I would recommend you to go and test drive both and see which you like more.... I only have good things to say about S60R - had it now for 3300 miles and it never failed to bring a smile on my face, never driven the S4 so can't really compare.

S4 would be much easier to modify thou... currently there's no chips out for R in US... in few months first ones should be out. But I think all the R owners are very curious to see what Evolve brings out...

Somethings I can tell about R:

+ Adjustable Suspension (I love this thing)
+ Dolby Pro Logic stereo with 13 speakers
+ Extremely nice seats
+ Brembo Brakes
- HUGE turning circle (42.7ft, if I remember correctly)
- Small backseat legroom

 

Thanks JMN, did you trade in your Passat or is the Volvo your second car? Is your R a manual? Does the rear seat split or is there a pass thru?

Pete

 

He traded iirc.

The Volvo certainly has more "bang for the buck" IMHO, and the interior quality of the S60R beats the pants off the S4. The adjustable suspension is a dream, but I'd personally wait a little more until we're sure that its hyper complex electronics won't fail on us mid-corner or something equally silly. But actually, the suspension was introduced on the 35AE Corvette, so it should be somewhat "proven" already.

As for the S4, why buy another hyped up Passat that's barely keeps up w/ a chipped Passat (when stock)? :wink: Don't forget to replace your turbos every 50k too! :lol:

 

Thanks JMN, did you trade in your Passat or is the Volvo your second car? Is your R a manual? Does the rear seat split or is there a pass thru? Pete

Yeah, I traded in my B5.5 for it, had nice 4.5 month wait before I got mine. I got myself a manual one, always liked manual cars and it seems like in R's case it was a good idea since the automatic one has kinda limited performance since the box can't take all the power what engine gives it (electronically limited to 350NM).

The backseat splits 40/60 and it also has pass thru...

 

Hmmmm, like I said earlier, I'm in the "dreaming about it" stage...How much do you think the S60R will cost in 2- 3 yrs, off lease...

Pete

 

definately go for the S60R!!!
A4's are way too common, and the S60R is more stylish and you don't see too many of them on the roads -- the performance is really good.
The interior is very nice, especially for a Volvo, with the buttery natural brown leather (you have to get this color) which is supposed to age well like a piece of furniture (due to the special tanning process) and looks really sharp with black interior with the satin aluminum trim. The shimmery blue guages are really cool and unique.

 

Lets see if I can keep this thread going until I make my decision(yeah right!).
Anyway, what really got me thinking about the S60R was that show on the
Speed Channel where they do those awesome test drives of new cars. The guys loved the Volvo. Still, don't you think a chipped, exhaust, RS4 intercoolers, coilover
S4 would be up to par performance wise?

Pete

 

The guys on Speed say they love everything they drive. #1, they're paid to say it. #2, they wouldn't receive any future models if they said anything remotely degrading about it.

I'm sure it would "keep up" with it, but the adjustable suspension is still a major selling point for the S60R over any S4 if I were to make it a daily driver.

 

Soon you can buy stuff for your R too:

 

- HUGE turning circle (42.7ft, if I remember correctly)

Wow, 40' on my wife's RSX is bad enough. I can only imagine how difficult it is to park this thing well.

(I believe our Passats are around 37' or so, and that seems to work pretty well, for me at least, but it's not as nice as my old 245GL with its 32' circle. Man I miss that thing.... I could park easily...unless it was near a parking structure pillar or wall, in which case I was in trouble. )

 

- HUGE turning circle (42.7ft, if I remember correctly)

Wow, 40' on my wife's RSX is bad enough. I can only imagine how difficult it is to park this thing well.

(I believe our Passats are around 37' or so, and that seems to work pretty well, for me at least, but it's not as nice as my old 245GL with its 32' circle. Man I miss that thing.... I could park easily...unless it was near a parking structure pillar or wall, in which case I was in trouble. )

Yea I have heard some of those bigger Inline transverse engines are the problem.

2.5L 5cylinder will do it.

I have also heard that XC70 with its I6 has a horrid turning radius.

-Nick

 

That's an awesome pic. I am surprised however that no one is backing up the S4. Considering this is ClubB5 and the VAG brand is what we all chose.
Thanks for the comments so far.

Pete

 

Personally I don't dig the new Volvos. Those tailights are just uke: ...I can never ever get over them.

IMO the best Volvo ever made is 850R

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IMO the best Volvo ever made is 850R

240 series, pre-1985. Went to pot after that. :lol:

 

I hate to say it, but stick with the Volvo, although I LOVE the S4, I hate repairs and that 2.7T engine has been a miserable failure for Audi...

 

I've always been huge Audi fan and I have to say it was very hard to admit that I completely fell in loved with Volvo after the first test drive (you know that stupid stunned look at your face when you're holding the steering wheel and "WHOOW")... would've never imagined driving one few years back.

 

A friend of mine had the Volvo R wagon...it wound up being used by his wife mostly. He also had a 528i, said the Volvo was quicker than the Bimmer hands down...so, he traded the 528i for an M5... couldn't have his wife driving the faster car. Can you blame him. He thru me the keys one day....man that thing is evil...Anyway, I guess I should go for a test drive one day and see what that Volvo is all about..

Pete