New owner of S60 R

I've taken the big step and replaced a VW Passat 4Motion with an S60 R.
In the changeover, I have picked up 110 hp [300 for the Volvo vs. 190 for
the VeeDub], plus I now have the ultra high tech semi active suspension and
a fancier version of all wheel drive. With only a couple of hundred miles
on the odometer, I am far from being willing to go seriously foot to the
floor, but I can see the Volvo has lots more usable performance.
I had to go with the automatic, since my wife does not do gear shifting,
and she is liable to inherit this car in a couple of years, to replace an
aging New Beetle. Most of the reviews I have been able to find on the Web
state that the 6 speed manual version of the S60 R can do 0-60 in less than
5.5 seconds, but I can't get a consistent evaluation of how much
acceleration the automatic model surrenders. Anyone on this group have
experience or knowledge??

 

I believe you lose 1 second with the automatic. I believe the torque is
reduced to 245 for the automatic vs. the manual for 1st and 2nd gear, once
you are in 3rd gear you have full torque again. I drove the 04 S60R and V70R
a few weeks ago, great cars, only drove the manual, wished I had tried the
auto. I have a rental 04 V70 2.5T AWD right now, it's great as well, very
peppy for 208hp and the geartronic automatic is fun.

 

The auto model has less torque and a different spread of power to the manual
one. They are both rated at 300bhp though (whether this is attainable has
come in for some question amungst some people!) the manual at ~5200rpm and
the auto at 6000rpm.

The auto box is right on the limit on what it can handle at this power
level, and having driven one I would say its noticable- especially in the
lower gears 1st and 2nd, where engine torque is limited quite considerably
anyways- below the 240nm. Under brisk acceloration from rest the 1-2 and 2-3
change is quite abrupt. The best thing would be for you to test drive it.

Tim..

 

According to spesifications for Volvo Norway the 6-speed manual version
take 0-60 in 5.7, and the automatic (Geartronic) do the same at 7.4 seconds.

 

My friendly Volvo Salesman attended a "introduction day" run by Volvo at
the Laguna Seca raceway in Monterey, Calif. He reported to me that they
were saying that torque was restrained only for start from rest (this by
the onboard computer system) and was available within the normal range
once the vehicle is in motion.

Apparently normal over-the-road performance is pretty much the same,
with the outstanding passing power that one would expect. The cost in
power from rest is "something over" 1.5 seconds in the 0-60mph. For
most of one's driving, not a problem, but when you go for the package
that is to include startling performance, the manual is the only access
to "full" power.

bob noble
Reno, NV, USA

 

if you don't mind me asking...where did you rent the v70, hertz? how
much $ per day is the rate?...thanx...I have been thinking about doing
some newer volvo rentals...

 

Have you logged onto the S60R forum on www.swedespeed.com ?????

 

Yep the rental is from Hertz, very nice car. $66+tax Canadian per day