The Saab side, to be precise. I'm driving a Volvo V40 at the moment, which I'm quite happy with - very smooth, quite reliable, not bad at all. I'd like to try an S60R one day as I'm used to a bit more power than the V40 has. I love my Saabs, but have a high regard for Volvos too. Need for Swede, one might say.

My 1991 Saab 900 Aero Turbo. 190 bhp, 235 lb/ft torque.

 

Welcome from a fellow new member of this forum. From the RHD Saab and the masonry I'd say England, probably East Anglia way? I'm in North Kent.

If you're looking for more power from the V40 then maybe buy a T4, which has slightly more bhp than the Saab & a lot more torque - it pulls like a train & that's without any mods! Shell Optimax petrol gets the best out of it. I know of a low mileage 2002 V40 T4 that's for sale in Cornwall at the moment!

The sportier & turbo model Volvos are very worthwhile and there are lots of chips/ECU remaps, turbos, air filters, leads, injectors, exhausts etc. out there to squeeze more bhp & torque out of them. Like Saabs, they can rack up huge mileages & still be good reliable cars so long as they are serviced & looked after properly. Have heard great things about the car you hope to get, the S60R.

 

Welcome

 

Very good. I'm on the Suffolk coast, near Aldeburgh.

Only torque figures I can find for a V40 T4 is 300 Nm, which is 221lb/ft. I've got 235 lb/ft, and peak torque is at 3000 rpm, which is a lot of fun - do the Volvos come in early as well? Even then, I wouldn't mind a bit more. One minor flaw with the V40 is that the suspension seems very soft - excellent for cruising down a motorway, but not really up to the roads out here. Does the T4 come with sports suspension then? I'll definitely look into it, but the looks of the S60R are pretty striking.

Ah yes, Optimax. £1.05 a litre here [:@]

 

Welcome to the forum!

 

[sm=guilty.gif][sm=bustedsign.gif][sm=nerd.gif]Oops, I'm guilty of reading your torque figure as Nm whereas you gave it as good old-fashioned Lb/Ft. Totally my error, sincere apologies 900 Aero.

The T4 hits 300NM/221.3 Lb/Ft of torque at just 2,500 rpm & that figure only starts to tail-off after 4,000 rpm. Peak bhp of 200 (147kW) is at 5,500 rpm.

I used to ride fast, race-tuned Japanese in-line 4 cylinder bikes - real high rev screamers that could out-accelerate virtually any production car 20 years ago. Unlike the bikes, the T4 engine pulls like a goodun from moment 1 & the great thing is that apart from the badge & VERY subtle front & rear spoilers, it looks like a typical retired building society manager's run-around, especially the estate version. This is the first car I've owned that gives me the same cheesy grin & huge kick as the bikes did in my youth.

All T4s have uprated & subtly lowered sports suspension and traction control - optional extras on most other models.

There are a zillion upgrades available in the wheels/brakes/suspension/air filter/ECU or tuning chip/catalytic converter/exhaust etc. etc. departments to enhance what is already a brilliant package. You can increase power & torque by at least 17.5% for as little as £600 or so - thats only £18 per 1bhp! If you dedicate your life & your wallet to the project then bigger increases are possible.

In my opinion the best examples are May 2002 onwards - the phase II was introduced in May 2000 with various improvements including improved front suspension set-up, wider track & longer wheelbase for better handling & stability/ride comfort. In May 2002 the 40 series was given a cosmetic "facelift" including sporty-looking dual headlights, revised bumpers etc. Sports & Sports Lux models, available from 2001ish, included even sportier suspension mods. As I said, the S60R is a great car but if you change your mind then I have details of a low mileage 2002 T4 Sport currently for sale in Cornwall. T4s don't come on the market that often & good examples are like hens' teeth.

When I was riding bikes my dream car was a Saab Turbo! However, once a 340 had saved my wife's life several years ago we were hooked on Volvos. All is not lost though - my company "car ownership" scheme was originally only for Vauxhalls, so I currently have a 2 year old Signum Design due for replacement this time next year. Now that General Motors own Saab as well as Vauxhall/Opel, I will be able to choose a Vauxhall OR a Saab in 2006 - guess what I'll be going for!

The classic flint wall was a 90% banker for East Anglia, a beautiful part of the country.

Good luck choosing your Volvo!