zyajzarc

Hey everybody!

What are you views on the new Volvo S60R? It runs @ about 40k and the 0-60 is 'round 5.3-5.5. I know the C32 runs the 0-60 like .5 sec less.. but which one is more car for you money... i'm not looking into buying either of them (yet!), i'm just posted this to keep the forum lively and interesting. okay... well then... start posting!

Harris

Do you know how many car lengths are there in 0.5sec?

SiLvaC32

that is still a volvo...

IanPooley

Beside the engine the volvo hasn´t the same performance like the benz specially in the curves.

onster

Here are my two cents on this:

Volvo was bought out by Ford.

Ford stands for:

F = Fix
O = Or
R =Repair
D = Daily

Thus, if you want to Fix or repair Daily buy the S60R.

On another note MB, is part of Daimler/Chrysler but this is a merger of two car companies not a buy out of another company as Ford did to Volvo. So MB still retains its own distinctive values and style. Whereas Volvo has lost its distinctiveness because of FORD.

jswedberg

zyajzarc, you know most everyone on this board is going to say the Volvo is yucky and the Merc is wonderful!

I think both are fine cars. I know some Volvo people and they are, umm, different.

That said, I'd rather have the C32 (duh!)

JamE55

Hahahaha! True! Get the C32!

Boo2

So I guess Volvo is to MB as MB is to BMW in that area! :p

The only thing I don't really like about Volvo is the single slash emblem on the grill. Just doesn't feel right. Other than that, they are very well-made cars. I would have to give the Benz the advantage in resale value tho.

thuged_out

I would get the Benz of course, but i don't think they're in the same league. There is a 15K diff between them. On the side note, none of the Volvos that are in production now share ANY parts with Ford. I'm sure that will change with the next gen of Volvos, bus as of today Volvos are still pure Volvos.The first Volvo that is going to share platform/part with a Ford is going to be the V50/S50 that will be out in october/03.

Pierre32///AMG

The C32 is far better value.
For me the new Volvo S60R was build for compite with the new S4, specially on price.

steve s

hmm.....having owned both 850 and c36...well...what can i say...i'm sure my wagon can hang with a c36 (although my father should've been able to crank more out of the c36) in the quarter mile, but his trap speed is higher. low speeds, c36 kicks ***...high speeds, my wagon feels a tad more glued to the road (albeit cause i have non-stock suspension). but the ride quality is laughable between the two...my wagon is like a frigg'n truck, while the c36 remains mb comfortable (amazing actually). ...anyway...the s60r has a really trick suspension system. no doubt...the c32 is a different feel than the s60r....i will say this...the c32 is a smaller, more powerful machine, and has a handbuilt engine by one single mechanic (awesome)...the s60r has a little more room, less powerful, but probably safer car (but i just can't get over the rear a$$ of the s60). u can't lose with either...both are very subtle in their approach to tuned cars. there was just an article on the web about comparing the three, m3 vs s4 vs s60r on topgear ...obviously, they put s60r last...but interesting they didn't include the c32, which they should've.

fhd16

The only way to really approach this matter is by realizing that these cars aren't meant for the same people. The C32 is aimed more at the 30+ affluent male that likes to be early for tee times, the C32 and the previous C36 have been known as GREAT performance machines with outstanding highspeed stability (good ole autobahn susp.) As far as track preparedness, really i cannot say how well suited they are.
The S60R i believe is aimed more at the car-loving family man/woman who wants a car that can be driven daily, but show up more than ready at the weekend CCA events. While the performance of the engine has been downrated to 300 hp, nobody actually knows what the exact performance of the car will be. All the magazines have gotten pre-production vehicles that may have more or less smooth power than the true sales-vehicles will.

Just because Ford owns volvo does not mean that volvo quality has been diminished, they are left pretty well alone, it's the budget that is watched in terms of concept development and platrform agreement issues.

The only example i can really give from the real world is:

case 1: just bought my car and ended up next to a 30 something guy in a silver E55 (jesus what a car) i knew i would get wasted but i tried to get some on the highway and as i expected, got pulled on from 60-95 no problem.

case 2: Friend of mine has a black C36 and we did a little comparo, my car came out on top in all categories of acceleration, braking and a spirited drive through the mountains.

You never know, but both cars are going to be outstanding.

Carl AMG

I would have to say that many C32 owners are also looking for the same attributes that you mention for the S60R. A practical daily driver that can be ready for track day events. Not all AMG owners are purely interested in straight line autobahn speed.

I believe the cars will compete for the same discriminating driver that needs praticality and safety.

AlpharettaC32

You're either running a non-stock T5R or your friend and the random E55 driver weren't very good. Let's look at stats:

The T5R stock is ~6.5 seconds 0-60 and 15 in the 1/4. The C36 is 5.9 and 14.5 in the 1/4. The E55 is 5.0 and 13.6 in the 1/4.


So, with either car, you're dead in acceleration. Now, how about braking?

The C36 brakes from 100km at 114 feet. T5R stats are missing on the web for any search I do, but I can find 97 Turbo stats and that's 128 feet. The E55 brakes in at 121 feet.

No numbers on spirited mountain driving.

bikenski

He was probably able to beat the C36 in the mountains thanks to his turbocharger. Naturally aspirated engines lose about 3% of their power for every 1,000 feet of elevation gain. If they were competing at 8,000 feet the C36's impressive 276hp engine is stuck gasping for air and only actually producing 210hp. Thanks to forced induction his turbocharged Volvo is losing a lot less power.

I also live at high altitude and was able to easily walk away from a 310hp Audi A8 a few weeks back with my Volvo. Up here in the thin air the playing field is not level, and turbocharged vehicles can beat out a lot of vehicles they wouldn't have a chance against at sea level.

--Jay
2002 Volvo S60 T5-M

steve s

he said vs c36...he did get blown away by the e55...btw...them red calipers in the front wheels r porsche brakes

AlpharettaC32

His quote is that the E55 walked away about from 60-95 mph.

Then again, I could say that a 360 Modena walked away from my car from 60-95 mph. What I didn't tell you was that it was *running* away from me from 0-60. The E55 will thrash the T5R (it ought to, they're not in the same league) from the line, and the C36 will do the same in a less thorough manner. A half second quicker in 0-60 and the 1/4 mile for the C36. That's pretty signifigant.

The C36 will still out accelerate a stock T5R. As for braking, those big calipers on the front of the C36? They're from an SL600. The rear ones are off the E500. That's some serious braking power all of its own.

AlpharettaC32

I think it would depend on the mountains here, but I see your point. Because I am thoroughly bored, I checked where that T5R picture was hosted..it's from a site in Beaverton, Oregon. Beaverton's elevation (according to a few web sites) is 189 feet.

Must have been one heck of a run up the mountain

fhd16

Woah guys,
I was just trying to help clarify that the S60R and C36 aren't really very simelar cars and was in no way attacking the muscle that AMG has put into these vehicles.

My car got whooped by the E55 yes, and the C32 was at about 5000 feet, so i don't see what the problem is.

As far as the copious braking concerns that i've started i'm sorry i didn't explain my situation very well, and the new S60R thankfully has better braking as well (my car's stock braking sucked HARD).

And the elevation i was talking about was Boulder/Denver Colorado where i attended school the first 2 years.


and here's a pic of the ones on my car:

Boo2

I was thinking more of <25 males who wanted to buy a fast Benz, but didn't want people to think they borrowed daddy's car

fhd16

You're telling me that sub-25 year olds are going to be investing in a $52,000 car. If so you're either selling drugs or daddy did pay for the car. I recognize that there are a few people that pick up a business or investment rather early in life, but not nearly enough to make up the target market for this vehicle.

Boo2

Not really down with the "Drug Dealer" remark so yeah. Bought the car last year a few months after turning 24, paid it off 3 weeks ago (no parental assistance). Drugs aside, I think your second assumption fits the target market. Kids who want the car, and have daddy's willing to pay for it. With a limited number in production per year, I think the target market is just anyone who can afford it.

B

CRB

On the side issue of spoiled rich kids getting a present from daddy:
I think the online forums are not a representative sample. Most Benz owners wouldn't be trolling forums. Present company skews much younger.

On the question of S60R vs C32:

The suspension and four-wheel drive system of the S60R are state of the art. It has Brembo brakes and a manual transmission.

But it is down on power and nose heavy because it is based on a FWD platform.

The C32 has a big power advantage and the balance inherent to a rear-wheel-drive layout.

I think someone ought to secure a S60R and rent a racetrack and settle this one. I bet if the track was wet the Volvo wins.

As someone mentioned, the cross-shoppers between these two cars will be few. Sixteen-thousand dollars is a big difference. Too big for most people. More likely a V70R and C320 4Matic wagon would be cross-shopped.

steve s

fwd based awd...so it is majority fwd until slip then rear wheels get driven....

it would've indeed been interesting if they had included the c32 in that comparo....i think both the s4 (with a frigg'n v8...that's like ... corolla size car with v8... ) and the s60r fared better in wet than did the m3 due to awd...

well...we should get an answer soon...s60r comes out at dealers in april 03...

be nice people

fhd16

I agree that they are targeted at different people, and we don't even know if volvo will be sucessful in their venture. But i definitely can't wait to drive one.

On the MB Side, never have i lusted after a car as much as the E55 back when it was first introduced as the 4-door vette killer, and the AMG cars will always command respect on the road. Sorry for "trolling" your boards like you say, just thought i'd chime in on something i knew a bit about.

P.S.

Saw some stats on the new CL65, OH MY GOD