anyone know what they're like?

Feckin' rapid!

The automatic I drove about 4 years ago now, had that much torque it's tyres chirped when you just moved the selector into drive, before you even touch the throttle. The guy it belonged to at the time traded a 535i in for it, and said he wouldn't go back to a beemer.

Pal had an 850R (successor to the T5-R, but virtually identical). Nice car for a barge. Not stupidly quick (and his was superchipped). Came with 250bhp but weighed as much as a small country. FWD (althought the 850R had an AWD option) and they had to have traction control to make them move, but TC only worked to 25mph so you just got wheelspin after 25mph :rolleyes:

Very stiffly sprung but not a great handler. Nice interior (for a volvo).

Performance similar to a std UK scoob in a straightline.

These cars eat tyres for a living, quick cruising car and good if you have a family with a dog or like moving stuff round quickly (in estate form) get em cheap now too as they dont hold their value that well.

Tony:D

remember racing one of these about 3 years ago...as comments above, very rapid motors. Didn't realise they were optional 4wd though.

shunty

Mark Jackson is the resident Volvo expert, I'm sure he'll be along shortly :)

Yep, Im here, you know me so well !

Saxo boy, are you Scoob Boy yet ?

I have a normal T5, drove an R before we bought ours (second hand) but it was pretty pricey, the ride was well stiff and it didnt seem any quicker than the normal T5. Oh and it had a really horrible Beige leather interior.

They are quick, not Scoob quick from standstill but once they are rolling and traction isnt an issue they are pretty much similar, 30 to 70 takes about six seconds, a uk turbo Scoob is about the same, from 90 onwards they will pull away from standard Scoobs and will do 150 flat out.

The R looks better, well mean (for a Volvo), nicer alloys and more purposeful skirts and stuff but the ride is very hard if you are going to use it as a load lugging, kid carrying, spaniel wagon.

Handling is ok, it corners faily well but is not a drivers car. It will corner faster than you think, good suspension layout and design, wide tyres and taut suspension but they feel ponderous until you get them by the scruff of the neck. However 225 bhp thru the front wheels ultimately overcomes grip and you make big clouds of rubber smoke.

As for weight, mine weighs 1420 kilos which nowadays isnt much, New Scoob weighs simlar, its a big car but it has fairly compact mechnicals being fwd and is basically full of air being an estate !

The dual mass flywheel is a pain, to smooth it out Volvo put a HUGE flywheel on them, this and the conservative ECU program removes most engine braking.

Ours has been reliable (75k miles) and doesnt cost too much to service (we use a specialist), Volvo parts are expensive though. Interor kid and dog proof, stereo was ok but replaced with Alpine changer.

Tyres can be expensive if you buy P zeros but I didnt rate them and use cheapos, cos of the ammount of power thru the front and the fact its not a delicately balanced sports car where it will make a difference, I use Fulda's and Kumho's at about sixty quid a throw and to be honest they seem better on it than the Pirellis, current set seem to be lasting but they do chew them up, lots of power, power steering, 2wd and fwd, they dont stand a chance !

About 24 mpg around town to 30 mpg on a gentle run, I dont really do gentle though.

I would have another as nothing else really suits our circumstances and I am sorry I just dont do people carriers. SO if you need to cart lots of kids, dogs and stuff, get one, but if its out and out fun your after look elsewhere.

Not quite mark, but I've you've been reading scoobynet recently you'll know that the Saxo is gone :(

The subaru is now so close I can taste it :D

A few years back I used to have a Volvo T4.. used to get 6000miles out of the front tyres.. traction control was a joke.. I could spin the tyres in 3rd and not go anywhere!!

It was fairly rapid once on the move but the dynamics were poor.. I had it upto baout 140mhp at one point and rather than squat it would lift and bceome light.. no joke at those speeds!

Dave

Mattski,

I have a T5 estate (and a Scoob, what more could a family man want!). 56k miles now at 7 years old. Eats long journeys (and tyres as everyone has said) and feels great on Mways, etc. Round town its a bit lumpy - it wants to go on long trips. The torque is impressive - bags of it from early on. It's not up to being thrown around - too large - but it does corner very well, as long as you set your self up and allow for the Turbo lag .... there's a lot more here than on the Scoob.
If you want a large, fast family car, I doubt there's much better for the money.

Hope this helps.

Steve

A good mate of mine has a T5 and it is a good alround car..(a million miles from the 1st generation T4's). AS mentioned above it is a rapid family car which can cover ground quickly and in comfort...

me.. i've moved to Audi and I haven't any regrets :)

Dave