Test drive Volvo S80 1998 - 2003 sedan

I'm flying and I'm swinging

Can hot cars make hot cars in the cold north? It turns out yes.
 



They say that smart with honor comes out of those situations in which the wise does not fall. With regard to drivers more than fair. The ability to go around all road conflicts is the highest piloting, characteristic only of truly wise. But are there many of them among us? We all believe that we are able to ride quickly, very quickly, we want to prove something to someone and with honor to overcome the difficulties that we themselves create. Such a driver’s romance is poorly compatible with a shabby foreign car. Something else needs here.
 
We decided to take a chance - we bought, one might say, a coveted toy for a zealous motorist. So at the editorial parking, the SAAB 9-5 sedan appeared - the top of the lineup of the company with a full set of additional equipment. Dear ($ 53,000), not too practical, but exquisite and at the same time defiantly aggressive: no less than 230 liters. With. With turbocharged.
 
Down with the routine - about breakdowns, the price of spare parts and maintenance, the fitness of the Swede to drive on Russian roads we will tell. And today is only the most delicious - about the car from the position of an active driver. And for the picture to be complete, the company will be another Swedish car - Volvo S80 T6. Also the most expensive ($ 58,000) and powerful in a proprietary line, with a transversely located in an in -line six -cylinder engine (!), Two turbines, a compact gearbox with a length of only 30 cm. We'll make a reservation at once: we will avoid direct comparisons and contrasts, and why will we say a little below.
 

From heaven to earth
A lot of flight associations are connected with SAAB cars. And for nothing! After all, magnificent fighters carry the same brand, so the creators of the Saabov cars were simply doomed to some kind of analogy. And they parted here in earnest. In the ground SAAB 9-5, you suddenly run into something from another, sky-high world. The only name of the speed modification of the Aero speaks for itself. Further - more: the suddenly flashed Fasten Belts scoreboard with a completely aviation picture recommends that you fasten the seat belt. And so on. The pilot flirting, of course, is the business card of Saab, but we, motorists, are interested in other things.
 
At first glance, the driver’s workplace captivates the design of the style, the severity of the interior, emphasized by the high cost of black leather upholstery, but to no less than the functionality of the main governing bodies. A chubby comfortable steering wheel adjustable in height and in the longitudinal direction, elastic seats with a full set of electro -regions, a convenient lever of a four -speed machine with a large button in the center. All this sets up on dynamism, sports. And then there is also a massive front panel that covers the driver, glowing with an abundance of toothparts, winking with windows of displays, with a very characteristic device with a combination of devices. Yes, you can’t get away from aviation associations - neither let the fighter cockpit. You are not a driver - you are a pilot and do not control, but pilot.
 
Nevertheless, such a layout for an amateur and the impression of her dual: on the one hand, cool and unusual, on the other ... It is inconvenient to use many things. The active driver in the seat is clearly not enough fixing the stiffness of lateral supports, the lower pillow is short, and the range of longitudinal movements of the chair could be larger. As, however, a similar adjustment of the steering column. The front panel suddenly turns out to be unfriendly - it is quite difficult to find the desired button in this anthill, especially on the go. The exception is only the toggle switch of the anti -wings system - it is noticeably more than others and you can find it on the panel instantly. There are complaints to the machine gun selector. The sector of its movements is cramped, and the inclusion is fuzzy, which is why you are constantly mistaken when looking for the desired mode. It seems that the fascination with the style in some cases harmed ergonomics.
 
But here are the overclocking opportunities or, if you want, the run through the runway performed by a 230-horsepower SAAB 9-5 Aerons is impressive and more than compensate for everything that is said above. The acceleration is powerful, even, pleasantly presses you into the back of the seat. The machine a little smooths out the sharp nature of the boost engine, and from this the process, as it were, stretches in time, allowing you to enjoy the unbridled temperament of a powerful machine. Add here the corresponding sound frame, which, as it were, emphasizes - SAAB is not for peaceful movement in space, this device with an adrenaline taste.
 
At the same time, it is the automatic box that somewhat violates the harmony in the relationship of the driver with the car. In certain situations (especially with sharp, dynamic driving), there is a tangible delay in the response of the machine to press the accelerator, and the subsequent awakening is accompanied by an unpleasant jerk. In order not to overload the vestibular apparatus, it is better to go in advance to the sports operating mode of the machine gun - it provides the desired performance.
 
What is impossible in Saab to complain about the brakes. The machine reacts very sensitively to the slightest touch to the brake pedal, by the way, quite intelligible, with good feedback, which allows you to accurately dose the force required for intense slowdown in almost the entire speed range.
Good and handling. A special sports set of pendants, low -profile tires with a dimension of 225/45R17 talk about a lot. Add here an instant response to the actions of the steering wheel, accurate reactions. As a result, on an even asphalt, the SAAB seems to stick to the road, and you enjoy not only from intense accelerations in a straight line, but also from high -speed turns. Even when side slipping occurs, skillful actions with a steering wheel and traction allow you to maintain a car on a given trajectory of movement.
 
And now about the reverse side of the medal: Russian bumps of roads are contraindicated by the hard asphalt pendants. With small potholes, they cope with sin in half, however, they do it quite noisy. But it is worthwhile to appear with traditional gentle waves, as the car begins to sharply shake the riders. This is especially noticeable at high speeds, where the pendants are frankly hacking, allowing the body to swing.
 

FIRM STEP
The second Scandinav has nothing to do with aviation. Translated from Latin, Volvo means swinging. This Swede is flooded with a completely different test. Before us is a large, practical and probably convenient car. He does not break into the sky, but very thoroughly stands on earth, inspiring respect with all his appearance. The salon trimmed in light colors seems cozy. On this car, I do not want to rush somewhere, to prove something. You are simply in the almost home, relaxing environment and you are occupied by completely different thoughts. The creators of the S80 did not save on the size of the salon, seats and the ranges of their movements. If the driver’s chair drove back to the stop, then you must be at least a basketball player to reach the pedals. The same with the steering wheel: the range of longitudinal adjustment of the steering column simply delights. It is more convenient here and the lever of the machine gun. He is closer to the driver, the box control algorithm is clearly more perfect - which is only the possibility of moving to manual transfers mode. The front panel also gravitates to the multicarp Scandinavian style, but on Volvo it is almost perfectly thought out. And this applies not only to the readability of symbols, but also to the shape, size and place of the location of the torso. It is not difficult to use all this economy.
 
The driving capabilities of the Volvo S80 T6 are also extraordinary. The main emphasis is on a dynamic riding in a straight line. The transversely located in -line six Biturbo can give out 272 liters. With. Unfortunately, from the very first minutes of communication between the driver and the car there is a certain distance - and not a machine gun. You serve the team as if at a distance, and it diligently and obediently performs them. Nevertheless, accelerated dynamics is good. In any situation, clicking on an accelerator, you get a quick and unambiguous response from a Volvo.
 
The latest generation automatic box is almost devoid of delay. Nevertheless, in the reactions of the car as a whole there is a certain downstream. If Saab, having thought a little, rushes forward, then Volvo does it softly, leaving a subjective feeling of leisurely. The paradox of the S80 is that, even having heard through the perfect sound insulation, the screech of the tires slipping on dry asphalt, you do not lose a state of comfort. This delicacy gives rise to completely different behavior at the wheel. Why fuss in the stream or when overtaking, when you can wait a bit, and then, without straining the cervical vertebrae, with acceleration calmly rush forward. Agree, there is rationality in this approach, its own, if you want, philistine logic.
 
In unison with her and everything else. Do you need reliable handling? Please! The car will correctly perform all the driver’s commands. Yes, in his character there is no clockwork Saabov temperament. You can approach the turn at a slightly lower speed and the car will do everything itself. And the fact that in the marginal modes of Volvo unariantly slides out of turn is so you do not have to rush headlong along the winding tracks. S80 is still a prestigious sedan, not a device for high-ring racing. But at a straight line, even at a speed of 200 km/h, you can, without straining, holding the steering wheel with one hand, conduct a leisurely conversation, without focusing all attention on the intricacies of control. At the same time, ordinary road pendants Volvo are confident in Russian conditions. Their assets are not only high comfort, but also a good energy intensity, which helps to overcome very serious obstacles.
 
Now the conclusions. We hope you realized why we did not openly contrast Volvo and Saab to each other. Swedish cars are really very distinctive and painfully different. Both know how to ride quickly, but each in their own way. SAAB 9-5 Aero is a clot of energy that you want to control irrationally, enjoying driving. Volvo S80 T6 is a comfortable and high -speed car for those who appreciate practicality and solidity more than driver ambitions. Returning to the beginning of our report, you can state: SAAB - for smart drivers, but volvo, rather, for the wise.



The results of measurements driving
Weather conditions: temperature +19C,
pressure 743 mm Hg. Art.; Humidity 75%
SAAB 9-5 Aero Volvo S80 T6
Dynamic qualities
(Partial load - 2 people + 25 kg)
Acceleration, C:
0-40 km/h 3.1 2.2
0-60 km/h 4.6 3.7
0-80 km/h 6.7 5.9
0-100 km/h 9.1 8.4
0-120 km/h 12.0 11.7
0-140 km/h 16.1 16.4
0-160 km/h 20.9 22.0
0-400 m 16.8 16.2
0-1000 m 29.7 29.5
Maximum speed, km/h 237.7 231.4
Elasticity, C:
60-100 km/h 5.6 5.2
80-120 km/h 6.3 6.5
Run, m:
120-50 km/h 1634 1489
50-0 km/h 604 558
Braking with 100 km/h:
braking distance, m 40.1 41.1
slow down, m/s2 9.6 9.4
 

SPECIFICATIONS
SAAB 9-5 Aero Volvo S80 T6
common data
Number of places 5 5
Equipped mass, kg 1540 1590
Length x width x height, mm 4805x2042x1449 4822x1832x1434
Base, mm 2703 2791
Front/rear track, mm 1522 1582/1560
Trunk volume, l 500 440
Maximum speed, km/h 235 250
Acceleration time 0-100 km/h, from 8.2 7.2
Average fuel consumption, l/100 km 10.8 10.9
Fuel supply, l 70 80
Fuel AI-95, AI-98 AI-95, AI-98
Engine
The location in front is transversely
Structure R4, Dohc, R6, Dohc,
budget boost
The number of valves per cylinder 4 4
Working volume, SMZ 2290 2783
Diam. cylinder x Piston stroke, mm 90.0x90.0 81.0x90.0
Compression degree 9.3 8.5
Power, kW/l. With. 169/230 200/272
at rpm 5500 5400
Twisting the moment, N.M 330 380
at rpm 1900-4000 2000-5000
Transmission
Front drive
A4 A4 gearbox with mode
manual
switching
Suspension
in front is independent, such as McEferson
with a transverse stabilizer
stability
in the back is independent semi -dependent
multi-link delta-link with
with stabilizer pepper lever
transverse gami, spring
stability racks,
stabilizer
Steering
rack with an amplifier
exchange performance
Brakes
hydraulic disk with amplification
lEM and ABS, ventilated in front
Tires
225/45R17 225/55R16

Salon and trunk dimensions
Car SAAB 9-5 Aero Volvo S80 T6
Parameter, mm
L1 995-1165 920-1170
L2 615-820 625-875
H1 955 995
H2 940 965
B1 1440 1490
B2 1425 1450
T1 485 485
T2 490 490
L3 1095 1110
H3 520 470
B3 min 1010 1140
B3 Max 1490 1230
B4 900 930
h4 620 630
 
Sergey Voskresensky, Vadim Kryuchkov
Photo by Alexander Polunin
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Source: The magazine "Driving"