It might be just the way the car is.

I love my Volvo, but I understand it has a far from ideal balancing. It is way too front-heavy with the engine hanging ahead of the front axle. My car is lowered though which - with the absence of camber adjustment stock or aftermarket - get the car cambered negative which greatly improves cornering at a cost of not perfect tire wear and not as nimble high speed behavior.

I came from Subarus, I had several of them. Driving a car that is not perfectly balanced is a very different experience. I see the TC light coming up and feel it working much more on the Volvo than in any Subaru I've ever had. Don't take me wrong, the Volvo is still an overall better car in pretty much every other sense. But a 20 year old Subaru with no electronics at all handles better in twisty roads. And that's why comparing to a AWD S80. I assume the FWD behavior would be even more different since it is even more front-heavy.

That's where the BMWs also stand out. I believe the Volvo offers a very good package, a great offer of engines, very good comfort. However, my girlfriend has a bmw series 3, that is just so much more stable and loves to be pushed hard. Of course it breaks like a champ and it is finicky as hell. But when it works it is a very balanced car too, as good as a Subaru, but with the luxury amenities.

I am not saying one car is better than the other. Each car has it qualities and problems.

Most people won't drive the S80s hard enough or just won't notice a weird behavior because, in reality it is not even dangerous, it is just a small annoyance in daily driving.

 

I think you have described it correctly, it feels a bit front heavy. I really like the overall ride, especially on the highway, so I can live with it. But yes, that explains it. I imagine the S80 coming out with the lighter 4 cylinder engine will be less front heavy. Thanks.

 

I would call mine "floaty", with a big car feel. Not quite like a Buick but closer to that than a more nimble sports sedan. But my experience is on a car of 1 (mine) and I have fairly high mileage on my suspension system (which seems to be original to the car).

 

Does the S80 have "4C" suspension? What exactly is 4C? Is it a standard feature or an option?

 

Just asked a similar question on another thread, LC. Not sure if US specs differ much from UK specs (i'm in the UK) but in the UK, only SE Sport offers the 4C chassis. It basically allows you to select different suspension modes to adjust the car's handling.

 

Thanks, that explains some of the posts I have seen. Much appreciated.

 

I believe 4C was only available on the 07-08 US models with the sport package.

 

Thanks!

 

4C will help (I don't know by how much, never drove a non4C). But it is just a fix to an inherent unbalanced car.

 

Makes sense, thanks!

 

If you have the V8, then the front/rear weight distribution (%) is 61.5 / 38.5. That's comparable to the 61.0 / 39.0 of a Subaru WRX. The difference is in how that weight is distributed. The WRX has a flat-4, sits lower in general, and thereby has a lower center of gravity. The S80 is kind of tall by comparison.

Couple that with a softer suspension, possibly taller and/or softer sidewalls on your tires, and you get a less precise feel through the corners. You probably notice it more in slow corners because at faster speeds the car transitions and takes a 'set' faster.

If you have 4C, you'd see three buttons at the bottom of the center stack, just in front of the shifter. 4C works miracles in tightening up the ride, reducing roll and dive.

If you want to change the car's behavior on a conventional suspension, you can do so with spring rates, ride height, shock damping, sway bars, and larger wheels and/or shorter, stiffer tires. There are not a lot of choices in some of those categories for the S80, but there are some proven winners. Search here for 'Dynamic Chassis' for feedback on the OEM performance setup for non-4C cars.

As always, there is no free lunch; keep in mind that many of the handling improvements you make may reduce the quiet, comfy ride you currently have.

 

If you have the V8, then the front/rear weight distribution (%) is 61.5 / 38.5. That's comparable to the 61.0 / 39.0 of a Subaru WRX. The difference is in how that weight is distributed. The WRX has a flat-4, sits lower in general, and thereby has a lower center of gravity. The S80 is kind of tall by comparison.

Couple that with a softer suspension, possibly taller and/or softer sidewalls on your tires, and you get a less precise feel through the corners. You probably notice it more in slow corners because at faster speeds the car transitions and takes a 'set' faster.

If you have 4C, you'd see three buttons at the bottom of the center stack, just in front of the shifter. 4C works miracles in tightening up the ride, reducing roll and dive.

If you want to change the car's behavior on a conventional suspension, you can do so with spring rates, ride height, shock damping, sway bars, and larger wheels and/or shorter, stiffer tires. There are not a lot of choices in some of those categories for the S80, but there are some proven winners. Search here for 'Dynamic Chassis' for feedback on the OEM performance setup for non-4C cars.

As always, there is no free lunch; keep in mind that many of the handling improvements you make may reduce the quiet, comfy ride you currently have.

Thank you for this in depth explanation, and options, much appreciated. I would hate to destroy the quiet comfy ride I now have, but I'm still going to investigate the choices.

 

It's a normal thing for a long sedan like the s80.The front is very heavy and you can notice this when drivinh at very low speed over the speed bumps.Also the circle of turn isn't that wide especially if the car is equipped with 17'' or 18'' alloys.They have a steering limiter installed so the front tires won't touch the suspension parts when max steering is achieved.With the limiter,the wheels does not angle enough like mercedes or vw,when turning.If you drive your car on a dusty surface in a circle,you will notice that the front wheels are mostly dragged in the outside of the circle,tending to understeer,and in that rythm,doing that on pavement roads,the outside tread of the front tires will be wearing out prematurely.The part is called Steering Deflection limiter. Applies to all vehicles fitted with bigger wheels and tires than the factory specification.
Stock Code 30760164
I have a problem with this low range circle of turning on the narrow streets with small angle corners.A friend of mine that lives in England sold his 2004 s60 on this reason.small turning angle on tight cornered streets.he bought a 2007 3 series bmw sedan.

 

Are you saying that the car doesn't turn wide enough, or that it doesn't turn tight enough? I've only been driving the S80 for a week, but my initial impression is that at low speeds it doesn't turn right corners tightly enough. Is that what you are also describing? Very interesting about the differences with different size rims. Does it improve or get worse with larger rims? What effect does the steering limiter have, does it make steering less tight or more tight? Thanks!

 

Sorry!It does not turn tight enough.It handles very well with 17 and 18" alloys.They are not an issue,but those that have 16" wheels,i guess they don't have the steering deflection limiter and will do better in tight corners as the wheels will steer more.I won't give up on my 18" alloys.The car feels just right with these wheel dimension.Overall it is a nice piece of driving machine that features lots and lots of sweedish engeering.A car that's been built with the sense of responsability.I would not trade mine for now.Only with a newer s80 probably .I'm looking for a 1,6 gasoline c30 for my wife.

 

Funny because I am so happy with the turning radius of my S80 (with 18s). Compared to a Subaru it feels like you're driving a beetle. ehhehe

Streets here are a lot wider then most places though.

 

Funny because I am so happy with the turning radius of my S80 (with 18s). Compared to a Subaru it feels like you're driving a beetle. ehhehe

Streets here are a lot wider then most places though.

It's preety scary for me when trying to enter on somehow narrow busy road and not having the necessary space to make the complete turn.In this case i have drive back in reverse and than drive away.Two unecessary manouvers.It's funny,but scary at the same time,that i'm always signaling the other drivers that come driving fast towards me (from my left/right)with my hands/lights/horn and sometimes yelling ,letting them know that i will not be doing the turn in one move as most drivers expect it to happen,not putting their foot on the brake to lower the speed.This is not a common problem anyway.There are just a few narrow turns.I also have a 8 meter long vw crafter van,that has a better radius than my s80.The front wheels lower much more.

 

I have 17" Alloys. I'm starting to get used to it around right turns. I'm hoping it won't be an issue after a couple more weeks of driving. My wife drove it tonight for the first time, she loved it, I mean luvvvvved it, but she also noticed a problem when she had to make a slow right turn. Interesting all the factors and compromises that must be made when designing a suspension.

 

I have 17" alloys on my winter wheels.It is the same thing.The dinension of the wheels does not matter.It's the deflection limiter that keep the wheel from turning and leaning more.Fit it with 16" wheels and you won't be needing the deflection liniter anymore,but the car will look weird . 16" is not what the s80 needs.They are small

 

I had these same two concerns. I lightened up on acceleration and my MPG improved, sadly mostly depends on your foot and driving behaviors.

As for the body roll, I was recommended a sway bar and I am going to be putting one in, IPD makes them specifically for our cars and can be found here- http://www.ipdusa.com/products/8809/115783-rear-anti-sway-bar-kit-p3-s80-s60-v70-xc70-xc60
They also make some nice shocks and other steering parts that I have on my V50. The floaty ride will grow on you, I get into other cars and sob at all the bumps I can feel.

Congrats on your S80, and welcome to the family. artywave:

 

You are absolutely correct. My wife has a Mercury Milan Hybrid, which by the way gets amazing gas mileage of 36-39 mpg. The ride on that car, to my best recollection, is awesome, a really pleasurable car to drive. Since buying the Volvo S80, my wife and I have been exclusively traveling about in the Volvo, enjoying the new car, right? Then yesterday we decide to do some errands in the Milan hybrid to save some money on gas, and I drove it. We both noticed immediately the ride was rough compared to the S80, we were kinda shocked how noticeable the difference was, as it was practically annoying to feel that many little bumps after getting used to the S80 smooth ride. I'm ruined now, I can't even drive a fuel efficient hybrid anymore. Thanks Volvo!!!!

As for changing the ride, I have gotten used to the way the car drives now, so I think I am going to hold off on making any changes to the suspension. But I do appreciate the link, it may come in handy someday. After you change yours, please repost your impressions, whether you like it or not and how it changes the ride. Thanks. Enjoy your S80 and other Volvos as well!

 

FWIW: My "reasonable driving" at highway speeds nets me ~28MPG, which is higher than the re-calculated EPA mileage of 25MPG HWY for my model year S80. Mixed driving nets about~23MPG. Both are hand calculations and not from the car's computer (which is nicely not that far off normally).