Turbo brick has turned me into an asshole driver

"AestheticsInMotion" (aestheticsinmotion) 10/31/2018 at 19:51 • Filed to: None

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On the way to work, there’s a single lane road that splits off into two lanes. Lately, I’ve been driving suuuuuper slow on the single lane part, and then when the lane splits in two, the S4, X5, Evoque, Wrx or whatever that was behind me goes full throttle and tries to pass the “slow wagon”.

Then I drop a gear and *boost happens*. The two lane merges back into a single lane, and the pass attempt fails. I get to the twisty part of the road in the lead, and get to have some fun.

I’m becoming a monster. With the Miata, I could drop as many gears I like and acceleration wouldn’t change much. Still get blown out of the water by a modern minivan. With the Volvo.... Oh god. Speed, and glorious 5-cylinder rumble. Even the blow off valve and intake sounds are intoxicating. Shop owner echoed some of your thoughts, saying that he would guess there’s 325ish hp and ft/lbs at the crank. Someday I’ll try to find a dyno for the brick and the roadster.

Header image is from the shop my 850 was fixed up at. Incredible place, situated in the heart of an old Seattle neighborhood. Yes, it’s that horrid yellow colored building, and yes, there’s blue trim. Couldn’t get more *Volvo* than that. The bill was exactly what I was told it would be, we chatted maintainance for awhile, and the owner gave me tips on what to watch out for in the future.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > AestheticsInMotion 10/31/2018 at 20:04

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All of those abandoned Volvos... Not at All foreshadowing.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > AestheticsInMotion 10/31/2018 at 20:04

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I don’t care who you are it’s fun driving with boost.

Rico > AestheticsInMotion 10/31/2018 at 20:06

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Driving slow intentionally to bait them?

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Rico 10/31/2018 at 20:07

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That's a paddlin'

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > AestheticsInMotion 10/31/2018 at 20:12

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This is exactly how I felt the first month I had my STi. I was passing every person in double yellow sections just because I could. The Miata never had enough power to do it safely. But giving me 300hp of turbo goodness turned me into a typical asshat Subaru driver. I calmed down after that and will still violently pass people when legal, but I stick to that at least. I have found its nice to just pull uphill without trying. A totally different experience. I can just leave the Subaru in 6th and accelerate whereas I’d be in 4th in the Miata just to not lose speed. While its actually still more fun to beat on the Miata I have found, it is nice to just have things easy and fast as hell while commuting. Google maps says 1hr15min to get home and I usually do it in just under an hour in the STi while keeping it to 5th/6th and just cruising along. Whereas the Miata I have to be banging through gears and feeling like I am at a race track in order to achieve the same commute time. God forbid I get stuck behind someone too and cant maintain momentum in the Miata. 

Phyrxes once again has a wagon! > AestheticsInMotion 10/31/2018 at 20:14

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T his is why I my next wagon V olvo wagon will have a turbo.

Sovande > Phyrxes once again has a wagon! 10/31/2018 at 20:27

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I know of a 98 T5M for sale cheap... Running and driving. Not in perfect shape, but in perfect shape for a sleeper. 

Phyrxes once again has a wagon! > Sovande 10/31/2018 at 20:31

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While I”m sure my 4 year old would love the wh oosh on the way to school the Mrs. would frown on a roadkill like trip across the us with it.  If it would even pass inspection here.

Sovande > AestheticsInMotion 10/31/2018 at 20:35

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Glad it’s back up and running!

I’m pretty surprised at the hp numbers, I would have guessed lower, but that’s fun! Also, unless the PO added one, there isn’t a blow off valve, just a compressor bypass valve which recirulates the air into the intake instead of the atmosphere. With your open element intake you can hear the cbv when you lift off thee throttle. 

Sovande > Phyrxes once again has a wagon! 10/31/2018 at 20:35

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So you're saying there's a chance? 

Phyrxes once again has a wagon! > Sovande 10/31/2018 at 20:45

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Damn you, now I’m looking to see if a 98 can be emissions exempt.

Sovande > Phyrxes once again has a wagon! 10/31/2018 at 21:00

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Ha. I am pretty sure it has all original equipment. It's stock. 

AestheticsInMotion > Rico 10/31/2018 at 21:02

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The years of being passed on the straights and then stuck behind someone going 15 under the speed limit in the curves has taken a toll on me... 

AestheticsInMotion > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) 10/31/2018 at 21:03

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Yeah I’m sure you know the pain off being passed on a straight section only to have the person in front go under the speed limit in the curves!

I feel like our garages are looking pretty similar right now... 

AestheticsInMotion > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 10/31/2018 at 21:04

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Get outta here. Don’t you have some used Land Cruisers to browse for hours on end

AestheticsInMotion > Sovande 10/31/2018 at 21:06

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I am too! Ohhhh that explains it. I feel like with your every comment I slowly start to gain a better understanding of Volvos.

Saw your swedespeed ad, hope you sell quickly and at a decent price!

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) 10/31/2018 at 21:10

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I got passed by an sti one night when driving my outback and even shifting down to 3rd there was no hope of even  remotely keeping up.

Sovande > AestheticsInMotion 10/31/2018 at 21:13

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Thanks! There is a guy coming to see it on Sunday. He’s driving three hours and keeps saying things like “when I get it home” and “ the first thing I am going to do is”. Seems like a good sign. I have so many extras for that car. Wheels, load bars, dedicated laptop with VIDA installed, filters, etc. I had planned to keep it for a long time. Shit I just put about $800 into it in the last month for tires and radiator hoses. I can’t really believe I’m selling it. It’s a really fun car.

Sounds like yours is back to being healthy, which is awesome.

The V60 is ridiculously nice. I’m still trying to figure out some of the infotainment bullshit, but aside from that it’s pretty impressive. It has the sport seats and the sport chassis which is the same as the R Design and the 4 cylinder is surprisingly peppy.

Sovande > Phyrxes once again has a wagon! 10/31/2018 at 21:15

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Wait a minute. You're in VA, right? The car is in Philly. Hop on a train and drive it home. 

random001 > AestheticsInMotion 10/31/2018 at 21:18

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I kind of really want a volvo wagon....

What is yours?

AestheticsInMotion > random001 10/31/2018 at 21:21

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95 850 wagon, with a 95 850r interior, and a somewhat standard list of good supporting mods to boost power and reliability.

Minus the major repair expense in the first week, I've loved every second and never want to be without a Volvo. 

Phyrxes once again has a wagon! > Sovande 10/31/2018 at 21:23

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Oh I was confused by Seattle being mentioned by the OP.  I’ve got to throw some money at my V70 first, let me see how the Mrs. reacts to that.

AestheticsInMotion > random001 10/31/2018 at 21:23

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Manual, of course.

random001 > AestheticsInMotion 10/31/2018 at 21:31

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I love it.  I love wagons.  I want a wagon...

boredalways > AestheticsInMotion 10/31/2018 at 21:59

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I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > AestheticsInMotion 10/31/2018 at 22:07

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So to me it sounds like you should boost the Miata?

AestheticsInMotion > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker 10/31/2018 at 22:10

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Maybe? I don't know what to do with the Miata anymore. For now it will just come out on snow days, and weekend forest-service road rally adventures

daender > AestheticsInMotion 10/31/2018 at 22:40

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Welcome to the family of more than necessary (for the average appliance ) horsepower and torque!  You tend to develop an ego of “Oh no, you ain’t passing me!” and other aggressive driving thoughts once you’re behind the wheel of a fast car.  Slow car fast is fun in the curves...but fast car fast makes the straightaways between the curves less boring.

Derpwagon > AestheticsInMotion 10/31/2018 at 23:04

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So basically you’re driving in a way that enrages people on purpose.

AestheticsInMotion > Derpwagon 10/31/2018 at 23:15

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If going 5 under the speed limit for about 2 minutes, then attempting to pass and having their doors blown off before they can again go whatever speed they like is enough to enrage people... Then yes. Exactly. 

Except for that girl in the C ivic T ype R. Volvo can’t hang with the actual fast cars

Rico > AestheticsInMotion 10/31/2018 at 23:23

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Ah I see, me I like to just go as fast as I  ( reasonably) can. The faster I get away from those people the faster I make it to the curves.

Rico > AestheticsInMotion 10/31/2018 at 23:25

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I recently met a girl who owns a Civic Type R and fell in love haha. She also told me she tracks it. 

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > AestheticsInMotion 10/31/2018 at 23:25

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I’ve never actually had that happen, that would for sure lead me into pure rage lol. But people rarely pass on two lane roads I have found. And I’m never slow in the Miata, it just takes more effort to do so. On my commute, I get 21ish Mpg with the Subaru and 24ish with the Miata. So that really isn’t a big gap meaning I’m driving the piss out of the Miata lol.

And yep sure seems that way, I only wish my turbo daily was a wagon. If it wasn't for that 92xaero being a pile of garbage mechanically, I'd have made that dream come true! 

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > AestheticsInMotion 10/31/2018 at 23:40

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Whynotboth.png

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > AestheticsInMotion 10/31/2018 at 23:58

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You know, normal people would leave the Miata at home when it snows and take the Volvo wagon out on those occasions. But your choice confirms you as extremely Oppo.

AestheticsInMotion > boredalways 11/01/2018 at 00:37

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That's how I felt looking at Volvo build threads for the past year, looking for the perfect introductory wagon to the swede life

AestheticsInMotion > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker 11/01/2018 at 00:43

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Makes sense. I bought the Miata after lurking here for a few years and hearing how much love it got. Before that I was a passing enthusiast at best! 

boxrocket > AestheticsInMotion 11/01/2018 at 01:02

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That’s not assholic, that’s defensive.

Also awesome.

#VolvoLife

boxrocket > random001 11/01/2018 at 01:09

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Doooooo iiiiiiittt!

I got addicted I mean introduced to Volvo when I bought a naturally-aspirated, very tired, very well-used, but very cheap ‘89 740. It had a bad O2 sensor so sometimes the car belched black smoke - before “rolling coal” was a thing - and it lasted about 2 months before the timing belt decided it wanted to be a timing whip instead. Quickly thereafter I got a 1990 760 Turbo which was immaculately well-kept, and to-date is the longest I’ve yet owned a car. That lasted until I decided I wanted something with more than one airbag. Fast forward a few years and now I have another wagon, admittedly - as Jeremy Clarkson would say - on stilts, but ( speaking of) Clarkson-approved: An XC90. 5-cylinder, turbo, AWD. That almost makes it the same as a V70R (but not really)!

boxrocket > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 11/01/2018 at 01:10

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That amount of indestructability should not be contained by one owner.

AestheticsInMotion > Rico 11/01/2018 at 01:13

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Yep. That would do it. I’ve been seeing a girl who went from an old Volvo wagon she loved to death, to a manual Mazda3. She's not an enthusiast, but... I think the seed is there. 

AestheticsInMotion > Sovande 11/01/2018 at 01:16

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That is definitely a good sign. What year v60? 

I have a question. At idle, I’ll hear a *click* from under the hood (I think) and the rpm and boost will raise just a hair before going back down. This will repeat every 5 seconds or so. The time between clicks seems to change a bit but I can’t tell what the metric is. Maybe how warmed up the engine is...

Any ideas?

boxrocket > Sovande 11/01/2018 at 01:20

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I need to get a VIDA laptop... I have some spares laying around but haven’t yet opened the door to actually downloading any of the programs, just lurking on some VIDA groups. I even have the contact info for a guy who somewhat specializes in them, just haven't pulled the trigger to PM him yet.

Sovande > AestheticsInMotion 11/01/2018 at 04:12

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For the clicking noise my first wild ass guess would be the IAC valve. The can get sticky. Pull it out and clean it with carb cleaner or something and see if that helps.

The V60 is a 2015.5. The black ember with beechwood interior.

Sovande > boxrocket 11/01/2018 at 04:14

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I bought mine for $200. Laptop and program included. I think the Dice connector was about $80. It works pretty well. It won’t work with my newer car, so the new owner of the C30 is going to get it.

Sovande > random001 11/01/2018 at 04:16

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I know of a 98 T5 Manual wagon in Philly that's for sale. One of about 120 imported for that year. Cheap. 

random001 > Sovande 11/01/2018 at 07:16

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Sovande > random001 11/01/2018 at 08:58

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Ye p. I was going to buy it about 2 months ago but someone beat me to the punch. The guy who bought it emailed me yesterday and asked if I wanted it. I do, but I have too many cars. He claims the interior is nice, the car runs and drives well, and has a dented fender.  He apparently also has a bunch of cars and a wife that said enough was enough.

random001 > Sovande 11/01/2018 at 08:59

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Any indication that he found something horribly wrong and is trying to dump it?

Sovande > random001 11/01/2018 at 09:07

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Not really. That was my first thought too. He said the bumpers were repainted poorly, the right fender is dented, the abs light is on but he replaced the abs module (common failure point) and that he thinks it is the wheel sensor (also common and easily diagnosed and fixed).  He said it runs well.  From what I remember it was a bit rough around the edges on the exterior and the interior was a bit rough.  He said he has most of the interior stuff either replaced or ready to go in (whatever that means).  I think the original seller was asking like $1200 when I was interested.  

CaptDale - is secretly British > AestheticsInMotion 11/01/2018 at 12:24

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I need a wagon, but the German persuasion is upon me