Test drive Volvo S80 1998 - 2003 sedan

Success for both sides of the ocean

There are classes of cars, where, it would seem, everything was installed once and for all, and any innovations only annoy consumers. The larger the car, the more conservative its owner. Our current experimental representative class, and it would seem that this thesis has the most direct relationship to them. However, both cars with their modern views together ... refute it. So Volvo S80 and Chrysler 300M, both two -year -olds, already familiar to many readers in general terms.
Appearance
Both the American and the European are obvious adherents of traditional schools, although recently approaching each other. In particular, Chrysler created this model, which is largely similar to the clean Yankees Concorde and LHS, especially for Europe. The Swedish car is largely oriented to the North American market.
According to the overall data and mass 300M, more than the S80. But visually this difference is not so noticeable. The size of the three hundred is somewhat concealed with smooth, patterned outlines. In addition, the body with a salon shifted forward relative to the base, the so-called CAB-FORWARD, without a doubt indicates a front-wheel drive layout with a modest hood and a giant luggage compartment. The Swede, who, however, who has gone from the former suitcases and also rolled to the front leading axis, looks habitually only when visually the rear racks of the roof overlap the wheel arches (taking into account that the front axle lies a little further from the cabin).
Volvo looks calm and intelligent, and Chrysler is an unambiguous aggressor, on the face of almost Vaeper pressure and self -confidence. Four huge eyes, covered with transparent caps, and reduced mouth instill a thrill already at a subconscious level. The raised, lean ass resembles sports carriers. The worshiping trunk evokes memories of unhurried and smooth contours of the road, and concave inflorescences along the sidewalls create the illusion of a long cigar -shaped body. A grin of fate, the American corporation, which moved under the wing of the Stuttgart concern, creating a car for Europe, is opposed by the Swedish company, accumulated by Detroit magnates. Perhaps ten years will pass, and the style of these brands can be left. In the meantime, branded solutions, albeit slightly smoothed, are evident.
Inner space
Let's start with 300m. The first sensation of giant door openings that you will not hurt either with your head, or elbow, or hollow clothes. The seats, at first glance, are almost flat and more chubby than necessary, after they managed to sit down and fit them for themselves, turned out to be quite acceptable, although there is no need to talk about lateral support. The steering wheel is regulated mechanically only in height, it lacks longitudinal movement, you have to either stretch your hands, or drive forward further than what is desired. The instrument panel looks extremely clearly and informative thanks to the four white round scales. The same white analog hours stick out in the middle of the instrument panel. An external review can be compared with the mini -minor, so close, sloping hood allows you to look in front of the machine. The only thing that interferes with wide and highly inclined front racks. Naturally, the representative of the representative of the representative class has all the necessary minimum comfort. True, surprisingly cheap, as if set from a small machine, shiny windows buttons, which are not very convenient, are striking in the eye. But, in addition to a powerful music center, an additional CD-changer is also built into the beard. And a wooden strip, launched around the perimeter of the cabin, does not look at all cheap cheap. A full -fledged five -seater machine 300m can be called thanks to the wide and even sofa of the second row of seats.
Opening the trunk, it is difficult to accurately determine its depth, it is so long and vast, and it opens with a round peak in the cabin or by pressing one of the remote control buttons. Let's go to Volvo now. It is no less spacious here, you are even lost in the cabin, but the interior is in scandinavian SERI and ascetic.
When you get behind the wheel, you will probably hurt your knee and shin by the protruding corner of the instrument panel, but then with gratitude you begin to think about the designers who thought out the ergonomics of the location of all the necessary devices and devices in the driver’s and passenger places. The steering wheel with an eccentric arrangement of the axis, not very comfortable, in my opinion, is regulated in two planes. (Sadly, during the test, the lever fixing the column broke, and we felt like a storm of the plane, where the steering wheel not only spins, but also goes to himself and up and down.) Nothing calls the eyes and distracts attention. Climate management is also available to the child, and a smooth, with an elevator, opening the messages on the console and in the armrest, even touched our obscenity company. Of the adjustments, I did not like the control of external mirrors, so small and insensitive to the finger here are the buttons.
No less attention is paid to the Volvo passenger than the driver, because the S80 is by no means Drivers-Car. The location at the back is convenient and comfortable. For example, blowing, for example, comes back not only to the legs, but also to the middle racks in order to serve a stream of chilled or heated air to the faces of passengers. And the sofas themselves, sewn from soft leather and suede, are much more pleasant than traditional velor or whole -skinned ones. The trunk is not crazy and Volvo, but not as long as that of 300m, and the loading height seemed large.
In move
Well, what is the key to the start? Studged? And here is not quite. The Chrysler V6 V6 earned absolutely without noise and vibrations, and Volvo clearly began to rejoice at the steering wheel and pedals light echoes of cycles of a five -cylinder engine. Yes, S80 came to us with a 2.4 liter engine, and 300m 2.7. A small advantage in liter should clearly be balanced by the unequal masses of these machines.
Chrysler 300m
+ 
1. Great
energy -intensive suspension
2. Giant sizes
salon and trunk
3. The view of the headlights,
paralyzing
enemy
 
- 
1. Interpreting the review
front racks
2. Some delays
in switching automatic transmission
 
 
Volvo S80
+ 
1. Expressive appearance
2. Good ergonomics
3. Convenient
the location behind the wheel
 
- 
1. Bad connection
the steering wheel with the road
2. Vibrations on the steering wheel
and pedals
3. Picks in the suspension
on potholes
 
 
First, full gas and in a straight line. The American, with some advantage, quietly promoting the motor under 6 thousand, goes forward. No wonder it is more powerful. Both machines are equipped with new -fangled machines with the possibility of manual switching. But if we take the lever to the left of the position D to the Volvo and push it back and forth to switch, then on Chrysler the lever sways left and right in the very posterior position of the box selector. The Swedish version seemed more natural to us.
The American checkpoint clearly requires unnecessary moments for thought when switching up, and pressing Kick-Down. The Volovian automation is triggered flawlessly quickly, and this allows you to gradually catch up in the dynamics. And, if not just stupidly drive to a hundred and a stopwatch in the hand, but to perform figures of road slalom with many switching, it seems that you can argue for the championship.
In terms of smoothness, a traditionally American suspension, plus thick tires on the sixteenth discs, allow you to completely forget about all small bumps. However, gentle waves sway the car slightly, without tearing it off the trajectory. Volvo has a suspension of medium stiffness and almost does not swing, but it cannot be said that he is tenacious behind the road. Yes, it’s even more difficult to catch the S80 with a steering wheel than 300m from which you just do not expect perfect accuracy. Therefore, it can be argued that Chrysler is an acceptable option for the extent of an active driver, and Volvo, despite the harsh suspension, will steer absolutely cotton, which with a personal driver can even be good.
From other features of the movement, I note that in real Moscow conditions, the road clearance of Scandinava and the corners of the entrance and the congress allowed to cheerfully storm almost any borders, and the steep angle of rotation of the wheels write out unexpected eights when parking and drive a bulky car in any free windows. The element Chrysler is clearly not the city of the radius of the rotation is too big, and the front bumper hangs directly above the road. Noise and vibration protection in 300m is clearly higher. Neither the wind, nor the passage of pits and pardon gives the reason to be distracted from the process. Volvo tapps racks on rails and wells quite clearly, although perhaps this is not the best of the asphalt coating for the better.
Now let's try to take stock. Chrysler 300m makes an integral impression and, with any minor flaws, makes you love itself both from the first and second glance. The eightieth sedan from Volvo, as it were, is trying to stay simultaneously on two chairs of a traditionalist, lovingly preserving all the features of a branded image, and an innovator who strives to be ahead of the planet of the whole, and therefore there is a double feeling that, nevertheless, does not diminish the virtues in general Flagship of a famous company.
Vladimir Smirnov
Photo by Alexander Nozdrin
 

Source: Cars