I own a '93 850 that I love. But time to move on. I counted myself fortunate when I became aware of the S60 coming on the market just when I was looking to buy a new Volve. I was really taken by the exterior styling. I test drove the S60 T5 yesterday to confirm what I sensed was going to be an even more enjoyable driving experience than my 850. My intent was to then order one. I was sadly disappointed with the driving experience. I was driving the car, but there was no connection with the car. The engineers have taken the soul from the car - it was dead. Driving it was like riding on a bus. It had all the features of my 850, but its ability to communicate those features into a personal driving experience between it and me was lost. There was only the dull thuds of an efficient suspension system anesthetizing the ownerÕs driving eperience rather than enhancing it and nurturing a relationship with its driver. ItÕs dash was slanted away from the driver making it less friendly as well. The hood of the car is not visible when driving. It was visually like driving a van to me. Has anyone else experienced these things or is it just me?

10 years ago, you could tell a performance car by its stiff ride and noisy interior. These days, even a 'driver's machine' like BMW manages to combine a supple suspension with excellent handling and a quiet interior. And this is what the masses demand - a perfect luxury ride + incredible performance + excellent fuel economy + plenty of cargo space + a sexy body. Those of us wanting a stiff riding, purpose-built driving machine are left longing for the good ol' days...

"driving like a bus"??? How so? If I recall correctly, whenever I have been in a bus i have witnessed a very wobbly ride, going over bumps JARRED my every joint (I was going to mention "dentures" but I am pretty young for those) and noisy as hell. Last time I drove an S60 T5, none of these were present...

I am just amazed at people...when the 850 was out people complained "too boxy, still looks like a fridge on wheels"...great looking cars like the S80 and S60 come out and people complain "can't see the corners"....

Yannis

I think the guy was just being sarcastic on that "bus ride" bit. Don't take or criticize it so literally.

Oh, I know! :) I was trying to "immitate" him...

Yannis

I've driven a S60 service loaner, and my only objections were the lack of rear seat legroom and the "touchy" brakes that everyone else remarks about.

I wouldn't consider buying one, but that's because I need more rear seat room than it offers.

I agree that you can't tell where the corners of the car are, but that's an almost universal feature in new cars now. Even the BMW 3-series has optional backup radar, because the styling makes it impossible to tell where the rear bumper is when you back up the car. Unfortunate, but that's the way things are.

If you need to know were the corners are, you're stuck with a relatively boxy design, like a Land Rover.

-ubcle Olaf

I agree - back seat went from adequate in the S70 to marginal in the S60 - (1 year ago)I immediately passed on the Acura TL for its poor rear seat - never even drove it - what's left?

MAT

Or if you want to know where the end of the car is, learn it...drive it, and figure it out...I know exactly where the ends and sides of my car are, I could park it in a spot with an inch on either side I bet :)

Rob

Give it some time and it might grow on you.

When I was in Flight Training, they taught us to hold the stick with just our index finger and thumb so we could feel what the plane was doing. The new Volvos are similar in this respect; you hold the steering wheel lightly and you can feel what the vehicle is doing.

I have an engineering background and I like to hear the mechanical things functioning. That is one thing that I like about my 2001 V70 T5; the sounds are muted, but they are there if you listen for them.

For those who find the S60 rear seat too small, consider the V70. It will do everything that The S60 will do performance wise, and might even handle a little better because of a little better weight distibution. In the real world of insurance company statistics on crashes, station wagons have traditionally done better than sedans of the same model.