Sadly, I've never read a favorable review of any Volvo manual transmission. After I bought my 99 S70 T5M, I found a magazine comparison test of the '98 model that put the Volvo dead last when compared to the other sports sedans in the test. I distinctly remember reading the words "can't stand the clunky transmission." I *think* that came from Road and Track.
More recently, I saw a review of the new S60R that said that the transmission wasn't up to par, and that the car "works better as an automatic." They referred to a "Mount Everest clutch pedal" with very abrupt engagement. I'm fairly sure that those comments came from Car and Driver.
Both of those reviews fit in with my own experience with my car. The tranny and clutch has been the most consistently disappointing aspect of my car, and I wouldn't doubt if all of these use the same transmission.
--
Jim Rothe, '99 S70 T5M, http://www.jimrothe.com/volvo/index.html
|