Volvo drivers' whinging forum! In the spirit of exploring total volvo ownership...

Yes, tailgaters. I slow down (right down) and let them overtake. Annoys them as much as me.

Yes, people who speed up when you try to overtake. Especially around these rural parts, where many roads are single carriageway. Although I was driving to London on the M1 last Wednesday and went to overtake a large 4wd thing, which upon seeing the volvo accelerated to match whatever speed I was doing! Arse. I gave up at 100 and pulled behind it, and the sad moron slowed down to 75 again (also middle lane hogging). Must say I was suprised to find it did 100. Might have done more but I started to think about gaskets and stuff and 'car maintenance in the rain' and backed off! [btw, for any wonderful readers with blue flashing lights I am of course talking utter twaddle - terrible boaster me]

More on above. People with 2 litre plus fuel-injected modern motors don't need to worry about momentum. If they need to go up a hill or overtake they just put their foot down. In my 340DL I have to consider momentum. A drive to a local town is entirely on a two-track road. There is one sensible place to overtake in 14 miles (and yes, everyone speeds up to 70 along this stretch). There are however five other overtaking places that require extra judgement in the volvo. I have to hang back then be going faster than the car infront if I'm to make the move if the opportunity exists. Yet folk still accelerate, or needlessly brake at slight corners or at the base of hills, so I have to brake, and lose the momentum, and give up on that overtaking spot. Maybe I should look into giving the old thing a bit more snap.

Well, this is contageous. I also get angered by people who go on and on in forum po

You won't break it driving it hard....honest The B14 rather enjoys it (having a decent sized carb), and you've got to treat it a bit mean to make reasonable progress.

People speeding up on the motorway is fun in the 360...if in doubt, 60mph is 4000rpm in 3rd, and 3rd will take you (rather quickly) to 90-95...

cheers

James

foggyjames wrote: People speeding up on the motorway is fun in the 360...if in doubt, 60mph is 4000rpm in 3rd, and 3rd will take you (rather quickly) to 90-95...

Hmmm, not recognising that as my current driving experience in the trusty 340DL. 60mph in 4th is a straining sound from the engine, in 5th it's purring. I'm afraid no gear will take me rather quickly to 90-95, or to any speed for that matter. Acceleration is not one of 'old bouncy's' (or Giles's/A&E's/...- missus' names) strong points. That's the whole thing with the momentum. Once I've slowed it's a real slog gathering the pace again. That's what I miss from other cars - the ability to overtake without having to take so many factors into consideration.

Had a couple of 1.5 Alpha Suds a few years ago, and they shifted like the proverbial poo off a digging implement. So a 1.7 should be capable of better performance acceleration-wise.

Still, I'm in complete agreement about giving the old sod its rein. Once it has found its speed for a road it is fun, and it does seem to respond in what can only be called an 'agile' way when it has woken up.

The 1.4's surely aren't that slow... I had a spin in Nessy last week and despite being full of luggage (and Now Hits CD's ) it still felt fairly damn torquey - even in 5th.

That's why the CVT's so good on motorways with the 1.4 - you're always in exactly the right gear, so I've been pleasantly surprised that it'll accelerate going up a fairly steep hill from 70mph.

SteveP wrote:(and Now Hits CD's )

Gotta keep it gangsta!

cheers

James