Review Car

2015 Volvo S60 Review, Specs And Price-Because of a hike in firepower as well as the addition of a four-wheel drive process and electronically governed dampers, the dependable Swede morphed in a potential BMW M3 compete with. A series regarding tweaks to their turbocharged five-cylinder engine, including a rise in displacement coming from 2318cc to 2521cc, netted this 300bhp and 295lb legs. Those numbers resulted in an Autocar-tested 0-62mph moment of 6. 3sec and also a 157mph top speed.

Despite all this particular, the S60 R wasn’t well been given. It had an abundance of kit, but with a hard ride, poor automatic transmission and too little outright performance, this fell behind their Audi and BMW competitors. Today, however, depreciation has obtained its toll and you can pick up a decent example for £3500. For the car that supplies a charismatic five-cylinder warble, an appropriate cabin and a decent turn of speed, it suddenly appears worth consideration.

“It was a true flagship model for Volvo, ” claims Russell Thompson regarding independent Volvo, BMW and Mini specialist RT Technicians (01428 648648, rtmechanics. corp. uk). “They were good if they were right, but plenty of things fail, ” he / she adds. “Even nevertheless they’re a Volvo, they’re quite a specialist sort of car which enables it to have a multitude of problems. ”

A frequent fault in the S60 R is to use the four-wheel drive system. The transfer case itself, or the splined sleeve for that propshaft that drives a corner wheels, can are unsuccessful, so a wide range of four-wheel-drive S60 Rs end up being front-wheel drive merely.

“Owners don’t specifically realise, ” claims Thompson. “Get underneath the car and change the propshaft. If you possibly could rotate it and then it’s not linked. ” Alternatively, when you have access to the ideal lift, you can run the auto in gear while using the wheels off the earth and see if they all turn.

Look at PistonHeads classifieds for Volvo S60s

The Volvo’s digitally controlled suspension dampers can be troublesome. Original-equipment items will cost you £500 apiece coming from Volvo, but youll find the same dampers by means of aftermarket channels for just half that. “There probably isn’t an S60 on the road that hasn’t got several sets ones, ” says Thompson.

Other parts that are susceptible to grief include the particular wishbone arms, but replacement items include uprated bushes and last much longer. When it concerns assessing a used example, it’s vital that you see it started out from cold. If you discover that the car involved suffers from a lumpy idle, it could be indicative of chipped cylinder liners.

“They can break up their liners presents itself the bore if they get overheated, ” unveils Thompson, although it’s the affliction that’s more widespread on tuned engines. A further sign of cracked liners is the mysterious disappearance of coolant without the evidence of leaking or excessive tire out smoke. Many owners neglect the problem, assuming that the auto is simply leaking coolant from somewhere they can’t visualize it and that the particular offbeat idle is just as a result of engine’s five-cylinder nature.

Lots of S60 Rs have experienced replacement engines beneath warranty to treat such faults, but should you had to decrease that route these days, an exchange engine could amount to up to £4000. On the day-to-day running expenses front, overlooking average economy around 20mpg, things aren’t way too bad. A cambelt service, for example, is necessary every 10 many years or 115, 000 miles and will cost you around £200.

Likewise, a regular 12-monthly service will cost around £150 to £200, but you’ll still have to take it into a specialist who can properly take care of the S60 R. “Ideally you will need someone with knowledge, or a vendor, to scan them while using the proper Volvo diagnostic machine, ” claims Thompson. “You require the right equipment to service these, too. ” Inevitably be a clean instance, though, and you’ll have a quietly capable and refined all-seasons saloon.

WHAT TO CHECK:

TRANSMISSION Options really are a six-speed manual or maybe a five-speed Geartronic automotive. The manual is the one to have because autos often don’t experience as powerful when they should.

WARNING LIGHTS The S60 R is usually a complex car with lots of electronic systems. Make sure all the warning lights can occur and go off when they should. Proper diagnostic tools might help identify issues.

SERVICE HISTORY Autos that haven’t been maintained to the right standards can be problematic. “If they go out of the service system, they can receive the wrong plugs and don’t think its great, for example, ” claims Thompson.

EXHAUST Inspect the particular exhaust for rust and listen for any leaks. A replacement exhaust will cost you upwards of £500, not including the catalytic converters.

SUSPENSION UPGRADES Don’t fret if the Volvo’s chassis has experienced some tweaks. Us company IPD, for instance, makes uprated anti-roll bars that are far superior to the standard ones.