Volvo R. Wheel dilema.

[loughran]

I've just replaced my 2003 V70r with a nice 2005 V70r in Sonic blue.

The wheels on the new car are a moody graphite, the wheels on the old car are freshly powder coated silver. I thought I'd have the sparkly silver wheels off the old car and put them on the new car, so I've swopped things about and now I don't know if I'm coming or going. They both look good.

Silver.



Graphite.



Both.



Can't make up my mind, anybody have a preference ?

[loughran]

Indeed.

[loughran]

Newer centre badges. What do they look like ??

The anthracite wheels do look purposeful and seem to go well with the whole blacked out window thang... the silvers lift the car and look pretty sharp. I didn't think the fitted tyres should decide the outcome so the car's with the local garage getting all swopped around.

Photos to follow.

[loughran]

kapiteinlangzaam said:

Newer centre badges with the large 'iron' would also freshen them up a bit I think

This ?

[loughran]

Martin_M said:

What's the performance like on the R?

I've come up through the ranks with these cars, after a couple of standard V70s, a couple of manual T5s and I was in love. Then an auto which was a huge disappointment, bought from a bobby and requiring a £1600 gearbox rebuild within the first 2 months of owning it. Slow low pressure POS.

Moving swiftly on, a Flash Green 2003 R manual, the love of my life. Mapped by the previous owner to give 350bhp it was a life changing experience, such a wonderful mix of the loading bay designed by God to accept almost any payload you would wish to carry and the engine and brakes to shrug off any Boxter boy

I'm a cabinet maker and although I don't do many miles I'm heavy on the interiors and when last week this blue R came up on Autotrader, I took a day off and with a 735 mile round trip, brought it home.

Bought it from a bobby. It's an automatic.

I'm of the opinion that these engines benefit from a manual gearbox but beggars can't be choosers, the car is in beautiful condition and with low miles. They just don't come up that often.

And so to the performance. Although this car is the standard 300bhp, it has an extra 50 newtons of torque compared to the 2003 car and despite the auto box it's appreciably faster. In sports mode, on kickdown it howls (really howls) and all of a sudden you're going far faster than you ever meant to. Big Brembos all round and four wheel drive give that confidence to explore what's possible. This car has a capability far greater than any driving skills I might aspire to.

It sucks juice.

Everybody says it's a lovely colour.

[loughran]

Sorry for my slackness, I was hoping to get a good side photo but don't seen to be able to get round to it.

The descision was silver and I'm really pleased with them, makes the car look sharp.

John V70R said:

Congrats on your R, it looks fab.
How does the auto compared to the manual in terms of out right pace? Taking into mind your manual was mapped aswell? Does it feel like a big drop off in performance?

Now I've sttled into it I find I do miss the manual gearbox, for me blipping the throttle and heel and toeing are a big part of driving a performance car. This auto box does have geartronic but it's not the same when you haven't got a clutch to play with.

The car is fast but not so much fun with the auto box.