Tomorrow I fly to DFW to pick up the 2001 S60T5 I bought on ebay.
For those who don't know me, the latest Volvo I have owned up to now
is a 73 145E (the Yellow Peril) which was the ONLY 140 series car at the
VCOA national meet at KC last September. I also have 2 1966 220s (one since
1984, the Celery Wagon)and my blue 1969 164, which I bought used in 1971.
I've been driving Volvos since 1967 when I bought my first 544 for $275.

So this will be a big change for me and although I have built lots of red
pushrod engines I am not sure I will even recognize much of anything when
I open the hood (how do you do that??) on this car.

You can view the car at
http://cm.ebay.com/cm/ck/1065-29392-2357-0?uid=1367148&site=0&ver=EOIBSA080805&lk=URL&Item=4599758993

So if you see some squatty guy from the middle of the country asking silly
questions about his OWN car, it just might be yours truly.

Happy new year to all!
--
George Downs Bartlesville, Heart of the USA!

..but I'm probably going to buy an S60T5A as a graduation present for my kid. I was gonna buy her an Accord, but... have you SEEN the incentives VCNA is offering on the S60 (and S80)? Plus, it's a pre-Ford design. Plus the $500 back as a VOCA member. Kinda the proverbial offer you can't refuse.

-BTC

'98 V70 T5 5-speed, 167k mi, front IPD stabilizer bar, rear factory HD bar, Bilstein HD, Volvo strut tower brace and skidplate, e-codes, V-1, Mobil-1 since new

"A common mistake that people make when trying to design something completely foolproof is to underestimate the ingenuity of complete fools." -- Douglas Noel Adams (1952-2001)

Might want to think about that.

Got my kid a 87 240 - lasted a week before he totaled it. It "accelerated" on a corner when he stepped on the brakes.

Might want to think of a tamer starter car!

My kid - a musician who plays a large instrument- currently drives mom's old Oddy minivan. She has yet to come anywhere close to putting it on it's roof.

She's running about a 3.8 GPA and she's taking P-chem 2nd semester of her Senior year "for fun". The Accord Coupe was supposed to be a "performance bonus" for exceeding my expectations but I saw that Volvo NA is running what looks like amazing sales incentives on the S60. At $37k sticker I would have lost my marbles. For a couple thou more than an Accord I think it's a bargain, even if Volvo is trying to sweep the last of 'em out the door before the new model arrives.

I do want to try to keep that gray jello stuff inside her skull intact. Volvos may be a pain when it comes to service, but they do take safety seriously.

-BTC

If your kid has size 12+ shoes, he may not be at total fault. I have to be careful in my Wrangler (5sp) because the brake pedal it close to the brake and I wind up stepping on both, if I don't consiously move my fut to the center of the brake pedal.
Looks like you need to send your son to a driving school. A real one, where they run cars on a track! They will teach him about over/understeer, apex, and how to brake. Worth the money.

Klaus
--
(V♂LV♂s 1975 164, 1995 854T, 1998 V70R)

Who are you really and what have you done with George?

Actually, my wife and I are heading to the dealer tonight to pick up a '02 S60 to replace her '93 850. We too are looking forward to enjoying the differences. It's still going to be sitting next to my '83 Flathood with the drive wheels where they belong!

Best

Skip
'83 242TI Flathood
'02 S60

Hi, George.

I know what you mean -- I've had Volvos since my first new one in '73 (a 164), and haven't gone any further in ownership than the 240 models (currently have an '84 and two '93s, as well as a '75 164).

But my dealer loans me S40s and S60s whenever I drop off one of my cars for some work, so I've driven them quite a few times.

Biggest Pro: Prepare yourself for a lot more acceleration. "Our" Volvos were never known for "off the line" acceleration (fuel injection programming?) -- these FWDs are really good at it.
You will certainly like the instruments, and the electronics (radio, trip computers, etc.) if you're a "techy" guy.

Biggest Con: Really, really awful rearward visibility! Make sure you've got your mirrors covering all your potential blindspots, because you won't see much (in your S60) if you turn to look, as when you're backing up to park parallel, or glance around with your eyes to change lanes. You may have come to take the windows in our 100-200 cars for granted -- this S60 will remind you how great they are! But be glad you picked a S60 -- at least you can see a little; the S40's rear visibility is so poor, they might as well not have provided windows -- which is why I always asked the service desk to be sure that I get an S60, not the 40.
Another little thing -- these S40 and S60 cars are claustrophobic (again compared to our 100/200s)! So much padding and wide consoles, etc., I feel like I don't have any room to breathe or stretch! Windshield and dash feels too close, too, like the old VW bugs (not quite that bad, but almost).

And you're right -- you won't recognize anything under the hood :-).

Enjoy the car, though.

My dealer doesn't give out loaners, they use Enterprise which is a good thing for me - I cannot see out of the new models. The rear view mirror is below my eyes.
You are correct about the visibility being poor. What George is going to find out is that he will never know where the front of S60 really is. Or the sides, for that matter. I have to give my daughter a lot of credit when she pulls into the garage on the right hand side. The mirror clears by about 3". The fenders cannot be seen. Unlike the 164, where you know where all 4 corners of the car are.
If you want to feel strange, sit in a Camero. Wow, where the dash meets the window is where the front of the car stops.

Klaus
--
(V♂LV♂s 1975 164, 1995 854T, 1998 V70R)

My first one was a 544 I bought for $275 in 1967. All 11 of the previous
have been 1973 or earlier.
You're right about the rear viz! Dern POST is right in the way!
--
George Downs Bartlesville, Heart of the USA!

I too am one of the older guys. My last new car was a 67 144 S. Since then I have had an mess of Volvo's, but no V6 models. Got an 850 last spring and have had fun learning it. The Porsche designed engine is a work of art, but does require some care. They will run practically forever if you follow maintenance rules. Anyway, welcome to a new world. I do not like the body style of the newer units. Prefer square, like my head.

dick

Looks really beautiful (apart from the steering wheel being on the wrong side) - good luck and enjoy.
--
'98 N/A S70 175,000Klm

Cooler in the summer, and warmer in the winter!

It's in the shop now but I still like it better than my Hondas and Acura. Except when it breaks and it's in the shop!

-BTC

'98 V70 T5 5-speed, 167k mi, front IPD stabilizer bar, rear factory HD bar, Bilstein HD, Volvo strut tower brace and skidplate, e-codes, V-1, Mobil-1 since new

"A common mistake that people make when trying to design something completely foolproof is to underestimate the ingenuity of complete fools." -- Douglas Noel Adams (1952-2001)

Looks like a pretty good buy, George. My son bought one of these last summer and loves it. I've had lots of experience with the red blocks but I had to query this board to find the location of the oil drain plug and make sure the object I was looking at was really the oil filter. It looks for all the world like someone made a mistake and put the engine in the car sideways.....
Marlin

George,
You don't need permission to be in the front wheel driver's group. Your help on the original part of the board gives you a permanent visa to be here also.

What a nice ride! Climate control, cruise control, auto stick, CD... you are going to be spoiled! Wait till you find out what a nice engine the 5 cylinder is, you won't believe the horses under the hood. Watch out for the local cops, too. That car is FAST.

Welcome to the "new" world,

Klaus
--
(V♂LV♂s 1975 164, 1995 854T, 1998 V70R)

Welcome to this side of the fence! Looks like a great, clean car...you won't believe the difference in pick-up compared to your other Volvo's....Don't think the wheels on the car in the eBay picture are stock.
--
1998 S70 T5 Emarald Green Metallic, 2004 V70 2.5T Ruby Red, Previous Owner of Black '94 850 Turbo Wagon. My cars have been running so well lately they've got me worried.

Thanks!
We'll see. The last muscle car I had was before I went to Panama - it was a
'66 white Chevelle w/black vinyl hardtop and 327 hi perf engine - could not
pass a gas station! The 164 isn't bad and neither is the Yellow Peril.
Both fairly near stock.

Look forward to the real touchy-feely of this car...
--
George Downs Bartlesville, Heart of the USA!

George,

I had an '89 740 until April 2002; I rejoined the fold three months ago with an '01 S60 base model. However, I can't stop lurking over in RWD!

You'll need a proper wrench to remove the oil filter housing, but it's very easy to remove. Oil changes are very convenient on the 5 cylinder, with nothing down there to wiggle around.

If you're going to buy a wrench for the oil filter, buy a good one. The one that IPD sells for $6.99 is decent. The one I bought from fcpgroton slipped the first time I used it and wasn't worth the metal it was made from. Of course, the OEM Volvo ones are the best but according to the parts guy at the local dealer, after about a year of use (daily oil changes), his service guys are coming in for replacements of these wrenches as they tend to wear out and slip too. The OEM ones at the dealer are about $40...whew...no surprise there. Wonder if those advertised on eBay as OEM are really so?
--
1998 S70 T5 Emarald Green Metallic, 2004 V70 2.5T Ruby Red, Previous Owner of Black '94 850 Turbo Wagon. My cars have been running so well lately they've got me worried.