Fast all year round ?

[J4CKO]

Was pondering this whilst sat behind a Volvo D5 AWD, 09 plate on the way to work.

I was thinking that is probably, in the real world, day in, day out the fastest way to get anywhere.

Quick enough within speed limits (and a little beyond)
4wd so will keep moving (Winter tyres, even better)
Decent handling within speed limits (and a little beyond) and not hugely tall and ponderous like a lot of off roaders.
Economical so less fuel stops
Reliable
Long service intervals
Comfy environment/good seats so less comfort breaks.
Good safety/accident avoidance features.
Low Key so no daft questions at petrol stations.
No need to discuss ad nauseum on here like a high powered diesel BMW, saving days



Discuss, and suggest something better

[kambites]

I think the extra performance of an Imprezza or Evo would more than make up for the fuel stops.

[300bhp/ton]

J4CKO said:

Was pondering this whilst sat behind a Volvo D5 AWD, 09 plate on the way to work.

I was thinking that is probably, in the real world, day in, day out the fastest way to get anywhere.

Quick enough within speed limits (and a little beyond)
4wd so will keep moving (Winter tyres, even better)
Decent handling within speed limits (and a little beyond) and not hugely tall and ponderous like a lot of off roaders.
Economical so less fuel stops
Reliable
Long service intervals
Comfy environment/good seats so less comfort breaks.
Good safety/accident avoidance features.
Low Key so no daft questions at petrol stations.
No need to discuss ad nauseum on here like a high powered diesel BMW, saving days



Discuss, and suggest something better

you're right, but it's so yawnnnn!!!!

[J4CKO]

kambites said:

I think the extra performance of an Imprezza or Evo would more than make up for the fuel stops.

Is a standard one that much faster whilst still avoiding points ?

And yes, the Volvo is a bit boring, suggest a faster and more fun alternative ?

[volvoforlife]

The Volvo is not boring at all. The people who say they are boring and the ones who are actually boring and go and buy a boring Audi instead.

[ad551]

Ah, you've seen the light.

But was it a V70, XC70, XC60 or XC90? Details are important!

[kambites]

J4CKO said:

kambites said:

I think the extra performance of an Imprezza or Evo would more than make up for the fuel stops.

Is a standard one that much faster whilst still avoiding points ?

To be honest on the public road, where speed is almost always limited by visibility, the fastest car seems to almost always be the narrowest one.

[300bhp/ton]

volvoforlife said:

The Volvo is not boring at all. The people who say they are boring and the ones who are actually boring and go and buy a boring Audi instead.

I'm sorry but a diesel hatch Volvo for the money an 09 plate one would cost is very boring compared to some other cars you could drive for the same money.

[300bhp/ton]

J4CKO said:

kambites said:

I think the extra performance of an Imprezza or Evo would more than make up for the fuel stops.

Is a standard one that much faster whilst still avoiding points ?

And yes, the Volvo is a bit boring, suggest a faster and more fun alternative ?

Elise?

[Bill]

J4CKO said:

kambites said:

I think the extra performance of an Imprezza or Evo would more than make up for the fuel stops.

Is a standard one that much faster whilst still avoiding points ?

And yes, the Volvo is a bit boring, suggest a faster and more fun alternative ?

He did. The Volvo is equalled by pretty much any bland diesel eurobox if you stick with your criteria of staying near the speed limit. AWD gives a marginal benefit in the snow, but will mean more trips to the pumps.

[J4CKO]

ad551 said:

Ah, you've seen the light.

But was it a V70, XC70, XC60 or XC90? Details are important!

Was a V70.

I like Volvos, used to have a 850 T5 Estate, on Saabs at the moment, but am bored of Swedish FWD/Posh Vectra Turbo things.

The width thing is a good point.

[LuS1fer]

As long as there is no snow, a FWD small sports hatch will be fastest. The Vovo is a big and unwieldy car. In the snow, you're down to who has snow tyres etc.

[fathomfive]

Legacy GT-B.

[CraigyMc]

300bhp/ton said:

J4CKO said:

kambites said:

I think the extra performance of an Imprezza or Evo would more than make up for the fuel stops.

Is a standard one that much faster whilst still avoiding points ?

And yes, the Volvo is a bit boring, suggest a faster and more fun alternative ?

Elise?

Have you ever driven an elise in heavy rain?

C

[Eddh]

R1, Moto-x tyres for the winter.

[Fatman2]

J4CKO said:

Was pondering this whilst sat behind a Volvo D5 AWD, 09 plate on the way to work.

I was thinking that is probably, in the real world, day in, day out the fastest way to get anywhere.

Quick enough within speed limits (and a little beyond)
4wd so will keep moving (Winter tyres, even better)
Decent handling within speed limits (and a little beyond) and not hugely tall and ponderous like a lot of off roaders.
Economical so less fuel stops
Reliable
Long service intervals
Comfy environment/good seats so less comfort breaks.
Good safety/accident avoidance features.
Low Key so no daft questions at petrol stations.
No need to discuss ad nauseum on here like a high powered diesel BMW, saving days



Discuss, and suggest something better

Only flaws I can see with this are that it's diesel so hardly 'fun' (for me anyway) and Volvo so not that exciting (again a personal thing).

My Mk 3 MR2 on the other hand is great all year round and is definitely more exciting due to the low ride and better handling. Wheels are small so tyres are cheap and I get 40mpg easily.

Only let down is the safety aspect but is a lot smaller than the Volvo so can squeeze through gaps the Volvo can't.

[S. Gonzales Esq.]

I'm inclined to think that the OP has it about right for all the reasons he mentions, although I'd add an aftermarket remap to make overtaking even easier.

More focused sports machinery may be faster point-to-point on the right road, but can't compete for everyday useablity.

[300bhp/ton]

CraigyMc said:

300bhp/ton said:

J4CKO said:

kambites said:

I think the extra performance of an Imprezza or Evo would more than make up for the fuel stops.

Is a standard one that much faster whilst still avoiding points ?

And yes, the Volvo is a bit boring, suggest a faster and more fun alternative ?

Elise?

Have you ever driven an elise in heavy rain?

C

Not an Elise but plenty of other cars. Although I'd say, if its that bad out I probably wouldn't drive all that quick in any car.

Don't get me wrong, I'm all for AWD performance cars, but I can't see a diesel Volvo really being the pinnicle.

[Motorrad]

BMW X5 diesel. All the points you've outlined, reasonably chuckable and the advantage of a raised driving position for improved observation.

Assuming of course we're assuming appropriate tyres for the season and all weather ability.