Well, I left work and headed up to Greensboro to check out the '99 S70 T5 manual Beth found for me at Carmax.

Sheepish grin - check
Girlish giggle - check

I got there and found it quickly enough, parked at the front of the lot. I went ahead over to it before any salesfolk molested me - I wanted to check it out on my own first. It's a beautiful dark blue, not quite midnight, but a little brighter. I did the once-over, and found three light scratches and two door dings. Could have been worse off, but I could not tell through the heavy layer of pollen (thank you NC!).

I went inside and asked after the rep I had spoken with on the phone. He was busy, so a guy named Kyle helped me out. Probably a bit younger than I, drives a 2001 Prelude. He asked me what I drove now, and I just told him "a 2000 Integra." We walked out to get the key, and the first thing I did was pop the hood. About then he asked me what kind of Integra I had. I fessed up that I had a Type R at that point.

We went back in so he could check out my license and make sure I was clear to drive it. We come back out, and he hands me the key. Hmm. First lot I've been to where I got to drive the car out on my own. Get in, fire it up. Dies first thing - hasn't been started in a while. No problem - turn the key again and it comes right up. Very, very quiet inside. Almost too quiet

I take a minute to get used to the clutch and shifter. Clutch is interesting - more of an "on/off" feel to it. Reminded me of my friend's Mustang, but without the effort. Shifter was different, too. Kind of odd - felt like it was hinged at the top of the console, not further down. Throws were a bit long, compared to the R - more like a GS-R. But they were quick, solid and precise, which is key.

Back it up (surprised to see reverse in the "normal" place, not up and to the left like most Euro sticks), and get rolling. Get it out to the main road, and wait for my gap in traffic...

Finally get clearance and roll out. Moseyed on along (don't want to cook things too early). Shocked and amazed to find myself shifting out of first right over 2 grand - low-end torque (even off boost) is there. Shift to second and tip it in a little deeper. Right at about 2500 things get fun! There's lag up until that time, but not annoyingly so, then wooo hoo hoooo! Full boost by what feels like 3500!

Damn! So that's what a bar of boost feels like! Do the same in third - cue girlish giggling. By this time I'm hitting 75 in a 45 and Kyle tells me the turn is coming up. Rev-match downsift to second, and I take the turn a little quicker than Kyle had wanted . Turn-in is just about like my Volvo wagon - decisive, smooth and light. The car just goes where you point it.

The road we turned on is a poorly-paved, curving service road off Wendover. Enough traffic to really keep me from getting out of control, so I contented myself to play with the boost in second and third. Max boost comes on quick - and you know it. You hear the turbo spool, and good times are had by all!

I finally get a small break in traffic, and find an 80 degree right-hander that's clear. Downshift to second, build boost, and turn in. Woo hooo hooooo! Rear end steps out just a hair, and Kyle gets nervous. Cheap tires (Michelin energy craps) and a bit of dirt in the corner caused that, but the car recovered with hardly any input from me. At this point - this car feels just plain natural to me. Signs of both my R and my '83 wagon are there, almost as if someone crossed the two.

I couldn't have much fun on the rest of the drive - too much traffic. I only got to "launch" on a right turn from a stoplight, and I realized lag is something I'll have to learn about. Still left a stupidly amazed look on the fact of the stunna in the yellow EG with GS-R wheels trying to turn out of the gas station

Not a hint of torque steer under full boost, which was a concern (open front diff). Not even on my "granny shift to second and punch it" routines, which were turning Kyle a bit green. Very settled suspension - a bit more roll than the R, but not annoyingly so. That can all be upgraded, if need be. I'd put it ahead of a CL Type S.

So that's all I got to play with. Wish I could have taken a longer drive, and I definitely look forward to getting my hands on another one. The control ergonomics were perfect - reminded me of the first time I drove my R - my hands just fell to the right places.

It was pimped-out inside - light tan leather everywhere (the color Mercedes calls parchment), umpteen-way power adjustable front seats (three memory settings on driver side), six-speaker radio/cd/cassette stereo (which was turned off for the drive), sunroof, etc.

So that's about it. Will I buy this T5? No. They won't budge on the asking price ($20,998). I'd buy it for $18,500 tonight.

Will I buy a T5. Oh hell yes. To me, it's the perfect iteration of a wolf in sheep's clothing.

I give it a solid 7/10 compared to #9. Maybe even a 8/10 once I get some decent tires under it, and tweak the power a hair.


Pat, who is looking forward to finding the T5

 

If it is only "maybe" an 8/10 compared to #9, why the hell do you want it?

 

Makes me want to test drive one now.


[Modified by hungsteR, 8:22 PM 4/29/2002]

 

Nice Review

 

oh deary dear.

 

yeah, I wouldn't "down grade" if it's not going to be MORE enjoyable...

besides, do you really want to be a Volvo yuppie

 

8/10 on the pleasure scale, 4 doors, big trunk, safety security, no ricers, prolly leather sunroof etc, sounds like an ungrade to me. Life is a bunch of compromises....

rob- who is looking at pats ITR thinking about what he wants to call if he goes back to stock

 

Already a Volvo yuppie, slicknut. Or did you miss the part about the '83 wagon??


I should have been more specific - the T5 was 7-8/10 in the handling department. Given the proper cash spending, it could be 11/10 (there are always upgrades).

Where the R could never match it is in power potential - I spend $1600, I have a 300hp Volvo sedan. Which is cool on so many levels. Let's recap why, shall we?

1. It's a freakin' Volvo
2. It's a sedan
3. It won't get stolen
4. It's a freakin' Volvo

Questions?


Pat, who is tired of worrying about poor #9, and thinks it may be time to move on


[edit] Oh, and what Brian Spanker said too - rollin' deep with four homeys in leather-clad comfort [/edit]

[edit2] Amended unnecessarily snide comment with proper [/edit2]





[Modified by itr009, 9:34 PM 4/29/2002]

 

there ya go. i wonder if we can get past the "dont get a volvo blah blah blah" horseshit. I think a 300hp stock lookin volvo would be ****.

 

No, I saw that, but it's different when you have an 83 beater while still being the owner of an R or just straight up being a Volvo yuppie...

I hear ya on the worrying about it getting stolen, I'm right there w/ ya

 

True. I get shunned by true Volvo yuppies :sniff:


Pat, who revs on MILF's in Bolbos when he's driving B0XY

 

If you're happy w/ it, then by all means do it...Just the way you described it (which you corrected yourself) made it seem like it was going to be a down grade by getting it...

to

 

Hard to say what it's going to be like. Not so much an upgrade, not so much a downgrade... Just different.

When I bought my R on December 13, 1999, I thought I'd keep her forever. Since then, we've been through so much together, and I just don't know if it's worth it anymore

Switching to the T5 will not only lower my insurance, but will allow me to get out of debt completely and lower my car payment. Which means I get to buy a house sooner.

I guess my priorities have changed in my 28 months with #9

 

Be responsible first.

 

Huh? Don't follow you with that.

 

i think he meant that you have your priorities in order
house/debt reduction/lower payments>ITR

 

Ah. That makes sense.

That's the shitty part of the equation - if I couldn't afford the R, I'd let her go. But I can. I'm paying my bills down regularly these days, now that the mod bug has been satisfied.

:sigh:

Damn I'm getting old. Thinking about selling the R for a yuppie-mobile. At least it's a yuppie-mobile with nads

 

Sorry I didn't make myself clear. But yes that's what I mean. Take care of things that need to be taken care of.

 

yuppie moe-beeeeyul (like Alabama ) with boost is definately tight.


How did it compare straight line to the ITR?

 

Off the line, my R would get it. Once boost builds up, the R would be picking Swede out of its teeth

T5 would likely catch up in second, then keep ahead as long as boost was there.

Highway roll? Murder.

At least that's what I feel from today. I want to drive the two back-to-back before making anything final. But modded T5 vs. modded R? Ugly.

 

hehehe lets work on that then

 

Need to find out if the US-market AWD V70 could be had in manual. New ones? No - auto only

BTW - found magazine numbers on the S70 T5 manual. 0-60 in 6.1, quarter-mile in 14.7@97.0

 

damn, thats close as hell to a stock ITR

 

I guess so, as long as you aren't concerned with your car's braking and handling ability.

 

oh I am bobaSS, but just commenting on simple acceloration.....