[s-cars] Off topic - New Volvo S60 ? - Drat and double DRAT!

[Taka Mizutani]

Scott-
Does that mean that Haldex is either fully engaged at whatever the torque
split is with it engaged or not at all?

I guess I don't really understand the Haldex system and how it works.

Now I have to find someone that makes a Haldex box for the Volvo, if I
decide to keep the Volvo. Otherwise, I'll get a BMW 5 series xi with a stick
or a diesel SUV.

Your opinion on the Porsche Cayenne AWD or the VW Touraeg (which I think is
the same setup)?

Thanks,

Taka


On Tue, Jan 4, 2011 at 12:18 PM, <qshipq at aol.com> wrote:

>   The Haldex system can be modified, and the torque can be handled with
> that modification.  Haldex makes performance upgrade boxes for the R32 and
> TT (
> http://www.europeancarweb.com/features/epcp_0505_haldex_lsc_performance_upgrade/index.html).  I understand that we will have one of these modified units at Steamboat
> this year in an R32 (former B5S4 owner), so more to come on that effort.
> The 'problem' with Haldex in any car, including the Volvos, is that it's a
> coupler, not a differential.  So, it's either partially or fully locked OR
> completely unlocked (braking, cruising, etc).  So the 'modified' units will
> still uncouple during braking and/or other sensored inputs.
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> The modification is to the CAN bus controller, which gives 3 levels of lock
> on most synchro systems 6/9/12v.  6 being partial lockup and 12 being fully
> locked up.  I understand the newer systems give a much larger range of
> lockup vs voltage.  I spent many weeks with a friend's XC90 AWD 2.5T with a
> faulty rear Haldex unit.  This made for a FWD ride for many weeks, then
> after the repair, the awd system was restored to normal.  I'm not a fan of
> synchro systems (specifically non-center differential 4x4's) of any type, as
> the characteristics of the car change much more dramatically than in a full
> time awd vehicle.  I have driven a few S60's and the V70 in 6speed trim, and
> they are a lot of fun, 2.5L turbo 300hp gives a lot of torque, and they have
> great brakes to boot.  I don't ever see them being a real competitor for a
> full time quattro, but it will certainly keep up with any Haldex 'quattro'
> or '4motion' VAG car.
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> To the question, "can the Haldex take the torque" of full time, the answer
> is yes, in fact Haldex designed it that way.  It was the choice of the
> manufacturers to use it as a synchro application.  Our former S2 rally
> driver has a Volvo shop, and we had spoken extensively to Haldex regarding a
> rally S60 with a modified Haldex, and they were very supportive to the idea,
> and had no qualms about the unit being able to handle a full time race
> environment.
>
> My folks have a year old 530ix, and I find it to be much more quattro-like
> than Haldex like in it's snow manners.  BMW certainly complicated the awd
> concept, but the new RS5 seems to follow the same path in engineering and
> supplier, so I guess the 'new' generation of awd can't be bested or ignored
> by Audi either.
>
> All good things for German car buyers.  I was surprised that Haldex chose
> to not do the Haldex-over-center-diff awd that was to be Haldex IV, but that
> might have been strictly a cost thing.  Having two vehicles with LSD
> over-center-diff vehicles (1992 v8 with electronic plate- over center diff
> awd, and 1994 Supercharged Landcruiser with VC over center diff awd with
> locked center diff over-ride ability), I find them much more civilized in
> all applications of power/slip than the Haldex systems.
>
> My .02
> Scott "Torsen Boy" J
> Lockers
> Torsens
> VC...  Gots them all in the driveway.....
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>
>  -----Original Message-----
> From: pkrasusky at ups.com
> To: s-car-list at audifans.com
> Cc: mtgadbois at aol.com
> Sent: Tue, Jan 4, 2011 9:49 am
> Subject: [s-cars] Off topic - New Volvo S60 ? - Drat and double DRAT!
>
>  Mark fargin sneaky bastid'd:
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> <<<Date: Mon, 03 Jan 2011 15:56:30 -0500
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> From: mtgadbois at aol.com
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> Subject: Re: [s-cars] Off topic - New Volvo S60 ?
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> I participated in Volvo's "come on out and beat one."
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> I drove it in a head-to-head comparison against an Audi A4 and it was
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> The Audi was a bit more imprecise.  I also did a lap in Volvo's S60 autocross
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> Came in 3rd or 4th out of 300 drivers. That car was impressive too but it had
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> I'd consider one but I'm not in the market right now to drop $50K on a sedan.
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> BTW last year was weird - got invites from BMW (now have a new wedge), Cadillac
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> Mark near Chicago>>>
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> Drats!  Foiled!  My invite musta gotten "lost in the mail".  D'oh 8-)
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> Man, aren't those events just the best?  Good stuff.  Great to hear you
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> Agree w/ sagedom of JC 'n Taka - I'd love a Volvo product but for 'the reasons'
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> not to.  Shame.  Seen a MkII XC70 do quite well @ a local winterx yearses ago
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> tho - guess it can, just mustn't feel good in doing so heh heh.  The ones I've
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> rented have been damn good cars - but - I've also found their Kryptonite, which,
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> is never good.  JNR.
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> Schpeaking of winterx, fawk - I just learned the NERSCCA's hosting winterx
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> turn-right-5-miles from me on 1/15.  Things that make you go hmmm.  Alumibitch?
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> Keep up the good (JNR) werk out there men.
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> -Paul
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