RE: Volvo V60 Polestar: Review
Discussion
dme123 said:
Spend some time in a Volvo, they put more attention to detail into the glove box handle than GM lavish on the entire st box car they turn out. Then actually take a look at the components and fixtures and fastenings that matter once the car is outside warranty and it's more of the same. The Insignia is a disposable junior management box that has had a decent engine installed, but the low rent fundamental design and build will always show through. Volvo actually gave a st when they designed the V60 so it's not going to be a one trick pony as an ownership prospect. Modern Volvos are everything Audi have managed to convince people they are.
It maybe well built...i am sure it is but..... 50kIts way to bland for me at 50k, wait a few years then maybe its worth a look
I'm becoming worryingly attracted to fast Volvos of late.
Think after 15+ Audi's & BMW's I'm at the point where I want different, Non German.
This V60 I think looks great and I'm definitely warming to the dash and console. Just a shame it's out of my self imposed budget for a new car.
However the C30R is of particular interest at the moment to keep me keen until I find the true cost of the mustang V8 when it's finally released!
Think after 15+ Audi's & BMW's I'm at the point where I want different, Non German.
This V60 I think looks great and I'm definitely warming to the dash and console. Just a shame it's out of my self imposed budget for a new car.
However the C30R is of particular interest at the moment to keep me keen until I find the true cost of the mustang V8 when it's finally released!
Love any manufacturer who tries to take on the defacto German cartel, and think we need more of it, but for me the biggest oversight here is the gearbox. (After much pain) I've come to accept that the days of manual super saloons/estates are long gone, but for a £50k performance car in this bracket, you'd at least expect a Twin-clutch, surely?
redwedge said:
I'm sure it's a great car, but fifty grands worth of great?
Funnily enough, last weekend I was at my parents sorting through some old stuff before they move house, amongst which was a 1995 BTCC Silverstone programme which included an advert for the original T5: £28,995, or fifty grand in today's money.Still bloody expensive though!
dme123 said:
Oddball RS said:
Looks like a much more expensive Insignia VXR Estate to me, and its auto only.
Spend some time in a Volvo, they put more attention to detail into the glove box handle than GM lavish on the entire st box car they turn out. Then actually take a look at the components and fixtures and fastenings that matter once the car is outside warranty and it's more of the same. The Insignia is a disposable junior management box that has had a decent engine installed, but the low rent fundamental design and build will always show through. Volvo actually gave a st when they designed the V60 so it's not going to be a one trick pony as an ownership prospect. Modern Volvos are everything Audi have managed to convince people they are.Oddball RS said:
Oh dear have I upset you or killed your first born or something? I've owned two and driven from memory five in the last five years, is some ways they are good in some ways they are crap and very old fashioned, they can be too expensive for what they represent and 'sometimes' even their own dealers don't want their own cars back as a PX, the only other manufacturer that has ever put me in that position other than Volvo was Alfa, get over it.
Sorry, didn't mean to come across as particularly angry! I love it - I had a look around one at my local dealers, who had one in their valeting bay being prepped to go in the showroom whilst I was there the other week, and it's worth considering for the engine note alone!
There are also some lovely, yet subtle, touches that raise it above the conventional R-design trim level.
As for the suspension, mines a D5 R-design and yes it's undeniably firm, but its comparable to the equivalent M-sport / S-line ( at least the non adaptive versions ).
A bit of time spent fettling with the Ohlins on this one and I suspect you could have it set up wonderfully.
There are also some lovely, yet subtle, touches that raise it above the conventional R-design trim level.
As for the suspension, mines a D5 R-design and yes it's undeniably firm, but its comparable to the equivalent M-sport / S-line ( at least the non adaptive versions ).
A bit of time spent fettling with the Ohlins on this one and I suspect you could have it set up wonderfully.
NGK210 said:
Pleasingly left-field and discreet (albeit in a more stealthy hue). Yes, please.
And £50k is too pricey, really? Compared to which discretely-styled AWD, multi-cylinder, nutter btard turbo from Audi, BMW or M-B?
As mentioned in the article I guess the closest rival in the UK is the S4 Avant. Maybe even an S3 sportback is a direct rival too, as the V60 doesn't have a huge load space, and the S3 arguably has a better gearbox. And £50k is too pricey, really? Compared to which discretely-styled AWD, multi-cylinder, nutter btard turbo from Audi, BMW or M-B?
RS4 list price is about £56k and so the Volvo is pitched between the two, but if I had £50k to spend I'd certainly be visiting the Audi dealership to talk numbers. The RS4 becomes more relevant as depreciation on the Volvo might be ruinous so after a few years that £6k+ difference might not matter.
Also in Europe the 335i touring is available with Xdrive for similar money.
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