RE: Driven: Volvo S60 T6 Polestar
Discussion
fathomfive said:
MonkeyMatt said:
You would have to be crazy to spend your own money on this over a cheaper Audi S4 or BMW 335!
What happens if you don't want an Audi or BMW?Despite being under Chinese funding, there IS still a cohesive Swedish design element, it's calming and logical....they DO represent the safest cars on the road (don't like the sound of the nannying bongs though) and for 99% of the driving 99% of the driving public do, this will do a very good job indeed...you're not giving up THAt much to have something that is different from the rest.
Its a simple as a that...a sea of black/silver/grey teutonic saloons that differ mainly in the chrome numbers on the back vs.....something else...doesn't have to be Volvo either...I'd put Citreon in there too
Stuart said:
I had this for a day. Under sufferance, which sounds astonishingly ungrateful but isn't meant in that way. I genuinely nearly took my own car (to a Sunday Service) because I just couldn't get on with it. Yes, it is quite quick. However that isn't compensated for by any stretch by the three much more disturbing things about it:
1) A properly half arsed effort to make it seem sporty inside when, really, it's just a Volvo. Rubbish "sports" seats and a lightly embossed steering wheel were it. Not good enough.
2) All the safety gubbins. I just couldn't switch it off, and it kept chirping at me all the way up the motorway. Hateful.
3) That blue. Yes, I know, Polestar, their M/AMG/insert sporty sub brand of your choice, and this is the signature colour. Horrible. It looks like a fast response car for NTL.
As if that wasn't enough, the price is RIDICULOUS. I hate the lazy "but you could have a *insert 10 year old Porsche* for that money" new car comparison because it simply isn't appropriate in most cases. With this though I think you'd have to be daft or spending someone else's money without fear of residual consequences to buy one new. Not when there's so much other stuff out there for the cash.
Regarding the safety gubbins, most of it is optional. Only the seatbelt warning and the Citysafe are compulsory, all the rest are fitted to demonstrators and Volvo UK cars as they hit the options list hard. I just (yesterday) collected a V60 having previously had a drive in a second hand ex volvo UK one, and the car without the toys is much nicer.1) A properly half arsed effort to make it seem sporty inside when, really, it's just a Volvo. Rubbish "sports" seats and a lightly embossed steering wheel were it. Not good enough.
2) All the safety gubbins. I just couldn't switch it off, and it kept chirping at me all the way up the motorway. Hateful.
3) That blue. Yes, I know, Polestar, their M/AMG/insert sporty sub brand of your choice, and this is the signature colour. Horrible. It looks like a fast response car for NTL.
As if that wasn't enough, the price is RIDICULOUS. I hate the lazy "but you could have a *insert 10 year old Porsche* for that money" new car comparison because it simply isn't appropriate in most cases. With this though I think you'd have to be daft or spending someone else's money without fear of residual consequences to buy one new. Not when there's so much other stuff out there for the cash.
Stuart said:
I had this for a day. Under sufferance, which sounds astonishingly ungrateful but isn't meant in that way. I genuinely nearly took my own car (to a Sunday Service) because I just couldn't get on with it. Yes, it is quite quick. However that isn't compensated for by any stretch by the three much more disturbing things about it:
1) A properly half arsed effort to make it seem sporty inside when, really, it's just a Volvo. Rubbish "sports" seats and a lightly embossed steering wheel were it. Not good enough.
2) All the safety gubbins. I just couldn't switch it off, and it kept chirping at me all the way up the motorway. Hateful.
3) That blue. Yes, I know, Polestar, their M/AMG/insert sporty sub brand of your choice, and this is the signature colour. Horrible. It looks like a fast response car for NTL.
As if that wasn't enough, the price is RIDICULOUS. I hate the lazy "but you could have a *insert 10 year old Porsche* for that money" new car comparison because it simply isn't appropriate in most cases. With this though I think you'd have to be daft or spending someone else's money without fear of residual consequences to buy one new. Not when there's so much other stuff out there for the cash.
Regarding the safety gubbins, most of it is optional. Only the seatbelt warning and the Citysafe are compulsory, all the rest are fitted to demonstrators and Volvo UK cars as they hit the options list hard. I just (yesterday) collected a V60 having previously had a drive in a second hand ex volvo UK one, and the car without the toys is much nicer.1) A properly half arsed effort to make it seem sporty inside when, really, it's just a Volvo. Rubbish "sports" seats and a lightly embossed steering wheel were it. Not good enough.
2) All the safety gubbins. I just couldn't switch it off, and it kept chirping at me all the way up the motorway. Hateful.
3) That blue. Yes, I know, Polestar, their M/AMG/insert sporty sub brand of your choice, and this is the signature colour. Horrible. It looks like a fast response car for NTL.
As if that wasn't enough, the price is RIDICULOUS. I hate the lazy "but you could have a *insert 10 year old Porsche* for that money" new car comparison because it simply isn't appropriate in most cases. With this though I think you'd have to be daft or spending someone else's money without fear of residual consequences to buy one new. Not when there's so much other stuff out there for the cash.
RevolveR said:
The one thing I can't get over is why there is an air-vent in the centre console surrounded by chrome trim, but then next to the screen there is another air-vent with no trim around it. Yet the other air-vents have chrome trim?!
Its like the air-vent and screen should swap places.
I can see what you're saying but aesthetically...blur your eyes when you look at the dash... you end up with a block of silver (console) and a block of black running across the top with a chrome ringed block of black at each end.... neatIts like the air-vent and screen should swap places.
Add a ring of chrome off centre above the block of silver and it would be alot worse...
Harmoganise the screen and vent and ring the entire thing with chrome and you'd be closer...but it would still be off centre...they've compromised the balance by having the centre vent for the driver and the off centre vent for the passenger... I'd've put two vents below the screen and had the screen bigger...
Edited by Agoogy on Tuesday 20th November 14:19
Like:
- basil hume's interior colour choice!
- no bulb on the dash as BMW & Merc have had for a while
- agility & comfort mix (driven this against a BMW coupe and on the edge you can feel the DSTC, but then you're pushing it to feel it, something you wouldn't try with the beemer.
- the possibility of bringing the Polestar 500bhp to market if the T6 sells...
Dislike:
- the look of the airvent under the centerscreen
- the front lights melting (will be changed soon)
- basil hume's interior colour choice!
- no bulb on the dash as BMW & Merc have had for a while
- agility & comfort mix (driven this against a BMW coupe and on the edge you can feel the DSTC, but then you're pushing it to feel it, something you wouldn't try with the beemer.
- the possibility of bringing the Polestar 500bhp to market if the T6 sells...
Dislike:
- the look of the airvent under the centerscreen
- the front lights melting (will be changed soon)
I really want to like the current Volvo line-up but it's the first one they've had since at least the launch of the 850 where I can't find anything to enthuse me. They've all got this sort of me-tooish attempt to have an in-your-face Brand Image, and the mechanically interesting stuff is either fast disappearing or turns out to be a curate's egg. This T6 is a great example; quirky engine, 4WD drivetrain, reputedly one of the best-handling Volvos yet... and you can have it in a choice of automatic or automatic.
I know the subtle shapes of the first Peter Horbury "shoulder" design era are no doubt marching out of date, and the industry-wide downsizing means they can't keep on sticking five cylinder engines anywhere they'll fit, but I can't help feeling the current journey towards marketing middle ground is a misstep. Looking at the V40 for example, there are a whole load of manufacturers who'll sell me a slightly gloopy, amorphous looking hatchback with a well-made interior and a turbo four under the bonnet. Give it a couple of years and Kia will probably give you 200bhp in a small car for five grand less with a seven year warranty.
I know the subtle shapes of the first Peter Horbury "shoulder" design era are no doubt marching out of date, and the industry-wide downsizing means they can't keep on sticking five cylinder engines anywhere they'll fit, but I can't help feeling the current journey towards marketing middle ground is a misstep. Looking at the V40 for example, there are a whole load of manufacturers who'll sell me a slightly gloopy, amorphous looking hatchback with a well-made interior and a turbo four under the bonnet. Give it a couple of years and Kia will probably give you 200bhp in a small car for five grand less with a seven year warranty.
I almost bought one of these (V60 T6 SE) earlier this year. I thought it would be quick with over 300bhp but I think the weight must hold it back. The handeling was stodgy and whilst the car was well screwed together the interior is no way near as 'premium' as the equivalent BMW or Audi. Space in the rear is also a little tight and the loadspace isn't great.
I believe the torque is limited in first gear hence the poor off the line stats.
Looks nice from the outside though and I like the fact it isn't a Merc/BMW/Audi. Also had a great app where you can start it with your iphone to get it warm on a cold winter's morning!
I believe the torque is limited in first gear hence the poor off the line stats.
Looks nice from the outside though and I like the fact it isn't a Merc/BMW/Audi. Also had a great app where you can start it with your iphone to get it warm on a cold winter's morning!
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