V60 Polestar

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chopper602

Original Poster:

2,183 posts

223 months

Wednesday 19th August 2015
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I've had my Polestar for about 6 weeks now and just wondered if anyone else on here has one ??

(It's excellent BTW!)

chopper602

Original Poster:

2,183 posts

223 months

Wednesday 19th August 2015
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Better put a photo up I suppose !


chopper602

Original Poster:

2,183 posts

223 months

Sunday 23rd August 2015
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Martin_M said:
What made you go for the polestar against other fast hatches? I can't see past the Golf R estate which is significantly cheaper. What I do like about the polestar is the rarity factor.
I'll start with £9k off the list price . . .

chopper602

Original Poster:

2,183 posts

223 months

Sunday 23rd August 2015
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Martin_M said:
Did you take offence to my question or are you just having a bad day?
?? Not at all. I'd test driven a Golf R and thought it a bit 'meh', the VW dealer only let me try a manual when I wanted to try a DSG and so happened to pop into the local Volvo dealers the same day and test drive the Polestar. It was like chalk and cheese. I had the opportunity to track it (only for 20 mins) this weekend and it was great. The track in Anglesey was very wet, so it understeered a little but it was very good. Then what should have been a 3 ½ hour drive home turned into 6 hours (it IS very comfortable to spend time in too!)

chopper602

Original Poster:

2,183 posts

223 months

Thursday 27th August 2015
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Charlie1986 said:
What is it really like daily running?

Really thinking about one of these but need to justify man maths to the devils daughter now they have fallen to a nice price for nearly used,
Well it's still done less than 2000 miles, so not yet 'run-in', but find it great as a daily driver, nice and relaxed when you need to be and a rocket ship when you want it! Overall average is about 23mpg, but that is since I got it and includes some high leptons 'testing' and 20 minutes on Anglesey 'trac mon' at the weekend. Get high 20's mpg at a steady 75 on the motorway.
Boot big enough for the weekly shop (but the boot on th GT86 could hold that too!).

chopper602

Original Poster:

2,183 posts

223 months

Thursday 27th August 2015
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Charlie1986 said:
Thanks buddy, High 20's I could live with just to convince the OH now. By the time I do that they will be in the Ph Shed of the week slot
It's def much better built and much better paint than my previous Toybaru (which is really a Subaru, with Toyota badges on, with quality to match). Got plenty of time, this weekend, to get it spotless again after doing over 500 miles last weekend.

chopper602

Original Poster:

2,183 posts

223 months

Friday 28th August 2015
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IanCress said:
What's the ride like? Even on 17" wheels I find my V60 slightly more harsh than I expected. The tyres were pumped up to eco (38psi) levels when I picked it up. I've dropped them to around 34 but still find it picking out a few more bumps in the road than I expected.
Can't imagine what it's like on 19" or 20" wheels!
That's the one thing I worried about, so I took the test drive down some bad roads and was very pleasantly surprised! It is very very good and I guess that is down to the very expensive Ohlins dampers that are installed. There is no spine jarring crashing at all and it's not wallowy in the corners.

chopper602

Original Poster:

2,183 posts

223 months

Friday 28th August 2015
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simo1863 said:
and it doesn't sound like any Volvo I've ever driven (and I've driven pretty much anything mass produced in the last 3-4 years).
Pop the stick over into Sport and it sounds even better!! If you read the Polestar 'manual' it mentions the two independent flaps in the exhaust, which bypass the final silencer. One opens when at idle, both open when in sport or over 4½k revs

chopper602

Original Poster:

2,183 posts

223 months

Monday 31st August 2015
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After_Shock said:
it really is a very impressive suspension set up.
The Ohlins are adjustable too, but in the manual they reckon you should take it to the dealers to do this (back ones require a bit of trim removal from the boot)

This was the best photo anyone got of me going round Anglesey circuit



but you can see how wet it was and why I decided to sleep in the (surprisingly comfortable) passenger seat rather than put a tent up


chopper602

Original Poster:

2,183 posts

223 months

Tuesday 1st September 2015
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simo1863 said:
After a weekend (about 400 miles so far) I actually really like it. It's not just a dull modern Volvo with a big engine in it (looking at you T5 V40!).

- It really does handle very well (only a hint of understeer really, much less than an RS4).
- Makes a lovely straight 6 noise (similar to the M3/4).
- paddleshift works well, it is the best I've seen on a Vovlo but isn't as fast as the speed of change you get from something like the latest DSGs.
- it really has everything included. From the 80's tilt & slide to the electric fold down head restraints button (which I have absolutely no idea why you'd have other than to irritate any passengers in the back).
- Really is a good sleeper car. Capable of surprising even the most aggressively driven repmobiles. The only giveaway is those oversized wheels, and maybe that blue.
- Anyone that does know what it is will know how exclusive it is, it will be a very rare car.

I have very few negatives, one is that it doesn't feel that quick but I guess that's because I'm comparing it to M3s, RS4s, C63s and they all have a big power advantage, as well as costing more (if you compare like for like).

The only other negative would be that the excellent handling comes at the expense of the ride quality but the amazing seats (another Volvo thing) save it from being too crashy, and again, the ride is easily better than that of an RS4.

It really is a good mix of Volvo's best features with a splash of excitement. One of my favourite cars I've driven this year certainly.

Would put some pictures up but it looks identical to the blue one above.
Pity there is no 'Like' button !

chopper602

Original Poster:

2,183 posts

223 months

Thursday 10th September 2015
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51mes said:
How is polestar ownership going.?

Just joining the clan, shook hands on a pre-Reg Rebel Blue this afternoon...

Excited.. Yep. It's very much jekyll and Hyde - moving the gearbox into sport certainly wakes something.

Will form a perfect pair with my S2k..

S.
Still great! Have yet to see one in another (other than on a forum in the States). I'll look out next time I'm in the Lakes!

chopper602

Original Poster:

2,183 posts

223 months

Saturday 12th September 2015
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51mes said:
likewise haven't seen one on the road in the UK - there may be a photo opp?
S.
Stainmoor is bleak at the best of times ! wink

chopper602

Original Poster:

2,183 posts

223 months

Saturday 12th September 2015
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51mes said:
Will form a perfect pair with my S2k..
S.
Mine fits in well with the other cars . . .(bit of squeeze getting it in the garage though!)


chopper602

Original Poster:

2,183 posts

223 months

Saturday 17th October 2015
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4th year balloon payment on a PCP is about £16k.

chopper602

Original Poster:

2,183 posts

223 months

Tuesday 19th January 2016
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After_Shock said:
The rear bias AWD is surprisingly rear biased, I drive a 370Z and am used to a twitchy back end, putting the P* in ESC sport mode and being silly caught me completely by surprise, it does get worryingly sideways if provoked.
Maybe I should approach the ESC button then . . (been keeping a wide berth so far!)

chopper602

Original Poster:

2,183 posts

223 months

Thursday 24th November 2016
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stripy7 said:
I know its not Easter, so apologies for the thread resurrection. I'm after a fast estate and I'm liking the polestar. Any feedback from owners?
It's still great ! Road tax is expensive, MPG is not good around town. I got the front tyres down to the canvas in time for it's 12 month service (8k miles), but other than that it's still a hoot to drive and very very quick. The new 4 cylinder version with 8 speed box has even more power, but I'm not sure they're in the UK yet.

chopper602

Original Poster:

2,183 posts

223 months

Thursday 24th November 2016
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stripy7 said:
Thanks, I currently drive an 07 Defender so crap MPG and high tax wont come as a shock. The rarity of P* has kept residuals high for second hand stock, so I'm thinking new will be a better buy.
I think there are still some new/pre-reg delivery mile six cylinders in stock somewhere in the country

chopper602

Original Poster:

2,183 posts

223 months

Thursday 24th November 2016
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chopper602

Original Poster:

2,183 posts

223 months

Thursday 24th November 2016
quotequote all
S10GTA said:
Ah i wish I had the money for one of these. I don't think I'd ever need another car.
finance is a great thing !!

chopper602

Original Poster:

2,183 posts

223 months

Thursday 24th November 2016
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stripy7 said:
With only 100 out there I don't see the depreciation of other Volvos, once the initial hit has occurred? Very interested to see what discounts are available on the 5 pot model. Going to see a couple of cars on Saturday.
There is no five pot model. Straight six three litre, turbo or two litre four with turbo & supercharger