Tonight on Oppo: I buy a fancy car, get hit by a not fancy car, and I get blue pilled on automatic transmissions

"DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time" (dc3ls-) 01/30/2018 at 21:40 • Filed to: None

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Another Oppo transcends from the realm of 80-90s Japanese econo-boxes into the world of early-mid 2000's luxury.

So anyhoo. I checked the car out last weekend and liked it. Not having much luck with my car search, and liking this car. I decide to buy it. So I arrange to meet the guy to buy it. He says he can meet after five, which is fine, but then I remember the bank closes at 5. So I start walking to the bank, but realize I won’t get there in time. So I pick it up to a jog. I come to a driveway leaving the post office and there’s a Nissan Xterra sitting there waiting for a chance to pull out.

He’s not moving so I just keep jogging when he decides to pull out into traffic, I was halfway across the front of his car at this point. Thankfully I saw it in time and had enough room to react, so I turned a squared off against the car, laid my torso and arms on it, taking my weight off my legs, and rolled across his hood like a god damn ninja. Only suffered a couple of minor scrapes from said encounter.

Now on to the car. It’s a one owner 06 S40 T5. 5 cylinder’s with a low pressure turbo. Automatic transmission, which is a 5 speed Aisin unit.

I love it.

Just from the little I’ve driven it. The power from the turbo 5 is very, very smooth and I imagine a dyno would show a torque curve as flat as the corn fields in Kansas. I have no regrets about the auto. Not only is it convenient in traffic, but it shifts very quickly and is very responsive. For example when passing someone, it’ll downshift as soon as I get on the throttle and upshift as soon as I start letting off it. Idk if it’s actually a good auto or if it’s just more the fact that every car I’ve owned has been manual and I’ve been underestimating autos all these years thinking they are as bad as 90's and 80's slushboxes.

I’ll save further thoughts on the car for a later time when I’m more accustomed to it and such. Although one L U X U R Y feature I like about it, is that you can choose to not have the interior lights come on when you turn the car off. Which is nice, because I’m not used to cars that do that and I find it kind of unnecessary and weird.

One feature I don’t like, is that it has automatic climate control, which you can turn off. But whenever you adjust the temperature it shows the change in degrees rather than having a slider or something.

I don’t like auto climate control because

1) I don’t actually know what specific temperature I want it in the car, I just know if I want it warmer or cooler.  

2) If you have it on auto on a hot or cold day. It just blasts you with air. It’s ok, I can live with the air on medium speed for 10 minutes until it cools/heats up enough. I don’t need the blower motor to go super san on me when it’s 80F outside and I want it 65F in the car.

Another issue, is that it doesn’t have an aux port and it uses some kind of crazy fiber optic sound system, so to install an aux port you have to buy this adapter which is like $300.

I’ll probably just do what the previous owner did and get a cheap satellite radio thing, since it basically require no installation, is probably significantly cheaper, and I won’t have to burn off a dozen CDs and constantly be changing them out, since it’s not even the premium sound system with a 6 track. You pay damn good money for a Volvo in 2006 and don’t even get a 6 track! SMDH.

Also, the car comes with the original owners manual, a hardcover Haynes repair manual from YourRope, and a sun shade. Bet you’ve never gotten anything that cool with a used car before have you?

BlueMazda2 - Blesses the rains down in Africa, Purveyor of BMW Individual Arctic Metallic, Merci Twingo > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time 01/30/2018 at 21:44

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Congratulations.

Enjoy the sweet 5-cylinder growl.

DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time > BlueMazda2 - Blesses the rains down in Africa, Purveyor of BMW Individual Arctic Metallic, Merci Twingo 01/30/2018 at 21:49

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I haven’t really got to hear it yet, since I haven’t taken it over 3 grand. But it has so much power you don’t really need to in normal driving, which is a nice change from driving 90's Hondas.

Phyrxes once again has a wagon! > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time 01/30/2018 at 21:54

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I assume you are talking about a grom box for the aux/bluetooth inputs. I’m lazy and using a bluetooth to FM transmitter until I get motivated to take my dash apart, I picked it up off amazon for like $14 and it does handsfree calling.

As for the seats they are in fact amazing!

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time 01/30/2018 at 21:57

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Look at Mr. Fancypants over here!

DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time > Phyrxes once again has a wagon! 01/30/2018 at 21:57

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I’ll look into that, I can’t imagine the audio quality would be as good, but probably better than it was in the Accord with one speaker (while it worked) lol.

DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 01/30/2018 at 21:59

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I have know usurped you as the fanciest Oppo! For my motor carriage hails from the continent of YourRope and the nation that gave us IKEA!

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time 01/30/2018 at 21:59

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Nice! Congratulations.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time 01/30/2018 at 22:00

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Well-purchased good sir!

AestheticsInMotion > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time 01/30/2018 at 22:01

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Can I has seats.?

CompactLuxuryFan > BlueMazda2 - Blesses the rains down in Africa, Purveyor of BMW Individual Arctic Metallic, Merci Twingo 01/30/2018 at 22:02

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An awesome part of visiting my mom (down in Colombia, btw, like the Mazda 2 in your pic :P). She drives a 5 cylinder Volvo.

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time 01/30/2018 at 22:02

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First mod: aftermarket intake. The 5 cylinder makes some great turbo noises when you open up the intake.

Phyrxes once again has a wagon! > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time 01/30/2018 at 22:03

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Sound quality is okay, I picked it up as a fellow opponaut had one recommended it as a intermediate solution.

FM Transmitter:

http://a.co/1bdzhyH

Grom Installation:

DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time > AestheticsInMotion 01/30/2018 at 22:08

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No! My seats!

DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time > TheTurbochargedSquirrel 01/30/2018 at 22:09

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Ooooh, I will probably do this at some point. Especially if it tidy ups the engine bay, since the stock one is quite bulky and in the way.

BlueMazda2 - Blesses the rains down in Africa, Purveyor of BMW Individual Arctic Metallic, Merci Twingo > CompactLuxuryFan 01/30/2018 at 22:11

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Hold up. How could you tell?

E90M3 > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time 01/30/2018 at 22:15

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How many miles?

A fraternity brother had an S6o T5, and the turbo was toast after 120k miles.

For Sweden > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time 01/30/2018 at 22:18

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yas

also auto climate control is good

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time 01/30/2018 at 22:21

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Do you still have what’s left of the Accord and if so how fucked is it? I’m thinking rallycross project...

functionoverfashion > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time 01/30/2018 at 22:30

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When I first met my wife, she had a 6-spd manual S40 with the same T5 engine and AWD. I did love driving that car. Also a good start when meeting a girl, and that’s her car.

Remind me why we sold it? Oh right, kids and dogs and all that.

The AUX thing was a hassle, though. There was something you could do with the rear antenna feed with a bit of wiring... I can’t recall exactly. But I was close to doing that when we ended up selling it.

DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com 01/30/2018 at 22:34

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Nope, the radiator support was bent, the bumper flipped up, and the hood crumpled, so I didn’t wanna mess with that much body work. It’s currently at the impound. I was gonna sign over the title to them, but they said I can just leave it for 30 days and it’ll go to auction and I won’t be charged any storage fees. So I’m just doing that.

Although if you or another Oppo is interested, I could see about getting it for y’all. Idk what the storage fees will be, but hasn’t been a week.

Alfalfa > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time 01/30/2018 at 22:35

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Well it’s still no Integra, but I’m okay with it. Welcome to the Volvo brotherhood.

DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time > functionoverfashion 01/30/2018 at 22:35

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Phyrxes said you can just get a Bluetooth to FM adapeter. Apparently you just plug it in to the 12v power source and it’ll work. I’ll just do that since I don’t wanna drop $300 on the hardwired adapter.

DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time > Alfalfa 01/30/2018 at 22:36

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Maybe when I’m out of college I could get an Integra as a second car! No car payments on this so I’ll probably have the budget!

functionoverfashion > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time 01/30/2018 at 22:38

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Well, yeah an FM adapter will work with any radio. I’ve had mixed luck with those, but it’s been almost a decade since I used one, so... the wiring thing I’m remembering wasn’t expensive, just involved cutting wires and whatnot. Not for the faint of heart regarding car wiring.

I’m hopeful for you that an FM adapter will work. They do work better where there aren’t a ton of strong FM stations.

functionoverfashion > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time 01/30/2018 at 22:38

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Oh and generally, congrats on the car! Great choice.

DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time > E90M3 01/30/2018 at 22:40

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250k. But I was talking to a mechanic about it. I was asking if he could check the turbo on it, he said there’s no way to tell until it starts smoking or leaking (this is doing neither) and he said it’s common for the turbos to last as long as the engine if it’s not modified or driven very aggressively.  

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time 01/30/2018 at 22:45

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Thanks for the info. If it was at your apartment I’d probably make an offer but the SA impound fees are $23 per day plus a flat $87 so we’re already at $200+. That plus the work is probably a bit more than I want to bite off right now (though race car doesn’t need a hood or bumper). The Volvo looks like a really nice car. Hopefully it will be much more reliable than the Accord for you.

Sovande > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time 01/30/2018 at 22:48

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An intake for one of these cars is stupid expensive, fyi. The turbo intake pipe alone (leaving the stick air filter in place) is like $170. An open element filter will do nothing but make silly noises while sucking in hot air. Get a stage 1 tune from Shark and you will get an instant gain of 30hp and 50 foot pounds, however. They can also remove the stock boost limiter in 1st gear if you want. Everything else can stay stock. I would get a larger rear sway bar as the first mod, you can cross shop the Mazda 3 (mine is a Corksport). You will be amazed by how flat it stays in corners.

E90M3 > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time 01/30/2018 at 22:51

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They do seem they go out randomly. That said, my friends was stock and did throw a CEL when it went out.

DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time > Sovande 01/30/2018 at 22:56

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Awesome! I probably won’t mess with boost since it’s high mileage and I don’t wanna put too much stress on the engine, but I’ll look into the sway bar.

DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time > E90M3 01/30/2018 at 22:57

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From what I read on the forums, the most common cause is the oil feed for the turbo getting clogged. So I guess as long as you change the oil regularly and don’t up the boost it’ll last a long time.

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > E90M3 01/30/2018 at 22:58

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weren’t most of the turbo issues due to shitty or past due oil?

E90M3 > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time 01/30/2018 at 23:07

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I feel like I’ve heard about some Volvo turbos lasting 750k and some lasting 75k. I don’t think this car was thrashed and I know it was stock. Hopefully you have many trouble free boost miles.

E90M3 > gmporschenut also a fan of hondas 01/30/2018 at 23:09

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Not sure, I know my friends car was maintained well. I had several friends with early 2000s Volvos. None of them currently drive Volvos.

Sovande > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time 01/30/2018 at 23:09

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There are guys running these engines at 17psi (stock is like 10-12) well into the 300,000 mile range... Mine has 131,00 and a stage 3 tune and I push it hard every day. They come alive over 3000 rpms.

But I hear you. They are fun cars and, in my opinion, simple to work on. Congrats on the purchase!

DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time > E90M3 01/30/2018 at 23:21

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Maybe it was an early model issue? I know the second gen started in 2004 and this is a 2006. So maybe they improved reliability of the turbo then.

Jonee > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time 01/30/2018 at 23:42

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Way to go. I love my ‘09 C30 which is almost the same car. That engine is just so pleasant. And bulletproof, so you shouldn’t have any worries as long as you take care of it.

Dogsatemypants > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time 01/31/2018 at 01:17

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Look up the imiv unit. Plugs in to the factory wiring gives you aux and ipod connectivity. If you have nav it hooks in to that too. Grom also makes a unit but it is not as feature heavy.

CompactLuxuryFan > BlueMazda2 - Blesses the rains down in Africa, Purveyor of BMW Individual Arctic Metallic, Merci Twingo 01/31/2018 at 02:24

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License plate.

BlueMazda2 - Blesses the rains down in Africa, Purveyor of BMW Individual Arctic Metallic, Merci Twingo > CompactLuxuryFan 01/31/2018 at 02:26

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+10 points for being the first person who’s identified it in my 3+ years here

E90M3 > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time 01/31/2018 at 06:47

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I think his might have been a 2002, so hopefully it was an early model issue and your car is better.

cmill189 - sans Volvo > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time 01/31/2018 at 18:45

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Little late to the post but it sounds like you found a good car.

Look into the GROM unit for AUX. Should be around $50 for the basic one.

Your auto climate control shouldn’t be blowing hot/cold air immediately. It might be messing up. The temp sensor might be clogged with hair or something. Mine just sits on 72 basically all the time and slowly winds up the speed as the car heats up/cools down.

I’d look into testing the PCV system. They’re known issues across Volvos.

Get a Dice/VIDA setup. Like, yesterday. The car might have codes you don’t even know about. Regardless, it will save you a lot of time, money, and frustration in the long run.

Congrats!

Amoore100 > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time 03/28/2018 at 19:21

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Hey, I didn’t realize until now, but welcome to the P1 Volvo family! They’re great little cars—-I have had so many fun miles in my first car, a dog-eared little 2005 2.4i V50. Be glad you have the turbo if you’re gonna do any long-distance driving; the 2.4i is great to wring out in the curves and explore the rev range, but definitely runs out of puff on the highways.

As far as audio is concerned, I think mine has the 6-track although it only has nine speakers so it seems like some weird interim between the standard and premium audio systems—I currently use an FM transmitter whenever I drive it, but I have rediscovered the allure of burning CD’s and sometimes will slap a few mp3's onto a CD before I head out for a drive just for that old-school nostalgia. If you really want to pony up the cash, I think you can retrofit a full touch-screen head unit with bluetooth and AUX-in and all that but it’s $500-600, far more than I’d be willing to spend on what is essentially somewhat of a beater for us. I hope your little moose has been treating you well and wish you many happy miles to come!