Test drive Volvo S40 2004 - 2007 sedan

Motor Long Test

Two months have passed since the beginning of the long Volvo S60 2.5T AWD test. After the run to the Black Sea coast, which was described in the last issue of the magazine, the car began gray city everyday life.

If in the first month of operation the Swedish sedan passed a little more than 6,000 km, then for the second one did not even reach the mark of 4000. Nevertheless, this period allowed to evaluate the car in terms of daily urban operation, since by the beginning of the school year the usual traffic jams returned to the capital.

The first thing I had to pay attention to is the fuel consumption increased due to a decrease in the average speed. Now it is about 15 liters per 100 km. However, I’ll make a reservation, I like the dynamic driving style, and I don’t particularly ceremony with the accelerator pedal when it makes sense.

For the second reporting period, the car has never presented unpleasant surprises. There was not even a hint of breakdown! The car is always started from half -turn, all systems work properly. This, of course, inspires confidence. By the way, the lining on the front bumper no longer causes psychological problems. It's all about habit - the main thing is to go carefully along the roads and not try to attack the curbs.

When a series of rains went, I transferred the wipers to the automatic mode of operation. And almost always was pleased with the result. The system quickly responded to the intensity of precipitation, then accelerating the wipers, then slowing down. However, a couple of times the electronics was mistaken - it turned on the wipers, although there was no rain. However, it is not worth judging her strictly for this. All devices, one way or another associated with processors, buggle. You just need to be ready for this.

Frankly, I thought that after voyage to the sea, the suspension would remind of himself with the notorious good knocks. However, time is coming, and the chassis holds well. True, you always have to be on the alert and track the condition of the road surface. On the hatches and broken asphalt there is a chance to damage beautiful discs and tires. This feature of the S60 suspension settings was mentioned in the last report.

Despite the softness of the chassis, the S60 is good in driving and, if there is a mood, you can grab it well by car. You get special pleasure from a quick ride with a smooth coating. The car on wide thoroughbred rubber tenaciously holds for asphalt, clearly and quickly reacts to the actions of the steering wheel. Well, thanks to the complete drive, I traveled along slippery coatings with pleasure. However, if the seams and pits appear, you must be prepared for jumping from the trajectory and unpleasant blows on the steering wheel.

In the reporting period, the work of the brakes aroused only good feelings. Like the informativeness and speed of the pedal pressing. The car slows down very tasty. However, once I managed to overheat the brake system - the smoke from burning pads went in front. This happened after a series of intensive braking at a speed of 140-160 km/h - I immediately continued to move so that the mechanisms cool down. This story did not have any unpleasant consequences. S60 as slowed down well and slows down.

We continue the operation.

Text: Leonty Tyutelev
 

Source: Motor magazine [October 2006]