Volvo - cool or boring?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Savoy1984
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Slicks
Edit - Are the V70R models available with a stick? Anyone know?
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On the subject of that for a moment, I sat in a V70R with the manual transmission a few years ago before Betten Imports moved from Grand Rapids to Cascade (Grand Rapids for rich people), and I came away impressed. I found the shifter to be fairly direct, with moderately short throws, etc. The clutch position seemed awkward though... Kinda high and a bit far to the left. I had previously read that the clutch uptake on the S60R and V70R was rather high, not too different from my Volkswagen, but there wasn't a gradual progression that was notable in the uptake of the clutch... Odd, coming from manual-driven Europe...

I couldn't confirm it myself, there isn't any way they would have given me the keys to a $50K brand-new Volvo that was pretty much sold to begin with. But it was the spark to my modern Volvo-lust, and is part of what has kept me interested in the brand for some time.

...They are probably some of the best-looking, most underrated cars when it comes to performance, and it is sad really. They didn't get much respect for what they did, but then again, that may be a good thing. So when you're sitting at the light and some punk-kid pulls up next to you in his Civic, you can know with confidence that you can leave his tin-can in the dust without issue.

Didn't Top Gear do a test with the Volvo twins? I'll have to see if I can find it...

EDIT: Ah, here we are, the Top Gear lap time:

1:35.0 – Volvo S60 R
 
M5Power
The 940 Turbo? Stock it had as much horsepower as a naturally-aspirated 850.
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True. Also true is when the turbo spools up, you don't
A) Change lanes if going straight.
Or
B) Skid off into a ditch if in turns.
Or
C) Crash into whatever was behind you because the turbo hit while you were backing up.
The only things more notorious for torque steer than Volvo 850's was Saab V6's.
M5Power
gotta be the worst drop due to a transmission in automotive history.
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The NSX Automatic that never existed?
 
Toronado
True. Also true is when the turbo spools up, you don't
A) Change lanes if going straight.
Or
B) Skid off into a ditch if in turns.
Or
C) Crash into whatever was behind you because the turbo hit while you were backing up.
The only things more notorious for torque steer than Volvo 850's was Saab V6's.
Click to expand...

Torque steer was an extremely minor issue with my car - if that's as bad as it gets, then it's nothing that concerns me.

The NSX Automatic that never existed?
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Actually I think even the NSX didn't lose as much quickness as the current R model Volvos - the automatic R Volvos' 0-60 time is forty percent below the manuals'!
 
Toronado
That is about 100 times worse than the normal car.
And this destroys the 850 T5-R:
9401ei0.jpg

As, while it was not offered in an off-yellow color for all I know, it was RWD.
Game. Set. Match.
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Wow, I really like the look of that car.
 
I saw a very cool Volvo today IMHO. A black S40 break, lowered with beautiful wheels. Just perfect.
 
I have a lot of love for Volvo. I don't look at them as the company that devotes itself to safety while... oh yeah. Providing bland looking designs. Certainly the 21st Century Volvos look amazing (at least to me). Volvo even had race car variants of a STATION WAGON ("Estate Car" to Europeans) at the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona once or twice. I don't feel any boring vibes from Volvos, especially today's models. So count me in for the "cool" crowd for this one.
 
VOLVO = Cool!
I love what their main focuses are on their cars (mostly safety) and the cool look of the taillights on newer models. I can't resist them! :D
They also seem to always learn from their mistakes as well, notice not many new volvos are shaped like cardboard boxes?
 
Volvo = understated awesomeness!!! I almost bought a beautiful red c70 but my wallet got a hemorrhage at the thought
 
I see Volvo 240s everywhere in town, and they always make me drool.

A close friend at school drives a 940 Turbo. She's passing the car off to her brother this year when she graduates. She's probably getting a Yaris. She doesn't realize the awesomeness of what she's been driving. But, it does have the turning radius of a pencil.
 

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