Why do you (still) drive a P80?

[BEJinFbk]

Where to start...
Well built.
Comfortable.
Seat Heaters.
Great stereo in the R.
Also love the AWD on ice.
No slouch on the highway.
Fellow enthusiasts!
-30 today and I enjoyed a toasty ride home.
Did I mention the seat heaters?
Real switches, knobs and dials!
Very little networking.
Actual throttle cable.
Just modern enough...

Still Looks Great.

[hausmeister]

Sure there are some drawbacks like mileage and that godamn vessel steering radius, but I'm not getting another daily anytime soon (well except a V70R maybe )

Totally agree, the turning radius is the one thing that bothers me the most. Parking this think I look like an idiot. Turning radius of a fucking freight train.

[Cookeh]

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.

To further illustrate this, the Merc C class is 10.8m, E class is 11.2m, BMW 3 series is 11.4m, BMW 5 series is in excess of 12m depending on whether or not is has xdrive. 'muricas favourite the F150 (single cab, short bed) is 12.7m. A Corolla is 11.6m, a Focus is 11.7m, a Golf is 10.9m.

The P80 turning circle is on a par with most modern superminis like the VW Up (and it'd Skoda and Seat clones) and the Peugeot 107 (and its Citroën and Toyota clones).

[raivis_rsn]

I'm on my second daily driver P80 and I've owned a total of 4 (seems like it should be more by now) and I don't plan to change it any time soon! I've looked into P2s and I've even owned a couple, but they just don't compare. They're nice cars, but not nearly as comfortable and they feel way too computerized for my taste. There's a module for everything and they just have a feeling that I don't like... it's a little hard to describe.

I couldn't say it better.
P2 came with many improvements but most of them are too complicated and overengineered. P80 is just right for my current knowledge base about cars and mechanics.

[BEJinFbk]

If they put these back out on the market at a
reasonable price, I’ll bet they’d sell boatloads!

[smacknab]

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

[Clemens]

If they put these back out on the market at a
reasonable price, I’ll bet they’d sell boatloads!

I'm sure they would. but you just can't bring back a 30 year old concept to modern markets due to emissions, safety equipment and alike. Too sad though, I'd buy 2.

[j-dawg]

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.

[volvolugnut]

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

[ZionXIX]

Her name is scarlett and she is a permanent part of the family. I'll do what ever is needed to keep her on the road as long as possible.