RE: Volvo S60 R | Spotted
Discussion
RedSwede said:
As said above, the rare-as-hens-teeth 2.4 T5 Manual is the one to have.
I had one of those. The engine was a quantum leap up from the proceeding 2.3 T5. But it wasn't a great car to chuck around and being a 'sleeper' was only so much fun given the terrible steering, front end grip and ineffective adaptive suspension (which seemed to be poorly judged in both comfort and sports mode).Loved the seats, stereo and straight line poke but I do wonder whether the 4WD 'R' is just a better resolved motor.
Incidentally, these cars with a RICA or similar tune were silly-fast in their time.
Had the V70 equivalent of this a few years back. Ran for 18 months without issue. Sold it due to the impending sense of doom and the fact I was getting too precious about it. Values seem to have increased a bit since too. Probably should have held onto it as I keep looking at them now. The 6 speed auto in the later cars (including my XC70) is far superior the the 5 speed in this car (and my V70R)
MDMA . said:
Type R Tom said:
Minidisc player, still got a load floating about the house.
Sat on my shelf at work -
I'm waiting for a minidisc revival a la vinyl.
KPB1973 said:
I had one of those. The engine was a quantum leap up from the proceeding 2.3 T5. But it wasn't a great car to chuck around and being a 'sleeper' was only so much fun given the terrible steering, front end grip and ineffective adaptive suspension (which seemed to be poorly judged in both comfort and sports mode).
Loved the seats, stereo and straight line poke but I do wonder whether the 4WD 'R' is just a better resolved motor.
Incidentally, these cars with a RICA or similar tune were silly-fast in their time.
It is best part of a 20 year old (design-wise) Volvo - I don't think you should expect it to handle! And *not* having to have the 4C suspension is one of the best things about the 2.4 T5.Loved the seats, stereo and straight line poke but I do wonder whether the 4WD 'R' is just a better resolved motor.
Incidentally, these cars with a RICA or similar tune were silly-fast in their time.
The R didn't "handle" particularly well either, but it was competent enough not to really be an issue. Maybe that is the element lacking in the T5. I did pull the 4WD fuse on my remapped R one evening, bored and away on business. Never did it again...
RedSwede said:
It is best part of a 20 year old (design-wise) Volvo - I don't think you should expect it to handle! And *not* having to have the 4C suspension is one of the best things about the 2.4 T5.
The R didn't "handle" particularly well either, but it was competent enough not to really be an issue. Maybe that is the element lacking in the T5. I did pull the 4WD fuse on my remapped R one evening, bored and away on business. Never did it again...
My 2.4 T5 had the optional 4C adaptive suspension. It just didn't have the 4wd.The R didn't "handle" particularly well either, but it was competent enough not to really be an issue. Maybe that is the element lacking in the T5. I did pull the 4WD fuse on my remapped R one evening, bored and away on business. Never did it again...
Bit like this one...
https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/volvo/s60/fir...
It wasn't a 20 year old design when I had it (in fact it was a 4 year old car) and it handled like a boat compared to it's competitors back then!
CarlosSainz100 said:
I like that
Does this have the horrendous turning circle like the S60 though? That got quite tiresome in my S60 and spoiled things somewhat
Yes.Does this have the horrendous turning circle like the S60 though? That got quite tiresome in my S60 and spoiled things somewhat
Its pretty much the sole reason I didn't buy one at the time (and yes I would have bought one in that colour combo
) Lived in a cul-de-sac at the time, which had a restricted 'turning area' at the end, and I could just about make it in a 3-pointer in the Saab, so specifically told Volvo sales guy I wanted to drive home to test this during test drive...........couldn't even make it with a time consuming 5-point turn in the S60R, so it was pretty much a no-buy from that point on.
Those front seats though, were about the best I'd ever been in, and I was a Saab 9000 Aero owner at the time I was looking a changing to one of these or a Saab 9-5 Aero.
The de-rated power for the slushbox was the other reason I stayed with Saab as well, although I believe that the later revised S60R's had an improved autobox that allowed the engine to be same rate for auto and manual?
They do actually handle quite well.
I had a V70R, manual box and completed a very tight and undulating hillclimb course in a time that was on par with a few track prepped hot hatches and an Impreza Turbo.
And yes, I had a baby seat and a pram on board whilst doing the above much to the amusement of the organisers, though by the end of the session there were a few surprised faces.
Anyways, fabulous cars and seriously competent however I found mine just too harsh and highly strung to be used daily on some of our questionable roads... that and I'd spent two years making it as good as possible so it rarely ventured out the garage but when it did, it really was something special.
I did a lot of remedial work myself but even then it still cost a substantial amount replacing the angle gear sleeve, the shocks, brakes, ride height sensors but aside for that and routine servicing, mine never put a foot wrong.
A very different beast the the original R models but just as characterful and rewarding to own, if a little more complex and unwieldy around town... the turning circle is comical.
I had a V70R, manual box and completed a very tight and undulating hillclimb course in a time that was on par with a few track prepped hot hatches and an Impreza Turbo.
And yes, I had a baby seat and a pram on board whilst doing the above much to the amusement of the organisers, though by the end of the session there were a few surprised faces.
Anyways, fabulous cars and seriously competent however I found mine just too harsh and highly strung to be used daily on some of our questionable roads... that and I'd spent two years making it as good as possible so it rarely ventured out the garage but when it did, it really was something special.
I did a lot of remedial work myself but even then it still cost a substantial amount replacing the angle gear sleeve, the shocks, brakes, ride height sensors but aside for that and routine servicing, mine never put a foot wrong.
A very different beast the the original R models but just as characterful and rewarding to own, if a little more complex and unwieldy around town... the turning circle is comical.
BricktopST205 said:
Save a lot more money and get a Stage 3 Saab 9-5 Aero. Better looking cars as well in my opinion.
https://youtu.be/hn8JWJaZx3s
50bhp gains for quite extensive mods seems a bit rubbish for that Saab. And not cheap eitherhttps://youtu.be/hn8JWJaZx3s
I have one of these, probably one of the comfiest cars ever.
To suggest that a T5 is comparable is bizarre. The AWD system and adjustable suspension is excellent as is the dolby stereo etc. Such a surefooted car whilst being surprisingly quick, the brembo brakes are also very good. All these bits along with the lively 18inch alloys and fancy blue dials are missing from a podgy and plain T5 as is around 60bhp.
Mine is probably worth less than half the one in the article. Will probably sell soon and expect to get around £3500 but then it has done almost 150k miles.
To suggest that a T5 is comparable is bizarre. The AWD system and adjustable suspension is excellent as is the dolby stereo etc. Such a surefooted car whilst being surprisingly quick, the brembo brakes are also very good. All these bits along with the lively 18inch alloys and fancy blue dials are missing from a podgy and plain T5 as is around 60bhp.
Mine is probably worth less than half the one in the article. Will probably sell soon and expect to get around £3500 but then it has done almost 150k miles.
Edited by Ahbefive on Thursday 13th June 17:02
My 2p
I had a S60 2Ltr SE Turbo Auto, for over 10 years, 115k miles & engine fine, but what killed it was electrics starting to go. Instrument readings disappeared, so had unit replaced, then later on alarm started coming on for no reason now & then. It stopped for a year, then got worse.
Both main dealer & Indy didnt watch to touch it. Said it was either the secondary battery to the alarm failing, causing default mode of alarm going off constantly, or something worse up with the system. Probably all with same system will end up with this issue?
Great tourer, 25mpg usually, max was 30mpg on a run, good stereo, fantastic seats, heavy front end & turned like an oil tanker. I think up to 2006 it's all Volvo, then had a lot of Ford creeping in, as they owned them.
Miss that car, & glad ones like these are still around.
I had a S60 2Ltr SE Turbo Auto, for over 10 years, 115k miles & engine fine, but what killed it was electrics starting to go. Instrument readings disappeared, so had unit replaced, then later on alarm started coming on for no reason now & then. It stopped for a year, then got worse.
Both main dealer & Indy didnt watch to touch it. Said it was either the secondary battery to the alarm failing, causing default mode of alarm going off constantly, or something worse up with the system. Probably all with same system will end up with this issue?
Great tourer, 25mpg usually, max was 30mpg on a run, good stereo, fantastic seats, heavy front end & turned like an oil tanker. I think up to 2006 it's all Volvo, then had a lot of Ford creeping in, as they owned them.
Miss that car, & glad ones like these are still around.
Biggest mistake I ever made was selling my S70 T5 bought from another PHr and eventually sold to another PHr . The most comfortable car I have ever owned and suprisingly rapid cross country. It was actually quite economic on a run with a Rica remap . I soon have to decide on either a economy hatch versus another Volvo ,probably an S60 of some sort .
asimmalik said:
BricktopST205 said:
Save a lot more money and get a Stage 3 Saab 9-5 Aero. Better looking cars as well in my opinion.
https://youtu.be/hn8JWJaZx3s
50bhp gains for quite extensive mods seems a bit rubbish for that Saab. https://youtu.be/hn8JWJaZx3s
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