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Our cars 'handling' in general

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Old Aug 9th, 2018, 12:19   #11
LizardOfBodom
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I would have thought ordering an SE Sport is better than ordering comfort from a handling point of view, so they did you a favour there. Your handling issues now are probably down to age/miles - Shocks get tired, springs sag, bushes wear down, it all contributes to a sloppier handling car which most of us probably have now.



Do you mean R-Design? When I think R I think a proper R, as in, 850R/S60R/V70R.

If it's R-design you mean, as far as I know, they didn't make any suspension changes from the earlier models, just gave the bumpers/lights/interior bit of a facelift (I could be wrong though!).

My car is SE SPORT in log book and has sideskirts/spoilers etc, but I doubt the "sport" has anything to do with actual suspension. My build plate clearly indicates that shocks are "COMFORT" type so I would guess springs and ARBs are matching the suspension type. To my understanding it was mix&match on original order so you can ask for SE SPORT trim package with COMFORT/SPORT/DYNAMIC suspension types or whatever names they were.
Age in my case has nothing to do with it - shocks and springs are all replaced within last 30k miles and while it obviously inproved the ride tromendously, its still not "as I would like it to be". But again - no actual complains, except for understeering a bit.

Yes, R-design I meant, but (unless I am mistaken) I thought all R-designs cars had "sport" suspension type as default. Maybe you could personalise them with differenr one, dunno, but for sure it felt stiffer and a bit "sportier" to drive.
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Old Aug 9th, 2018, 13:26   #12
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When I get back into my 144,000 mile S60 SE Lux after not driving it for a week, it amuses me how it feels more involving to drive than either my 2008 S40 T5 R-design (with strut brace), or 2012 C30 2.0 R-design (with strut brace).

The top mounts and control arms could do with replacing my S60 and it still feels a bit better to drive than either of the P1 cars.

Though the S60 does have Meyle HD end links fitted all round which make a nice difference.

My S40 T5 is definitely getting an uprated Anti-Roll bar as the rear end rolls like boat, which is just plain embarrassing. I reckon if I remapped my S60, it'd be ahead in the corners.
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Old Aug 9th, 2018, 14:28   #13
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I dont really like the way my car handles but its far from saying it handles badly. I find it really understeering on tight corners and roundabouts and wouldnt mind if it was a bit stiffer but its my personal preferences. I think the problem is partially due to being AWD and higher than it should, and partially due to oem setup (someone decided to order SE SPORT version with COMFORT suspension from factory). Have driven S40 T5 R and it had much nicer and stiffer suspension but was even more understeering due to FWD so I guess its a loose-loose situation.
All in all I think it mostly depends on factory setup option and driving style.

If (JUST) polisbushing can make a difference, I might look at it in future, also uprated ARB apparently makes night-day difference, but its all "in the future if possible". for 98% of times its a highway cruiser so that it does perfectly
It's also worth experimenting with more grippy tyres if not already fitted, these are after all the contact with the road and seem to get slightly ignored in some cases... I've seen super high quality suspension fitted to try and solve understeer, but then mid-range tyres on the same car.
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Old Aug 9th, 2018, 14:34   #14
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It's also worth experimenting with more grippy tyres if not already fitted, these are after all the contact with the road and seem to get slightly ignored in some cases... I've seen super high quality suspension fitted to try and solve understeer, but then mid-range tyres on the same car.
No, its not like "loosing grip" understeer, more like "cant tighten the corner enough" understeer, if you know what I mean Cant complain on tyres anymore, but previous Hankooks, now those HAD grip issues, oh my...
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Old Aug 9th, 2018, 16:29   #15
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I suppose we've all seen the Youtube video where Vicky Butler-Henderson was hooning a V50 around in comparison to a Subaru Legacy, even when new the Volvo was given a thumbs-down for lack of feel and general waftiness.

I'm seriously considering a full poly bush kit as soon as practical.
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Old Aug 9th, 2018, 18:30   #16
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Do it!

As a result of this thread, I have just purchased the 25.4mm Elevate rear bar and some "hardrace" uprated rear droplinks.

Can't wait!
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Old Aug 9th, 2018, 23:12   #17
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Random off topic question, but is there a vin decoder or something that gives the original factory spec? I’m intrigued by some the comments about SE Sport cars with Comfort suspension - I’d assumed mine had sport suspension because it’s an SE Sport
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Old Aug 10th, 2018, 01:55   #18
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phil , its a volvo
so having a "this trim level" , be it drive/drive-s/ xs/s/se/se lux / r-design on the boot / v5c means it can come with whichever suspension option the purchaser chose, same as option packs,, so you can get SE with comfort or sports or active

you get all sorts of bits added on,, depending on which pack they added, even to the point of "that cant be fitted with this option pack"

short of popping along to your local tame volvo dealer and getting them to tell you what the car came with (from the Reg plate ,not the vin odd as it is !) theres no easy lookup



R-design is "usually" the base spec , with the R-design touches added, doesnt mean "sports" or a Proper R like the 850R etc
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Old Aug 10th, 2018, 09:19   #19
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There was a very kind member on here who found by build spec as per this thread:

https://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showt...ld+spec+car%3F

I have the 'dynamic' chassis (that's the 'sportiest').
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Old Aug 10th, 2018, 10:50   #20
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Yeh I mean these cars are volvo's at the end of the day, they are motorway cruisers. My T5 had firmer OEM suspension then my previous S40 2.0D and it was still had a huge arch gap and rolled like anything. Even fitting lowering springs didnt stop that roll, it reduced it a touch. I upgraded the rear anti roll bar and still not that much different really and alot of what I thought was a gain was just in my mind.

Only real difference to make to the handling is putting on coilovers, and now the car has really been transformed and is defenitly engaging to drive.

Regardless of all the above the handling / grip of that front end has always been great. Where my previous cars had understeered the S40 so far for me has never understeered once yet and I do really push it (On track) ..... only thing to note is I very easily get lift of over steer (Actually quite fun though)

Will be following Yobo on the polybushes root, already have some of these on the rear now.

But if you are looking for handling, coilovers and wider tires will transform the car. Running PS4 all round and defenitly recommend. Great on motorway cruises and for country/track sprints
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