Saab 9-7x Owner's Manual page 101

Downshifting the transmission in slippery road conditions
could result in skidding, see "Skidding" under Loss of
Control on page 4-12.
DRIVE (D) can be used when towing a trailer, carrying a
heavy load, driving on steep hills, or for off-road
driving. You may want to shift the transmission to
THIRD (3) or, if necessary, a lower gear selection if the
transmission shifts too often.
THIRD (3): This position is also used for normal driving.
It reduces vehicle speed more than DRIVE (D) without
using your brakes. You might choose THIRD (3) instead
of DRIVE (D) when driving on hilly, winding roads, when
towing a trailer, so there is less shifting between gears
and when going down a steep hill.
To shift to the THIRD (3) position, you must first press the
large button on the shift handle. While the button is
pressed, move the shifter in the THIRD (3) position.
SECOND (2): This position reduces vehicle speed even
more than THIRD (3) without using your brakes. You
can use SECOND (2) on hills. It can help control your
speed as you go down steep mountain roads, but then
you would also want to use your brakes off and on.
To shift to the SECOND (2) position, you must first press
the large button on the shift handle. While the button is
pressed, move the shifter in the SECOND (2) position.
You can also use SECOND (2) for starting the vehicle
from a stop on slippery road surfaces.
FIRST (1): This position reduces vehicle speed even
more than SECOND (2) without using your brakes. You
can use it on very steep hills, or in deep snow or mud.
If the shift lever is put in FIRST (1) while the vehicle is
moving forward, the transmission will not shift into first
gear until the vehicle is going slowly enough.
To shift to the FIRST (1) position, you must first press the
large button on the shift handle. While the button is
pressed, move the shifter in the FIRST (1) position.
Notice: Spinning the tires or holding the vehicle in
one place on a hill using only the accelerator
pedal may damage the transmission. The repair will
not be covered by your warranty. If you are stuck,
do not spin the tires. When stopping on a hill,
use the brakes to hold the vehicle in place.
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