Re: '91 200Q vs 850 Turbo (not long anymore)

[Peter Henriksen <peterhe@Microsoft.com>]

A couple of questions:

ipd's chip (only one "stage") claims 275 hp from the 850 or S/V70 turbo
engines. How's that much less impressive than any chip-only upgrade for the
20v Audi turbo engine? There should be a lot more potential with heads,
exhaust, whatever also upgraded on the Volvo, which is what you'd also have
to do to get more than app. 275 hp out of the 20v engine.

What's the "extra weight" you talk about on the Volvo? Our V70 weighs app.
3400 lbs. - app. 400 lbs less than the S4.

I don't completely disagree with the overall take on the Volvos, but the V70
is a far nicer car than the 850, both in ride, handling, power and design
(interior in particular).

As an aside, if Audi had had something similar to the V70 T5 to offer me
(say, a new S6 Avant priced somewhere in the high $30s or low $40s) we'd
have had an Audi instead...

- peter, peterhe@microsoft.com, http://www.geocities.com/motorcity/1001
  98 volvo v70 t5 - 5-speed
  94 acura legend gs - 6-speed!

------------------------------
Date: Thu, 2 Apr 1998 14:55:37 -0500
From: "Jeff LaBombard" <jll99@tiac.com>
Subject: Re: '91 200Q vs 850 Turbo (long)

Arun , I  Agree with your take on the 850..

I traded in my 94 850T for a 94 S4 and of course would never go back.  With
Quattro the comparison is mute because the S4 or 200q is a nicer car in
build and all around driving.  My biggest complaint with the Volvo was that
the whole package was not their, the car was quick, but I still felt like I
was in a fast tank.

Audi has done a terrific job in making the S4 more solid feeling than the
850.  I test drove the 850r manual before I bought the S4, even with the low
profile tires and better suspension on the 850r, the Audi was tighter (my
body roll with 60k miles  is catching up though, time to upgrade
suspension).  The Volvo feels unbalanced and you can feel the extra weght..

Also, I had chipped my 850 and brought it up to "R" hp, but Audi wins again,
the tuner capabilities as we know, are unparraled.  The difference between
my tuned Volvo with IDP and Audi with Hoppen are great.  The Volvo was a
little quicker from stock,  but what Hoppen or any tuner can do to the 20vt
is much more impressive.

Jeff
94 S4