37 replies to this topic

[painthunter9]

So, My first car was a 2002 mini cooper. I loved that car. It is gone and now I have a 98 s70 t5 volvo. I also really like my volvo but only for the power. I really like the way the mini handled. Of course it only weighed 2500lbs and had super tight supension. But there has to be a easy semi cheep part out there that wont break my bank and will make my volvo a little more like a cooper. But a cooper with 230 Hp

I was thinking along the lines of IPD sway bars, or IPD Springs ... So which will I like more the sways or the springs?

So help me fall for my volvo a bit more.
Thanks
Nick

[Tightmopedman9]

your volvo will never handle close to the mini cooper, especially not just with some springs or sway bars. Get new springs then shocks then sways...

[Escalante]

Sway Bars +1.

[GeraldJ]

For handling go in this order...

IPD springs with blisten HD's

wheel and tire combo

IPD sways

Strut bar of choice

Then if its not tight enough....

Rear brace, not that its going to make that much of a difference.

Center brace or b piller brace.

[95 854 t-5]

Its all personal preference and everything you listed will help your cause however I wouldn't do sway bars until I had better endlinks

[flyfishing3]

well i'm gonna say something different.

to this day, my fav. mod was going with HIDS and jewels. best thing i ever did for my safety and ease of driving.

[Boost3237]

to be honnest I thought the 19t was the best improvement, till I got tires and good suspension all around.

[Milo]

Boost makes a good point. Cars don't do anything whithout they are tied to the road. Tires are king. Suspension is Queen.

[Milo]

Edit: This is the first "mod" I do to any car in need of it.

http://lowendmac.com.../caradapter.jpg

Get the one Ratshack sells and pull all of it's internal hardware (not electronics) out. Best iPod adaptation I have found. Much better then FM and I still get to keep my CD changer.

Milo

[painthunter9]

I realize that I will never reach the high pedestal of the mini but I was hoping I could get pretty close to the point were the better engine would make it about as much fun to drive. So I should go with springs and shocks and make my way from there? How much would the shocks be? I know the IPD Springs are like 200 plus install. What kind of shocks Koni FSD or Yellows or are there better options than koni? Tires and rims are on the list for the end of the summer. I am seriously debating selling my volvo and trying to get a mini Cooper S. But that would involve me selling my car and then dumping almost 5-6 grand into a mini. I was looking to get very close for a fraction of the cost.
Thanks
NIck

[GeraldJ]

I realize that I will never reach the high pedestal of the mini but I was hoping I could get pretty close to the point were the better engine would make it about as much fun to drive. So I should go with springs and shocks and make my way from there? How much would the shocks be? I know the IPD Springs are like 200 plus install. What kind of shocks Koni FSD or Yellows or are there better options than koni? Tires and rims are on the list for the end of the summer. I am seriously debating selling my volvo and trying to get a mini Cooper S. But that would involve me selling my car and then dumping almost 5-6 grand into a mini. I was looking to get very close for a fraction of the cost.
Thanks
NIck

The IPD springs were designed for the blisten HD's.

I got it, I like it. Its stiff as hell and rides somewhat rough but I can attack big sweeping on and off ramps with crazy speed. If I come into one to hard and to fast but off throttle the back end will step out a bit but nothing to bad. I am still waiting to get the toyo r888's on though.

[POSTITSORGTFO]

Maual Swap
19t
Speedtunning tune.

WOOOOHOOOOO

I did that all at once also

[Boost3237]

Maual Swap
19t
Speedtunning tune.

WOOOOHOOOOO

I did that all at once also

if you had the ability a 5spd swap is worth more then anything else there is to do.

[GeraldJ]

I thought he was after handling?

Best mod ever is the manula swap.

Next is big turbo with a great tune.

After that everything kinda slows down, LOL.

[Justin S70T5M]

I did my mods in this order

1 - 3" DP / 2.5" DP back SS catless system
2 - Front IPD sway/HD endlinks
3 - Rear IPD sway
4 - 17" OEM Pegs with Bridgestone Pole Positions
5 - IPD (1.7) springs & Bilstein TC's all 4 corners (new mounts everywhere)

The mod I appreciated the most was the IPD springs/bilstein's.
Reason - after all the work this really A)changed the handling the most and B)changed the LOOK of my car the most!
A close second was the custom painted charcoal pegs, but that is probably because it took me a few months to finnish them. After they went on I keep saying to myself.....my car needs to be LOWER!!

[POSTITSORGTFO]

I thought he was after handling?

Best mod ever is the manula swap.

Next is big turbo with a great tune.

After that everything kinda slows down, LOL.

Slows down and gets uber expensive

[Mesoam]

catch can, no more cleaning IC hoses

[painthunter9]

I am blessed with a manual stock

[s70turbo1998]

Koni Yellows and IPD springs were my favorite mod so far. Gives the car a much more secure/confident feeling on any turn at any speed.

[K Y L E]

replacing my 740 turbo with an s70 T5M...

as a tune and exhaust were on my car when i bought it, i've added 17" rims and sways, although my favorite mod is the R cluster and door panels.