A slightly damp day today welcomed the Turbo X test drive. I was driving the automatic with Playstation-like thumb-button shifters. I had my wife and 9-month with me so we had the baby seat installed in the back too. This was going to be a real-world test.
First Impressions - I must say I really like the look of the car's front end. unfortunately, much of the side of the body doesn't say much though it stays very sleek. The back end is also awesome-looking. Very mean like in person and understated with the black with gun metal trimming.
Build - I don't like the matte plastic bits around the windows. It makes the car seem very cheap. The front and back trim pieces make up for it a little bit. Inside, I love th carbon fibre trim! I also love the fit and finish of the interior. Again, quite understated yet with a more sporty feel than something luxurious.
Ergonomics - Me being 6'3", I've got long legs so I found it a bit tighter than I liked. Adjustment still fit well - I wish I could have stretched out a little bit more. I love the larger thickness of the steering wheel. It has a great stable feel.
Handling and Performance - When I first turned the car on, i couldn't really hear its low rumbling because i was sitting inside. The sound was very bassy and was sometimes ear-deafening at speed. I got passed that however when I did several quick launches, zero to..dunno-how-fast-i'm-going. The car definitely pushed me back a little bit into the seat, but was barely noticeable because the flood was still gradual. It's probably because the seat hugged me so well, supported me in every way, especially during the corners. And going through those corners, it reminded me a lot of my SVT Focus - a car that corners like it's in a cartoon. :cheesy:
During the ride, we also hit some rough spots on the road. The suspension was firm but not jarring. The steering was very direct and weighty, not vague at all. I felt connected to the road the whole time, more so than the Infiniti G37s I test drove the same time last year, and just as much as the SVT Focus. Braking and turning at speed was also a thrill and a half, especially in semi-wet weather.
So, what I liked:
1. Build quality, fit and finish inside and out
2. Ride quality
3. XWD system - could this be a Swedish GTR? :cheesy:
4. 4 doors for the baby
5. Big boot
6. Looks inside and out.
7. Sticky Pirelli tires
What I didn't like:
1. Ear-deafening bassy exhaust can get annoying
2. Plastic window trim
3. Turbo lag
4. Acceleration disconnection - all SAABs are like this - effortless!
5. Sucky head unit for the radio.
I'm thinking of getting this car before the employee pricing ends this month. I'm hoping to test-drive the manual version on Tuesday.
First Impressions - I must say I really like the look of the car's front end. unfortunately, much of the side of the body doesn't say much though it stays very sleek. The back end is also awesome-looking. Very mean like in person and understated with the black with gun metal trimming.
Build - I don't like the matte plastic bits around the windows. It makes the car seem very cheap. The front and back trim pieces make up for it a little bit. Inside, I love th carbon fibre trim! I also love the fit and finish of the interior. Again, quite understated yet with a more sporty feel than something luxurious.
Ergonomics - Me being 6'3", I've got long legs so I found it a bit tighter than I liked. Adjustment still fit well - I wish I could have stretched out a little bit more. I love the larger thickness of the steering wheel. It has a great stable feel.
Handling and Performance - When I first turned the car on, i couldn't really hear its low rumbling because i was sitting inside. The sound was very bassy and was sometimes ear-deafening at speed. I got passed that however when I did several quick launches, zero to..dunno-how-fast-i'm-going. The car definitely pushed me back a little bit into the seat, but was barely noticeable because the flood was still gradual. It's probably because the seat hugged me so well, supported me in every way, especially during the corners. And going through those corners, it reminded me a lot of my SVT Focus - a car that corners like it's in a cartoon. :cheesy:
During the ride, we also hit some rough spots on the road. The suspension was firm but not jarring. The steering was very direct and weighty, not vague at all. I felt connected to the road the whole time, more so than the Infiniti G37s I test drove the same time last year, and just as much as the SVT Focus. Braking and turning at speed was also a thrill and a half, especially in semi-wet weather.
So, what I liked:
1. Build quality, fit and finish inside and out
2. Ride quality
3. XWD system - could this be a Swedish GTR? :cheesy:
4. 4 doors for the baby
5. Big boot
6. Looks inside and out.
7. Sticky Pirelli tires
What I didn't like:
1. Ear-deafening bassy exhaust can get annoying
2. Plastic window trim
3. Turbo lag
4. Acceleration disconnection - all SAABs are like this - effortless!
5. Sucky head unit for the radio.
I'm thinking of getting this car before the employee pricing ends this month. I'm hoping to test-drive the manual version on Tuesday.