2010 Volvo XC60 T6 AWD: Roadtrip in the Rain(bow)

Hey acbayard, I sure hope you aren't so negative all the time. Why don't you stop worrying about my wife and kids and comment something worthwhile. Talk about crap.

Hey banditone, this is not Smokey and the Bandit, this is real life and I agree with acbayard's post. Why not get an original or interesting screen name?

Another one with nothing constructive to say. Real Christmas spirit. All negative all the time.

Internet police!!! lame!

wow, touchy touchy today...

ok, here's my question about the volvo:
I imagine you and most other editors here have driven many other crossovers in this class... how do you think it stacks up against the audi/bmw/lexus/mb/caddy/etc competition? for better or worse you don't see all that many new volvos around. is it worth your money?

My Volvo story and then question: I always loved old Volvos for the well balanced (read heavy) steering and brakes. They were frankly always more similar to a BMW than anything else on the road and according to Volvo were that way because of "safety".

Do they new Volvos like your XC60 still have the good steering and brakes or did they Toyota-ize them?

Comment something worthwhile? Sure!

I ran my car on fumes today - it gave me an uber adrenaline rush, cuz I'm cool like that. I'm waiting for my grand kids to arrive on Wednesday, so I can go driving recklessly with them on public roads. Because I'm cool like that.

"Because I'm cool like that."

ROFL.....Thats how your roll, huh? It is way more cool to drive like an idiot for sure. How dare you voice your opinion?

@ all: I happen to have ridden shotgun with banditone on several occasions, and I can attest that he's a safe, sane and highly skilled driver who always drives in a manner conducive to weather and road conditions.

I should also note that apart from LA's immediate downtown, the speed limit is 65 mph on all major freeways (be they Interstates, U.S. highways or State Routes) -- and if you leave greater LA, the speed limit goes up to 70 in some areas. Even in the rain, a pace of 35 mph would be too slow -- and unsafe -- in free-flowing traffic. And just because one of your favorite IL editors chooses to accelerate around someone who's going all of 35 doesn't mean that editor was doing triple digits. I passed a handful of too-slow-for-conditions drivers over the weekend, and I was doing all of 55 mph. --Erin

@eriches:

Are you telling me that banditone works for Edmunds? Those posts don't seem very professional, or respectful. I would expect more from the company. If it's Scott posting these comments that's pretty sad.

When something is posted on the internet for millions to see you have to expect that people will be critical of it. The skill comes in dealing with the criticisms in a respectful and logical manner.

@eriches: http://blogs.insideline.com/roadtests/2010/12/2010-volvo-xc60-t6-awd-feels-good-at-100-mph.html

I think acbayard comment was regarding this post...

http://blogs.insideline.com/roadtests/2010/12/2010-volvo-xc60-t6-awd-feels-good-at-100-mph.html

...not about passing someone doing 35 mph.

I don't think any of us believed this comment....

"According to our death defying professional driver on a closed course our long-term 2010 Volvo XC60 feels great at 100 mph. Smooth. Steady. Stable. Effortless."

"Are you telling me that banditone works for Edmunds"

That is what I was thinking! I thought that he was just a poster on here. That changes everything.

What an un-professional, thin skinned reaction. Gee have much of a chip on your shoulder? Grow up.

Hey Actualsize is this how you like your editors to talk to people? An apology is needed and very fast. There was no cause for that kind of defensive and abrasive answer to acbayard. Posters talk to each other like that and it is no big deal. For an editor to do it is not even close to professional.

@eriches: http://blogs.insideline.com/roadtests/2010/12/2010-volvo-xc60-t6-awd-feels-good-at-100-mph.html

If I could resuscitate that wisely deleted post/youtube video of a certain editor trying to find the top speed of a Smart Fourtwo I would - then send it off to the CHP.

I like to drive fast - I like track events, what I don't like is buffoons on public roads capturing it for entertainment and posting it online, essentially encouraging other buffoons to act recklessly.

It is just a matter of time before an accident occurs, and Edmunds, Inc. finds itself a defendant in a liability suit under respondeat superior. Which will be too bad, because I really enjoy the work Edmunds does as an institution.

"I like to drive fast - I like track events, what I don't like is buffoons on public roads capturing it for entertainment and posting it online, essentially encouraging other buffoons to act recklessly."

+1000

So much negativity. Speeds on the freeways in SoCal can very easily top 100 when you get out in the desert you're being passed left and right if you are merely doing 100. Being a racer myself and in a family that lives off speed I don't understand why everyone is getting so butt hurt over this mythical number, it's actually quite slow. My father used to cruise our highly modified Suburban 130-140 on road trips when I was a kid. None of us had second thoughts about it. The bottom line is the speed Scott drives frankly should not be any of your concern and from my experience he drives like a little old lady on public roads.

Why is it our concern? Easy... here's over 30,000 reasons.

http://www-fars.nhtsa.dot.gov/Main/index.aspx

And I'll bet everyone of them would have told you they were a good driver too.

So many fools out there like they can safely drive at 100 mph just because they have gotten away with it so far. No clue as to how fast things happen when something goes wrong at that speed.

Being a racer doesn't excuse you, quite the opposite. You should realize this type of driving does not belong on the road.

I saw a test once of a car hitting a wall at 50 mph followed by one hitting at 100 mph. The diference was staggering. In a modern car you might survive a 50 mph crash. No chance at 100 mph.

It's a total rainbow. OMG! What does this mean??!

Okay, here it is. Yes I do work here at Edmunds and yes I've been having a bad day. Sorry about my oversensitivity. It won't happen again. I know it's just your way of enjoying the website. Please don't tell Actual Size to fire me. I need this job if I'm ever going to finish night school and finally get that job as a professional philatelist.

And just in case you really are concerned about the safety of the driving public, that speedometer shot was taken at the test track with an actual professional test driver at the wheel. I swear it. Why wouldn't you believe me?

"I need this job if I'm ever going to finish night school and finally get that job as a professional philatelist. "

I find your humor about as sincere as your apology...quite lame and boorish. Try again tomorrow. Wow, you get paid to write like that?.....must be nice.

Apology accepted. Let's all lighten up and have a nice holiday season now!

wow. Maybe a Xanax or a J would help some people here develop a sense of humor.

Not sure when this blog suddenly became the realm of the high and mighty.

"Apology accepted."

BS....when I walked away from the keyboard my thoughts turned to a guy where I work that got smart with a client and ended up getting canned. Not sure if he deserved it since the client was rather a jerk too. But the point is the same....does anyone think it is acceptable to treat customers or clients like above? And yes I know this is a free site but those that read it are in fact ILs customers. I am not "high and mighty" at all. I guess I just treat my clients better than some of the folks that work at IL. Does that make me better? Not really I guess....just different in this day and age.

bodyblue,

I don't want to fight with you. Or with acbayard. You're loyal readers and I appreciate it. In fact, I work 10 to 12 hours a day trying to make you happy. But I have to admit, it would be nice if you said something complimentary on occasion. Please tell us what we do right, not just what we do wrong. Sometimes the complaining and nit picking of our efforts can get to us. Know what I mean?

Maybe that's too much to ask. You should be able to enjoy the website and interact with it any way you want. And I should respect that.

Happy Holidays.

@banditone:

I get it, really I do. I love this site, and you do 99% of everything right! Sometimes the internet makes us forget that on the other end of the computer is another person, just like us. We may not share the same views, or value the same things, but we're people just the same. Typing replies back and forth makes it a lot harder to decipher tone, gauge reaction, and respond accordingly. I've been internet dating for a bit now, and I know how harsh the "internet world" can be. I also know how rare it is for someone to say something complementary about a product or service. At my job the only time I hear from a client is when there is a problem, if I do things right, or I go out of my way for someone, it's very rare to hear a thank you.

Have a great holiday season, and keep up the good work.

@banditone: Can you please try to stop posting photos of the poor defenseless long term cars with Christmas trees on top and nothing to protect the roof. It would do wonders for my sanity ;)

Well Scott, I hope you've learned your lesson. Never again should you post about an experience in a long term car in a lighthearted way. Humor and sarcasm are clearly the work of the devil. Don't forget the official Inside Line blog motto: "All PC All The Time!" I mean, really your only purpose here should be to ensure that all vehicles have properly functioning seat heaters so Donna doesn't get cranky.
This should free up some time in your day so you can go about your business of killing kittens, pushing old ladies into traffic, and otherwise being such a horrible menace to society.

Oh, and x2 to carguy - can we still make fun of you for putting xmas trees on bare metal?

No sarcasm at all in this comment. Nope; none at all. Shhhh!

I'm surprised at the defensiveness of the Inside Line people in this thread. They are enthusiasts and professional drivers, not your fat uncle Larry who scares everyone with his reckless driving. They have nothing to apologize for.

If you all don't like reading about people going fast in cool cars, go read something else. Maybe Consumer Reports has a blog for you.

My only complaint about that XC60 100mph post was that 100mph is nothing for a luxury vehicle these days. It would be news if the Volvo WASN'T stable and planted at that speed.

-Rod

bodyblue,

I have reread this argument twice and I cannot figure out why you are so upset. The whole "customer is always right" mentality only goes so far, and baiting Dan Edmunds into punishing a staff member is simply juvenile. If anyone wants an opinion from another "client": I have read this blog for three years now and I appreciate the job these folks do, and I think it is very rare that they ever stray beyond professionalism in their interactions with the readers. And everyone gets to have a bad day.

Scott, excellent post on the Volvo. And nice photograph.

bodyblue

Scotts reply was to your offending post, so I see it as you fired the first shot. So don't be all bothered when he doesn't reply in a kind manner.

@ Firstwagon:
"I saw a test once of a car hitting a wall at 50 mph followed by one hitting at 100 mph. The diference was staggering. In a modern car you might survive a 50 mph crash. No chance at 100 mph."

Does that mean we should all only go 50 mph on the freeway?
Go ask Germans how "unsafe" their Autobahn is, on which going 100 mph is pretty much average speed.
The problem isn't speed alone. IMO a driver with no driving skills is a much bigger problem, be it at 30, 50 or 80 mph.
Instead of being all up in arms because somebody "dared" to go over 100, it would be nice if people would demand better driver education and training with the same vigor.

BTW, I laughed my ass off when I first came to the US and took the driving test. It's a complete joke. Basically, if you know how to depress the gas and brake pedal and you figure out how much to turn the steering wheel to get around a curve, you get a license...WOW...Great

"bodyblue,

I don't want to fight with you. Or with acbayard. You're loyal readers and I appreciate it. In fact, I work 10 to 12 hours a day trying to make you happy. But I have to admit, it would be nice if you said something complimentary on occasion. Please tell us what we do right, not just what we do wrong. Sometimes the complaining and nit picking of our efforts can get to us. Know what I mean?

Maybe that's too much to ask. You should be able to enjoy the website and interact with it any way you want. And I should respect that.

Happy Holidays.

Scott,

It appears you had a really bad day and I can sure understand that. If you have seen my posts over the years, I love this site and really like all of you guys and defend you against stupid charges of bias etc all the time. I think you way over reacted to Abc's post and I probably did the same to yours. But I did not realize your screename was in fact you. This site is indeed filled with negative nellies who trash thread after thread for the dumbest reasons. As an example by the end of day today the choice of the new Sienna will be trashed at least a dozen times. The only time I am EVER negative about IL is when there is lazy writing (factual errors). I have dealt with the general public in my career for 27 years now and it can be infuriating at times and really fun at others. Everybody that deals with people for a living will have the same experience. I am sorry if you think I was being negative (I was really not) but I did not like seeing your reaction to a serious (if biting) post. And yes, taking pics of a cars speedo at 100 is not really that interesting or funny. I did not respond to that post because I did not want to be negative AND I thought it was very stupid and immature. (some of us feel that going that fast on public roads is insane and dangerous).

As to complimenting your site.......I love it and think it is great. I posted last week how jealous I was of those who lived close enough to you to come see you when you were showing the new Explorer. I look forward to Dans yearly trip north and posts about seat heaters and even flat tires. I love the blogs and the time you guys take to do them. I think the writing in the mag itself has in the past had a few too many factual errors but that seems to been better lately. If I seem negative it is often in response to posters on here, not IL itself and that is what happened yesterday. I am very sorry that you had a bad day and I am sorry that you think I am against you in some way.

Merry Christmas to you, Scott and everybody else at Inside Line.

PS If you let me drive your new Mustang I promise to post a positive thought about you guys every day! :)

Question for the editors:

what is your estimate of the tire life on these Pirellis? Many sporty crossovers have issues with tire life (Touareg, X5, etc) with complaints of sub 20,000 mile tire life. Sounds like it's going to be a good car for those who hate spending money on tires.