Volvo S60 T5 | Shed of the Week
Discussion
I have a T5 P2 in manual mapped to 320bhp and it is the most comfortable car I have ever driven. Ok its never going to keep up with a decent hatch on a back road but who cares? I am past that now and just want a quick ride in comfort. In a straight line it surprises many a car. Finally the sound from the stainless exhaust is just sublime. Just a superb sounding car that turns heads even if the looks don't.
I have one of the later ones now and use it as a daily and whilst it's a fantastic barge (I did Liverpool to Portsmouth and back on a single tank and in great comfort in the summer) - the single most annoying issue is the frankly ridiculous turning circle. It's something to do with the way the engine/gearbox are mounted or located if I remember correctly. It does mean I have to think twice about where I'm turning round or reversing into (a 3-point turn is genuinely more of a 5/6).
That aside - it surprises a few others from the lights and is a cracking motor for the money. It will return half-decent mpg if floating along the motorway but obviously if you kick its head in you'll see close to single figures - albeit you'll get somewhere quite quickly!
Sadly it's just about to go up for sale as I need something bigger!
That aside - it surprises a few others from the lights and is a cracking motor for the money. It will return half-decent mpg if floating along the motorway but obviously if you kick its head in you'll see close to single figures - albeit you'll get somewhere quite quickly!
Sadly it's just about to go up for sale as I need something bigger!
Edited by Notshortnottall on Friday 17th January 20:34
benharris said:
pti said:
benharris said:
CarlosSainz100 said:
I've had an S60 D5 and whilst it was supremely comfortable, what lets the S60 down by far is the atrocious steering circle. It became a liability in car parks to the point where I avoided multi storeys.
I was considering an S60 D5 a year ago, to use as my daily shed, but the turning circle was the thing that put me off as the access to my driveway is very tight. I think the turning radius is a rediculous 13 meters. My dad has an earlier, phase 1 V70 and the turning circle on that is only 10 meters for a bigger car! Aparently there is something you can do with the steering rack to reduce the turning circle. Volvo fitted a different bushing/spacer component, depending on the size of the wheels specified at the factory, so changing this can make it better, although you'd probably also need to run smaller wheels to prevent them rubbing.
Even still - it gets a 10 vote from me - great shed!
Edited by benharris on Friday 17th January 08:42
I have become a recent Volvo fan - having bought a V70 d5 AWD auto
It is by far the most comfortable car I have ever owned, it was cheap and apart from some silly electrical gremlins depending on whether it's wet or windy it's spot on for a station car park/general messing around duties.
My original intention was to sell it on - but instead I am selling another vehicle and will make this my daily.
Point being - any larger volvo with big seats and all the toys has to be something everyone has to experience once in their life.
It is by far the most comfortable car I have ever owned, it was cheap and apart from some silly electrical gremlins depending on whether it's wet or windy it's spot on for a station car park/general messing around duties.
My original intention was to sell it on - but instead I am selling another vehicle and will make this my daily.
Point being - any larger volvo with big seats and all the toys has to be something everyone has to experience once in their life.
I've never owned a Volvo, but that is just the sort of car that could make me want one - it looks like an absolute bargain!
The S60 was one of the first Volvo's I thought looked really stylish, and with 300 bhp what's not to like? OK it might not handle brilliantly, but you can make up for that on the straight bits.
I'd give it a 10, but the voting buttons don't seem to work for me anymore.
The S60 was one of the first Volvo's I thought looked really stylish, and with 300 bhp what's not to like? OK it might not handle brilliantly, but you can make up for that on the straight bits.
I'd give it a 10, but the voting buttons don't seem to work for me anymore.
Interesting and unusual car, a great sotw.
I ran an S60 D5 for a couple of years as a motorway runner and these are supremely comfortable for long (all) journeys and extremely well made, I took my one past 170,000 miles and everything worked fine it never let me down but it’s best trick is the supreme comfort from those amazing seats and a nice compliant ride.
The D5 was a bit of a pudding to drive soft and a bit wallowy with slow witted numb steering hopefully they dialled that out of the T5 version.
I ran an S60 D5 for a couple of years as a motorway runner and these are supremely comfortable for long (all) journeys and extremely well made, I took my one past 170,000 miles and everything worked fine it never let me down but it’s best trick is the supreme comfort from those amazing seats and a nice compliant ride.
The D5 was a bit of a pudding to drive soft and a bit wallowy with slow witted numb steering hopefully they dialled that out of the T5 version.
Jazoli said:
Looks great that does but the 'decat exhaust' in the advert will make things tricky and potentially quite expensive come MOT time.
Look at it another way. You could run this for 6 months and it'll probably owe you next to nothing at the end of the MoT. Those BBS wheels will still be worth a few quid, and it will have some scrap value although it seems a waste to send such a nice vehicle to the recycler. This is what shedding is all about. Another early SOTY vote from me.
You know a good shed when you really don't need it, but really really want it!
Now I have a 65 mile commute through congested south-eastern motorways, a comfy cabin and decent hi-fi appeal, but maybe not enough to tempt me off the queue busting bike.
Having owned a 20vt Fiat Coupe, the 5 cylinder warble still has a pull, and the massive turning circle would be familiar.
It's a bit frustrating that the big comfy wafters that would make a long commute more bearable, also have the fuel economy to make it unaffordable..
You know a good shed when you really don't need it, but really really want it!
Now I have a 65 mile commute through congested south-eastern motorways, a comfy cabin and decent hi-fi appeal, but maybe not enough to tempt me off the queue busting bike.
Having owned a 20vt Fiat Coupe, the 5 cylinder warble still has a pull, and the massive turning circle would be familiar.
It's a bit frustrating that the big comfy wafters that would make a long commute more bearable, also have the fuel economy to make it unaffordable..
I have a 2002 S60 T5 and previously owned a 2000 v70 T5 both manuals. Great cars my v70 had 250000 miles on when I sold it and still went well. Got a bargain with the S60 £850 with 85000 miles fixed the leaky manifold, put new tyres on, remap and got myself a really nice car. A thumbs up from me.
Court_S said:
I like that but I do have an odd love for five pot Volvo’s. Much more interesting to me than the E30 last week.
Agreed, I’m not usually interested in wafty motorway cruisers but I think if I had a big straight line commute and petrol expenses this could be decent.The extra 65bhp turns it into a bit of an accountant’s hot rod and gives it an edge over a 325/330 - plus a sunroof too!
Shame it’s not 6-speed but shedders can’t be choosers
Probably wince at the 20mpg though
There is such a lot of love for this car. What interests me is that when these were new they a) didn't sell very well b) weren't highly rated in road tests. I think what it says is that what 2nd buyers look for in car (value, practicality ?) is somewhat different to what journalist assess cars on (gadgets, handling ?) and new buyers choose on (image, lease rates ?). Any thoughts ? BTW - brilliant shed. so much car for so little money and not silly risk with it
martin12345 said:
There is such a lot of love for this car. What interests me is that when these were new they a) didn't sell very well b) weren't highly rated in road tests. I think what it says is that what 2nd buyers look for in car (value, practicality ?) is somewhat different to what journalist assess cars on (gadgets, handling ?) and new buyers choose on (image, lease rates ?). Any thoughts ?
There is also the flipside whereby cars that did get reviewed really well when new are perceived as poor or get slated for failings that weren’t seen when tested newLike you, quite surprised at the overall enthusiasm. 300bhp of burbling 5-pot for £1k with a manual box piques a lot of interest but don’t think it would work the same in a blue Focus
martin12345 said:
There is such a lot of love for this car. What interests me is that when these were new they a) didn't sell very well b) weren't highly rated in road tests. I think what it says is that what 2nd buyers look for in car (value, practicality ?) is somewhat different to what journalist assess cars on (gadgets, handling ?) and new buyers choose on (image, lease rates ?). Any thoughts ? BTW - brilliant shed. so much car for so little money and not silly risk with it
I've often pondered this. To be honest when new I would never have considered one but have owned two now as daily 'sheds'.If the emphasis is on polished dynamics then this is going to score poorly compared to a 3 series. Maybe it's my memory but back in the day that was what the motoring press seemed to focus on. If it didn't handle like a 3 series on the limit then it was crap.
I've grown to appreciate the nose heavy balance especially on motorways where it makes the car extremely stable allowing good progress to be made even in poor conditions. Hit standing water in one of these and there is no chance it will swap ends, just plough on a bit until grip is resumed.
Perceived quality isn't that great so again would score poorly in a review. The dash mouldings for example are nowhere near as crisp and nice as a lexus or even bmw / merc but in terms of overall durability it's on a par with the Japanese and ahead of the Germans. I've never seen a rusty P2 Volvo for example. You cant say that about a 3 series or C class of the day.
As well as the often mentioned seats and hifi there are a number of thoughtful little things that you grow to appreciate.
The parking ticket holder in the windscreen
The ridiculous range on the seat runners. I'm over 6ft tall and can put the seat back so far my feet don't reach the pedals.
The satisfying thunk the doors and bonnet make when you close them.
The 70L tank
The anonymity
The boosty gruntyness of the engine.
The fantastic HID headlights on the later cars.
The rubber 'winter' floor mats.
It might be a bit crap on paper but in the real world it's brilliant.
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