[kullenberg]

Something to keep in mind is the effect of altitude on HP. A normally aspirated engine will lose approx 10% power for each 1000' gain in altitude. My ML 430, for instance, is rated at 268HP at sea level ( I forget at what RPM), when I get up to where I live at 5000+ ft. it's down to approx 158 HP. That's a signifigant loss, which BTW, you won't suffer with either of the XC90 engines. The turbos make the eng perform much the same as at sea level. Food for thought. I posted this thought on the other XC90 forum (which shall remain nameless), and thought it was worth posting here. It makes the XC90 all the more desirable, and sort of negates all the stuff about the 4sp, 5sp, 6sp tranny. <IMG SRC="http://www.swedespeed.com/ubb/biggrin.gif"><P>

 

[crikey]

This certainly helps those who venture or live well above sea-level. But, how about those of us who are at sea-level? I think that an extra cog or two would benefit the T6. Please remember that the reason Volvo stuck the 4-speed into the XC90 is because of packaging constraints. If Volvo was able to put in the same 5-speed on the 2.5T, I think it would have done so. Thus, I sincerely believe that the tranny on the T6 is a stop gap for now (who knows how long) and that a new tranny with an extra cog or two will be mated to the T6.<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by kullenberg:<BR><B>Something to keep in mind is the effect of altitude on HP. A normally aspirated engine will lose approx 10% power for each 1000' gain in altitude. My ML 430, for instance, is rated at 268HP at sea level ( I forget at what RPM), when I get up to where I live at 5000+ ft. it's down to approx 158 HP. That's a signifigant loss, which BTW, you won't suffer with either of the XC90 engines. The turbos make the eng perform much the same as at sea level. Food for thought. I posted this thought on the other XC90 forum (which shall remain nameless), and thought it was worth posting here. It makes the XC90 all the more desirable, and sort of negates all the stuff about the 4sp, 5sp, 6sp tranny. <IMG SRC="http://www.swedespeed.com/ubb/biggrin.gif"><P></B><HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>

 

[GrecianVolvo]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by crikey:<BR><B>Thus, I sincerely believe that the tranny on the T6 is a stop gap for now (who knows how long) and that a new tranny with an extra cog or two will be mated to the T6.<BR> </B><HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>You are definitely right...only a matter of time! <IMG SRC="http://www.swedespeed.com/ubb/wink.gif"><P><BR>Yannis<BR><P>

 

[kullenberg]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by GrecianVolvo:<BR><B> You are definitely right...only a matter of time! <IMG SRC="http://www.swedespeed.com/ubb/wink.gif"><P><BR>Yannis<P><BR></B><HR></BLOCKQUOTE><BR>I sincerely hope you are both right, and that it's phased in for MY-04.<P><P>

 

[blujeep]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by kullenberg:<BR><B>

Originally posted by GrecianVolvo:<BR> You are definitely right...only a matter of time! <IMG SRC="http://www.swedespeed.com/ubb/wink.gif"><P><BR>Yannis<P>I sincerely hope you are both right, and that it's phased in for MY-04.<BR></B><HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>Or at least my '05! <IMG SRC="http://www.swedespeed.com/ubb/biggrin.gif"><P>

 

[crikey]

Have in front me, a UK Car publication, EVO. In the 'driven' section of the magazine, they tested the XC90. I'll put some of the more notable quips from it about the 4-speed tranny:<P>"That traverse engine may mean plenty of cabin real estate but it also steals so much space between the front wheels that there was only enough room to fit the T6 with a gappy four-speed auto 'box which struggles against the size and weight of this car. The engine constantly kicks down out of fourth to compensate, even on the motorway, to the detriment of fuel consumption, which averaged a sobering 14-15mpg during our test. Couple that with a mean 72-litre tank and the range becomes a pathetic 200 miles...Engineers admit the T6 'box is a problem and a six-speeder in under development for launch late next year."<P>A new tranny with an extra cog or two should definitely help fuel economy. Well, at least it should.<P>The drawback is that a new tranny brings about new problems. Hopefully, a new tranny does not suffer the same problems that the 5-speed Honda trannies currently have -- see <A HREF="http://www.latimes.com/classified/automotive/highway1/la-hy-acura11sep11.story?coll=la%2Dclass%2Dautos%2Dhighway1" TARGET=_blank>http://www.latimes.com/classified/automotive/highway1/la-hy-a cura11sep11.story?coll=la%2Dclass%2Dautos%2Dhighway1</A> <p>[This message has been edited by crikey (edited 09-12-2002).]

 

[blujeep]

Not good news for initial buyers of the XC90...But that's at least some pretty definite info about the development of a 6 speed for later in the model year...I really hope they do...! By the time I'm ready to buy all the bugs should be ironed out. <IMG SRC="http://www.swedespeed.com/ubb/smile.gif"><P>

 

[GrecianVolvo]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by blujeep:<BR><B>Not good news for initial buyers of the XC90...But that's at least some pretty definite info about the development of a 6 speed for later in the model year...I really hope they do...! By the time I'm ready to buy all the bugs should be ironed out. <IMG SRC="http://www.swedespeed.com/ubb/smile.gif"><P></B><HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>This is not going to happen for a while so the first two model years will not be affected. You cannot wait forver in order to get an upgraded feature...the progress is infinite; never ends.<P>Yannis<P><P>

 

[blujeep]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by GrecianVolvo:<BR><B> This is not going to happen for a while so the first two model years will not be affected. You cannot wait forver in order to get an upgraded feature...the progress is infinite; never ends.<P>Yannis<BR></B><HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>I'm aware of that, trust me. I'm simply not able to buy one for a few years anyway, so I'm not waiting for the 6 sp to come along, if that's what you think I meant. Unless my wife's Altima dies unexpectedly, that is. <IMG SRC="http://www.swedespeed.com/ubb/biggrin.gif"><BR>Then I'll take the T6/4 sp, no problemo! <IMG SRC="http://www.swedespeed.com/ubb/smile.gif"><BR>I just meant that if the new tranny & anything else is available when I'm ready to buy, then that's just fine with me. <IMG SRC="http://www.swedespeed.com/ubb/smile.gif"><BR><P>