Additionally the wipers would not return to a low park position and often sat 2-3" above the cowl. The deeply curved windshield of the C900 came about because back in the days of flat windshields many cars would pack snow right down the center of the windshield during winter drives (would also puddle water on rainy days).When I was driving the Forester at highway speeds I noticed that the driver's side wiper was traveling over the edge of the left side of the windshield. Other Saab features that are winter-friendly are heated seats (only Cadillac had them before Saab, in the 1950s, but it was an extremely rare option that was too complex and expensive using tubes to run coolant under the seat!), headlight wipers, well ventilated cabin, mitten friendly interior, etc. Of all the German car manufacturers the one that is knows for their winter driving prowess is Audi, partly due to their Quattro system, but again, most Audi are front wheel drive. Front wheel drive is simple and highly effective at driving in snow and mud. Sure all wheel drive provides better overall traction, but also comes with more complexity, production costs, and maintenance expenses. This is the most snow I ever had on the Saab's butt:įront wheel drive is the way to go in wintery conditions. Was it due to the snow flaps? I think those Swedish engineers were onto something.įorester wearing a loaded diaper of snowy poo:
Subaru forester forum wipers full#
Does it work? I know my Subaru Forester would get a rear end full of snow (see below), my NG900 never did. The flap deflect snow being throw by the front wheels, and avoids it getting packed into the rear wheel wells. The 900s both had what many call a snow flap, the little mud flaps that hang below the car about halfway through the underbody on the NG900, or right in front of the rear wheels on the C900 (see below):ĭid the earlier Saabs like the 99, 96 and otehr also have the snow flap? I don't know but I am curious now. Perhaps it's the automatic transmission, I can't quite pinpoint it. I also have the 9-5 Aero here in Germany but something is lost in it. I am biased because I have had both in snowy places, the NG900 in Alaska and the C900 here in Germany. I think both 900s, the C900 and the NG900 are great in snow. I never got used to the GM radio in the later 9-3 and 9-5 and still can't look at it really. Still great cars but something was missing. Both the 2006 9-3 I had just too many creaks and rattles for a new car but that may have been improved for the later years. Later 9-5 models and the 9-3 were just a bit less with less expensive materials in the interior. Quality for the <=2005 9-5 seems best to me, almost like Mercedes from the 90s.
The 9-3 basically has modified GM engines (2.0T and 2.8T) so I consider those less Saaby. The 4-cylinder H-engine goes back a long time and I think is the most Saaby engine of the 9-3 and 9-5. The Saab 9-5 1998-2005 and 9-3 2003-2006 are a bit more Saaby when it comes to design with their button dash and exterior design. I don t if these Saab systems are better than others. More important are good winter tires and if the car has TCS, ABS and ESP. My Chevy Trailblazer was excellent in snow and cold, as well as many other cars I owned. But they have winter in Germany and Detroit as well so is a Saab that much better in snow and cold than a BMW or Cadillac? I think it is a bit of marketing hype and doesn't really make a difference. It often is assumed Saabs are good winter cars because they are from Sweden, a country with long winters.
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