19 y/o with an S60 T5 - my car history and a belated intro..

19 y/o with an S60 T5 - my car history and a belated intro..

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Discussion

BorkFactor

7,258 posts

157 months

Monday 27th February 2012
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Synchromesh said:
E36 vs T5 depends weather you want a comfortable Q-car, or something with a bit more finesse and a 'sportier' image. Also don't be put off the the T5's slow 0-60 compared to the BMW's - the T5s come alive in the higher gears when you can get the power down. The insurance aint bad for what it is so go test drive one.
Comfortable Q car sounds brilliant cloud9

I have only been in one T5 - it was an old 850 with a remap and a bigger turbo downpipe and it was silly fast.

I love the S60 like you have, shame it is so difficult to find a decent manual one.

MiniMadMike

780 posts

197 months

Monday 27th February 2012
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Ha! Kernahan's of Witney! My old chap used to get his Caterham serviced there! Still there now as a Ford dealer I believe, was a rover dealer before that.

Love the Mini mate, really nice that you kept it original. Other cars are nice too, although theyve got nothing on that mini biggrin

Synchromesh

Original Poster:

2,428 posts

165 months

Wednesday 29th February 2012
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MiniMadMike said:
Ha! Kernahan's of Witney! My old chap used to get his Caterham serviced there! Still there now as a Ford dealer I believe, was a rover dealer before that.

Love the Mini mate, really nice that you kept it original. Other cars are nice too, although theyve got nothing on that mini biggrin
Yes, it would have been a Rover dealer in 1998 when my Mini was bought from there. Glad you like it too.



60 hours into my ownership period now and have this evening just done my first long slog. 2h15 in total, with about 45 mins of that pootling through Bristol and London - the rest of the time was spent at a GPS verified 70mph. Not only did I get out feeling more relaxed than when I started, but I got a faintly staggering (if the computer is to be believed) 36.7mpg. For a point of comparison, on the exact same journey (at the same speed) the Polo got exactly 40 to the gallon, and I'd have been too buzzed out to go straight down the pub afterwards. Being at 2500 revs rather 3500 as it was in the Polo, made it far less thrashy, and coupled with the sumptuous seats, top notch sound and superior insulation, the car soaked up the miles like they weren't there. I also noticed a definite change in how other road users treated me - either they see a dark S60 going exactly 70 and assume I'm BiB, or it's just that bigger cars get more respect. Perhaps someone could fill me in on this.

Radio 2 on the stereo of my vast Volvo - who said I was prematurely middle aged for a 19 year old...

ambuletz

10,690 posts

180 months

Wednesday 29th February 2012
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the mini looks charming. bit of a shame you didn't take more pictures of it.

Synchromesh

Original Poster:

2,428 posts

165 months

Wednesday 29th February 2012
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ambuletz said:
the mini looks charming. bit of a shame you didn't take more pictures of it.
Thanks. I did take more but thought the nine I posted would be enough to satisfy the curiosity of most people.

StottyZr

6,860 posts

162 months

Wednesday 29th February 2012
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Somebody got an A* in English winklaugh

Lovely cars, I like how you've steadily build up on power/size. I'm also very impressed at how little these cars have actually cost, as you don't seem to loose much in depreciation. (and the obvious apreciating Mini)

Any plans for the future? Volvo for 2years followed by something even meatier at 21? scratchchin

Synchromesh

Original Poster:

2,428 posts

165 months

Wednesday 29th February 2012
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StottyZr said:
Somebody got an A* in English winklaugh

Lovely cars, I like how you've steadily build up on power/size. I'm also very impressed at how little these cars have actually cost, as you don't seem to loose much in depreciation. (and the obvious apreciating Mini)

Any plans for the future? Volvo for 2years followed by something even meatier at 21? scratchchin
Actually I only got an A in GCSE Eng Lang, but that's only because I wasn't allowed to write exclusively about cars wink One of my coursework pieces was published as a letter in Evo magazine though so who am I to complain...

So far my motoring has cost me exactly nothing in depreciation (gained £500 on the Mini, and lost £500 on the Polo) - not bad for two years driving. I think I'll loose a bit on the Volvo though.

Plan for the future is to keep the Volvo standard, but just get it to top condition, in fact, I'm detailing it at the weekend, weather permitting. I'll then keep it at least until October, depending how I get along with it.

For me, half the fun is deciding what to get next (and judging by the number of What Car threads on these boards, I'm not the only one) but I'm thinking of perhaps a Clio 182 as a final tribute to FWD before I make the switch to a 'pusher', at which point I'll more than likely go for an MX-5. Once I've got a bit of capital though, I'd love a Caterham, and I'm prepared to run it as an only car if it means I can get my mitts on it - a slight change from an S60 I must admit, but my tastes are eclectic.

Garett

1,622 posts

191 months

Wednesday 29th February 2012
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Nice S60 cool They are good looking cars! I have a D5 and on 16" rims doesn't look quite as good.

Stedman

7,213 posts

191 months

Thursday 1st March 2012
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Welcome to the club!

Synchromesh

Original Poster:

2,428 posts

165 months

Thursday 1st March 2012
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Garett said:
Nice S60 cool They are good looking cars! I have a D5 and on 16" rims doesn't look quite as good.
They are indeed. As I said it's the subtle details which do it, like the way the silhouette of the rear light cluster echoes and emphasises the wide haunches that give it such a planted look. Fantastic motorway cruisers too, in my opinion more so than an E92 3-series, which is a more modern car.

You might be able to help me on my other thread .

Stedman said:
Welcome to the club!
Yes, in fact there was another 19 year old PHer who had a fast Volvo too - a stripped out 850 T5 if I remember right.

wackojacko

8,581 posts

189 months

Thursday 1st March 2012
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Synchromesh said:
Yes, in fact there was another 19 year old PHer who had a fast Volvo too - a stripped out 850 T5 if I remember right.
Yep that was me I had just turned 18 when I had that, stripped and caged 855 T5 on GAZ Gold suspension etc.
Only had it for around a month and a half due to lack of space and other projects, shouldn't have sold it though. Bought an S3 as a daily driver (18 now) which is horrendously boring in comparison.

Edited by wackojacko on Thursday 1st March 06:29

Synchromesh

Original Poster:

2,428 posts

165 months

Thursday 1st March 2012
quotequote all
wackojacko said:
Yep that was me I had just turned 18 when I had that, stripped and caged 855 T5 on GAZ Gold suspension etc.
Only had it for around a month and a half due to lack of space and other projects, shouldn't have sold it though. Bought an S3 as a daily driver (18 now) which is horrendously boring in comparison.
Hello wavey

That S3 is a nice car, but has nothing on your 855. That car was mental, and I loved it all the more for it. Why didn't you sell your Astra instead?

Edited by Synchromesh on Thursday 1st March 17:26

wackojacko

8,581 posts

189 months

Thursday 1st March 2012
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Disagree, 855 was fking horrible to drive if you weren't racing someone or on a smooth road.

Probably the most uncomfortable, noisy , droney car I've ever driven. As a daily driver it was a ball ache !

Funniest thing about all my cars is that I actually set out to buy something better or different, I was looking at 06-07 S3's and about to go for a lovely blue one, next day my neighbour tells me he's selling his sons S3... So I buy that hehe so ended spending a third of what I had on an older, higher mileage car ... Very amusing to my friends.

The Volvo I actually had 5ish grand to spend at that point and ended up buying a car for £1500 that was exactly against what I wanted, no interior, no radio etc at that point I had 3 stripped and caged cars.

I'll never learn !

Marlin45

1,327 posts

163 months

Thursday 1st March 2012
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Lovely prose OP clap

Stedman

7,213 posts

191 months

Sunday 4th March 2012
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As you're near Bristol, if you need ANY work done please visit MRG (main volvo dealer) in Chippenham. There are a few locals near by with VERY nice (and quick!) 850s and S60Rs. Get onto t5d5.org . Have a look around, ask a few questions and bring some banter with you too smile

Synchromesh

Original Poster:

2,428 posts

165 months

Sunday 4th March 2012
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Marlin45 said:
Lovely prose OP clap
Thanks thumbup

Stedman said:
As you're near Bristol, if you need ANY work done please visit MRG (main volvo dealer) in Chippenham. There are a few locals near by with VERY nice (and quick!) 850s and S60Rs. Get onto t5d5.org . Have a look around, ask a few questions and bring some banter with you too smile
Getting the Cambelt and water pump done tomorrow at a local VW/Audi specialist independent. Only reason is that they were fantastic with me when I had my Polo, and they're local so can pop it in before work and collect it and the end of the day. Chippy would be a day trip, and without wishing to offend any residents of the hallowed town, hardly the most inspiring place to spend a day. What makes MRG better than a trusted independent anyway?

Would be good to check out the local Volvo 'scene' (how oxymoronic does that sound?) so I'll pop over, with the banter hat duly donned.

Stedman

7,213 posts

191 months

Sunday 4th March 2012
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Synchromesh said:
Getting the Cambelt and water pump done tomorrow at a local VW/Audi specialist independent. Only reason is that they were fantastic with me when I had my Polo, and they're local so can pop it in before work and collect it and the end of the day. Chippy would be a day trip, and without wishing to offend any residents of the hallowed town, hardly the most inspiring place to spend a day. What makes MRG better than a trusted independent anyway?

Would be good to check out the local Volvo 'scene' (how oxymoronic does that sound?) so I'll pop over, with the banter hat duly donned.
I wouldn't know as I've never used your local specialist wink

I find the chaps there are excellent. I've called many many a time asking for advice and not once have I felt like i've been a burden or a PITA. They don't mess you around. Great customer service and very knowledgable (i.e-they look past the Volvo handbook, unlike other dealers).

I haven't spent time in Chippenham as I always get the train into Bath and have a mooch around there for a few hours. T5D5 lot are great, it's more than a 'forum' once you go to a meet (i know it seems geeky, but they're a laugh) or a track day with them.

(Let's just be clear about this. I may be only 22 and I may drive a Volvo, but when I say they're a laugh, they really are. I'm not some geek who wks over battleship galatica and has no social life.) hehe

Petrolize

324 posts

173 months

Sunday 4th March 2012
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The photographs of the Polo look like they could be in a brochure! Great write up smile

Synchromesh

Original Poster:

2,428 posts

165 months

Sunday 4th March 2012
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Stedman said:
I find the chaps there are excellent. I've called many many a time asking for advice and not once have I felt like i've been a burden or a PITA. They don't mess you around. Great customer service and very knowledgable (i.e-they look past the Volvo handbook, unlike other dealers).
I'll give them a try next time it needs a service then.

Petrolize said:
The photographs of the Polo look like they could be in a brochure! Great write up smile
Thanks. Glad you like both the words and the pics. As I said, I'll get some pics of the S60 as soon as it's clean.

Treated the leather today and it worked wonders, looking (and smelling for that matter) much fresher inside. Off to London again on Tuesday, then to Donington for a track day on Sunday so I'll wait 'til I've done the motorway slogs before I get started on the exterior. Plan is to give it a good wash, then go over with the clay bar to get the more stubborn dirt and tar off, then a good polish with the random orbital before sealing with some wax. Did the same with the Polo and it came up well, so good results are in the offing for Mr. T5.

LordFlathead

9,641 posts

257 months

Monday 5th March 2012
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What a fantastic read. At your age have you not considered motoring journalism? The pics that go with the write up are also excellent. Top notch choice of cars too given your age and insurance. Looking forward to the updates smile