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"AestheticsInMotion" (aestheticsinmotion)
12/02/2018 at 22:00 • Filed to: Volvo 850, Volvo vs wild

it’s no Miata, but the Volvo did pretty well carving through the snow and dirt on it’s first spontaneous day trip. We drove 200 miles round-trip, and averaged 28mpg!!!

I’ve been getting 17-18mpg average with my normal driving, which consists of tons of short trips in the suburbs. I’m honestly shocked to see how huge of a difference highway driving made. Especially when that includes offroading and high elevations.

Speaking of which.... Oh man. This engine was really bogging down as the elevation climbed. I’ve never noticed that with the Miata. Getting into boost made the issue dissappear immediately, but I had to stay in boost just to maintain speed once I was at Steven’s Pass.

200 miles and I walked out feeling fresh and uncramped. This is the first time in years I’ve used cruise control, and oh man. It felt like the future.

Quick thoughts...

The 850 isn’t nearly as confidence-inspiring in the snow as the Miata. That’s not to say it’s bad... It’s just that the Miata is near-telepathic with it’s inputs and will instantly relay to you everything that’s happening.

The 850 also doesn’t have that same sense of unshakeability that the 08 Outback had. Now, with the Suburu driving was not fun. Ever. But it was equally un-fun in all conditions. Pouring rain, snowstorm, hurricane, ice... Doesn’t matter. The Subaru just fuckin’ drove. Completely unbothered. If anything it was annoyed that something so small and puny as “the weather” would even have the audacity to think itself capable of keeping the Subaru from plodding onward.

The Volvo seems... Unsure of itself. It’s got this weird combo of cornering flatter than most sports cars, yet still having a very utilitarian steering feel. It CAN hit apexes and carve some serious corner. But it would rather go around the bend at 7/10ths, only pushing your head back into the seat once the road straightens out. Traction is a bit strange. I felt like I was occasionally spinning tires when driving through the pass, and I felt like I was going pretty slow. Boost would rise but I wouldn’t get that forward momentum I was expecting. But if I was spinning, it didn’t *do* anything. No “oh shit” moments. No oversteer. No understeer. And while I felt slow, I’d look down and be doing 70mph—10 over the limit—as snow fell from the sky onto the salted yet still icy road.

FWD is weird.

DISCUSSION (16)

wafflesnfalafel > AestheticsInMotion
12/02/2018 at 22:22

hwy 2 is beautiful, (and orange creams icle fudge is awesome... stopped there on the way back from Wenatchee earlier this year...) Volvo run hot up the pass at all?

Tristan > AestheticsInMotion
12/02/2018 at 22:23

Dat scenery... Beautiful!

I agree about FWD... it’s just weird. My GLI just spins through first as soon as the turbo spools. It’s fun, but it would be more fun if the tail wiggled instead.

Did anything new break?

AestheticsInMotion > wafflesnfalafel
12/02/2018 at 22:25

Not a hint of traffic from Seattle to Leavenworth. It was wonderful. And that road is still in such good shape after getting repaved last summer. Can’t wait to drive it once the Miata is back on sticky tires.

Rootbeer is my favorite, but I was told it’s a spring/summer fudge only. Rats.

Nope, ran perfect the entire time. My dash lights even stayed lit the full trip, whereas they’ve been off due to a faulty rheostat the last two weeks.

AestheticsInMotion > Tristan
12/02/2018 at 22:27

No! Actually one broken thing seemed to fix itself if you can believe it.

Yep. I love this car in spite of it's drivetrain layout, not because of it. How are you liking the GLI? Do you fit? Do we need to weld on a roof extension?

Tristan > AestheticsInMotion
12/02/2018 at 22:38

The reasons I keep going back to VW like a crackhead to his pipe are the driving dynamics and the room. The first VW I ever drove was a manual MKIV GTI VR6. I did what I always do... I grabbed the seat handle and slid it back to the stops— and I couldn’t reach the wheel or peddles. Even with a moon roof, my head rubs nothing. They’ve always ran ked among the most comfortable cars for my big lanky self. And the MKV had a substantially larger back seat than previous versions as well, so the kiddo can even fit behind me. This one does need the lumbar support fiddled with, but aside from that, no major complaints. It’s nowhere near the comfort level of a P2 VR, though. :(

Spaceball-Two > AestheticsInMotion
12/02/2018 at 23:24

I have tradition that I always start the song Spitting Venom by Modest Mouse when I start that bendy river road between the back side of Stevens and Leavenworth. The song times great with the turns and straights. Love that stretch.

shop-teacher > AestheticsInMotion
12/02/2018 at 23:48

Sounds like a pretty dang good day!

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > AestheticsInMotion
12/03/2018 at 00:33

Why did I think this was RWD or AWD?

AestheticsInMotion > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
12/03/2018 at 01:08

I wish. AWD would have put me in an even more unreliable yet slower 850R, which didn’t come with a manual and RWD doesn’t exist for Volvos from 850's onward there wasn't a way to get AWD, boost, and manual all together in one wagontastic package*

* Unless you * hngggggg* buy a super rare Canadian import like this that just so happens to be in mint condition...

https://seattle.craigslist.org/see/cto/d/rare-1997-volvo-850-awd-5/6754464850.html

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > AestheticsInMotion
12/03/2018 at 01:14

Today I LEARNT something.

But a fella like you, and FWD... The two don’t seem to go together when you think about it!

AestheticsInMotion > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
12/03/2018 at 01:16

Agreed. But t he boost, engine and interior make up for the “quirks”

It’s funny you bring this up, because until just this week I was under the impression that the Fancy Lexus was FWD!

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > AestheticsInMotion
12/03/2018 at 01:20

Oh goodness, heck no . It’s RWD and it’s just wonderful on that thing . The car somehow feels glued to the road, no matter the curve.

AestheticsInMotion > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
12/03/2018 at 01:23

*jealousy intensifies*

One of these days we'll have to drive 'em back to back. Maybe throw in the Miata too for some real hilarious antics

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > AestheticsInMotion
12/03/2018 at 01:28

I’ve only driven one Volvo (2005 XV70... Or V70 CC?), so I welcome the opportunity.

I’m surprised you thought it was FWD* , though you’re not a Toyota fanboi so I’ll let it slide. What made you realize it was RWD ?

MM54 > AestheticsInMotion
12/03/2018 at 19:42

This is why I find FWD unsettling and frankly don’t like it in the snow. Would much rather be in control of both steering and traction independently (with RWD).

Looks like a cool trip though!

AestheticsInMotion > MM54
12/04/2018 at 01:37

Yep. It was fine—if a bit boring—on the slow speed offroad section, but on snowy highways.... Definitely would have preferred the way the Miata drives.