1.) That "the only week spot is the transmission"?

If he added "and the evaporator, main seal, switches, power seat, electronics, ABS module, stabilizer bar end links, etc. etc." it might be a correct statement.

2.) That "they are really only 242hp for five seconds at full throttle then the computer backs off the turbo because Volvo knew their transmission wouldn't hold up to the power for long bursts"?

I don't know the exact numbers, and I'm too lazy to look them up, but yes the R's ECU allows a momentary burst of additional power, and the reason it backs off was purportedly to save the automatic transmission. See archives. In reality those extra pones were grazing in a pasture somewhere most of the car magazines never found 'em, and yes aftermarket ECU programming does NOT do this, and the transmissions won't immediately explode. Although I seem to remember a recent post by someone with a modified 850T who did destroy a transmission. And thought it was well worth it.

-bill d cat