Driving a Volvo Cross-Country 2.5 turbo in a big city

I'm on vacation in Vancouver, BC and, unfortunately, I rented
a Volvo 'cross-country' (mini-sunv/large station wagon)
with a 2.5 liter turbo engine. (I figured I may need the
AWD for my trip to the mountains). Well, the turbo lag on this POS
is extreme--at first I thought that the parking brake was
on or that something was wrong. No. You step on the gas and
nothing happens. That's 'normal'. In big city traffic slow
acceleration from a standstill is a big pain in the ass.
What the heck was Volvo thinking when they put an anemic
2.5 liter engine on a heavy vehicle like this? Who the hell buys
these overpriced station wagons?

"florin" > wrote in message
. com...

> I rented a Volvo 'cross-country' (mini-sunv/large station wagon)

<snip>

> Who the hell buys these overpriced station wagons?

Obviously, the car rental companies have bought a few.

--
Malcolm

"florin" > wrote in message
. com...

> I rented a Volvo 'cross-country' (mini-sunv/large station wagon)

<snip>

> Who the hell buys these overpriced station wagons?

Obviously, the car rental companies have bought a few.

--
Malcolm

On Wed, 15 Dec 2004 04:55:07 GMT, florin > wrote:

>I'm on vacation in Vancouver, BC and, unfortunately, I rented
>a Volvo 'cross-country' (mini-sunv/large station wagon)
>with a 2.5 liter turbo engine. (I figured I may need the
>AWD for my trip to the mountains). Well, the turbo lag on this POS
>is extreme--at first I thought that the parking brake was
>on or that something was wrong. No. You step on the gas and
>nothing happens. That's 'normal'. In big city traffic slow
>acceleration from a standstill is a big pain in the ass.
>What the heck was Volvo thinking when they put an anemic
>2.5 liter engine on a heavy vehicle like this? Who the hell buys
>these overpriced station wagons?

Turbo lag is more a product of an oversized turbo unit that anemic
power.
The larger the turbo is, the longer it takes it to spin up, and this
translates into turbo lag.
--
Bill Funk
Change "g" to "a"

On Wed, 15 Dec 2004 04:55:07 GMT, florin > wrote:

>I'm on vacation in Vancouver, BC and, unfortunately, I rented
>a Volvo 'cross-country' (mini-sunv/large station wagon)
>with a 2.5 liter turbo engine. (I figured I may need the
>AWD for my trip to the mountains). Well, the turbo lag on this POS
>is extreme--at first I thought that the parking brake was
>on or that something was wrong. No. You step on the gas and
>nothing happens. That's 'normal'. In big city traffic slow
>acceleration from a standstill is a big pain in the ass.
>What the heck was Volvo thinking when they put an anemic
>2.5 liter engine on a heavy vehicle like this? Who the hell buys
>these overpriced station wagons?

Turbo lag is more a product of an oversized turbo unit that anemic
power.
The larger the turbo is, the longer it takes it to spin up, and this
translates into turbo lag.
--
Bill Funk
Change "g" to "a"

On Wed, 15 Dec 2004 04:55:07 GMT, florin > wrote:

>I'm on vacation in Vancouver, BC and, unfortunately, I rented
>a Volvo 'cross-country' (mini-sunv/large station wagon)
>with a 2.5 liter turbo engine. (I figured I may need the
>AWD for my trip to the mountains). Well, the turbo lag on this POS
>is extreme--at first I thought that the parking brake was
>on or that something was wrong. No. You step on the gas and
>nothing happens. That's 'normal'. In big city traffic slow
>acceleration from a standstill is a big pain in the ass.
>What the heck was Volvo thinking when they put an anemic
>2.5 liter engine on a heavy vehicle like this? Who the hell buys
>these overpriced station wagons?


Maybe there _is_ something wrong.

From a review:

The T5's high-pressure intercooled turbo-motor puts out 247 horsepower at 5200
rpm, and churns 243 pounds-feet of torque across a flat band spread between
2400 and 5200 rpm. Turbo lag is minimized and, with high torque at relatively
low rpm, this engine impressed us with its performance and quiet demeanor.

which can be found at:

http://www.nctd.com/review-drive.cfm...&ReviewID=1374

I wouldn't be surprised to find that your turbo _isn't_ working.

Check under the hood. Maybe the turbo output to the injection intake has come
unhooked, or is leaking excessivly (although that usually makes a noise.)

The way the car is driving, it acts like my old Mitsubishi Eclipse when that
turbo output hose came adrift. A 2.4 L engine that is turbocharged _ought_ to
be pretty impressive, and turbo-lag should be fairly controllable by
anticipating the need for torque, or revving the engine with no load and then
dropping the clutch.

Dave Head

On Wed, 15 Dec 2004 04:55:07 GMT, florin > wrote:

>I'm on vacation in Vancouver, BC and, unfortunately, I rented
>a Volvo 'cross-country' (mini-sunv/large station wagon)
>with a 2.5 liter turbo engine. (I figured I may need the
>AWD for my trip to the mountains). Well, the turbo lag on this POS
>is extreme--at first I thought that the parking brake was
>on or that something was wrong. No. You step on the gas and
>nothing happens. That's 'normal'. In big city traffic slow
>acceleration from a standstill is a big pain in the ass.
>What the heck was Volvo thinking when they put an anemic
>2.5 liter engine on a heavy vehicle like this? Who the hell buys
>these overpriced station wagons?


Maybe there _is_ something wrong.

From a review:

The T5's high-pressure intercooled turbo-motor puts out 247 horsepower at 5200
rpm, and churns 243 pounds-feet of torque across a flat band spread between
2400 and 5200 rpm. Turbo lag is minimized and, with high torque at relatively
low rpm, this engine impressed us with its performance and quiet demeanor.

which can be found at:

http://www.nctd.com/review-drive.cfm...&ReviewID=1374

I wouldn't be surprised to find that your turbo _isn't_ working.

Check under the hood. Maybe the turbo output to the injection intake has come
unhooked, or is leaking excessivly (although that usually makes a noise.)

The way the car is driving, it acts like my old Mitsubishi Eclipse when that
turbo output hose came adrift. A 2.4 L engine that is turbocharged _ought_ to
be pretty impressive, and turbo-lag should be fairly controllable by
anticipating the need for torque, or revving the engine with no load and then
dropping the clutch.

Dave Head

In a previous posting, florin > had the
audacity to say:

:I'm on vacation in Vancouver, BC

How long you gonna be here? I guess like most tourists you're in
for a couple, then out of town (not a bad idea, either).

:and, unfortunately, I rented
:a Volvo 'cross-country' (mini-sunv/large station wagon)
:with a 2.5 liter turbo engine. (I figured I may need the
:AWD for my trip to the mountains). Well, the turbo lag on this POS
:is extreme--at first I thought that the parking brake was
n or that something was wrong. No. You step on the gas and
:nothing happens. That's 'normal'. In big city traffic slow
:acceleration from a standstill is a big pain in the ass.
:What the heck was Volvo thinking when they put an anemic
:2.5 liter engine on a heavy vehicle like this? Who the hell buys
:these overpriced station wagons?

Volvos have a reputation for being boring, maybe partially
undeserved. They are heavy, solid cars, and clearly, a 2.5 litre
motor isn't gonna make a speed demon out of them. Since it's a
rental, I suspect you have an AT as well, which can make matters
worse still.

The one and only Volvo I've driven was pretty slow, but it was
decent to drive, being a V40 diesel. 95 hp I think, 5 speed
stick. And that engine is what? 1.9L? But comparing gas to
diesel is like apples and oranges I guess.

--
E.R. aka SJG aka Ricardo
present location: vancouver bc canada

In a previous posting, florin > had the
audacity to say:

:I'm on vacation in Vancouver, BC

How long you gonna be here? I guess like most tourists you're in
for a couple, then out of town (not a bad idea, either).

:and, unfortunately, I rented
:a Volvo 'cross-country' (mini-sunv/large station wagon)
:with a 2.5 liter turbo engine. (I figured I may need the
:AWD for my trip to the mountains). Well, the turbo lag on this POS
:is extreme--at first I thought that the parking brake was
n or that something was wrong. No. You step on the gas and
:nothing happens. That's 'normal'. In big city traffic slow
:acceleration from a standstill is a big pain in the ass.
:What the heck was Volvo thinking when they put an anemic
:2.5 liter engine on a heavy vehicle like this? Who the hell buys
:these overpriced station wagons?

Volvos have a reputation for being boring, maybe partially
undeserved. They are heavy, solid cars, and clearly, a 2.5 litre
motor isn't gonna make a speed demon out of them. Since it's a
rental, I suspect you have an AT as well, which can make matters
worse still.

The one and only Volvo I've driven was pretty slow, but it was
decent to drive, being a V40 diesel. 95 hp I think, 5 speed
stick. And that engine is what? 1.9L? But comparing gas to
diesel is like apples and oranges I guess.

--
E.R. aka SJG aka Ricardo
present location: vancouver bc canada

In a previous posting, Dave Head > had the
audacity to say:

:The T5's high-pressure intercooled turbo-motor puts out 247 horsepower at 5200
:rpm, and churns 243 pounds-feet of torque across a flat band spread between
:2400 and 5200 rpm. Turbo lag is minimized and, with high torque at relatively
:low rpm, this engine impressed us with its performance and quiet demeanor.

Oops, bang goes my notion of that engine being underpowered
then. Those Ovlovs are probably at least as quick as, possibly
quicker than, my Mazda (when her turbo was good).

--
E.R. aka SJG aka Ricardo
present location: vancouver bc canada