posted by
someone claiming to be 99-S70 AWD
on
Fri Dec 22 05:23 CST 2006 [ RELATED]
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We were really hit here in Denver, about three feet of snow in our area, with 3 to 6 foot drifts. Due to a medical reason I had to be on the roads Wednesday afternoon during the worst snow storm I have ever driven in. Many people with front wheel drives found them almost useless, and many 4WDs were also at the side of the road or in snow banks. While I had to endure about three hours (to go to and from on a normal twenty minute drive each way) the Volvo AWD system was flawless. I have owned Subarus and severl other 4WD trucks/SUVs in the past. While I did not have the ground clearance of a truck/SUV and so avoided certain situations, my Volvo ran and stopped straight and true. It felt secure all the time, even as I watched 4WD SUVs swerve and go into banks on turns. This one time makes up for any potential problems with a bevel gear, though I have 100,000 miles on the original with no problems.
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A few years ago I read and article in the Denver paper that 4WD SUVs in Colorado have more accidents than any other catagory of vehicle. The theory was that they just weigh too much - they go around a corner or a curve and the laws of physics take over and they end up where they're not supposed to be. The irony is that a lot of people are buying these vehicles because they think they will be safer in bad weather.
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posted by
someone claiming to be 99-S70 AWD
on
Sat Dec 30 17:42 CST 2006 [ RELATED]
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Also they think they think the are God in them. Kind of funny to watch the stupid things they do.
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Those 4WD SUVs don't have traction control and when all 4 wheels spin, off the road they go!
I tested mine yesterday, with the rear wheels in the gutter on ice and the fronts on the inclined driveway with snow. What problem :)
Do get your angle gear fluid replaced as soon as you can. If you want a procedure to drill a drain hole, I can send it to you. Or just pump out the garbage that is in it and pour in new fresh fluid. Your mechanic may want to wear a nose plug when emptying the old stuff!
Klaus
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1975 164 w/174,800mi (Sold) 1995 850T w/91,000mi, 1998 V70R w/129,000mi
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Those 4WD SUVs don't have traction control and when all 4 wheels spin, off the road they go!
I tested mine yesterday, with the rear wheels in the gutter on ice and the fronts on the inclined driveway with snow. What problem :)
You sound like the converted smoker, chuckle. I have yet to put a 4wd in a ditch because it lacked traction control.
I'll use a Landy Defender any day of the week against AWD contraption and leave it behind. I'll take my 240 against many an AWD and leave it behind. Are there times when I can;t get through? Sure. But when those occur, its Landy time.
People put their SUVs in the ditch because they don;t know how to drive them. They drive too fast. like a LOT of AWD vehiciles I see in the ditch as well.
--
Legum servi sumus ut liberi esse possimus.
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posted by
someone claiming to be 99-S70 AWD
on
Tue Jan 9 09:08 CST 2007 [ RELATED]
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You mention that the AWDs do not have traction control. My window sheet specifically says it is an AWD with front wheel traction control. I do have the TRACS light on my dash at startup. Also, is says the car has a locking rear differential. I have never had a problem with the rear, or the car for that matter, sliding out. It stays planted to the road. I seriously tried to make it spin out in a parking lot and could not. Could these two items (TRACS and LSD) be something not on all the 1999 AWDs?
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The AWD from Volvo, BMW, Audi, and Mercedes have traction control as standard issue. A lot of the 4WD do not. I do not recall a locking rear diff on any Volvo, perhaps the XC might have one? The Volvo system has a limited slip diff coupled with a viscious engager from the front/rear axle which works great in snow.
Those large SUVs weigh about 6,000lbs and don't really want to go fast or stop! My Wrangler 4WD can spin all 4 wheels at the same time, and then the car goes sideways, toward the ditch. Of course, if the snow drifts are deep, the Jeep is great, so long as speed is not an option.
Common sense prevails in slippery conditions. When I was slightly younger, my VW never got stuck, unless the snow was higher than the floor pan and lifted the wheels off the ground. But, then, I just got out and pulled the VW back until it reached solid footing.
The only time I really prefer AWD cars is when the hills are steep or there are piles of snow on the highway (deliniating the lanes) and I want to cross to the other lane.
Klaus
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1975 164 w/174,800mi (Sold) 1995 850T w/91,000mi, 1998 V70R w/129,000mi
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Hello,
He's right, the S70 AWD does indeed have a locking rear differential. Volvo also used them a lot in the 940 and 960 models and made them available for the 200 and 700 series models as well. As he stated, I have yet to EVER be stuck in my S70 AWD(anywhere). I have a Chevy K30 dump truck also, which is the best there is for sheer traction if stuck (would probably run right up over the hood of one's "Landy"). However, once I am moving in a very bad snow storm, there is no competition. I'd feel 100% safer in the S70 (the AWD is much more graceful, coming and going as you need it). Anyway, just my opinion.
Joe S. - Volvo Master Technician
2000 S70 AWD, 1981 242 w/intercooler
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posted by
someone claiming to be 99-S70 AWD
on
Thu Jan 18 02:21 CST 2007 [ RELATED]
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We have had three more storms since the first one I wrote about. It is almost fun to drive around all the other spinning or stuck vehicles.
FYI, I changed the bevel gear fluid as Klaus suggested. Tech said the gear was is great condition still (102,000 miles). I am a real stickler for keeping my tires all at exactly the same pressure and wear.
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What type of tires do you run?
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Tom 69-1800S, 72-1800ES, 96-850T,2000-S70 GLT-SE
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posted by
someone claiming to be 99-S70 AWD
on
Sat Dec 23 16:56 CST 2006 [ RELATED]
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Nothing special right now. They are Kumo M&S rated all-season. They rate about average on the Tire Rack. The Volvo dealer thought they were pretty good, and I have no complaints yet.
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