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850 T5 - Hurts my teeth...[ALL/1998] posted by Han Chung on
Monday, 22 December 1997, at 6:53 p.m.
I own a 97 850 T5 Stationwagon 26K miles(mostly highway miles). I have the factory 16" rims with 205-55/16 Michellin tires. Actually the car came with the low profile tire but made them change them to what I have hoping to get a better ride.
My problem is that I keep experiencing headaches, and wet spots on my center console. Well, the car is so bumpy that the soda can in my cup holder spits off Coke from all the vibration. I don't think the struts or springs have gone bad already with only 26k miles. I just wonder if this is normal and if anybody is having the same experiences. Please help.... Is there a cure for my headache? (I'm pretty sure Tylenol won't do my headache). Can the dealer do something in terms of warranty?
Re: 850 T5 - Hurts my teeth...[ALL/1998] posted by Tube on
Monday, 22 December 1997, at 7:35 p.m.
Hej Han
In a word no!
You should have selected a GLT as it has a better ride.Your dealer has already gone ahead and changed your wheels at your request.
The car is not as rough as previous 850 T5's but its not a Caddy.It a sports sedan.
GL/T
Re: 850 T5 - Hurts my teeth...[ALL/1998] posted by Han Chung on
Tuesday, 23 December 1997, at 10:09 a.m.
I was thinking if there was an after market set of shocks(good and better than volvo stock) that is more responsive with a better ride. I hear that bilsteins have good shock and are used from factory by BMW's and Mercedez's. I understand that this is a sportswagon, but I think volvo could have worked out the suspension a bit better. Harder isn't always better or sportier.
Please give me suggestions.
Thanks.
Re: 850 T5 - Hurts my teeth...[ALL/1998] posted by Glenn Goodspeed on
Tuesday, 23 December 1997, at 8:45 p.m.
Suggestions: 1. Trade it for a Cadillac. 2. Stay off bumpy roads. 3. Clench your teeth.
Sports cars are for driving. If you want to keep the car, you must decide whether you want to drink Coke or drive. -Glenn.
Goodspeed's Volvo 1800 Newsletter
Re: 850 T5 - Hurts my teeth...[ALL/1998] posted by ASZ on
Wednesday, 24 December 1997, at 12:26 a.m.
Call IPD...they are the "SUSPENSION EXPERTS". 1-800-444-6473. But you bought a SportsWagon..if you wanted a softer ride you should have gone with a Caprice Wagon or one of those Roadmaster Battlewagons. But, you have a point...the only complaint I have with my 850 R is that it could handle the bumps a little bit better...for some reason, the car rattles real bad when it hits a bump and I don't think that should happen to a car that's built like a tank. It should hit the bump and keep rolling like nothing happened. However, the ride is adequate enough that you could drive for hours on a rough rural road and not get "beat up" as you would if you were driving a sports car. It all comes down to compromise...if you want the car to handle the curves, you sacrifce ride comfort, if you want a smooth ride, you sacrifice handling. Call IPD...they'll get you hooked up.
Re: 850 T5 - Hurts my teeth...[ALL/1998] posted by Han Chung on
Wednesday, 24 December 1997, at 12:44 p.m.
Well, Mr. Goodspeed,
I was hoping for a bit more constructive opinion. Please don't be offended by my needs. I'm pretty sure that if I'm paying the kind of money people pay for this car, I should be getting something a little more solid. Not a rattler... don't get me wrong, I love the car. I'm just sharing my disappointments about Volvo.
Besides, there are no race tracks on my way to work and I don't think the State of California will repave all bumpy roads for the sake of all sports car owners. Also I don't see why I can't drink Coke while driving. I wonder what kind of driving you'r doing, Glenn. If I really wanted a sports car, I don't think I would be driving the stationwagon. I bought the stationwagon because I need a spacious car and the performance.
Be cool, Glenn... I'm not trying to offend or attack people. I just wanted some help.
Thanks and drive carefully.
Re: 850 T5 - Hurts my teeth...[ALL/1998] posted by Glenn Goodspeed on
Wednesday, 24 December 1997, at 5:53 p.m.
No offense taken and none intended.
My opinion was strongly worded to make a point, not to offend. I drive a sports car, I drive it very carefully, and occasionally I drink a Coke while driving. That's not the point.
The point is, sports cars and cars with sport accessories are not designed for the most comfortable ride. They are designed to hold the road under adverse conditions, including high speeds. As others have pointed out, road-holding design precludes comfort.
I don't know of a kind way to tell you that you've spent a lot of money on something that apparently is not what you wanted. Others have suggested modifications that might improve comfort, but my suggestion (really!) is to trade the car for something more comfortable. -Glenn.
Goodspeed's Volvo 1800 Newsletter
Re: 850 T5 - Hurts my teeth...[ALL/1998] posted by Rob Krewson on
Wednesday, 24 December 1997, at 12:14 a.m.
actually, harder _is_ better for sport suspension... when screaming around corners, you don't want the car at 45 degree angles. solution? stiffer springs and fat anti-sway bars. many sport-oriented drivers like to be able to feel the road too. what i'm wondering is why you bought the sport version when you are obviously after luxury?
rob
Re: 850 T5 - Hurts my teeth...[ALL/1998] posted by Terence Lui on
Monday, 22 December 1997, at 8:54 p.m.
So what kind of suspension do you have? My dealer told me that they had customers complain about the ride with the sport suspension package. I bought my 854T without the sport suspension and the ride was fine. May be you can try to keep lower tire pressure, that should soften up the car a bit, but beware of bent rims!!! But seriously, if you think your car is bumpy, you should try to sit in mine, with Bilstein shocks, PI springs, IPD sway-bars and 45 series 17" tires with 43 Ibs of tire pressure. That's why I never drink anything when I drive :)
Terence Lui
'95 854T-5R look-alike
Re: 850 T5 - Hurts my teeth...[ALL/1998] posted by John Ehrhart on
Tuesday, 23 December 1997, at 9:40 p.m.
We have an 850 Turbo and we have noticed a definite difference in ride when
the dealer gives us a GLT loaner. My wife says it rides much better but with
the power a Turbo has, I am sure you would not want a softer suspension. Not
to be insulting, but perhaps you would be happier with a Mercedes as they seem
to have a better compromise between ride and handling with their wagons.
Unfortunately, they are also not nearly as entertaining as the Volvo.
Re: 850 T5 - Hurts my teeth...[ALL/1998] posted by Terence Lui on
Wednesday, 24 December 1997, at 2:19 a.m.
The GLT and the T5(without the sport suspension) should have the same suspension. Therefore, the difference in the ride is really because of the 15" wheels on the GLT compare to the 16" wheels on the T5s. I am running 17X8" TSWs with 205-45-17 Pirelli P-zeros in the summer and 15" steels with Blizzark snows in the winter. When I put on my snow tires last week, the ride was 10 times better. I can feel every single bumps on the road with the 17". I agree with the theory about stiffer is better, but I think the major problem with the T5's suspension is the sharp "crash" feel when going through the bumps. Therefore, I think Bilsteins is the way to go. With my current suspension setup: Bilsteins, PI lowering springs, IPD sway-bars and strut-brace, the ride is much stiffer, but the sharp "crash" problem had been improved.
I think the best way for T5 owners who want to have a better ride quality is to go for the 15" wheels and switch to Bilsteins or the OEM non-sport package shocks (which I have a set for sale)
Terence Lui
'95 854T-5R look-alike
Re: 850 T5 - Hurts my teeth...[ALL/1998] posted by Ray Niblett on
Wednesday, 24 December 1997, at 11:51 a.m.
I believe Volvo has softened up the standard suspension a bit for
98. I base this on comparing our 95 850GLT wagon (standard
suspension, 30K miles) to our S70 T-5 (standard suspension, 5K
miles). I drive the T5 daily and my wife drives the wagon. I also
have driven the wagon frequently for the past 3 years.
The S70 T5 is quite a bit less harsh over bumps of all kinds compared
to the 95 GLT wagon. It is not a luxury car ride (by a long shot)
and you feel the road and most bumps; but, harshness wise it is much
better then the 95 GLT wagon and seems to be a better compromise for
most drivers (who think they may want the hardest suspension when
maybe they don't). The S70 also feels more solid but the sedan
probably has a stiffer chassis then the wagon (plus the age and mileage
of the vehicles influences this). The wagon rattles endlessly over
every bump (my wife claims to not notice rattles and I try not to
point them out to her). In the wagon you can even feel painted strips
for crosswalks if they have been ire-painted a few times; the S70 damps
those sorts of small bumps much better.
The difference between the two cars may also be a influenced by
difference in spring rates for a wagon vs. a sedan (since a wagon is
expected to carry heavier loads). With no load in our wagon the
rear-mounted CD player skips when the car passes over some bumps.
With a few hundred pounds of cargo the wagon smoothes out and CDs can
be played without any skipping. I've noticed more posts from wagon
owners over harshness and rattles then sedan owners.
At high speed (75MPH) the wagon really shines sucking up bumps and
dips even with a large load (it is also lower to the ground by about
3/4 of an inch). The S70 T5 is actually not as good at recovering
from a bump or large dip at speed when equally loaded (the S70
shocks may rebound a couple of cycles compared to the wagon which
just goes "thump" -- you never see the wagons' hood bobbing around).
After owning a 95 GLT wagon I learned I really did not want a car
with a suspension this harsh. I'd rather compromise a bit (just a bit)
for a smoother ride. I'm considering contacting IPD and seeing what they
can do to get the 95 GLT wagon to ride closer the the S70T5. I figure
they will be familiar with both and should be able to help tune one
towards the other.
~
Re: 850 T5 - Hurts my teeth...[ALL/1998] posted by John Ehrhart on
Wednesday, 24 December 1997, at 1:10 p.m.
I forgot to mention, our 850T has the GLT 15" wheels and Michelin 195/60-15
tires. There is a definite difference in ride quality to the GLT.