Thursday 4th June 2015

Volvo V60 Polestar: PH Fleet

It has divided opinion online but won over all who have driven it - sadly it is time to say goodbye

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Value is an odd concept at times. It makes sense when you are talking about items made from rare materials like diamonds, or produced in a way that takes time and extreme skill, like a Swiss watch movement. Less so when evaluating perceived value of a collection comparable car components. And more specifically the wild fluctuations in value when a badge is glued to them.

Wherever it went the Volvo stood out (not just for paint)

OK, so obviously some cars are worth more money. Some are developed by brands with incredible racing heritage and some are even built with parts so exotic that new names have to be invented because ... well, just because it sounds cool. Step forward Pagani and your 'Carbotanium'.

Every time I've written about the Volvo it's inspired a fairly wide range of opinions. On the one hand you have the folks who love the idea of a Volvo born of an after-school project by a Swedish Touring Car team. On the other, you have people who say things like "How much?! £50K is too much for a Volvo!" Let's think about that. Too much. For a Volvo.

But this isn't just 'a Volvo'. Sure, it starts out as one, which means you get comfort, practicality, reliability, safety and an excellent range of standard fit gadgets. But it is also dripping with high end componentry like Ohlins dampers and Brembo brakes. It has carbon fibre chassis braces, attractive 20-inch Polestar designed wheels shod with Michelin Pilot Super Sport tyres and just enough exterior styling to let people know it means business without betraying the Q-car roots. What's more it has six cylinders, a Borg-Warner twin-scroll turbo and a properly fruity sounding exhaust.

Not a natural track car but not shamed either

Compare this if you will (and everyone has) to something like an Audi S4 Avant, which not only has similar levels of performance, but also space, fit, finish and equipment. But despite the Audi's shortfall in brand name parts and engineering partners it seems to be universally accepted as being worthy of a £50K price tag. And that's what you'll have if you specify an S4 to anything like the level of a V60 Polestar.

So ultimately what we're saying is that some people are so completely blinded by their preconceptions of the badges stuck to a car that they'll instantly discount it. Which is a shame. Because in this case the V60 Polestar is not just a viable alternative to something made in Germany, in many ways it is more appealing. Even more so once you've actually got behind the wheel of one. This is backed up by the fact that everywhere I've taken the car it has been a talking point, and everyone who has driven it has been won over by its charms. As such, if you're in the market for a mid-size family estate car with performance and rarity on its side, I urge you to arrange a test drive in a V60 Polestar. Of course, it won't be for everyone, but don't just discount it without having a go first.

When you're in a line of work that sees you regularly changing cars it is rare to become attached to one. The Volvo V60 Polestar has been a fantastic car to spend time in over the last four months and 6,000 miles and I'm genuinely very sad to see it go. My daily commute is going to be a sadder place without the big blue wagon to welcome me every morning with a comfy heated seat and bark from the exhaust to wake up the neighbours. So for now I'm going to comfort myself with the prospect of Volvo making a V40 Polestar. Here's hoping it comes to fruition.

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FACT SHEET
Car: 2014 Volvo V60 Polestar
Run by: James
On fleet since: February 2015
Mileage: 14,191
List price new: £49,775 (and £49,775 as tested too!)
Last month at a glance: James begs for a stay of execution and gets a couple more weeks with the Polestar; eventually the men from Volvo take it away

Previous updates:
Hot Swede welcomed to the PH Fleet...
A few others have a go in JD's Volvo's, they love it too!
Pot holes ruin a long weekend in Wales

[Dion20vt]

Being a Volvo nut, I'd love to own one of these one day! After numerous T5's and turbo 240, its time for a polestar

[S10GTA]

Shame to see it go

[Axionknight]

fk it, I want one, this is all your fault.

Some pre registereds out there for the 40k mark too, the badge has obviously hurt the sales, which is a pity because it seems like an excellent car. Personally I'd rather be seen in this over any of its German rivals.

Autotrader ahoy, I'll take mine in black, please.

[S10GTA]

Axionknight said:

fk it, I want one, this is all your fault.

Some pre registereds out there for the 40k mark too, the badge has obviously hurt the sales, which is a pity because it seems like an excellent car. Personally I'd rather be seen in this over any of its German rivals.

Autotrader ahoy, I'll take mine in black, please.

I've seen them advertised at 35k recently...

[Axionknight]

S10GTA said:

I've seen them advertised at 35k recently...

Bargain! I'd be able to afford to keep the Clio as a track toy at those prices.

Download Festival next weekend, once that is out of the way I'm going to arrange a test drive, living in Aberdeen can be murder when it comes to finding the rarer models.

[Mafffew]

I don't usually like big wagons. But there is something about this that just screams MUST HAVE, it looks superb. Now then, where can I get £50k...

[vrooom]

Does that blue only available on polestar? or can you spec it on normal volvo? I saw one V60 down the A5 and it looked fantastic. i cannot tell if its polestar model or not.

[Axionknight]

The colour is called Rebel Blue and it is available on the normal R Design trim package Volvo models, yes.

[British Beef]

Shame it cannot be had in manual flavour, otherwise I would rather this than most German rivals.

Do Polestar do the larger V70 as well (like the old touring car) ?

[Axionknight]

British Beef said:

Shame it cannot be had in manual flavour, otherwise I would rather this than most German rivals.

Do Polestar do the larger V70 as well (like the old touring car) ?

No, the only think available for the V70 is a Polestar remap which is Volvo warranty compliant.

This is Poelstars first production car for Volvo (it is available in other markets as the S60 saloon too), they did a C30 concept and never put it into production, unfortunately. That thing was mental.

[PomBstard]

British Beef said:

Do Polestar do the larger V70 as well (like the old touring car) ?

I wish! I've just bagged a V70 T6 as a family truckster and whilst its a pleasant and big enough thing, a bit more oomph and little more handling decorum wouldn't go amiss.

[Fetchez la vache]

Article said:

some people are so completely blinded by their preconceptions of the badges stuck to a car that they'll instantly discount it.

That sentence should be on the Pistonheads header. It could be applied to half the threads on here...

Some argue on here that peoples buying decisions are driven by what they neighbours would think, rather than what they actually think of the car. So it's possible that people won't buy these due to the badly informed misconception of the badge from the preconception of what the fking neighbours make of the car

I'd have on in an instant. Now where did I put that 50k...

[Martin_M]

Just bought a V60 R Design in this colour and I love how it looks - the Polestar wheels and extra body mods really set the car off. Would love a shot of this beast!

[Crimp]

Bloody lovely.
Looked at one in the dealer recently when I bought my XC60, fantastic piece of kit and what appealed to me is its different from the herds of Audi's/BM's etc.

[Porkie]

Sure this car was on the Pistonheads campsite at Lemans... if it was. You left some white Samsung headphones. I picked em up if you want them I can post!

[Aeroresh]

Problem for me is:-

a) the new price and

b) its not fast enough to be a halo model.

What kind of message does it give off when Volvo's hottest car can only complete with an Audi S4 or BMW 335 when said manufactures also offer RS and M models.

This mediocrity will have the effect in years to come where it may just be remembered and valued as just another "also ran" to anyone who is not a hardened Volvo fan no matter how good it actually is.

Even now, for it to compete head on it has to be significantly cheaper than the established competition, which it isn't (well not new anyway)

[hardleysecure]

Interesting articles and views/comments on the V60 Polestar

I'd been thinking about one for several months - as I needed to replace my Volvo S60R which I've had for years - which is actually very out of character for me to keep a car that long - and it was a great "sleeper/stealth" car - dark blue - had a RICA re map and was quick/sure footed, amazingly comfortable seats

Initially I couldn't get over the "how much ?!" for "just" a Volvo - but as one of the articles/comments puts it - look beyond the badge to actually what it is

It really has to be driven to be appreciated and the more its driven - the more you will want to drive it - thats what I've found with mine - its Silver a 3.0 T6 version - I prefer the torque delivery and engaging exhaust note - yes on paper its heavier and therefore wont handle as well as the 2.0 4 pot version - but and its a big but - Its not a trackday toy - its a fast, fun, practical everyday estate car and even at fast road use, will that handling/weight difference even be noticeable to normal/average drivers ? - I suspect not

As to the price question that inevitability rears its head again - they can now be found for a lot less than list - mine for example was a dealer pre-reg - it still had the plastic on it when I went to pick it up and it had done about 40 miles - most of which I put on it during a test drive - and I got it for £12,500 off the list price - yes you read correctly - £12,500 off list - try and do the same (and same spec) with an Audi, BMW or Mercedes

My ending advice would be "go drive one" - yes read reviews - I think of all the ones I've read pre-owning one and afterwards the Pistonhead reviews are the most truthful and accurate - as they are based on real world ownership - not a quick press review round a race track

"The proof is in pudding" as the saying goes - so put aside any preconception of Badge and Price for said Badge - just drive one, then decide on the merits of the experience and the likely huge grin on your face !

For me its put the joy back into driving - and it doesn't draw any unwanted attention - so its a win-win in my book !

[Krikkit]

A friend of mine has one of these and he loves it - so much so that he and his wife fight over who gets to use it daily (despite his car being an F02 750Li)

[Dave Hedgehog]

a refreshing change to the dull and obvious Germanic choices