Of course RWD is preferred to FWD, simply because of the fact that you can not push excessive power through the front. Achieving a 50/50 weight distribution is impossible with FWD (obviously you don't just add weights to the trunk to even it out). So going up to 247 or 268 hp with FWD is futility--wheels will spin. There are some valid points to the poster--

Most people do not like turbos, only saab and volvo still do this

The s80 styling is controversial--I actually like the new V70 wagon from4the rear

AWD is not preferred to RWD--it adds wear and tear and weight and is not needed almost 95% of the time (would you buy a Carrerra 4 or Carrera 2 if you want performance)

But what the poster doesn't realize is that Volvo is not a performance car and most Volvo owners are not car enthusiasts--they don't even know their car is a turbo nor do they care about performance. VEry few Volvo buyers are looking at BMW or Audi. The proof is that basically $ for $ you can't compare like series. A Volvo S80 (which I own) costs about the same as a high-end 3 series. I can't fit my family into the 328Ci though I liked the car on a test drive.