My Volvo S60 D5 'R'

[specialman]

An evening drive…. by Pat MacInnes, on Flickr

Had it about six months now and can't believe it took me this long to move over to an oil burner.

This replaced my beloved Leon Cupra R 225, which was a riot and did me proud over 130,000 business miles. But with pants mileage rates at work and spiralling fuel costs a diesel beckoned so aside from a V70 (which was over my budget) the S60 was the only way to go.

Bought it with 89K on the clock and a FSH. Pegasus 18" alloys and the 'R' brake kit up front were too much of a draw so I had to have it as soon as I saw it. It's done twenty-odd thousand since I got it and it's not missed a beat; the lump up front isn't overly kind on the front tyres but aside from that I've not had anything bar a service done so happy motoring so far.

Massively impressed by the comfort; the seat are the best I've sat in, and it's a nice place to be on long trips around the country. Okay, it's not as quick as some of the German diesels and certainly not as much fun to drive as the Cupra R, but it does it's job fine as a mile muncher and for transporting the family.

[FRMATT]

Car's looking good and that's a nice pic!

[Synchromesh]

Good cars aint they? You've gone for the best colour too. Mine's on 18s as well (BBS Nebulas) and the ride quality does leave a little to be desired. Then again it can look under-wheeled on anything smaller as it does have big proportions. Keep hearing good things about the D5s, apparently they don't sound half bad for a diesel and get good real-world economy. Is it the 185bhp one?

Very nice photo too by the way. I'm sure I recognise the location from a shoot in evo a few years back - MP4-12C vs 458 Itlaia comes to mind but happy to be corrected on this.

[specialman]

FRMATT said:

Car's looking good and that's a nice pic!

Cheers Was at a loose end while at the mother-in-law's so thought I'd get out and do some shots

Synchromesh said:

Good cars aint they? You've gone for the best colour too. Mine's on 18s as well (BBS Nebulas) and the ride quality does leave a little to be desired. Then again it can look under-wheeled on anything smaller as it does have big proportions. Keep hearing good things about the D5s, apparently they don't sound half bad for a diesel and get good real-world economy. Is it the 185bhp one?

Very nice photo too by the way. I'm sure I recognise the location from a shoot in evo a few years back - MP4-12C vs 458 Itlaia comes to mind but happy to be corrected on this.

When I was looking for one I kept finding silver but this just stood out on the forecourt, especially with those wheels.

I agree; on 17s they look okay but on big rims the stance just looks bang-on. Ride quality isn't too bad, although once the tyres start to wear then it does get a it lumpy.

It's the 163bhp - 2005 (54-reg) but ample power and even on a 5-speed box it goes well through the gears. Lots of grunt above 2000rpm. Yep, the sound is excellent; a really throaty note as you go up the revs. Not heard it fom the outside (obviously) but from inside it has that 'chug-chug' like a scooby. Not as loud but you get my drift I get 55mpg from it doing a good mix of motorway and dual-carraigeway driving. Round town it drops to upper 40s - have had 63mpg on a run from Rugby to Exeter, which I think is brilliant for a car of this size. Miles better than the 30mpg I got from the Leon :lol:

The location is the road over the mountain near Treherbert in the Rhondda. It's close to where they do the WRC I'm led to believe. Great road; full of fast bends and amazing views

Edited by specialman on Sunday 6th May 23:32