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The Chronicles Of Area 34, formerly 55


Johann

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Picked the car up today and drove 170 km with it.

showroom.jpg

Next to the P,

ce-p.jpg

The Polestar tune is already installed yet I have been told there is some sort of break in routine in the ECU for the first 300 km's. Doesn't matter because I want to take it easy for the first 500-1000 km anyway. That is for as far as taking it easy is possible. You never know how much throttle is actually applied with today's ETB trickery. 

The car is interesting. Of course not a Polestar from a suspension refinement point of view but it has inherited the positives of the Ford Focus platform, also the negative being the noise "channel" from the front struts, Tires are a bit noisy when cornering. Same experience as the C30 and also the C70. RS500 it could also be noticed. Suspension is firm. Engine/drivetrain is, from what I have experienced so far trying to keep it blow ~3500 rpm, extremely efficient. Noticed similar behaviour with the XC60. With the 6K RPM redline it appears to be a lesser performer but the torque starts at very low revs and the short gear ratio's are a good match. 166 km/h in 8th gear showed 2500 RPM ..

Engine sound isn't very inspiring.. When selecting sport mode nothing changes like with the Polestar with it's awesome exhaust sound. Bit of a bummer or simply spoiled.  :-) 

Also booked a track day today for November 9th. Spa Francorchamps. Emiel will be the co-driver. 

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Congratulations on the car!

As for the powertrain, I drove a number of vehicles with VEA engines, diesel and petrol and I second your statement about their efficiency. Especially nice with the new 8 speed auto.

My favourite package was the V40 D4 automatic which pulls very nicely from 1200 rpm to 4500 rpm. Really nice overall package if you are looking for a comfortable daily driver.

My "dynamic" choice would be the T5 with polestar and 8 speed, though ;).

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Picked the car up today and drove 170 km with it.

showroom.jpg

Also booked a track day today for November 9th. Spa Francorchamps. Emiel will be the co-driver. 

 

Good to see black out pillars are back in style. Body lines flow much more cleanly with that nice drop shape window area with no vertical lines to break the continuity. I REALLY like the styling of this one :(

 

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The black out was a key point for me. :-)

On most models there is no choice or option. You are simply convicted to the chrome or brushed aluminium parts. I believe there is a "sports edition" option now for the V70. The V40CC also comes with black trim. Weird thing is that I ordered this car without the badges which is an option why not leave the choice to the customer with all the models. 

366 km so far. Drove the car on the autobahn yesterday and had the speed up to 220 km/h while trying to respect the break in. RPM's were still well below 4K.. 

Suspension is settling. Felt like overinflated tires at first but that has worn off a bit.  A fun car. Even in D mode but then the start/stop and some other ECO stuff like quick down shift is active. There is plenty of torque from very early on.  

The efficiency of the drive train can also bee seen in reviews of this model and the former 5 cylinder T5. With 9 hp less the 4 cylinder is the quicker car of the two. 

 

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Gorgeous car Johann! I can't help but feel like this is a modern style of the original V40, which is a great thing IMO. Coming from two X40s as my first Volvos, I was hoping Volvo would come back with a small 4 door 4cyl turbo. I loved my various T5's and my S60R, don't get me wrong, but there's just something really fun about driving a sub 3,000# turbocharged car with all the luxury Volvo offers. I'm curious if we'll see anything like this coming to the states, as I'd love to get my hands on something nearly identical to the original V40 with modern design and technology.

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  • 3 weeks later...

Some minor progress with the yellow,

livery.jpg

Started installing the BC suspension,

bc-f-1.jpg.

bc-r-1.jpg

ECU is in and mostly wired. Injectors, coils and most sensors tested. Zeitronix wideband still needs to be installed, no exhaust yet.. Dash needs a few wires still and I need to make a check light panel. Ordered leds for it. 

ecu-1.jpg

Installed the older 850 style aux bracket with steering pump and alternator but unfortunately this doesn't go well with a new style thermostat, I knew that.. , so I changed back to the old style. 

 

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Some progress..

Most of the engine done,

engine.jpg

Rolled the car outside on it own feet,

first-outside.jpg

The very badly damaged front and rear bumper were repaired as good as possible. Also had a spare hood painted. 

hood-grill.jpg

Still needs some tidying up left and right. Ride height needs some attention also. 

The titans were the old wheels of the DOP T-5R. Had them media blasted and repainted. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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man I wish my engine bay looked like that, well with the turbo piping and filter added of course!

Will stay NA for the time being until I have sorted out the bugs and hopefully have VVT working. 

Have been waiting for the paint work which took way to long and was only finished hours before our annual Volvo meeting, we call it the "after summer meeting". Wanted to have the car on it's feet before that meeting. 

Last sticker was added late last night..

850-hood.jpg

The meeting today was great fun!

1.jpg

2.jpg

 

 

 

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Bumper cover looks great. That is the most difficult part to prep and paint well.

Do you have an "Around Christmas meet"? Looks like a good time.

We will be spending Christmas at the Autostadt again,  then some time in Rotterdam with friends after that.

Hopefully, the drive from Schipol to Wolfsburg and back will be uneventful weather wise.

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