 3-Series And Audi A4]]> POLAЯMISSESEVEЯYBODY

]]> <![CDATA[2008 Saab Turbo X Hits The Track, Goes Head-To-Head With The Subaru WRX STi, BMW M3, BMW 3-Series And Audi A4]]> So Ray did you ruin it for other Journos or were you the last ones out?

Did everyone curse "that damn blogger" underneath their silver mustaches?

As for the X I dug it at the auto show. Looks mean and those are some of the best wheels around. however, the flimsy door and interior really turned me off when you consider the price in the $40K range.

Rabbi Dave

]]> <![CDATA[2008 Saab Turbo X Hits The Track, Goes Head-To-Head With The Subaru WRX STi, BMW M3, BMW 3-Series And Audi A4]]> Wait, he burnt out the clutch by simply depressing it? Not exactly a viable track-day option then, is it?

long_live_the_E36

]]> <![CDATA[2008 Saab Turbo X Hits The Track, Goes Head-To-Head With The Subaru WRX STi, BMW M3, BMW 3-Series And Audi A4]]> I hear it did a 7;25 at the "ring with Bjorn Borg at the wheel !!

avusone

]]> <![CDATA[2008 Saab Turbo X Hits The Track, Goes Head-To-Head With The Subaru WRX STi, BMW M3, BMW 3-Series And Audi A4]]> Alright. I'm going to nitpick. If I were in your places I would have asked, "Why no Evo?"

If you're going to bring Romulous and not Remus into the equation then you ought to at least explain your methodology.

Why? Most would agree that out of the two the Evo X is the faster around a track. So its stands to reason that if you only plan to bring one, bring the better one.

johnnyichiban

]]> <![CDATA[2008 Saab Turbo X Hits The Track, Goes Head-To-Head With The Subaru WRX STi, BMW M3, BMW 3-Series And Audi A4]]> Man I miss the "tennis shoe" styling of the ole 900's. When Saab's were Saab's and the idea of a badge engineered 9x/Blazer would have had you laughed out of Trollhattan!

Mustang lovin' non-redneck...not that there's anything wrong with that.

]]> <![CDATA[2008 Saab Turbo X Hits The Track, Goes Head-To-Head With The Subaru WRX STi, BMW M3, BMW 3-Series And Audi A4]]> next time use 2 hands on the steering wheel and the laps times will be even better

Nurburgringer

]]> <![CDATA[2008 Saab Turbo X Hits The Track, Goes Head-To-Head With The Subaru WRX STi, BMW M3, BMW 3-Series And Audi A4]]> that is funny as hell. that said, i'd be lucky to get it around the track once.

RocketScientist

]]> <![CDATA[2008 Saab Turbo X Hits The Track, Goes Head-To-Head With The Subaru WRX STi, BMW M3, BMW 3-Series And Audi A4]]> That Turbo X is awesome. It's like a classier WRX.

bzr

]]> <![CDATA[2008 Saab Turbo X Hits The Track, Goes Head-To-Head With The Subaru WRX STi, BMW M3, BMW 3-Series And Audi A4]]> "Clutch does not hold up well under stress" Okay, got it. That's a hell of a fleet to compare to, I'll give them that.

mytdawg

]]> <![CDATA[2008 Saab Turbo X Hits The Track, Goes Head-To-Head With The Subaru WRX STi, BMW M3, BMW 3-Series And Audi A4]]> korvetkeith: There were both dry and wet track runs. The video has footage of wet track as we showed up to the drive just as they were finishing up the dry track runs.

Ray Wert

]]> <![CDATA[2008 Saab Turbo X Hits The Track, Goes Head-To-Head With The Subaru WRX STi, BMW M3, BMW 3-Series And Audi A4]]> From the vid it looks like the dry times you quoted were done on a wet track.

korvetkeith

]]> <![CDATA[2008 Saab Turbo X Hits The Track, Goes Head-To-Head With The Subaru WRX STi, BMW M3, BMW 3-Series And Audi A4]]> I shouldn't laugh, but...

Thanks, Ray!

FLB

]]> <![CDATA[2008 Saab Turbo X Hits The Track, Goes Head-To-Head With The Subaru WRX STi, BMW M3, BMW 3-Series And Audi A4]]> The Name's Ash78, Housewares

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