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Anybody in Canada buy a S60 AWD?

820 Views 9 Replies 5 Participants Last post by  Watchdog
I'm looking at getting a new car in the next few weeks and have really zeroed in on the S60 AWD. I'm wondering if anybody in Canada has bought one yet. I've read that their are limited numbers for sale up here and I'm wondering how long it'll take if I have to order one since I do want to get DSTC and I doubt any lot units would have it since its so new.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Pat
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There's no such thing as a limited S60 AWD.
Sorry, by limited I didn't mean a limited edition. I meant the allocation of S60 AWD's in Canada was only so much compared to the rest of the world. Not that they were any different than the S60 AWD's going anywhere else.

Patrick
Well, just got back from my local dealer and went for a drive in a S60 AWD. Nice vehicle. It didn't have the DSTC and the 17" Thor Wheels but it was nice except for a slightly soft on center feel. The salesman said the 17" wheels would make a difference in the handling of the AWD but I wonder how much.

I have a tentative price of about $30K USD with the premium package, DSTC, Thor Wheels and metallic paint. Does this sound about right?

Pat
Ok, not Canada but I have what you're looking at. That's a good price, you wouldn't be able to get that for $30k in Portland.

I got the 16's from the factory and got a 2nd set of 17's from Tirerack.

The 16's have better turn in and are better for auto-x and acceleration, but the grip of the 17's is superior. If you want better handling you really need to firm up the suspension, its set more for luxury than sport so the tires alone won't do it for you.

Vancouver isn't far away so you have to come down and get your car to IPD. A great mod, you have to get it. The car had ample power before, but with the IPD mod I've got basically equivalent power to a T5, maybe a little more.

I have a friend with an auto WRX and I just absolutely stomp on him, no comparison.
Sweet Swede,

I've noticed over the last two or three years that the car prices in Canada are better than in the USA because of the exchange rate. Its like the manufacturer's are cutting us a break.

Its funny you bring up the IPD ECU upgrade. Ever since I told my friend that I wanted a S60 he keeps bugging me to go to Portland and get it done. I'm worried about how it'll affect the warranty. What are your thoughts?

Pat
quote:

Originally posted by Iceman:
Sweet Swede,

I've noticed over the last two or three years that the car prices in Canada are better than in the USA because of the exchange rate. Its like the manufacturer's are cutting us a break.

Its funny you bring up the IPD ECU upgrade. Ever since I told my friend that I wanted a S60 he keeps bugging me to go to Portland and get it done. I'm worried about how it'll affect the warranty. What are your thoughts?

Pat
Warranty remains the same. Unless the upgrade causes the failure of a specific part, you have nothing to worry about. I did an ECU upgrade on my car, the results were tremendous! Worth every penny!

Yannis
quote:

Originally posted by Sweet Swede:

Vancouver isn't far away so you have to come down and get your car to IPD. A great mod, you have to get it. The car had ample power before, but with the IPD mod I've got basically equivalent power to a T5, maybe a little more.

I have a friend with an auto WRX and I just absolutely stomp on him, no comparison.

How do you like your upgrade? Did you do both exhaust and ECU or only ECU?

You can beat a WRX? Are you kidding me? WIth the 2.4T LPT engine? I am completely surprised...wow...

Yannis
Grecian Volvo - To my knowledge Canada does not have the same lemon laws as the US. From reading the Audi boards (I'm guy telling Iceman to get IPD) I get the impression that in the US the dealer must prove the mod caused the failure (same as what you said). In Canada I think the same generally holds true, but I don't think we have the same legal recourse (if the dealer wants to hassle you) since we're not as litigious in Canada.

As far as an AUTOMATIC WRX goes, they're not really that fast. My 1.8T w/ECU upgrade and air filter but no exhaust can dust an AUTO WRX. The key is that the AUTO is nowhere as fast as the manual version. I test drove one with a friend who owns a big block Corvette and we both thought it was surprisingly sluggish off the line, the turbo boost doesn't really kick in until 3,000 to 3,500 rpm's. My engine hits peak torque at 1.850 rpm's.

As for power to weight ratio here are some numbers

WRX - 227 hp, 217 ft. lbs weight 1,424 kg for the sedan and 1,461 for the wagon (for lbs multiply by 2.2)

S60 AWD IPD power figures - 230 hp, 275 ft. lbs and weight of 1,440 kg. So lighter than the wagon (which we drove) and only 16 KG more than the sedan, plus look at that huge increase in torque, not sure where the Volvo peak torque is but I would think yes and S60 with IPD would beat a WRX

My car chipped is 196 hp and 236 ft. lbs and weighs 1,458 kg, however I do have a 5 speed. My friend and I both thought my car was significantly faster than the AUTO WRX, now the manual is a completely different story.
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I read a review a while back where the reviewer said that the Auto WRX was pretty slow and even quoted some acceleration figures but I can't find right now.

This is the best I could do http://www.technofile.com/cars/subaru_wrx_2002.html

That said neither Audi's or Volvo's are drag cars and faster or slower than a WRX I don't think changes too many people's decision to buy a Volvo or Audi vs. a WRX. The WRX is really a different market, but its nice to know that with a simple ECU upgrade you can hang with the WRX AND you have the luxury of your fine auto while the guy in the WRX has plastic everywhere and generally just a cheap looking interior.
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