Test drive Volvo S60 2000 - 2004 sedan

Hot Swedish guys

Task: Saab 9-3 Viggen 2.3 liters of turbo, 224 hp, 0-100 km/h in 6.8 seconds, the maximum speed of 250 km/h went to paragraph B. The Volvo S60 T5 2.3 liters of turbo, 250 hp moves towards him, 0-100 km/h in 6.8 seconds, the maximum speed is 250 km/h. Question: After how long the airbags will work on both cars, if the distance between Trolhattan and Gothenborg about 300 kilometers, and the uncompromising fans of two Swedish brands are sitting behind the wheel of Saab and Volvo, ready to prove to the rest of humanity that their Scandinavians are better competitor?
Outwardly, the Swedes are quite restrained. However, it is absolutely not necessary to understand the intricacles of historical events in order to find out how much strength of the spirit is hidden in their powerful bodies. Perhaps that is why Volvo and Saab factory conveyors almost never left the sportkup or shells of the Gran Tourism category, but almost every mass model had a top version, on the internal charge they could measure the forces from a low start with almost any automobile dinosaur. The most modest from the consumer point of view Volvo S60 and Saab 9-3 was no exception. The good -natured and peaceful, like the heroes of fairy tales Astrid Lindgren, family machines in versions of T5 and Viggen demonstrate the agility and character of real Vikings of daring, reasonable and almost invincible warriors from the cold expanses of the Scandinavian peninsula.
Despite the common homeland, the Saab 9-3 Viggen and Volvo S60 T5 made different cars. Saab openly demonstrates its frantic temperament compared to just 9-3 Viggen looks very aggressively and even evil. Aerodynamic body kit, 17-inch wheels with an original pattern, the rear spoiler creates that a fighter car was flattened over the road, ready for a fight with any aggressor both in a passing and in a counter directions. Actually, the top version of 9-3 received its name precisely in honor of the famous fighter of the Royal Air Force SAAB 37 Viggen, who had long remained the best plane of those who had ever climbed the sky over Scandinavia. Volvo outwardly is not so effective and aggressive. Probably, only a car expert will pay attention to changes compared to the simplest version of the S60. However, even if the owners of the most charged cars, including the owners of the most discreet, and even the friendly Swede in terms of its technical characteristics, he will not yield to the opponent from Trolhattan. And together they are able to bring to tantrums 90% of cars produced in the world, including the Subaru Impreza GT I loved.
Inside, these cars are also completely different. The Saab salon has already been compared so many times with the womb of the fighter that even I have to recognize the right to exist such a parallel. True, from the point of view of a normal person, the interior and ergonomics of Viggen also do not cause any complaints just this car is peculiar in everything and takes some time to find mutual understanding with it. Nevertheless, excellent leather seats with developed lateral supports allow piloting SAAB without any tired for a day long, and the space around the driver and passengers is organized exactly as you expect everything from such a seriously loaded road car, easily accessible and convenient when manipulating, when Any attempt to complain about the interior developers ends with a definite conclusion: the guys who have worked here are not in vain receive their 20,000 kroons per month.
Volvo S60, according to the vast majority of those who spent at least an hour behind his steering wheel, today is an example of ergonomics not only in their class. Indeed, it is difficult to imagine a more convenient and friendly environment in a car of this class. True, the back is a little cramped, especially if all crew members have growth above average. Perhaps it is fair to name the S60 4-door compartment, where the rear doors are used only so that the children do not try to crawl to their parents behind the back between the front seat and the middle rack. By the way, both cars can be safely used as family vehicles (if the concept can be safely used in relation to cars with a capacity of 250 horsepower!) Comfort, carrying capacity and ability to take on board a huge amount of baggage from Saab and Volvo do not leave much to be desired. However, we are enough to torment ourselves with a boring description of the exterior and interior, we are not in the museum, but on a real air show with the participation of two real aircraft! By screws! Volvo S60 T5 and Saab 9-3 Viggen are asking for permission to take off!
Saab did not disappoint for a second just that should be the character of a machine, so eloquently demonstrating his desire for flight. Light discomfort is felt only when you slowly wipe through the dull Moscow traffic jams to a more or less worthy take-off strip. The harsh on small irregularities. It is reluctant to crawl along the road if the tachometer shooter is delayed in the region of 2000 revolutions. Equally grabs the air with mouth, demanding to promote the turbine to the working pressure: hey, boy! Didn't you fall asleep there? The dispatcher gives the good to the gas!. It is rare that a car is capable of checking the vestibular system like that. Acceleration on Viggen is really comparable with a run in the runway. The only difference is that upon reaching 200 km/h, the car does not break away from the ground, but continues to rush along it, clinging to the road with huge wheels. Frantic power and torque are sometimes able to complicate the life of the pilot in a bend, regardless of speed to any intensive adding of Viggen gas reacts to the hind legs, unloading the leading front axle, and the wheels begin to burn with a blue flame, leaving black stripes on the asphalt. The only thing that I had to regret for the entire test, the lack of an all -wheel drive version of Viggen. This machine is clearly not enough wings, it is acutely necessary for four drive wheels!
Volvo is much more comfortable in urban mode. A little less aggressively think the brains from below to the top of the motor are lucky with almost without boat. I really liked the automatic gearbox: the algorithm of its work will not disappoint a single fan of low starts, including fans to twitch the Swedes with a lever, they provided for the manual mode, in which the machine behaves just like manual. And due to the installation of 16-inch wheels with a higher profile, the trip tires on our intersection are pampering much more comfort than in the vast majority of charged in the most exhaust specimens. Saab liked to control the limit more. Maybe because of some hidden primitiveness, in which it can be safely compared with the etalon machine, Impreza Turbo GT. At the wheel of Viggen, you begin to understand why the flight term piloting is sometimes used to the process of driving a car. In the presence of several components of mood, place, time, good tires and at least a minimum idea of \u200b\u200bthe fast -driving technique, flights to Viggen will deliver an expert with nothing comparable.
Volvo is not so aggressive. But a little more obedient. Maybe he guesses that you have to live a long happy life and there is no point in trying to finish it on the sidelines of the suburban highway? By the way, more recently, the Swedes announced the release of an all -wheel drive modification with the Haldex clutch. I am sure that first of all this transmission will provide modification of T5 still to me that a powerful and fast car should hold on to the road with four leading wheels. Unfortunately, at present, Saab supplies Viggen only to North America. In Europe, now the most powerful car in the lineup of the company has become the Aero version. Our market did not manage to develop the charms of the Swedish fighter. But the Americans are actively operating these machines, especially 3-door hatchbacks and the most powerful convertibles in the world. As I understand them! .. In the same way as with sincere admiration I see my eyes hiding in the haze of my own turbulence S60 T5, its master knows a lot about good expensive things that can make life not only brighter, but also longer ...
 
Alexey Mochanov, photo of Alexander Nozdrin
 
 
How do they look:
Nikita Rozanov
 
Outside:
The fact that these cars are intended for those who can (namely, and not only love) quickly and actively ride is visible right away. It can be seen at least by how organically in their design is the qualities that identify and emphasize the convenience and utility of everyday ride with sporting attributes. And if we draw our traditional analogies between automobile design and clothing, then the appearance of each of the tested deuce is associated with a classic English suit, in which a true gentleman is involved in sports. As a rule, externally, these costumes are similar to everyday, and differ only in more practical materials (as a rule, a durable twead is used), greater freedom of cut and a number of functional details: additional pockets or leather patches on the right shoulder for a more reliable stop of the hunting rifle butt. But there are few such peculiar patches on the civil appearance of the Volvo. Unless 18-inch wheels and T5 logo on the trunk lid. And most likely, this is a special move. Indeed, sometimes immutability works much more effectively than the abundance and completeness of information. The Viggen style, on the contrary, is the founder, and his dynamic Hatchback silhouette and a more developed aerodynamic body kit noticeably distinguish this high-speed modification from the usual Saab 9-3 and what is clear at first glance, once and for all.
Results:
The Saab 9-3 Viggen design of the car is very informative and kind, but the form as a whole carries the obvious features of conservatism, which does not fit well with the declared aviation image of the company, so the design may soon be required.
Volvo S60 T5 is a very stylish and modern design that is fully consistent with the new image of the company. But in this case, some impassivity of the style of the charged version can lead to a not entirely true perception of the car.
Inside:
Since both cars were clearly created for a skilled and active car owner, the driver’s workplace dominates the interior composition. The Volvo panel of devices, although traditionally T-shaped in form, has a very stylish and modern design: which costs at least a fantastic type of KP lever. Although the Saab panel is also very original, it is perceived more calmly and looks even a little conservative. According to the good old American tradition, its composition is subordinated to a wide horizontal board of devices, and the central console does not radically separate the driver from the passenger, as is customary to do in Europe on quick and dynamic cars. Otherwise, everything is the same, and the calm and restrained style of the Saab contrasts with a variegated upholstery of the seats and door panels of Volvo. The steering wheel of Viggen is very comfortable four -spoke, T5 is sports three -spoke. The strongly expressed bucket of the rear sofa makes it almost double. But everyone has a third headrest, just in case, and the Saab hatchback can be folded with rear places at least everything, at least in a 2: 1 proportion and turn a hot car for a driver into a practical assistant for the whole family.

Results:
Saab 9-3 Viggen characteristic corporate design is kind, but the style is somewhat conservative, and some solutions look frankly outdated.
Volvo S60 T5 everything is very stylish, bright and high quality. Without a doubt, this is the design of the 21st century.
 
 

Source: Cars