We've just roadtested the S60R

FastSaloons.com S60R Road Test (http://www.fastsaloons.com/newsstory.php?reviewField=2224&type=9)


Here are some of the Photos we took:
http://www.fastsaloons.com/images/volvo/s60/r/48.jpg
http://www.fastsaloons.com/images/volvo/s60/r/49.jpg
http://www.fastsaloons.com/images/volvo/s60/r/50.jpg
http://www.fastsaloons.com/images/volvo/s60/r/54.jpg

Let me know what you think...

Nice pictures - I think they call it Flash Green here.

Just remember, on this side of the Pond there is no press uproar and the receptions has been generally VERY positive in press reviews. I think the reason is simply because the car is MUCH MUCH cheaper in North America. Here we can buy the Volvo S60R with leather and bi-xenons for $34,270 delivered. A fully loaded S60r is literally $10-$15,000 CHEAPER than a similarly equipped Audi S4 or BMW M3. In the U.S. Volvo compares the S60R to similarly or more expensively priced BMW 330s and Audi A4 3.0s. It's only in Europe that they compare it to the M3 and S4. Not a bad comparison but in most respects (except grip and price) it's going to fall short of the M3 and S4 (but unlike them it can be easily tuned on the cheap for a lot more power.)

At this price it's just barely more expensive than an AWD Infiniti G35, Lexus ES330, etc. Here in the U.S. I think the S60R is the bargain sports sedan - kind of like the prior generation Audi S4 when it first debuted here in the 90s. Overall I like the S60R and I think when Volvo's Yamaha-designed V8 shows up late this year there could be some more interesting R variants coming our way in a couple of years...

Thanks.

-rollie
rdollie@att.net

Where in the U.S. is the S60R only $35k? Everywhere I've seen it it been at least $38.5k, if not pushing more than 40 w/ any kind of options...I don't mean this sarcastically at all, I just didn't realize a new S60R was that cheap...

Stop by your local dealership. They are now offering the better part of $8k off on the R which means you could get some for under $35k.

This is model year end discounting at this point but even a couple of months ago Volvo was officially offering $6,500 subsidies on the R.

Where in the U.S. is the S60R only $35k? Everywhere I've seen it it been at least $38.5k, if not pushing more than 40 w/ any kind of options...I don't mean this sarcastically at all, I just didn't realize a new S60R was that cheap...

I'm close to purchasing an '05 S60R, getting a very good deal with model year end incentives ... a couple thousand under dealer invoice. If I were to wait for an '06, it's likely to cost me 3-4 thousand more as the dealer marketing incentives won't apply.

First, I have to go with the auto-trans. I succeded in talking the wife into the R instead of one of the more mundane versions of the S60, but no way I could get her to put up with the six-speed manual in LA traffic. The 06 offers a six-speed auto and modified AWD system. Is this significantly different in the performance of the car that it'd be worth the wait and extra cost? I'm not all that interested in shaving a few tenths from the standing quarter mile ... we're talking mostly freeway driving here.

I wouldn't think you'd see much difference in the 5-speed versus 6-speed for "at speed" acceleration unless the 6-speed also comes with a jump in rated torque (since torque is reduced on the 5-speed versus the manual).

There's a couple of good detailed threads on the differences between the '05 and '06 in the R forum at Swedespeed.

I can tell you that there is a significant difference in performance for the auto starting with model year '06 (e.g., around a second or more faster getting to 60.) However, if you are talking about thousands of dollars difference in price you would be better off going to Evolve/Svenske/Powerchips or IPD as at least one of them has a chip which makes the pre-06 automatics much faster off the line.

...
I wouldn't think you'd see much difference in the 5-speed versus 6-speed for "at speed" acceleration unless the 6-speed also comes with a jump in rated torque (since torque is reduced on the 5-speed versus the manual).

nice pics...