Stormtrooping 850. Now with boring MPG maths.

[foggyjames]

Note how I only said feedback, not capable!

You were responding to me...and I said nothing about feedback! Yeah, it's a bit disconnected and over-assisted, but what isn't nowadays (especially this type of car)?
Maybe I misunderstood what Jani was saying, but all the ones I've driven (best part of 10?) have always had impressively "sharp" steering, whereas steering a standard 300 (yes, even a B14) can be a bit of a hope & pray exercise at times, especially with the super-sloppy manual rack. The PAS racks are quite a lot 'tighter', actually...probably the closest thing to the FWD stuff. 7/900s are the worst of the lot Obviously I'm just taking Volvos here. I do appreciate that an MX5 will make an 850 feel like an oil tanker.

I know what goes round a corner quickest, I also know which I like taking round a corner quickest and they arn't the same thing!

Agreed.

Chris 1-0 Foggy & Steve. Well played.

The referee is biased! It's like Bush's re-election all over again!

cheers

James

[volvosneverdie]

The body mount does feel wobbly. So maybe Foggy was right.
Need to find a correct sized bolt to test it.

[foggyjames]

If it feels wobbly by hand, it'll be bust. PM me an email address, and I'll send you pics of the repair I did.

Of the cars I've worked on (7), two have needed the welded repair, and one needed a new check strap...and one needed both! More than 50% of them have suffered some sort or problem in this area.

While we're talking about common problems (there aren't many, honest...!), check the PAS fluid level. Treat "max" as "min", or you'll soon need a new pump. Take care of a few basics like this, and you'll be able to put 20-30k a year on it with minimal investment. I've been very impressed with mine, and looking back do wonder if a V70 TDI / 2.5D would have been a wiser move than the P2 D5.

cheers

James

[volvosneverdie]

boring MPG calculation.
Now with added actual facts, and shoddy maths.

May be of interest of some person, one day. Though possibly not.




So, last 50 litre tank actually got me 270 miles @ 69.9ppl

Which comes out near enough 25mpg (on gas).

Petrol at the same filling station is on 132 ppl. (just under twice as expensive?)

So, I guess (and someone shoot me down if all my recconing is full of holes) that a comparison of 49mpg might be ballpark accurate?

Less than I worked out when I was pissed, but better economy round the doors than a smaller, less comfortable french rubbish.

[foggyjames]

If that's round town (including short 60-70mph bits), you're beating the D5...which does about 45 in the same conditions. Pretty much 50mpg tops so far...although I reckon 55+ is possible if the motorway stays flat enough. Just did a true 50 on a trip to Glasgow and back, and the motorway is far from flat over Shap and in the Borders. Sadly with a range north of 800 miles, it's hard to do a "full tank" test in good conditions before you run out of road.

cheers

James

[volvosneverdie]

If that's round town (including short 60-70mph bits), you're beating the D5...which does about 45 in the same conditions. Pretty much 50mpg tops so far...although I reckon 55+ is possible if the motorway stays flat enough. Just did a true 50 on a trip to Glasgow and back, and the motorway is far from flat over Shap and in the Borders. Sadly with a range north of 800 miles, it's hard to do a "full tank" test in good conditions before you run out of road.

cheers

James

Yeah, thats all "short" trips. 10 mile hops usually. As im 10 miles from almost everywhere I go. All mixed speed runs.
Lol at 800 mile range! thats awesome!

[Nimminz]

Thats not bad at all if your calculatory skills are good

[jtbo]

About that steering, very poor centering, there is no telling if there is ice or tarmac under the wheels, quite uninspiring to drive because of that, it is not very quick to change direction from my experience, but do note that it was a Diesel model that I drove, corners pretty damn slow compared to my daily, ah but thing is _most_ not sport models are cornering slower than my daily as when this french crap was launched it was the best handling car of it's segment, well that is what I read from car magazine touting.

So far I have not found limits, front end just bites and bites, it is easy to control under/oversteer by throttle, sure 850 is much heavier, bigger, generally harder to make such vehicle to compete with smaller vehicle.

Also even I truly hate this french crap, it has one of the best steering feedbacks that I have found from FWD cars with PAS, but that is not much.

Volvo and Saab have both quite bad steering feedback, but it is only matter of setting more caster, more negative camber, to get better turn in setting toe less will help oh and disabling powersteering pump, that is useless anyway if getting car to actually be nice for some spirited driving.

300 has a lot of caster compared to other cars, so when it is in perfect condition there will be quite good feedback and self centering.

There is also steering geometry, one big thing is how far steering rod end is from wheel center (front/back), having it closer to center is making steering to be heavier but also more feedback, can't remember how it was with big Volvos, but I think there was bigger distance than with 300.

850 might be one of the better from FWD Volvos, but I don't value it very high in driving fun area, I do prefer my 360 over that, even my french crap C ZX is better in that area, but there are lot worse cars, even RWD, like 80's Toyota Hiace for example

[jtbo]

boring MPG calculation.
Now with added actual facts, and shoddy maths.

May be of interest of some person, one day. Though possibly not.




So, last 50 litre tank actually got me 270 miles @ 69.9ppl

Which comes out near enough 25mpg (on gas).

Petrol at the same filling station is on 132 ppl. (just under twice as expensive?)

So, I guess (and someone shoot me down if all my recconing is full of holes) that a comparison of 49mpg might be ballpark accurate?

Less than I worked out when I was pissed, but better economy round the doors than a smaller, less comfortable french rubbish.

Cheaper fuel is always helping, but don't forget that LPG in smaller not so comfortable car can provide even higher MPG, but it is of course improvement to your (yet another) french expedition