Volvo S60 2.0T

...this is a Volvo, and Volvo build quality is legendary with tales of 350,000 mile cars still running fine, and the Volvo owners club having several 500,000 milers still registered as running. Whilst I can't vouch for that, I can say that the S60 shrugs off 120,000 miles like most cars shrug off half that. I have never driven a car with mileage like this that feels so new. The doors still close with a well damped clunk, absolutely everything works, ...
...HPI clear car, with full Volvo service history, and in immaculate condition apart from a small parking dent in one door.

Lacks the dynamic talent of a BMW, but is comfortably a match for an Audi A4, matches both for quality of finish and durability, and beats them both for performance and comfort (model for model), and all for a fraction of the cost. Oh, and a rarer sight on the roads too.

Very highly recommended.  ... more

The S60 wasn't on the radar as a replacement car, until my old Mondeo (reviewed elsewhere on this site) began to run into age/reliability related problems, and this came up for sale from a good friend. I knew the history and the condition, so I bought it.

Normally I wouldn't be too keen to buy a 120,000 mile car, especially as I do quite high mileage myself, but this is a Volvo, and Volvo build quality is legendary with tales of 350,000 mile cars still running fine, and the Volvo owners club having several 500,000 milers still registered as running. Whilst I can't vouch for that, I can say that the S60 shrugs off 120,000 miles like most cars shrug off half that. I have never driven a car with mileage like this that feels so new. The doors still close with a well damped clunk, absolutely everything works, there are no interior rattles, no suspension clonks, and the engine sounds, pulls and feels like it's just run in.

The absolute best part of the S60 is Volvo's warbling, characterful 20 valve five cylinder turbocharged engine range. Even this entry 2.0 version with its light light pressure turbo hammers out a genuine 180 bhp, and has a flat torque curve from 2000-5500 RPM. With an Autocar tested 0-60 time of 8.2 seconds, the car is no slug, but neither is it a sports car. What it is though is completely effortless, with the engine delivering muscular, relentless pull regardless of gear, and a reported top speed of 140 mph. Sounds fabulous too with a lovely offbeat growl in the upper half of the rev range. Under 3000 RPM, you simply can't hear it at all.

The aforementioned light pressure turbo favours response rather than outright power, and it makes the car truly effortless to drive. It feels like a bigger naturally aspirated engine with no turbo lag at all, and more than a hint of that muscular, squeeze-into-the-seat shove that you get with all good turbo cars.

The S60 handles well, staying quite flat in corners until you really push on, and with the expected understeer coming gently and controllably at the limit. The steering feels artificially weighted, and lacks accuracy, particularly around the dead ahead. Part of me thinks that 120,000 miles of wear might be playing as much a part in this as any inherent design shortcoming, but it's not a problem overall. I suspect that coming to this car from the dynamically brilliant Mondeo threw it into a much sharper focus than it would have done had I come from a less dynamically accomplished predecessor. Traction off the line is good, even with the ASC turned off, something more powerful Volvos often struggle with.

Brakes are well servoed and inspire great confidence, and the anti-lock doesn't intrude at all. The throttle and clutch pedals both have a very long travel which can make smooth gearchanges a little tricky at first, but the beauty is that the car never feels as if its straining at a leash. It goes precisely as quickly as you ask it to, with every centimetre of additional throttle input resulting in a corresponding increase in pull from up front.

The interior feels big and chunky, with superb quality materials, and genuinely not a squeak or creak to be heard anywhere. The seat trim looks barely sat in, and the wheel rim is barely worn. The quality of this car is in a different league to the Mondeo. On the road it's quiet, smooth riding and if the odometer read 40,000 miles, you wouldn't think it suspicious. My car has the "space ball" gearlever, which uses a silver dome instead of a traditional gaiter at the bottom of the lever. It looks striking, and has prompted several positive comments from passengers. Shift quality is excellent, if a little long on travel, and if there are more comfortable, supportive seats fitted to a production car anywhere, I haven't sat in them.

This is the basic, entry level S model and yet it has everything I need. A superb CD, tape and radio system, all round electric windows, electric mirrors, remote central locking, dual zone air conditioning, an electric sunroof, ABS, STC, cruise control and part leather trim. The combination of electric sunroof and air-con is a particularly nice one, and something that can be very tricky to find on rival manufacturers cars, which tend to have one or t'other.

Fuel economy so far is 31 mpg which is not bad for a big car with a bit of power behind it. This is mostly longer runs on motorways, although at peak times meaning the odd queue and frequent speed alterations. It's a joy to commute in, offering fabulous seats, low noise levels, plenty of toys, and effortless performance. It's not perfect - the turning circle is dreadful for example, and the rear legroom is appalling for a car of this size, but as a package, it's a car that has many talents, not least build quality, safety, performance and comfort. It also looks fabulous in my opinion, with its coupe-like lines, and mine being finished in love-it-or-hate-it Maya Gold. I love it, by the way.

But I've saved the best bit til last. £2,500. That is all it cost me. All this quality, performance, comfort, equipment and ability for less than the first week's depreciation on a new BMW 3 series. Stick a private plate on it, and it could pass for £10k+ worth easily. And this is not a ringed dog, but a genuine two owner, HPI clear car, with full Volvo service history, and in immaculate condition apart from a small parking dent in one door.

Lacks the dynamic talent of a BMW, but is comfortably a match for an Audi A4, matches both for quality of finish and durability, and beats them both for performance and comfort (model for model), and all for a fraction of the cost. Oh, and a rarer sight on the roads too.

Very highly recommended. 

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