exexpat

They should be fine if the wheels are hubcentric. If the German TUeV approves them from an engineering/testing perspective, they are fine.

You have to look at it from the demand aspect. Since so many people wanted to be part of it and showed up, it was inevitable that things would be expensive. Purely due to scale and supply/demand. On the other hand, 4 years back unfortunately there was no regime change in DC and thus comparatively small demand to attend the inauguration and overall lower costs. Even if they did manage to dethrown the imperial dumbass, Kerry wouldn't have pulled the same crowds as Obama either and you Republicans wouldn't be complaining as much about costs. I don't know what you're expecting budget-wise, given the scale of things and general demand this time.

42 million seems like a lot for an incumbent. 120 million for a changing of the guard and first black president seems high, yet reasonable.

I agree with Pras and Boost_Junky. While I can empathize with business owners, people with incomes over 250k per annum and those connected to our obscenely large government and military (basically those in the DC area ), I can't empathize with the typical low income NASCAR bubba's that swear by republican values and low benefits to the poor. While there is a line you can cross in redistributing wealth, countries like Australia have figured out how to ensure quality of life for low income families, quality free health care, average education superior to the US and budget surpluses in recent years. Our government is just large, doesn't benefit those less fortunate, and deficit spends like crazy. It's a lose-lose-lose condition now. I think anyone would be better than Bush here, so I'm happy with Obama.

You're right, the additional 18hp over the 1997 T-5 puts your car into sacred land. I would just remove the badges of the R-Designed cars myself. Who cares what you call it. Bring back "SE" if it ruffles so many feathers.

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

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

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.

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...

I agree with most of you and think they should have made an epic difference in performance, not unlike the 222hp T-5 850 versus the remapped 240hp ultraperformance T-5R. That would do it, yeah!

I can't let this thread die.

Found this one on vwvortex http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=3611945

I shared your observation. Great example. :lol:

Made another:

You may want to engage a career consultant and HR before you make the formal application.

Once a moderator gets promoted to Volvospeed Corporate Vice President, then a slot will open.

Great thread. I needed something fun to make:

QUOTE (Plan_B @ Dec 7 2007, 11:11 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Meh, I do moar around here then he does and I am WAY moar entertaining them him Congrats Jeremy Sing us a show tune, Grant!

I'm humbled. Thank you.

I second that, but then again I hardly have any mods - at least that is what the Mustang guys say :lol:

Now it is ok, you could even go 16 pixels taller.

nope, too tall. grab your torches and pitchforks!

Done.

Nice pick up. You can order SEM vinyl/leather color coat for the steering wheel to match perfectly from you local paint shop. I just ordered some for my sand interior and it was the best $24 I've spent for interior detailing. Just apply with a brush and use steel wool once dried to matte/even out the finish and you're set.