Magfocus 5th Gear August 11, 2003 Share August 11, 2003 Perhaps Paul is talking about winding roads, as opposed to straight line speed? ↡ Advertisement Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regboyboy Neutral Newbie August 11, 2003 Share August 11, 2003 Why what did paul said? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seansene 1st Gear August 11, 2003 Author Share August 11, 2003 Still, the R is damn competent on a bend. But maybe more suited to longer sweepers than tight ones, I don't know... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seansene 1st Gear August 11, 2003 Author Share August 11, 2003 See here: http://www.mycarforum.com/forum/gforum.cgi...t=298289#298289 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Magfocus 5th Gear August 11, 2003 Share August 11, 2003 I am sure it is, perhaps not with the agility of the Alfa?? Never mind me, just babbling.. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seansene 1st Gear August 11, 2003 Author Share August 11, 2003 That we'll have to find out, eh? Wanna throw a rex into the mix? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Magfocus 5th Gear August 11, 2003 Share August 11, 2003 Sure, anytime.. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regboyboy Neutral Newbie August 11, 2003 Share August 11, 2003 Oic haha Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Azure Neutral Newbie August 11, 2003 Share August 11, 2003 Hi Seansene Hope you don't mind me being honest but I find the below comparison a bit off-the-mark. Although both TT and S60 uses the same Haldex AWD but comparing them is like apple to orange. Maybe a more worthy comparison in terms of pricing is A4 3.0 V6 Quattro vs S60R. I believe they cost around the same price. Overall, the S60R is hugely competent, if a little lacking in feedback. Kind of like Kimi Raikkonen delivering a flawless race but not being able to tell you quite how he did it. Still, it is obscenely effective for what 90% of drivers will need 90% of the time, and that's good enough for me. To top it off, it is actually something of a bargain in Singapore. Ok, $204,000 cannot be considered anyone's idea of spare change, but that sum is still a third of a COE less than to what Audi charges for the lower spec TT Coupe, which incidently has 40% less power, half the number of wheels driven, much less cabin space (duh) and I dare say a less accomplished chassis. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seansene 1st Gear August 11, 2003 Author Share August 11, 2003 Hi Azure, No problem. Frankly the only reason I'm comparing them is because I've driven the two recently. I haven't tried the A4, so I cannot comment there. I just found it interesting that the price discrepency is skewed in Audi's favour in other markets, but towards the Volvo here. It wasn't supposed to be a comprehensive back-to-back there. That said, anyone with that kind of money to spend might conceivably get either. Hence the tenous link. The A4 3.0 and S60R cost about the same? Hmmmm... I think I smell another test drive coming Thanks! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
E36UDM Neutral Newbie August 13, 2003 Share August 13, 2003 Volvo rolls out high-tech muscle car - AsiaOne Motoring, 11 August 2003 - Poon Seow Meng Hard-charging, high-performance saloons are a mark of a carmaker's technical savvy. Not only do they show off how the competence of its designers and engineers, the models fly the flag of the carmaker and if it burns up the tracks, add glamour as well. Of course, these models make a tidy bundle as they often come with premium price tags. Volvo, once known for making cars with only utilitarian values, has also joined the high-tech, muscle-car bandwagon with its R range and its latest offerings, the S60R and V70R, are technical juggernauts. The two new models are the fastest and most powerful that Volvo has ever produced and comes complete with a host of sophisticated electronic driving aids aimed to keep its competitors trailing. The Active Chassis 'Active' is the key word these days and when applied to the chassis, it means that it is able to change and adapt to the prevailing driving environment. The chassis in the S60R could well be the most advanced in the world. The central element is what Volvo terms the 4C Technology, in full it is Continuously Controlled Chassis Concept. The car must be the only machine in the world to enable the driver to select three chassis settings: Comfort, Sport and Advanced Sport. The first is a 'soft' setting which insulates the cabin from most road irregularities and is ideal for urban conditions. In Sport, the chassis 'stiffens up' and is optimised for better roadholding and handling. Volvo says Sport offers a balanced mix of comfort and sporty handling. When Advanced Sport is selected, the chassis transforms into a pure sports car, with maximum handling and roadholding, even at very high speeds. Just the button to press when on the track. There is also Dynamic Stability and Traction Control (DSTC) which allows a higher degree of skid before it intervenes to brake the wheels and straighten the car. This system can be disabled completely by pressing the button five times, to ensure that the feature is not disabled by mistake. This chassis is so well endowed with electronics that its shock absorbers are able to change settings at the rate of 500 times a second. And there are sensors to measure the longitudinal, lateral and vertical acceleration of the car, and the information is then used to change suspension settings for optimal stability and handling. The R cars also have electronically controlled all-wheel drive, tuned not for off-roading but to enhance roadholding and stability. Chips enable the all-wheel drive to cut in and out in 100 milliseconds and Volvo says this allow the driver to compensate for oversteer and understeer very quickly. The brakes are also special. They are made by Brembo and come with aluminium callipers and four pistons. The ventilated discs are 32mm thick in front and 28mm in the rear and the diameter is 330mm. The Drivetrain It is the most powerful engine in the Volvo range. It is a 5-cylinder, 2.5-litre motor producing a massive 300bhp at 5500rpm and an equally massive amount of torque: 400Nm. What is impressive is that the torque is available from a lowly 1950rpm. To cool things down, two charge air coolers are installed. Manual or auto gearboxes are available. The manual is a newly-developed 6-speeder and the auto is a 5-speed unit equipped with Geartronic, where the driver has the option of having a fully auto mode or when the devil in him takes over, changes can be made manually, without a clutch. The Looks A totally new front has been designed to make the R cars stand out. It features a grille framed in satin silver, and a very large lower air intake has been integrated into the bumper. Two round fog lamps, located at the lower half, punctuate the ends of the bumper. While other high performance cars sign off with a signature huge rear spoiler, the one in the S60R is barely discernible. Still, this subtle rear spoiler is said to reduce rear lift by as much as 20 per cent. For the interior, Volvo designers have been are lot bolder. There are heavily sculpted seats, dashboard and door inlays are finished in brushed aluminium, real stitching on the leather upholstery, and the blue-faced instruments feature matt silver, chronograph-inspired rim. The 3-spoke steering wheel is wrapped in charcoal-coloured leather with blue stitching and the manual transmission features a unique 'space-ball'gear lever. The footrest and door front sill plates are made of stainless steel with 'R' logos. http://motoring.asiaone.com.sg/features/fe...030811_001.html Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Renegade Neutral Newbie August 13, 2003 Share August 13, 2003 Interesting write up, very descriptive. Just curious - how come the writer didn't say anything about the driving aspect of it ? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
E36UDM Neutral Newbie August 13, 2003 Share August 13, 2003 Duno leh you call straits times and check with him Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RadX Moderator August 13, 2003 Share August 13, 2003 "...the writer didn't say anything about the driving aspect of it ? ..." Mebbe...stall on engage..after 10x..so in the end no test... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Azure Neutral Newbie August 13, 2003 Share August 13, 2003 Hi Seansene Yes, agree with the pricing discrepancy. I think the aggressive pricing of S60R here is very attractive. Don't think the agent here will make a lot of money, more like brand building excersize. The S60R cost around A$100k in Australia and for a Audi TT 225 quattro cost around A$80k - quite a big gap so don't why this gap doesn't exist in Singapore. Anyway look forward for your views between A4 3.0 and S60R Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seansene 1st Gear August 13, 2003 Author Share August 13, 2003 If I get to test the Audi... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
E36UDM Neutral Newbie August 15, 2003 Share August 15, 2003 Volvo finally meshes power, handling Volvo has made powerful cars, and it has made smooth cars. But the twain haven't often met. The 2004 R cars change that. The 2004 Volvo S60 R. R is Volvo's designation for high-performance models. For '04, there are two: S60 R compact sedan and V70 R station wagon. They are outfitted almost identically: turbocharged five-cylinder engine rated 300 horsepower and 295 pounds-feet of torque (258 lbs.-ft. with automatic transmission), big Brembo-brand disc brakes, suspension that firms as the road requires and is tunable by the driver, four-wheel drive, fat tires with stubby sidewalls and big-bolstered seats. The R cars have more power than, for example, the Nissan 350Z sports car. Their other hardware is as credible as found on sports cars and respected sports sedans Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RadX Moderator August 15, 2003 Share August 15, 2003 Hmmm.... ↡ Advertisement Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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