Hi All-

Does anyone have experience with the S60T5 and manual transmission? I am considering selling my Yellow T-5R and I test drove a manual 60 taday. It doesn't feel like a Volvo but still very nice. I like that the engine is closly related to my T-5R but a little concerned of new model year 'glitches'.

Also any idea what the T-5R w/ 79k miles and lots of IPD goodies is worth? The title is clean with no collisions etc.

Thanks-Brandt

Thank you for the input. Didn’t mean to stir any controversy...

I took a T5M for a test drive. Forgive my humble opinion but it didn't feel like a Volvo. That's not bad, just different. As mentioned my 850 has the IPD engine goodies and suspension so it handles well too.

Admittedly I didn't push the T5M, it had 12 miles on it when I drove it and I didn't have the heart to thrash it. In fact I never turned it harder than about 3500rpm, even without a boost gage I know it wasn't developing much boost.

The stick was nice; I like participating in the driving experience. I feel I should give the Geartronic a try too.

Again thanks for the input, that’s what I enjoy about the Brickboard!

I drove an S60 T5M at a Volvo sponsered event (objective: drive

around the course as fast as you can -- wheee!). I noticed the

clutch feel is much lighter then my 98 T5 (in fact, going back

to my car I realized just how much effort it takes to push in

the clutch). Clutch engagement also felt smoother (as did the

engine -- not as buzzy at higher RPM).

Other issue I had was with my foot on clutch pedal and pedal

all the way out the tip/top of my shoe would snag on the lower

plastic panel. Now, these cars did not have any of the common

door stickers and may have been early builds. But, interference

with your shoe is something to check.

I came away from the event much impressed with the S60!

By the way the LPTs were pretty fast, too (people were

brake tourque launching them over and over all morning long).

The normally aspirated engine's power felt much, much, improved

over our 95 (although tip-in seemed a bit like what a Chrysler

feels like -- a touch too much for me).

I don't know if you should be worried about "first model year glitches" since the S60 shares almost all of its electronics with the S80 and that model has been out for three model years, now. The new V70 has been out for just about one year and engine-wise and the suspension are common elements here.

I think that the S60 T5 M will be a much more fun car to drive over your Yellow brick since it has a manual tranny with relatively short shift points and it will be quite a bit quicker than your 850. The only "downfall" is that it will not have the rear seating capacity of your 850. But overall, and you will remember this if you end up with the S60, the S60 will be a blast to drive and look at!

Yannis

I would imagine that the older 850 T5-R would have acceleration similar to the new S60 T5. I'd doubt that the newer S60 T5 would be "quite a bit quicker" even though it has a manual tranny because, if you haven't noticed, the 850/S70 replacement has gained quite a bit weight.

What I HAVE noticed and what I KNOW from looking at both cars' manuals is that the 850 T5 R (w/ auto) weighs 4,250 lbs (p.97 in the manual) while the S60 T5 w/ manual weighs 4,430 lbs. (p. 193). That is a difference of 187 lbs. which if they are on the RACE track MAY make a difference. But I really doubt it because the 850 has a HP rating of 237 at 5,600 rpm (vs. 247 @ 5,200 rpm on the S60) and that is only for WOT at 30 secs, otherwise the HP goes down to 222, and most importantly, the torque rating of the 850 is 221 ft. lbs whereas the S60 has 243...and then you got MANUAL vs. AUTO, in case you haven't noticed. I would take ANY TIME an S60 T5 MANUAL vs. an 850 T5 R or 850 R when it comes to acceleration. Where the 850 has the edge is TOP SPEED since the S60s are limited...

Yannis

Ah, geez, you again--I pity you. The last time I, or anyone, checked, no 850/S70 or S60 ever tipped the scales at, or even near, 4000 lbs. I don't know what manuals you looked at man. I won't even mention the fact that you can't subtract seeing that regardless of the real weight of both these cars, 4430 minus 4250 somehow doesn't equal 187. Oops, guess I just did mention that...Otherwise, the power figures you posted all check-in (woo, amazing) and yaddi-yadda, manual vs. auto, more yaddi-yadda BUT, THE BIG BUT, the S60 still weighs roughly (dependent on equipment levels, etc.) 200 pounds more than the older 850/S70s. And you may be right, the S60 may be able to overcome that burden with it's extra 10 HP and 22 ft. lbs of torque and manual (provided that the driver is a pro that can shift out of the gates like a race car driver which is another way of saying, not likely) but to claim that it is "quite a bit quicker?" Come on!!

Good, YOU are paying attention afterall! Of course no Volvo weighs over 4000 lbs., not even the S80...3430 vs. 3250 are the ACTUAL numbers.

BTW, before you open your big (and young) mouth, have you driven an S60 T5 w/ the manual??? Drive one EXTENSIVELY and then come and tell us what you think...

"sweet" dreams...

Yannis

Very good little ol' salesman. Since when did age have anything to do with intelligence? But hey, in fairness, I only chew off when I feel there is a genuine need to and you, my friend, always post crap that is hardly ever substantiated. As a matter of fact, I have driven the new S60 T5 MANUAL & auto and although it drives well, and is overall, more refined than the older 850/S70s, it feels different from those previous models. It's softer in every way (some of these are good qualities in my opinion) like the suspension and clutch but in terms of speed and acceleration, it doesn't feel any faster. And yes, I went banzai in that sucker just to find that out. Didn't get to time it or anything like that, but if you happened to be the salesman riding along with me shotgun and to hear you tell me that it's "quite a bit quicker" than the 850/S70s I'd tell you to shut your hole and fetch me another salesman that actually knew something and deserved the sale.

I would not be riding with you because my left footprint would have been in your butt a long time ago, long before you would even ask for a joy ride. Obviously, you are a little "punk" so there is no need to bother discussing/arguing/disagreeing with you anymore.

Yannis

My my old man, don't throw a temper tantrum. Of course you have nothing left to discuss/argue/disagree with me any more--your foot is so far up your ass, you're having a hard enough time trying to find it, let alone put up any real effort in substantiating any of the bull you post here. I really can't believe there are morons like you that exist--why don't you ever consider looking up the numbers for yourself? It's so damn simple but your head is so stuffed with marketing hype and sales pitches that you ignore the facts. Go look in any recent issue of Car & Driver, Motor Trend, etc. and tell me again that the S60 T5 manual is "quite a bit quicker" than previous 850/S70 turbos. I've looked and the numbers suggest that they are quite equal, in terms of acceleration, as a matter of fact.

Yer all off-track. Brandt's signature says he has IPD ECU and aftermart exos. that means his brick is waaay more powerful than the stock S60T5. fars as i know, there isnt a chip/reprogram developed for the S60T5 yet, and we all know what 285hp on a tuned ECU can do to that stock 247 or whatever hp S60...

jeff

95 855T5A, SAM chip, IPD swaybars, full Superpsrint exos, Bilsteins

Yeah, I noticed that too but my point was that even a bone-stock 850/S70 Turbo would give comparable acceleration numbers to the new S60 T5 manual.

....than the S70T5 and 160 pounds more than the 850R according to the numbers in Road & Track!

Time to enroll tthe fat Swede in Weight Watcher's Mr. Ford?

-Phil Punxsutawney

'98 V70T5M, 64k mi., IPD stabilizer bars, Volvo strut tower brace and skidplate, V-1, Dunlop SP 5000s, Mobil 1 always.

Brandt,

Pick up the new Motor Trend..has a great comparosin of the S60 T5 5 speed vs. Saab Viggen, BMW 330, Mercedes 230 and Audi A4 2.7.

Volvo tied for 2nd with Mercedes.

I've driven an S60LPT service loaner (automatic) and have a '98 V70T5 (manual). I think the gearbox is pretty much the same. It's fine. Shifts smoothly. Better than my old SAABs. Much better than my old Porsche.

If I were going to buy an S60 I wouldn't buy it equipped any other way.

I am actually considering buying a new V70T5M, but I will certainly wait until the 2002 model year. I've had enough experience as an unpaid test driver of a Volvo model during it's first year of production to last me for a while.

-Phil Punxsutawney