Drove a V50 and S40 T5 AWD last night
03-17-2005, 08:01 PM
#1
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Drove a V50 and S40 T5 AWD last night
Serious machine, good competition for the B7 I'd say. Haldex AWD, lots of torque, pretty decent interior. I was impressed, would probably consider it if buying new today.
Anyone else been out in one?
Anyone else been out in one?
03-17-2005, 08:58 PM
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Yep, love it a lot! :-) Wife (its her car) and I are taking delivery in 4 weeks, direct from factory
<center><img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/46462/s40t5awd.jpg"></center><p>
The new car has come leaps and bounds from the last boxy shape. Yuk! We did our HW and at the end we were torn between the TT 225 and the S40 T5 AWD. We decided that we needed something with 4 doors. Besides we already have 2 Audis in the family.
I wanted one specifically with the Dynamic Stability Traction Control or DSTC feature. Very hard to come by one on local dealer lots. We're getting the S40 T5 AWD with all the options except the body kit/17s. I have mod plans already for the car. Checking <a href="http://www.evolvecars.com/site/index.php">evolvecars.com</a> for reference (thanks to a fellow AWer). My wife has given me full freedom there, gotta love her for it
.
Hey, but I still love my Audi too, hence the name on AW :-D. I am a regular on <a href="http://www.swedespeed.com">swedespeed.com</a> Check it out, its a nice site.<ul><li><a href="https://forums.audiworld.com/a4gen2/msgs/782586.phtml">Link to thread I posted here a while back...clicky clicky...</a></li></ul>
The new car has come leaps and bounds from the last boxy shape. Yuk! We did our HW and at the end we were torn between the TT 225 and the S40 T5 AWD. We decided that we needed something with 4 doors. Besides we already have 2 Audis in the family.
I wanted one specifically with the Dynamic Stability Traction Control or DSTC feature. Very hard to come by one on local dealer lots. We're getting the S40 T5 AWD with all the options except the body kit/17s. I have mod plans already for the car. Checking <a href="http://www.evolvecars.com/site/index.php">evolvecars.com</a> for reference (thanks to a fellow AWer). My wife has given me full freedom there, gotta love her for it
.Hey, but I still love my Audi too, hence the name on AW :-D. I am a regular on <a href="http://www.swedespeed.com">swedespeed.com</a> Check it out, its a nice site.<ul><li><a href="https://forums.audiworld.com/a4gen2/msgs/782586.phtml">Link to thread I posted here a while back...clicky clicky...</a></li></ul>
03-17-2005, 09:59 PM
#4
Seems like a nice car. Lots of AW snobs bash the hell out of it...
seems like they hate it cuz Ford owns Volvo, and it shares a platform with the Focus and the Mazda 3. Of course all those opinions come from people who have probably never even sat behind the wheel of one.
From what I've seen, read, and heard, I like the S40. I'd consider getting one myself. When the time comes to test drive cars, I'll take one for a ride and see what I think.
From what I've seen, read, and heard, I like the S40. I'd consider getting one myself. When the time comes to test drive cars, I'll take one for a ride and see what I think.
03-18-2005, 03:49 AM
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Very nice cars, keep in mind it took a while for volvo to step up to the plate..
They had been delivering some pretty boring mediocre products for a while especially in the 4-door luxury sport sedan market.
I love the new S40 T5, I should go drive one. My only concern is cabin space. I test drove an s60 a couple of years ago and I am not a big dude but I felt cramped
MMMM I dream about 5 cyl. turbo swaps for my B6..
I love the new S40 T5, I should go drive one. My only concern is cabin space. I test drove an s60 a couple of years ago and I am not a big dude but I felt cramped
MMMM I dream about 5 cyl. turbo swaps for my B6..
03-18-2005, 04:29 AM
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my choice last year was S40 T5/AWD and A4 Ultra
I, of course, chose the A4, but it was a tough choice.
Ultimately the cabin, while pretty good, was not as nice as the A4. In fact, with just a little more effort it could be tops.
I found that the headrests and B pillars really blocked visibility when shoulder-checking.
The car felt very solid feeling and drove well. There was more lag time in the Turbo spinning up than I had expected.
In the end, it was really cool. The decision was made due to the A4 was just more fun to drive. Very hard to explain, I just had a grin on my face when testing the A4. Also, the B6 A4 is more aggressive looking - the S40, which has the low overhang/stubby look I love, looks a little too friendly in the front...
I think that the car felt like a Jetta killer, not an A4 killer. I know Volvo wants the S40 to go toe to toe with Audi, but it just doesn't feel like it is at that level. On top of that, when I was looking (October 2004), the total price of the S40 was more than the A4 with a much larger lease rate, so that sealed the deal.
BTW - if you go with the body kit, you can swap the ugly wing spoiler with the nicer trunk lip spoiler.
ALL THAT SAID, if in 3 years the B8 totally licks this may be a car I will be looking at. Or as a car for my wife, who loved the car (I did TONS of research on this car and found lots of people talking about how this is their wife's car that they want to play with - interesting).
Ultimately the cabin, while pretty good, was not as nice as the A4. In fact, with just a little more effort it could be tops.
I found that the headrests and B pillars really blocked visibility when shoulder-checking.
The car felt very solid feeling and drove well. There was more lag time in the Turbo spinning up than I had expected.
In the end, it was really cool. The decision was made due to the A4 was just more fun to drive. Very hard to explain, I just had a grin on my face when testing the A4. Also, the B6 A4 is more aggressive looking - the S40, which has the low overhang/stubby look I love, looks a little too friendly in the front...
I think that the car felt like a Jetta killer, not an A4 killer. I know Volvo wants the S40 to go toe to toe with Audi, but it just doesn't feel like it is at that level. On top of that, when I was looking (October 2004), the total price of the S40 was more than the A4 with a much larger lease rate, so that sealed the deal.
BTW - if you go with the body kit, you can swap the ugly wing spoiler with the nicer trunk lip spoiler.
ALL THAT SAID, if in 3 years the B8 totally licks this may be a car I will be looking at. Or as a car for my wife, who loved the car (I did TONS of research on this car and found lots of people talking about how this is their wife's car that they want to play with - interesting).
03-18-2005, 05:05 AM
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yep, checked out a T5 before I bought my car
unfortunately, neither AWD nor a manual transmission were available on the car at the time, so it wasn't much of a consideration..definitely nice power and a nice interior though...i'd consider it more now that AWD and a manual are available
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03-18-2005, 07:00 AM
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Made the decision hard ...
But as I was comparing it to a 3.0, it was easier to choose the Audi than if I was comparing it to a 1.8T.
The interior was great, but not Audi. The ride was excellent and the engine response, even with the automatic, was great. I haven't driven very many autosticks, but this one seemed more responsive than some others.
The quality, while less than Audi, is exemplary, and you certainly wouldn't go wrong with it. I would recommend that you spend some more time with both.
As for the AWD, Quattro has been around for a lot longer, and Volvo's system is fairly new (at least to Volvo). I didn't drive the Volvo in the snow, so I can't really comment otherwise.
IMO, it would be a fine choice.
The interior was great, but not Audi. The ride was excellent and the engine response, even with the automatic, was great. I haven't driven very many autosticks, but this one seemed more responsive than some others.
The quality, while less than Audi, is exemplary, and you certainly wouldn't go wrong with it. I would recommend that you spend some more time with both.
As for the AWD, Quattro has been around for a lot longer, and Volvo's system is fairly new (at least to Volvo). I didn't drive the Volvo in the snow, so I can't really comment otherwise.
IMO, it would be a fine choice.
03-18-2005, 07:31 AM
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Yup, they're way better then the previous MY. Better interior, but stil not
as nice as the A4's IMO. Lacks the nice touches, fit and feel of the Audi. I didn't drive one, but have heard from anyone who has driven one that the T5s are great.
If and when I move out of my car, it will be a consideration as a replacement. I trolled Sweedspeed and there seems to be a few minor problems - nothing out of the ordinary for a totally new MY. In a few years, I think it will be even higher on my list if they can work out the quirks and maybe update the interior a bit.
If and when I move out of my car, it will be a consideration as a replacement. I trolled Sweedspeed and there seems to be a few minor problems - nothing out of the ordinary for a totally new MY. In a few years, I think it will be even higher on my list if they can work out the quirks and maybe update the interior a bit.