[[email protected]]

Hi - I have read the reviews on the S60, and the one thing that bugs me is that apparently it has bad handling around corners. But all the reviews I have read haven't actually pointed out what HAPPENS, they talk about what the problem might be, but didn't really explain what happens and how severely. So if somebody might be able to tell me what happens and if it is a significant safety hazard, and why Volvo hasn't fixed this problem yet (the S60 has been out for a while now, so is this problem affecting the new ones as well or have I been reading old reviews?), that'd would be great. Thanks!

-Elliott

 

[S.R.]

There is no problem with the S60's handling around corners as far as I know. I have read at least 40 or more reviews (new & old) and have driven all three models and this car does not have a problem at all IMHO. In fact, I think it is the best handling car that Volvo has ever produced. Most of the reviews say that as well. I would be interested to know what reviews you have read that would be making statements like this?

-Drew

 

[ema_s60]

Elliott,

I've had my S60 2.4T for about 7 months/11,500 miles now. While I am usually a calm sedate driver, I tend to tackle corners aggressively. Several of the highway ramps I take each day are either 180 or 360 degrees and by no means do I take them slowly. I haven't had any complaints about handling so far and that is with the stock 16" all-season Michelin tires.

While the S60 may not handle as well as a BMW 3-series, I'm more than satisfied with its capabilities. The car is fairly small, easy to toss around, and the engine has decent amounts of power. I find cornering stability to be much better than my modified Infiniti I30.

-ema

 

[[email protected]]

OK - Thanks for the responses! Actually the two specific reviews were the ones from this site, Swedespeed.com and the Edmunds.com video summary on the S60, so if you could read the one on this site and tell me what you think I'd be gald to hear it! Thanks again!

-Elliott

 

[[email protected]]

Hi again! Jeese, I'm sorry, the review I was thinking of wasn't from this site! (sorry SwedeSpeed.com!) My Volvo favorites list is about a ile long, so it's easy to get confused! The Edmunds.com review i viewed jsut the other day, so I'm pretty sure that's still there, unless I'm having a lapse of memory, anyhow, I'll try to find that other review so you can take a look at it!

-Elliott

 

[Steve P]

I agree totally with the moderator.

I testdrove the S60 D5 with only the 16"wheels, but nonetheless this car is among the best if not the best.
Compare (drive!!!) the S60 with Jaguar X-Type or the Renailt Laguna II or the new Audi A4, BMW series 3.

Because the S60 is one of the widest the cornering is nearly perfect, take the sport suspension and it is almost perfect.

I STILL DON'T KNOW if I should wait for the AWD for sporty driving?
I'm not shure if the AWD supports sporty driving or makes the car heavier??
Please help!

 

[S.R.]

Elliot,

Check out the Edmunds.Com, Entry Level Luxury Sport Sedan Comparison Test. The Volvo S60 T5 tied for third with the Lexus IS300, and the BMW 330i came in second. The 330i and IS300 are the two best 'handling' cars in this class, so the S60 is in some great company. They felt that the S60 is tuned a little more towards luxury than sport.

Here is a quote from Edmunds:

quote:

We found it to be an entertaining ride, and certainly more sporty than any other four-door Volvo in recent memory. Dynamically, the S60 probably matches up best to Saabs like the 9-5 Aero or the 9-3 Viggen. It likely handles better than Japanese front-drive sedans like the Acura TL, but its steering and responsiveness are still a cut below rear-drive sport sedans like the 330i and Lexus IS 300.

-Drew

 

[[email protected]]

Hi! Thanks for all the responses, you have totally reassured me! I think I will take that advice actually, going for a test drive WOULD be a sensible thing to do!
Thanks again everybody!

-Elliott

 

[Ben from Canada]

No problem with the steering and handling... But I have my own comment on the steering. The S60 T5 turning radius is bigger than other cars I had driven. It needs to turn a little bit more at slow speed and sometimes it takes a bit more time to park at tight parking spaces. But once you get used to it, you will know how much the steering wheel needs to be turn.

 

[T5 Dave]

Get the S60 T5 with the sport suspension and you won't have ANY worries. The car handles VERY well with it. (Stiffer damping rates on the shocks and stiffer roll bars)

When the S60 debuted last November the Volvo ordering computer didn't list the sport suspension as an available option even though the brochure did. So the dealer here couldn't order it. I called the Overseas delivery folks and they said "Yes, it's option number 259." So, being the type of person I am and wanting the car exactly the way I wanted it, I ordered the car using the TDS delivery just so I could get the suspension package. (well, and a free trip to Europe, too, but that's besides the point.

)

I did keep the stock 16 inch wheels, though, mainly because they looked easier to clean than the spoked 17 inchers and the 16's would be less prone to pothole damage. But even on the 16 inch wheels the car handles very well with the sport package.

You won't be disappointed with the car. I suspect the reason the car magazines gave the S60 a 'bad' review was because Volvo didn't include the optional sport suspension in the units the magazines tested, so they pitted the S60's softer suspension against the Beemer's sport package--and guess who'd win that comparison? Anyway, read between the lines, do your own test with the available optional package and I think you'll be happy.