Volvo Freedom unaccompanied test drives!

[DaveS60D5]

Just wondered if anyone else would be interested in these, I'm booked into the one at the Marriot Forest of Arden Hotel on Sunday, 5th June 2005.

You get to test drive 3 cars (no S60R though? ). I've booked:

1st @ 2.15pm - S60 T5
2nd @ 3pm - V70R
3rd @ 3.45pm - C70 T5

Should be fun! Totally free too!

If anyone else is interested there are 3 sites including the one I'm going to on different dates, follow link below for details:

http://www.volvocarcampaigns.co.uk/freedom/

Anyone else booked to go on one of these??

[pzorb]

I was down for the last day, but after calling them up they confirmed that i have to be over 25 to actually partake in this unless I put the cars on my insurance. And after paying £10.76 for VT's fiesta, I think not!

Martin
PS B*stards do the same for courtesy cars at the main stealer too. All that extra money as well!

[dave]

You get to test drive 3 cars (no S60R though? ). I've booked:

lol, they wouldn't let mere mortals drive the S60 R!

you need to be a "driving god" to get a test drive!

lol

dave

[Justin]

Erm i beg to differ because they let wobbly dave drive on rotflmao!

[p fandango]

Erm i beg to differ because they let wobbly dave drive on rotflmao!

either very brave, or very well insured

[fraz13]

None above Birmingham, now thats just wrong lol

[Wobbly Dave]

Erm i beg to differ because they let wobbly dave drive on rotflmao!

Hey - at least I was invited to the Volvo Weekend - unlike some -

And yes I am a god and yes I did drive an S60R - so double

And in comparison to mine it was a bit gutless.

[DaveS60D5]

Hey - at least I was invited to the Volvo Weekend - unlike some -

And yes I am a god and yes I did drive an S60R - so double

And in comparison to mine it was a bit gutless.

Take it you're not going then Dave? (understandable if you've already test driven the S60R!)

Also, surprised you found a 300bhp car with DTSC "gutless"?!?

[philt6]

i'm booked 4th june
S60 T5
V70r
XC90T6
first drive
13 30

[DaveS60D5]

i'm booked 4th june
S60 T5
V70r
XC90T6
first drive
13 30

B*gger mate! Only reason I didn't go on the 4th was there was no V70R test drives left! DOH!

Enjoy the day mate!

[philt6]

mines been booked since 1st may

[philt6]

Had the test drives yesterday
S60t5
very quick the wife was trying to brake for me
the daughter was hanging on to the headrest
and the 5 year old grand daughter fell asleep
V70R
Big fast comfortable
this drive was accompanied by a volvo rep
on the way back down the A45 was told to nail it
all i heard from the back was the wife saying oh sh*t oh sh*t
grand daughter shouting faster grandad
So in the words of someone "i have got to get me one of those"

[rottertron]

So in the words of someone "i have got to get me one of those"

Wil Smith, Independence Day

[DaveS60D5]

Had the test drives yesterday
S60t5
very quick the wife was trying to brake for me
the daughter was hanging on to the headrest
and the 5 year old grand daughter fell asleep
V70R
Big fast comfortable
this drive was accompanied by a volvo rep
on the way back down the A45 was told to nail it
all i heard from the back was the wife saying oh sh*t oh sh*t
grand daughter shouting faster grandad
So in the words of someone "i have got to get me one of those"

Hi folks well I had my test drives yesterday and report as follows:

1st -

S60 T5 - light gold - WOW! Wasn't expecting this to be as good as it was! VERY Impressive! What I expected in terms of comfort, extras inside etc (as has become synonymous with Volvo anyway) but what really impressed me was the handling, agility and lack of lag!! You can throw this thing round an Island at 50 with a pretty hard right hand lock on and the DTSC will just NOT let the back end out!!! Also will not wheelspin with the DTSC in, tried in 1st up to 5000rpm and no wheelspin! (loads of it w/o DTSC obviously). Also, pains me to admit it, but not surprisingly the S60 T5 is streets ahead of the 850/70 series IMO with regard to power, '05 model punches out 260bhp which is powerful enough anyway, but the power delivery is the most impressive part of it - there is MUCH less lag on the turbo than any previous model, including the pre-05 S60 T5's. This car BY FAR was the most impressive I drove on the day.

2nd -

V70R - Black - As expected, gorgeous car with all the refinement and toys you could ever want, and the punch was just as prevalent (not as much difference between this and the S60 T5 powerwise as I would've liked though), handling / agility with the DTSC & '4 C' chassis modes & AWD (95% front, 5% rear but varies according to traction) was second to none - stunning in this regard. With the list price some 10K higher than the S60 T5 and not much extra punch, I'd not bother to be honest. You'll be paying 10K extra for some pretty dials, alloys, brakes, interior, 4 C chassis doubris and AWD - 90% of which is cosmetic. Wouldn't bother myself S60 T5 all day long for £32000 Vs the £43000 for the R I drove. Must admit though I'd like to try the S60R before finally writing the idea off, the estate's gonna carry more weight obviously.

3rd -

C70 T5 - Black - lovely car, nice power-hood - this demo car rattled though and the steering wheel actually SHOOK 1-2 inches either way!!! (Demonstrator guy did mention it before I took it out). Hate to say it, but the interior looked identical (minus the aluminium trim & blue dials) that my 1997 R has which is a bit crap considering we are now 8 years further on!! Same stereo everything! (Not that there's anything wrong with it! Just would want something more modern for my money when they've had 8 years to develop it all!). 70 series based model which is lovely but only 2nd hand / used. IMO anyone who buys a brand new one of this is paying for an aged model and wasting their money when they could buy an S60 T5 which is MUCH more impressive.

4th - (ad hoc another drive didn't turn up)

XC90 D5 - 163bhp - Grey - sluggish as you'd expect, but for the size of the car not AS sluggish as you'd expect. Don't like 4 x 4's and the car isn't anything special re: handling / drive so wouldn't bother - overpriced and unimpressive. Admittedly, haven't driven the 272bhp XC90 AWD T6 though, but I doubt it'd be a patch on the S60 T5 / V70R.

Vote winner for me is 100% the S60 T5 - the 2005 models are something else! I strongly advise anyone considering buying a new volvo to test drive one of these NOW! (Even those who aren't looking to get one - it's a 1st class car!).

Sorry for war and peace just thought some might be interested?