The quickest front-wheel drive European car ever sold in the US.

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1X83Z

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What is it?

Off my head, 1995-1996 Volvo 850 T-5R, or 1996 Volvo 850R, which did 0-60 in 6.6-6.8. And while Saab Viggens were ass-kickingly cool, their turbo lag was piss-poor and their peaky engines didn't do much unless you revved the piss out of it. Same story for the current S60 T5 (0-60 in 7.2-7.4). The quickest five front-drive cars for sale right now are the Dodge Neon SRT-4, Nissan Altima 3.5SE manual, Acura TL manual, Pontiac Grand Prix GTP, and Saturn Vue V6. A European doesn't even come close.

Can anyone top the Volvos?
 
M5Power
What is it?

Off my head, 1995-1996 Volvo 850 T-5R, or 1996 Volvo 850R, which did 0-60 in 6.6-6.8. And while Saab Viggens were ass-kickingly cool, their turbo lag was piss-poor and their peaky engines didn't do much unless you revved the piss out of it. Same story for the current S60 T5 (0-60 in 7.2-7.4). The quickest five front-drive cars for sale right now are the Dodge Neon SRT-4, Nissan Altima 3.5SE manual, Acura TL manual, Pontiac Grand Prix GTP, and Saturn Vue V6. A European doesn't even come close.

Can anyone top the Volvos?
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That's the fastest??? I'm sure there's gotta be a faster one. My Caddy will do 0-60 in 6.8 on a bad day with cold tires and a friend riding shotgun.
 
If you have a Seville, that doesn't surprise me. If you have a Deville, you're lying. If you have any other Cadillac, it's completely irrelevant.
 
pontiacbonnevillegxpfront1.jpg

6.8. It's a dead heat between the Northstars and the Volvo right now.
 
We're looking for European cars, folks. Hence the title of this thread. The GXP is way off the front anyway, as I mentioned:

1 Dodge Neon SRT-4 (5.7-5.9)
2 Acura TL (6.1-6.3)
3 Nissan Altima 3.5SE (6.2-6.4)
4 Pontiac Grand Prix GTP (6.4-6.6)
5 Saturn Vue V6 2WD (6.5-6.7)

There's still a few more slots before you reach the GXP. Either way,

EUROPEAN CARS
 
when the cadillac sts came out they said it was the fastest fwd production car, and its no suprise to me that speedy_2 has a fast caddy, plus he has NOS ;)
 
speedy_2
Here's my car.

My Caddy
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I don't know where you got that time but I'd bet it could pull off 6.6, no contest. Maybe better. Seville STS's are unbelievable cars - I've recommended them to about thirty people looking used and only two took it seriously and test drove one; both bought it that day. Nobody really thinks that a Cadillac like that can have that much power, that much stuff, and cost so little (when you really go back, you can get them for way under $9000). Like I said - unbelievable car.

Either way, despite Cadillac's best efforts to convince us otherwise, it's not European.

when the cadillac sts came out they said it was the fastest fwd production car, and its no suprise to me that speedy_2 has a fast caddy, plus he has NOS
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It's unanimously agreed that the Dodge Neon SRT-4 or Alfa Romeo 155 GTA are faster - though neither are more powerful, and the Cadillac still takes that crown, though the new rear-drive model is debuting in a few months.
 
According to this list, a:
'96 Prelude VTEC, '97 Prelude SH, '94 Alfa Romeo 164 Quadrifoglio, '01 Acura Integra Type R, '02 Acura RSX Sype S, '04 Nissan Maxima 3.5 '03 Nissan Altima 3.5SE '02 Acura RSX type R, and '01 Cadillac Sedan DeVille DTS have your volvo beat. That means there are at least 3 FWD cars in my extended family that can smoke your volvo. (RSX-S, Altima, DeVille)
 
Victor Vance
According to this list, a:
'96 Prelude VTEC, '97 Prelude SH, '94 Alfa Romeo 164 Quadrifoglio, '01 Acura Integra Type R, '02 Acura RSX Sype S, '04 Nissan Maxima 3.5 '03 Nissan Altima 3.5SE '02 Acura RSX type R, and '01 Cadillac DeVille DTS have your volvo beat. That means there are at least 3 FWD cars in my extended family that can smoke your volvo. (RSX-S, Altima, DeVille)
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You're 0-for-2 within the thread. :p

By the way, that site is absurd. The newer, less obvious cars are clearly getting stiffed while the older or sportier cars are waaaaaay over-rated. Either way, it proves it - Volvers is 0.09 seconds quicker than the Viggen Saab. Though for reasons unknown to man it pegs the C70 at 6.3 seconds.

Edit: Dodge Neon SRT-4 - 5.3 seconds? Even Dodge doesn't claim that. And don't get me started on the Honda S2000's 6.2 - at LEAST 0.3 seconds off.
 
I'd say Volvo's S60 is about the same as my Caddy. Of course with a manual Transmission. 6.7sec probably.

True the SRT-4 is a quick little car. But, like most 4 bangers, they run outta steam after awhile. They're no contest on the freeway for the Caddy. This is were the bigger cars come up:) I'm sure a Volvo will fly on the highway too :)
 
The '95 Volvo 900SE Turbo got up to 60 in 6.5 seconds according to Car & Driver. The same with the '00 and '01 9-3 Viggen. The '02 VW GTI 1.8T ran it in 6.5 seconds, too. According to Car & Driver, the '98 Volvo S70 T5 zipped in at 6.5 seconds; as did the '99 S80 T6.

All of these times were recorded by Car and Driver.
 
Pity about the "sold in the US part".

To the best of my knowledge, the Alfa 147 GTA is the most powerful stock Fwd car ever.

0-60 in 6.3secs and 250bhp.
 
Mike Rotch
Pity about the "sold in the US part".

To the best of my knowledge, the Alfa 147 GTA is the most powerful stock Fwd car ever.

0-60 in 6.3secs and 250bhp.
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Most powerful?? Or do you mean 0-60??
 
Clarkson said most powerful, but maybe he meant in the European context. Its 0-60 time isnt too shabby.
 
Klostrophobic
The '95 Volvo 900SE Turbo got up to 60 in 6.5 seconds according to Car & Driver. The same with the '00 and '01 9-3 Viggen. The '02 VW GTI 1.8T ran it in 6.5 seconds, too. According to Car & Driver, the '98 Volvo S70 T5 zipped in at 6.5 seconds; as did the '99 S80 T6.

All of these times were recorded by Car and Driver.
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Hmm I doubt a 900, even a turbo could get to 60 in 6.5 seconds without modifications (Like shedding a load of weight :D). Anyway, the S60 T5 is mentioned, but what about the S60 R? isn't that available in the US? Faster than the T5 :)
 
Models sold in US (0-100km/h):
Audi A4 3.0 (non-quattro) = 6.8 s
Volvo S60 T5 (Manual) = 6.8 s
Mini Cooper S = 7.4 s

Not available in US:
Alfa Romeo 156/147 GTA = 6.3 s
Renault Megane Sport = 6.5 s
 
switch to something more interesting like " How to blow a clutch in 10 days " or with an automatic, " Neutral dropping the tranny - the shop owners dream "
 
T5-R
Anyway, the S60 T5 is mentioned, but what about the S60 R? isn't that available in the US? Faster than the T5 :)
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Because the S60R is AWD. ;)


As for Acceleration times, they are so much inconsistent from one source to another, they depend on too much factors such as temperature, fuel, humidity, tires, driver and so on...

I have a 98 S70 T5, and even before I raised the pressure on the turbo, I could out easily accelerate any Altima 3.5 (done it a few times and it was quite funny, with the other driver expecting an easy win, since there's no T5 badge anywhere on the car).
 
jpmontoya
Because the S60R is AWD. ;)


As for Acceleration times, they are so much inconsistent from one source to another, they depend on too much factors such as temperature, fuel, humidity, tires, driver and so on...

I have a 98 S70 T5, and even before I raised the pressure on the turbo, I could out easily accelerate any Altima 3.5 (done it a few times and it was quite funny, with the other driver expecting an easy win, since there's no T5 badge anywhere on the car).
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:lol: good point. I must've got carried away ;)
 
I hate F.W.D high powered cars! Especially high powered automatic ones. Try doing kickdown when the road is really wet, say between 30-50 mph and you will know what i'm talking about. Happy torque steer and possible life loss.

It also gets annoying when you want to put all the power down that's available but you can't because of your crappy F.W.D. I find driving a F.W.D. car very unsafe here in rainy Scotland.

F.W.D is good if you have 75bhp, not 250. Unless of course you drive around with all the traction control systems in the world turned on. But then, IMO, that's takes out driver enjoyment.

RacyBacy says ... If you want a really fast car then go get a R.W.D or quattro layout. Quattro rules though! I wouldn't go near a F.W.D layout (with a high power output).
 
RacyBacy
I hate F.W.D high powered cars! Especially high powered automatic ones. Try doing kickdown when the road is really wet, say between 30-50 mph and you will know what i'm talking about. Happy torque steer and possible life loss.

It also gets annoying when you want to put all the power down that's available but you can't because of your crappy F.W.D. I find driving a F.W.D. car very unsafe here in rainy Scotland.

F.W.D is good if you have 75bhp, not 250. Unless of course you drive around with all the traction control systems in the world turned on. But then, IMO, that's takes out driver enjoyment.

RacyBacy says ... If you want a really fast car then go get a R.W.D or quattro layout. Quattro rules though! I wouldn't go near a F.W.D layout (with a high power output).
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Yep. I'd like change mine for an AWD T5-R, and I'm currently shopping for something AWD, most likely a Subaru. Torque steer isn't that bad on mine though, but tire wears way too fast in the front, and it doesn't feel good to push the car anywhere near its limits (that also has a lot to do with how the car is balanced, in that case).

But on slippery roads, I don't agree that RWD is safer than a FWD, no matter how much power the car have. Too much throttle in a curve with a RWD, and you lose the tail, then lift the throttle (the average driver reaction), and the roadside panel of judges will give you high scores for the spins.

Do the same with an FWD car and the car will easily get back on its course after you lifted the throttle. If you get a FWD car sideways, keep your feet on the throttle and point the wheels where you want to go (ass dragging for drifters...) that's a lot easier than controlling the drift your RWD car.

There isn't much RWD cars in rally, and they're usually slower than FWD cars.

Then again, ASM and TCS are blurring the differences in the current lineup.

For under 200hp, FWD is good enough. I've driven a Beetle 1.8T in the snow with average all-season tires and I had a lot of fun with it, nice little car.
 
TwinTurboJay
What about the Mini S with the john works package> ? Isn't that a pretty quick little euro car?
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Pretty zippy for 200 hp, yes. 0-60 is in the mid 6s, if I remember right. A pulley swap would probably give it some chance against a stock SRT-4.

But debating which FWD car is quickest is like debating which three legged horse would win in a race.


M
 
jpmontoya
But on slippery roads, I don't agree that RWD is safer than a FWD, no matter how much power the car have. Too much throttle in a curve with a RWD, and you lose the tail, then lift the throttle (the average driver reaction), and the roadside panel of judges will give you high scores for the spins.

Do the same with an FWD car and the car will easily get back on its course after you lifted the throttle. If you get a FWD car sideways, keep your feet on the throttle and point the wheels where you want to go (ass dragging for drifters...) that's a lot easier than controlling the drift your RWD car.
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Yes, FWD is the safer option for dummies who can't drive.

BTW, I can't remember saying that RWD is safer than FWD on wet roads. I said that if you want a fast car then opt for RWD OR 4WD.

jpmontoya
There isn't much RWD cars in rally, and they're usually slower than FWD cars.
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I think there are more 4WD cars in rallying!
jpmontoya
Then again, ASM and TCS are blurring the differences in the current lineup.

For under 200hp, FWD is good enough. I've driven a Beetle 1.8T in the snow with average all-season tires and I had a lot of fun with it, nice little car.
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The car in question had 182 bhp and that was too much. It had no traction control devices though.
 

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