58 replies to this topic

[NW T5R]

Very Very Lame. The current Version 2.0 with any decent amount of options and your over 30k for a vehicle that is basically all looks. This is in the price range of a 08 STI or save more cash and go MazdaSpeed 3 of which both run circles around the C30. Give me a break!!!

[Pops Racer]

I want to see 400hp and 400 lb of torque. Better suspension and big brakes. 6sp manual w/ a 10lb clutch. And staged models (I, II, III) from the factory.

You should be the CEO of Ford. I would start saving my pennies for that right now. If these dumb bastards had a brain they would look to you guys for info. Even I can see it is an attempt to bring yuppy scum into the tuner world, such as it is. Lots of cars with fins and spoilers and flashy rims and no substance. I may never buy a new car. 30K for a piece of plastic. Used bombers FTW!

[volvomachine]

boo...incredibly unimpressive

[°°KOLBAS°°]

They just add some cheap a** cosmetic upgrades ot Volvo's, while steal the volvo engine & chassis, slap a Ford XR5 badge on it ,lol, Ford are so f'd the told me it's runiing a Garrett turbo when I am quite sure that it's a 16T angled, his answer after speaking to his main tech was, "it's a Volvo turbo", to which I said "Mitsubishi". Anyway, I'll post a thread later with all the probs with his new XR5.

[exexpat]

Thats what microsoft does. It starts with removing granular file control, progresses to slower version that cost more, and finally just gives up all effort of pretending to care and hikes the price 20% and justifies it as operating costs.

Its a slippery slope when you start thinking that no gain is the same as a 10% gain.... or loss......

The Volvo R as conceptualized and intially offered was just a cosmetic package with a piss poor effort at adding performance to the T-5 engined car. It got a little more differentiated in the S/V70R model range and later, but don't kid yourselves, these aren't like the AMG or M-tuned cars. You are paying for cosmetic changes / limited production and you know it. Reminds me of the 2.0 normally aspirated Golf 3 GTI or the later 1.8T GTI with less performance than the base model with 1.8T powerplant option. Mustang 5.0 GT versus Mustang 5.0 LX. I could keep going...

[Swag Swag]

so with everybody in this thread on the same page i want to hear from one of the six people that think this is a good idea or a step in the right direction (from the poll)

[Che'_Moderator]

The Volvo R as conceptualized and intially offered was just a cosmetic package with a piss poor effort at adding performance to the T-5 engined car. It got a little more differentiated in the S/V70R model range and later, but don't kid yourselves, these aren't like the AMG or M-tuned cars. You are paying for cosmetic changes / limited production and you know it. Reminds me of the 2.0 normally aspirated Golf 3 GTI or the later 1.8T GTI with less performance than the base model with 1.8T powerplant option. Mustang 5.0 GT versus Mustang 5.0 LX. I could keep going...

So you really saying no effort is the same as no effort? I rather have them make the token gesture than no do anything at all other than raise the price.

[exexpat]

so with everybody in this thread on the same page i want to hear from one of the six people that think this is a good idea or a step in the right direction (from the poll)

I voted good idea purely from the Volvo business standpoint. History has proven that a prettied-up T-5 with essentially no performance enhancements and just cosmetic enhancement can generate excitement and even communities of enthuisasts (and limited access "R Forums"). I probably would have thrown in a gratuitous 10% horsepower tune on the ECU and maybe a shiny blow off valve like a binky for the Chuck's and Mitch's of the world, but otherwise, I can see them selling this car and meeting the expectations of most buyers that just want something that "looks impressive" and doesn't consume more fuel than its base counterparts.

[leurven]

I voted good idea purely from the Volvo business standpoint. History has proven that a prettied-up T-5 with essentially no performance enhancements and just cosmetic enhancement can generate excitement and even communities of enthuisasts (and limited access "R Forums"). I probably would have thrown in a gratuitous 10% horsepower tune on the ECU and maybe a shiny blow off valve like a binky for the Chuck's and Mitch's of the world, but otherwise, I can see them selling this car and meeting the expectations of most buyers that just want something that "looks impressive" and doesn't consume more fuel than its base counterparts.

I'm with you on this. There is a reason they took at way the real R cars - they just weren't getting the numbers from that line that they needed. Audi has done the same thing with their S-line other than they lower the car a bit with it. Volvo is making a decision based on the mass market - not a small group of enthusiasts that will mod the car anyway. Don't forget that not so long ago and especially in Europe that Volvos were cars for old people! Then the 850 turbo came out and that all changed.

[SkyWriter]

i'm quite sure without looking that cars are sold on looks first and performance second. besides when people think performance today they're thinking of fuel economy.

[Che'_Moderator]

I voted good idea purely from the Volvo business standpoint. History has proven that a prettied-up T-5 with essentially no performance enhancements and just cosmetic enhancement can generate excitement and even communities of enthuisasts (and limited access "R Forums"). I probably would have thrown in a gratuitous 10% horsepower tune on the ECU and maybe a shiny blow off valve like a binky for the Chuck's and Mitch's of the world, but otherwise, I can see them selling this car and meeting the expectations of most buyers that just want something that "looks impressive" and doesn't consume more fuel than its base counterparts.

Yeah cause the S60Rs were such good sellers. If you cannot sell it with extra HP what makes them think it will sell without? The S60R depreciate something nutty like 50% in 2 years.

[97snowR]

it all depends how much they raise the price on them, if its a reasonable increase over price than i think it is a good a idea and a step in the right direction (reminds me of the ever popular here corrolaS) and well lets face it guys in the volvo market we are a small percentage the average volvo consumer is not performance oriented...

[exexpat]

it all depends how much they raise the price on them

I meant to say that. I think they overpromised performance with the R versus T-5 pricing in the past.

[Boost_Junky]

I voted good idea purely from the Volvo business standpoint. History has proven that a prettied-up T-5 with essentially no performance enhancements and just cosmetic enhancement can generate excitement and even communities of enthuisasts (and limited access "R Forums"). I probably would have thrown in a gratuitous 10% horsepower tune on the ECU and maybe a shiny blow off valve like a binky for the Chuck's and Mitch's of the world, but otherwise, I can see them selling this car and meeting the expectations of most buyers that just want something that "looks impressive" and doesn't consume more fuel than its base counterparts.

This is the lazy way out. Kind of “let’s just give in to the what the other unimaginative car manufactures are doing.” Instead of going, “let’s give them what they want and more than they ever expected.” That’s what made the Mustang, Camaro, 850 and so on. It was more than we could even imagine. So…. Volvo let’s make a car that gets good mileage and good performance, it is possible, believe me!

[exexpat]

This is the lazy way out. Kind of “let’s just give in to the what the other unimaginative car manufactures are doing.” Instead of going, “let’s give them what they want and more than they ever expected.” That’s what made the Mustang, Camaro, 850 and so on. It was more than we could even imagine. So…. Volvo let’s make a car that gets good mileage and good performance, it is possible, believe me!

What if they threw in Samco hoses, poly mounts, drilled and slotted rotors and silicone vacuum hoses?

Let's be realistic:
ECU remap: cheap and doable (I would have done it, but I know not the support costs associated with it)
Bigger turbo: great, but not justifiable for number of units
Different trans or gearing: great, but not justifiable for number of units
Better brakes: not cheap, but nice to have. (remember most consumers consider "four wheel disc with ABS" to be high performance in braking)
Sways and performance tuned springs: nice, but most will bitch about ride quality
Louder, free flowing exhaust: only car guys like loud exhaust, would alienate most of your potential buyers

[Che'_Moderator]

What if they threw in Samco hoses, poly mounts, drilled and slotted rotors and silicone vacuum hoses?

Let's be realistic:
ECU remap: cheap and doable (I would have done it, but I know not the support costs associated with it)
Bigger turbo: great, but not justifiable for number of units
Different trans or gearing: great, but not justifiable for number of units
Better brakes: not cheap, but nice to have. (remember most consumers consider "four wheel disc with ABS" to be high performance in braking)
Sways and performance tuned springs: nice, but most will bitch about ride quality
Louder, free flowing exhaust: only car guys like loud exhaust, would alienate most of your potential buyers

You are missing another aspect. Volvo and Ford both invest big time in racing. But most classes now are factory spec. They are screwing over anyone who might want to campaign a car by not building an R, Lite, or GT version. As gimp as the S60R was it allowed the teams to run AWD. All volvo has to do is build 500 AWD, high comp engined cars and that would give teams a base to built a VTS off of. The R-design is not even limited numbers. At least has Bill personally wax each of them and add a K&N for 2 more HP.

[NW T5R]

Well this is what I was hoping as they have a template to copy based on the same platform.

Mazda 3 ---- Volvo C30 v1 & v2

MazdaSpeed 3 ---- Volvo C30R

Keep the cost down and match the performance capabilities of the MazdaSpeed 3. Then copy the same for the S40 ---- S40R

Bring new life into Volvo brand.

[B00STWAG1N]

considering they have that rally focus on the same platform and block which is awd, i dont know why they dont just change it's clothes and ship 1000 or so over here

[Boost_Junky]

You are missing another aspect. Volvo and Ford both invest big time in racing. But most classes now are factory spec. They are screwing over anyone who might want to campaign a car by not building an R, Lite, or GT version. As gimp as the S60R was it allowed the teams to run AWD. All volvo has to do is build 500 AWD, high comp engined cars and that would give teams a base to built a VTS off of. The R-design is not even limited numbers. At least has Bill personally wax each of them and add a K&N for 2 more HP.

Thats what I'm talking about. Give us the blueprint and we'll make our own. Dodge is doing it with the SRT, and GM has the Cobalt model. This works, Volvo could even get another company to do it so they could save on R&D.

[B00STWAG1N]

maybe heico, or evolve, or IPD will sell their own tricked out version on the c30. i'd def be willing to pay for one of those.