Why do you (still) drive a P80?

[bmdubya1198]

If we're being literal, can you add RobertDIY / RSPI to the poll?

+1 to this!

P80's have some of the smallest turning circles around. 10.2m kerb to kerb is better than most hatchbacks manage, and similar class cars like A4s is 11.6m and A6s are around 12.1m.

This has been the opposite of my experience. My W123 and 2x W124s have been much, much more maneuverable than my V70. I often have to do a three-point turn into a spot in parking lots. The steering hits its stops way earlier than any other car I've owned.

If those are the numbers I can't explain it, but my car is legendarily hard to maneuver.

Agreed, my V70R is NOT maneuverable at all. I miss my Miata... that car could turn instantly, easiest thing to maneuver ever. I just rarely drove that anywhere in particular. That was usually just something to take out for a drive to beat around on back roads.
In parking lots P80s are bad, but P2s are by far the worst. My brother's S60 in a parking lot is like trying to park a freight train... it takes several tries to get into a spot if you don't come in perfectly. All new suspension components now too... still creaks and struggles to turn to lock. My mom's XC90 is the same but it actually turns to lock, also without the noises . Just has a very large turning circle. Even my cousin's 240 is easier to park than the P2s.
My dad's E39 puts all these Volvos to shame... and that's a pretty big car.

[Clemens]

Boys, the e39 and W123/124 are RWD.
They usually have a bigger steering angle. A bigger steering angle wears the driveshafts faster, so they started reducing them in the early nineties.
Most European FWD cars from the 80ies had a sharper turning radius, but driveshafts would start going bad before you hit 100k frequently.

[Cookeh]

I have driven many 240 series Volvos. They can turn like no others. When I got the P2 V70, I got frustrated trying to maneuver. I assume, but have no personal experience, that the P80 Volvos will act more like the P2. My W210 series (2001 E320) Mercedes turns sharper than the V70 but not as sharp as the 240 series.
volvolugnut

No, the 240s actually have a larger turning circle than the P80's. 10.4m V 10.2m.

I am baffled by the response regarding manoeuvrability in this thread, as it simply makes no sense. Factually, 240s and P80's have the same turning circle (20cm smaller for the P80, if we're being pedantic) and yet comments about the 240 being much easier to park are rife. Factually, they're a full metre smaller in radius than the W124s and the W210s, and yet those are claimed as hyper manoeuvrable whilst the P80's are freight trains.

A chunk of the advertising and early car reviews for these cars praised it's turning circle and excellent manoeuvrability. They have excellent visibly and you can clearly see all 4 corners, making it very easy to put it exactly where you want it - especially with its pretty quick steering.

I don't know if you lot are running tyres that are far too wide, or have 7.5J+ wheels so are running into arch rubbing issues, or if you've got the wrong bump stops on or what, but these cars are stupid easy to park and are some of the most manoeuvrable cars available in the 90s and indeed today.

P2s are terrible, they have been known as such since release - yet looking at the figures they have identical turning circles to cars of the same market segment, like the W210 or 3/5 series.

[June]

I have driven many 240 series Volvos. They can turn like no others. When I got the P2 V70, I got frustrated trying to maneuver. I assume, but have no personal experience, that the P80 Volvos will act more like the P2. My W210 series (2001 E320) Mercedes turns sharper than the V70 but not as sharp as the 240 series.
volvolugnut

No, the 240s actually have a larger turning circle than the P80's. 10.4m V 10.2m.

I am baffled by the response regarding manoeuvrability in this thread, as it simply makes no sense. Factually, 240s and P80's have the same turning circle (20cm smaller for the P80, if we're being pedantic) and yet comments about the 240 being much easier to park are rife. Factually, they're a full metre smaller in radius than the W124s and the W210s, and yet those are claimed as hyper manoeuvrable whilst the P80's are freight trains.

A chunk of the advertising and early car reviews for these cars praised it's turning circle and excellent manoeuvrability. They have excellent visibly and you can clearly see all 4 corners, making it very easy to put it exactly where you want it - especially with its pretty quick steering.

I don't know if you lot are running tyres that are far too wide, or have 7.5J+ wheels so are running into arch rubbing issues, or if you've got the wrong bump stops on or what, but these cars are stupid easy to park and are some of the most manoeuvrable cars available in the 90s and indeed today.

P2s are terrible, they have been known as such since release - yet looking at the figures they have identical turning circles to cars of the same market segment, like the W210 or 3/5 series.

And then the brand new S60 actually turns tighter than anything Volvo has made in the past 30 years. I'm sure you can look it up statically. I have driven pretty much every model Volvo has made since 1989. My observation comes from driving them. The 2019 S60 Service loaner I drove last year was able to U-turn on a narrow city street with tons of room to spare much to my surprise.

I would like to point out not everyone wants to own a car with a small turning radius. I don't! The lack of turning radius is part of what I love about my P2 S80. It's silent engine and exhaust system, lack of turning radius, tons of power, smooth ride, and the most comfortable seat in the Volvo line gives it a American like luxury car feel.

A car with a tight turning radius tends to be hard to drive on the expressway as any slight movement of the wheel makes everyone in the car seasick. A less responsive steering gear is more forgiving to slight road corrections on the passengers. June

[abscate]

Final answer in order of importance...

Finding MVS in 2013 saved my T5

Robert Spinner & June

The seats - all of them, and all the heaters.

June.

[June]

Final answer in order of importance...

Finding MVS in 2013 saved my T5

Robert Spinner & June

The seats - all of them, and all the heaters.

June.

June

[bmdubya1198]

Just stating my experience. P80s are certainly way easier to maneuver than P2s, but the E39 beats them all. On the road, P80s handle great for what they are. Of course it doesn't make sense being that the E39 is a RWD chassis, you'd think that the FWD chassis would be able to turn tighter, but it doesn't. Regardless of the numbers, this is just what I've noticed from driving both extensively.

[bmdubya1198]

The seats - all of them, and all the heaters.

Most importantly, the heated 3rd row seats.

[volvolugnut]

Since we are about 7 miles off course for this thread and it will take most of us several miles to turn back, my favorite things about our 2009 Smart car are really short turning radius and heated seats.

I don't know why the published turning radius does not agree, but subjective feel says the 240 series is much easier to park than P2. I do understand the limitations of front wheel drive on steering angles.
volvolugnut

[E Showell]

I love the fantastic visibility.