JogJog

So after waiting this long to decide if I was going with a 2.0t or 3.2 and finally getting to drive the C30. The Volvo wins hands down, Interior is fantastic, layout very minialist no looking around for Radio/AC controls. To refresh my mind I drove a 07 2.0t earlier in the day and saw both C30s being unloaded yesterday as I drove by so went in today to check em out. With the 18inchers the ride was suprisingly smoother than the 3.2 and cabin volume was MUCH quieter and less noisy as the A3 cabin. Although rear space is slightly bigger than the A3's. The engine is more than I had thought the 2.5 T5 that ships with the C30s is 227bhp/230ft-ilbs and the torque is great it pulls in all gears and 100mph comes up superquick, I was anticipating I'd walk away knowing the Audi was the winner but I had to be sure and I sure was wrong. This car gave me that old B5 S4 feeling all over again. IBQ was there, right on par with the A3 powerseats, bixenon, sirius and ipod hookup through the headphone sized jack was a little disappointing much like the A3. But same steering wheel controls but you can setup within the Factory Radio Windows open/door unlock features with the remote. With a new exhaust I'm betting this thing sounds mean.

April

rebadged Golf Pity it is 2 door only, so more a GTi competitor. Not sure if comparing to a B5 A4 is a good thing, as when I drive them now, they feel rather old - but if that floats your boat, by all means proceed.

Just remember to say "Hi" to the 40-something mums who are the typical Volvo driver;-)

Hesaputz

motor is really nice though, and the car gathers a lot of admiring glances with it's spiffy contrasts and color. My A3 might as well be a Hyundai around here for all the attention it gets.

Hesaputz

first gen runflats - ka THUMP. In all fairness, it was a short test drive, and I didn't get a chance to check brand, size, or pressures.
It's a definite step in the sporty direction for Volvo (I've had many), but I left not feeling the love.

formerly dennisA4

<center><img src="http://www.swedespeed.com/news/uploads/features/014__scaled_600_005.jpg"></center><p>ewwwwwwww.... hopefully this was some weird pre-production thing that they didn't have time to finish.

It's a pic from over a year ago so please tell me it doesn't look like that.<ul><li><a href="http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.swedespeed.com/news/uploads/features/014__scaled_600_005.jpg&amp;imgrefurl=http://www.c30world.com/forums/showthread.php%3Ft%3D31&amp;h=400&amp;w=600&amp;sz =92&amp;hl=en&amp;start=39&

Hesaputz

didn't have that floor mat.

JimV

how does it have more rear leg room when it only has 2 doors?

TimA3SLine

I owned an '04 S60R. It was a beautiful car, very well made, but the handling left a lot to be desired. Volvo just doesn't seem to know how to make a car that feels like a sports car.

JogJog

As for the S4 I meant the holymoly I'm going that fast feeling, and not having to downshift because the torque is right there. If I were in a snow climate I might have leaned towards the 3.2 but I'm not. I'll all about performance and the engine.
3.2 is 250bhp/236 lb-ft vs
2.4 litre 227bhp/230 lb-ft
2.0 litre 200bhp/197 lb-ft
The 2.4 has a clear advantage over both the 3.2 and 2.0 litre engines.

JogJog

But I liked how the suspension would firm up with the different modes. Needed a more rear bias for the transmission.