posted by
someone claiming to be kend
on
Wed Oct 25 17:00 CST 2000 [ RELATED]
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Has anyone gotten a manual transmission in a new V70 T5? I'm thinking of ordering one for Euro delivery and am trying to decide on the tranny.
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posted by
someone claiming to be kend
on
Wed Nov 15 07:43 CST 2000 [ RELATED]
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Thanks for all the advice - it's been a real help. I had such a blast driving a diesel Peugeot 406 around Germany and France this past summer, I think I'll get a stick in the V70 T5. Besides, a sports car should have a manual. Too bad they don't offer a 6 speed....
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posted by
someone claiming to be dave
on
Wed Nov 15 09:41 CST 2000 [ RELATED]
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Big diesel tractor-trailer rigs have more gears, if that's your preference.
My bicycle has 21 (3 X 7) gears.
A V70 T5 is not a sports car.
- Dave; '95 854T, 102K mi

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posted by
someone claiming to be Russell D. Ollie Sr.
on
Wed Nov 15 19:13 CST 2000 [ RELATED]
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True, but if there is any such thing as a sports wagon (Volvo and BMW want to tell us so) then it qualifies based on handling and performance. From my experience, the handling of the V70 T5 is actually better than that of the S80 because it has better weight distribution (and the S80 has 'good' weight distribution compared to other FWD cars). Of course the S60 I flung around corners a couple of weeks ago was better than the V70 or S80 (shockingly neutral car for a FWD platform).
-rdo
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posted by
someone claiming to be Rich K. Fairfax, VA
on
Wed Nov 15 12:40 CST 2000 [ RELATED]
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.
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posted by
someone claiming to be kend
on
Wed Nov 15 12:50 CST 2000 [ RELATED]
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The sports car bit was a tongue in cheek joke, people....
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posted by
someone claiming to be Andy Friedl
on
Wed Nov 15 14:49 CST 2000 [ RELATED]
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I got a nice grin with the "sports car" comment. I think some people need to lighten up. Its just a car. :) ;) 8^) I hate these things but I guess will have to start using them. I get tons of good info on this board but when its funny let it be funny. :o Anyone know any more of these?>>> :p
My $.02
ANDY
N
D
Y
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posted by
someone claiming to be Cleave
on
Sun Nov 5 15:08 CST 2000 [ RELATED]
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I have a manual transmission V70 T5. I ordered the car through a Southern California dealership and they said that it was the first that they received and that no one else had ordered one yet. That said, the transmission shifts well and the ratios are OK. Fourth and fifth are a little on the high side but work well with the engine HP and torque.
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posted by
someone claiming to be Adam Rosenfeld
on
Sun Nov 5 10:26 CST 2000 [ RELATED]
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I LOVE driving my T5(M). I feel much more in control. I haven't met a manu-matic I liked yet (haven't driven the new volvo one yet, and have heard good things about it though). I've driven the Acura and Audi's to name a few. They all tend to second guess me. I HATE that.
Nope, to me, driving and I mean really driving, requires a stick. That's not to say I don't get tired of it on the LIE occasionally (I don't commute on that road thankfully). And that's not to say that I don't prefer taking my wife's Benz into Manhattan over my T5(M). But during my 1,000 mile trip in the mountains of VT, or even durng my 7.5 mile back road commute, I LOVE rowing my own gears. Otherwise, I feel like I'm along for the ride!!!
As for spousal concessions, mine doesn't even drive a stick. She was against my getting this one. But I got it used and got a GREAT deal on it (apparently there are others out there with my wife's point of view too!).
I'm happy. VERY HAPPY!!!
Oh, and it's a VERY solid feeling and shifting tranny. Clutch feels stong. I haven't heard of anyone having problems from weak clutches but HAVE heard of some automatics not being able to cope with the HP once it's been bumped up over stock.
Buy what you want. I did ;~)
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posted by
someone claiming to be Peter Cohen
on
Wed Nov 15 14:01 CST 2000 [ RELATED]
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My wife WANTED the stick. Her first two cars were stickshifts and I thought she would be tired of them, as traffic has gotten much worse in 12 years. But, nope, she wanted the stick. Fine by me.
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posted by
someone claiming to be Peter Cohen
on
Mon Oct 30 08:46 CST 2000 [ RELATED]
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I got a V70 T5M Euro delivery in 1999. I really like it. As someone else said, the shifting is "OK". I am a little concerned that the cable operated shifter will get sloppy over time. I have seen posts that say that the reason I haven't felt any turbo lag was because the car is a manual.
It was my experience that Euro delivery was the only way to get a good deal on a manual, because it required special order. The the salesmen want the deal "today", probably afraid that they won't still be working there when the car finally comes in.
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posted by
someone claiming to be Chris J
on
Wed Nov 1 05:28 CST 2000 [ RELATED]
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I am a little concerned
> that the cable operated shifter will get sloppy over time.
No need to worry. The design Volvo uses is similar to what was on my 88 Prelude si. The shifting pattern and precision stated about the some from day one until I sold it with 110K.
Compared with my other fwd car (96 Sunfire Convert, fun with the top down but garaged most of the time) shifting the Volvo is a breeze.
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posted by
someone claiming to be Nick
on
Mon Oct 30 02:00 CST 2000 [ RELATED]
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We ordered the 5-spd manual -- granted, we have the base S70 with all its 162hp, not the smokin' T5. Since buying, we've been given an identical S70, but with the 5-spd automatic, as a service loaner by the dealership.
In my opinion, the manual just flat-out rubs the automatic's face in the dirt. Our car is noticeably quicker to freeway speed, without needing to wind the engine as highly. Our car does cruise about 500rpm higher @ 75mph, but that 500rpm puts it smack in the middle of the responsive zone of the motor, and we have oodles of power to pass with.
The manual shifts ok...about average. Not the positive "thunk-thunk" of a Beemer, and not the "flap-flap" of a Metro. I shake my head every time I hear somebody say "...but I drive in stop-n-go traffic and need an automatic." It's a myth. I drive in stop-n-go, and I've had the misfortune of sitting through Chicago for 2+ hours in gridlock with our manual. It's simple...put the car in neutral when stationary, and take your foot off the clutch. Presto, no leg fatigue.
With the manual, we gain a mpg or two, more control in the snow, reduced acceleration times, a less-complicated drivetrain, and a sportier exhaust note...the motor just kinda bleats like a sheep with the auto.
I suppose it doesn't hurt that I'm not the average cell-phone-usin', coffee-swillin', donut-chompin, newspaper-readin', shavin'-while-drivin', flabby-overweight, can't-stand-to-walk-an-extra-ten-feet typical American. I like to drive my car. If I wanted to sit on a couch, ignore everything around me and play "giddy-up" with a steering wheel on the way to work...I'd have bought a Buick or a Lexus. <-- visualize a vocal tone of scorn when reading those two marques... =)
If you're askin' me "manual or automatic," I'll always tell you to take the manual. Personally, I think people who take the time to craft a really long-winded justification of their automatic, and find obscure facts to make them think it's better...are jealous because they can't drive a manual. =:O
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posted by
someone claiming to be Uncle Olaf
on
Fri Oct 27 15:53 CST 2000 [ RELATED]
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It's not at all bad. Better than my Saabs were, much better than my old Porsche (which shifts like a broomstick in a bucket of walnuts). Not the "silky" feel of a Bimmer, but heh, it's a Volvo.
Without any doubt, if I had it to do over again, I'd go with the manual again. If there were no manual available, I'd go for a Saab 9-5 manual.
-Uncle Olaf
'98 V70 T5M, 53k, original brakes(!), IPD stabilizer bars, Volvo strut tower brace and skidplate, Valentine-1, Dunlop SP8000s
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posted by
someone claiming to be Mikebox
on
Fri Oct 27 04:41 CST 2000 [ RELATED]
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Don't know where your from, but IMHO a manual is hard to beat in snow country--I guess Winter mode is nice on the autobox but I would still prefer to decide which gear I wished to use leaving a stoplight or intersection. All the cars I owned were manuals until the last several years--now all are automatics--I must say that for the few times I wish to shift a 5 or 6 speed, there are numerous times I appreciate the autos when hanging around on congested interstates and city driving. I haven't felt the v70 clutch so I can't comment on it, but a real manual should have a nice firmly sprung clutch (european idea) not a wimpy weak dead fish clutch (many japanese cars) so my foot, leg, etc. gets tired of the constant pedal action in bad traffic with a properly sprung pressure plate.
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posted by
someone claiming to be claude
on
Fri Oct 27 03:36 CST 2000 [ RELATED]
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follow your heart, grasshopper!
in spite of all the long rants and diatribes from others
claude
'94 855M 205,000 miles original clutch!
PS- just as an aside, I have been very lucky with my clutch, but realize that it is something like 900-1000 bucks for a clutch job on these cars. So provided you keep your AT in good shape, you may end up losing the price advantage of M vs A in the long haul. Me, I'm one of those freaks that can't get used to the AT. I'll leave those for the donut stuffin' coffee slurpin lazy ass drivers!! But I also live out in the country, so I don't get stuck in traffic much.
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posted by
someone claiming to be Steve F.
on
Fri Oct 27 04:53 CST 2000 [ RELATED]
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dont forget cell-phone talkin lazy assez....thats me! I aint got time to waist on shifting for myself....the doughnut shop has a sale goin on!
S. Ferraro
hobokn, NJ
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posted by
someone claiming to be dave
on
Thu Oct 26 14:29 CST 2000 [ RELATED]
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No manual for me (I did not have nor want such a choice -- I'm on my 2nd
turbo+automatic; I did have a choice last time, and I've never regretted
my choices), just some food for thought for you:
For some drivers, manual shifting of gears has come to be an integral
essential part of driving, which it really isn't. I liken it to someone
who's quitting smoking cigarettes who'll reach for their breast pocket out
of reflex for weeks after their last cigarette. If manual shifting is like
that for you, well, you've heard some of the other comments... But humans
are rather adaptable, and what seems very strange initially will eventually
seem normal (though it's common to reach for a non-existent clutch pedal
as one rolls to a stop for some time after the need to do so is gone, just
like reaching for where the headlights control was in one's previous car
instead of where it is in one's current car for some time after changing
cars.) For those occasional instances when i is very preferable to choose
for one's self what gear to be in, that's no problem for a good automatic,
even one without a special electronic manual shifting mode.
Turbocharged engines and a good (like my 4-speed AW) automatic transmission
make for a superior mating. The AT allows the engine to get to boost-
building revs a little quicker than if the engine is required to accelerate
the entire car before it can go at all faster. And once underway, the AT's
quicker upshifts without lifting (throttle foot) make for a smoother flow
of power without any need whatsoever to rebuild boost after an upshift.
And now that throttles are "by-wire", even more synergy is possible (I
can't tell you how good a job Volvo's done in this regard, but it sounds
like they finally got it right on the new S60; they may be slowly fitting
the improved technology/algorithms back into new 70 series models).
People who like to claim that manual transmissions are 10 seconds quicker
to 60 mph than the same car with an automatic don't like to mention that
it took more abuse of the clutch than they like to perform on any kind of
regular basis to achieve the "victory". They tend to ignore the fact that
this abusive "advantage" was not doable to any significant degree unless
the car was standing still (similar for torque-braking an automatic...).
They also tend to compare a manual with N gears to an automatic with N-1
gears. They also neglect to mention that, over the past 35+ years, there
have been plenty of examples (models) of cars in which the automatic
version was no slower (and occasionally quicker!) than the manual version
in the quarter mile. The last generation Nissan 300 ZX Turbo is such an
example.
If you're buying for road racing on race track use, and you never miss a
shift, you should definitely opt for the manual (with a sequential shifter,
preferably, and maybe straight-cut gears, too!). If you're drag racing, it
depends: If all that matters is the single absolute best potential time
(which could take more tries and more abuse, as in car magazine testing),
then I give the nod to a manual, but if you're bracket racing (where
consistency is the key), or being able to get repeatably great times is
more important than the absolute best single run, I believe the automatic
will serve you better long-term (you could replace the ATF between every
run if you wanted to; try that with a [smoking?] clutch!).
In real-world driving, my opinionated opinion is that there is zero usable
advantage to a manual transmission (since the advent of catalytic
converters, push-starting is not recommended -- those catalysts aren't
inexpensive! -- even though it is still possible). Besides, who's ever
known a Volvo battery to fail? (Just kidding, but maybe Euro delivery
will help yours live.)
Over the years, even automatics with N-1 gears have tended to have a longer
top-gear gear ratio than manuals with N gears in the same car, perimtting
the engine to turn slower at the same cruising speed, with potential noise,
durability, and fuel economy benefits. And, speaking of noise, in some
cars [mainly RWD cars with minimal/solid shifter linkages] the manual
shifter handle can transmit some extra drivetrain vibration into the
cockpit.
But choices are good, and we all have our own preferences.
I hope you have the opportunity to take at least one of each on an extended
test (decision-aiding normal-activities) drive, including spending the
night in your garage. Those demo cars are supposed to be for more than
just dealership employees to drive to/from work, you know...
Happy deciding, and good luck,
- Dave; '95 854T, 101K mi

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posted by
someone claiming to be Rick
on
Thu Oct 26 06:12 CST 2000 [ RELATED]
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I can tell you this, I have the V70 T5 with the Geartronic (concession to the wife). I love the car , but if you think getting the Geartronic is the best of both worlds (manual and automatic) you will be dissapointed. I've driven 5-speeds all my life (current-Prelude VTECH) and pushing the lever back and forth in my Volvo to switch gears feels so disconnected I usually end up leaving it in auto mode. Maybe it takes some getting used to... I haven't given up yet.
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posted by
someone claiming to be Darell Dickey
on
Thu Oct 26 13:49 CST 2000 [ RELATED]
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I totally agree with Rick that Geartronic is no substitute for a manual trans. Sometimes having the car unpowered (clutch depressed) is just as important as having it powered...and applying the power to the drivetrain at whatever rate you wish is definitely missing with any sort of clutchless setup. Geartronic is great for what it is, but recognize it's limitations (mostly fun-factor, vs. practicle limitations mind you).
- Darell
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posted by
someone claiming to be Russell D. Ollie Sr
on
Thu Oct 26 10:37 CST 2000 [ RELATED]
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Rick, if you get a chance try BMW's Steptronic or Audi's Tiptronic setup. You will appreciate Geartronic much more since it gives you much more control and doesn't shift for you as much as the other setups. that said, none of these toys are a manual (nor can you outshift the automatic on Volvos by using a manual.)
Thanks.
-rdo
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posted by
someone claiming to be Nathaniel Beck
on
Thu Oct 26 06:51 CST 2000 [ RELATED]
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The Geartronic on my wife's Acura TL was her concession to me! But both of us have come to love it. Shift is very quick, so when you are in traffic and want a quick getaway, or want to slow down without braking, seems to work really quite well. Only two weeks on the V70 Geartronic, but again seems to work quite nicely. So maybe it does take getting used to. (Having gotten a bit more used to the adaptive automatic side, I am not sure that one needs to move to manual and shift down to get a quick lane change at reasonable freeway speed, but the ability to avoid riding the brake on the freeway is nice.)Was driving a rental five speed manual before picking up the V70, and do not regret the decision to go auto on the T5. Given the adaptive auto, a harder choice would be between manual only and auto only. But auto plus geartronic seems like a clear winner to me (given that 90%+ of my driving is S.Cal. freeways)
neal
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posted by
someone claiming to be Darell Dickey
on
Wed Oct 25 17:33 CST 2000 [ RELATED]
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Kend -
The only thing I can tell you for sure is that the folks who like manual transmissions really like the V70's manual tranny. The folks who like automatic transmissions tend to like the automatic tranny better.
Not much help, huh?
I've driven the car both ways, and they both work really well (within the confines of their various limitations) so as far as I'm concerned, it's totally your preference. My wife was "tired of shifting" so the geartronic was mandatory for us. This is our first car with an auto tranny, and it's taken some getting used to, but it does work quite well. I absolutely miss the fun of rowing my own though.
Good luck,
Darell
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