When will MY25 be due

[sandys]

Originally Posted by Discoman

Most people do the sums and/or don't like that the spec upgrades delete some items. I want a heated windscreen (unavailable of the Ultimate), like the more basic seats, don't want bling wheels with low profile tyres (I've got sports cars for that use) and don't like how the 4WD/electric only mode works on the plug ins. Therefore I just want to buy my car again basically.

I also think that once you are spending such a large amount of money, personalisation (to a degree) is nice. Porsche understand this.

No Porsches method is to offer you less than most people offer and charge you for it that is another thing entirely, well that was my experience of 718 GTS buying, the high end GTS base model comes with bugger all kit and you basically spend 10k to match the spec of another brands car before you even start personalising

I'd rather have a well specced fixed car than all that profiteering from personalization but that's me, bit of a tight arse, think that is why I always ended up in an Alfa back in the day than a BMW as they used to do the same.

As for the 4wd system, don't they all work much the same in this area, 2wd for efficiency then the 4wd kicks in when needed, the PHEV is no different, just delivered in a different way, which if you wanted it on all the time you could just switch on.

[sk546]

Originally Posted by sandys

As for the 4wd system, don't they all work much the same in this area, 2wd for efficiency then the 4wd kicks in when needed, the PHEV is no different, just delivered in a different way, which if you wanted it on all the time you could just switch on.

No, most of the other brands do the PHEV bit very differently to Volvo.
Volvo have the electric drive on the rear axle and petrol drive on the front axle so its an eAWD system with no actual connection between the 2 drive systems. On the Volvo, you have to operate both petrol and electric at the same time to get AWD.
Audi, VW, BMW, Porsche and JLR have the electric motor and petrol engine as suppliers to the 4wd gearbox and as such, either electric drive or petrol drive by themselves operate the full 4wd system.

Horses for courses really, the Volvo has less drivetrain loses and so can use a smaller battery to get the same electric range but the other have full time 4wd with either power source running.
Having driven others, I still prefer the Volvo method as the electric motor is smoother due to its single gear whereas the others still have gear changes to go through when driving in electric so it feels more jerky & cumbersome.

Saying all this, my next car will likely be one of the competitors with the more conventional drive system as Volvo no longer sell the Polestar Engineered in the UK, I dont like the handling balance of the standard Volvo cars (too soft and soggy for my liking) and I'm not ready to go full EV just yet.

[Ulrikas PA]

Originally Posted by Discoman

I'm off to look at VW or Audi for my next car.

If you don't mind lightly used, there are some cracking deals if you search, for second owners. Just picked up a great A8 where the depreciation for the previous owner was horrific !

[sandys]

Originally Posted by sk546

No, most of the other brands do the PHEV bit very differently to Volvo.
Volvo have the electric drive on the rear axle and petrol drive on the front axle so its an eAWD system with no actual connection between the 2 drive systems. On the Volvo, you have to operate both petrol and electric at the same time to get AWD.
Audi, VW, BMW, Porsche and JLR have the electric motor and petrol engine as suppliers to the 4wd gearbox and as such, either electric drive or petrol drive by themselves operate the full 4wd system.

Yup I understand the differences on the eAWD but regardless of the implementation it doesn't change how they function, they are all setup to be 2wd until 4wd is needed, the difference here is rather than have a clutched torque splitting transfer box, all that is removed for direct drive motor on rear.

Ultimately is its the same, with the other guys the rear is not engaged until slip, on the Volvo the front is engaged on slip if on e drive, you'd be hard pressed to tell the difference, and all systems let you set constant AWD if you want it.

[sk546]

Originally Posted by sandys

Yup I understand the differences on the eAWD but regardless of the implementation it doesn't change how they function, they are all setup to be 2wd until 4wd is needed, the difference here is rather than have a clutched torque splitting transfer box, all that is removed for direct drive motor on rear.

Ultimately is its the same, with the other guys the rear is not engaged until slip, on the Volvo the front is engaged on slip if on e drive, you'd be hard pressed to tell the difference, and all systems let you set constant AWD if you want it.

Again, not always the case, this all depends on the type of 4wd system in use on the car. The majority of the competitions 4wd systems operate a full time 4wd with a variable torque split between front and rear axles. The toque split will always send power to both axles but the split will vary depending on which axle needs it most e.g. Audi's Torsen 4wd system.
The systems you are talking about are the likes of a Haldex 4wd system which only sends drive to one axle until it detects slip, at which point an electrically controlled clutch pack engages and sends power to the other axle.

[Discoman]

Originally Posted by Ulrikas PA

If you don't mind lightly used, there are some cracking deals if you search, for second owners. Just picked up a great A8 where the depreciation for the previous owner was horrific !

Love an A8, had a 4.2 petrol then a 3.0 diesel back when Audi sold then six months old for less than half RRP.

[Discoman]

Originally Posted by sandys

No Porsches method is to offer you less than most people offer and charge you for it that is another thing entirely, well that was my experience of 718 GTS buying, the high end GTS base model comes with bugger all kit and you basically spend 10k to match the spec of another brands car before you even start personalising

I'd rather have a well specced fixed car than all that profiteering from personalization but that's me, bit of a tight arse, think that is why I always ended up in an Alfa back in the day than a BMW as they used to do the same.

As for the 4wd system, don't they all work much the same in this area, 2wd for efficiency then the 4wd kicks in when needed, the PHEV is no different, just delivered in a different way, which if you wanted it all the time you could just switch on.

I don't like how the Volvo PHEV powertrain works. Most won't mind but other makes do it better IMHO. I test drove a 718 GTS to replace an Italian V8 a few years ago and thought the inline six sounded like a bag of spanners. Much preferred the turbo six in the 992 and the updated interior. Bought neither in the end as dealer took two years to not deliver a 992 so lost interest and am largely past wanting that sort of car now.

It would be good if Volvo could cater to both tastes in terms of options or packages. Land Rover seem to manage the middle ground and agree that Porsche at times are unbelievable - only part electric seats on the 992 for example. Spec on the SUVs is better, thankfully.

[sandys]

Originally Posted by Discoman

I test drove a 718 GTS to replace an Italian V8 a few years ago and thought the inline six sounded like a bag of spanners.

Its a 4.0 Boxer 6 like the GT4, basically a slightly detuned GT4 which is a bored/stroked non turbo 992 engine, no inlines, but yeah like the GT4 and 911 not the best sounding thing at low rpm but up top, lovely, you may have tested the earlier 2.5 4 cylinder boxer GTS which is even worse.

[Discoman]

Originally Posted by sandys

Its a 4.0 Boxer 6 like the GT4, basically a slightly detuned GT4 which is a bored/stroked non turbo 992 engine, no inlines, but yeah like the GT4 and 911 not the best sounding thing at low rpm but up top, lovely, you may have tested the earlier 2.5 4 cylinder boxer GTS which is even worse.

Yes it was the six. I was impressed with the comments on noise from CAR magazine etc and remembered a 987S I had had new in 2005 but after the drive I realised that GPFs had killed the noise I want from a weekend car. It is a great car, mind, but regulations have already pushed manufacturers' too much into a corner for me. Hence not being that bothered by the white goods noise of a Volvo petrol 4 which needs the radio up at high revs!

PS Had not noticed I had written inline for some reason.

[Ulrikas PA]

Originally Posted by Discoman

Hence not being that bothered by the white goods noise of a Volvo petrol 4 which needs the radio up at high revs!

I've just gone from my D5 2.4 hybrid to a V6 3.0 TDi - the Audi beats it hands down aurally, especially when the engine is cold, where the Volvo was awful. I used to dread the engine cutting in around town after the battery had run out ! Even my A6 Allroad was smoother at 160,000m when sold.

P.s. Speaking boxer engines, I still rate my prodrive Impreza turbo for noise