Well, at least it’s getting used...

It is unfortunately the case of “it’s who you know not what you know” in the industry. I only got the placement because my brother in law knew the front end engineer. Applying for jobs for years after, at companies doing jobs that were well below my capability that they had a space for, locally, didn’t take me on…

Now that is a clever little idea, did they patent it though? I’d love to see it used on other vehicles if it turns out to be reliable.

I was wondering if this was an Americanisation of the new Astra, makes sense that it’d be off the same platform when they look so strikingly similar.

Ha I wish... Dropped out as I thought my 8 month placement was going to be permanent, then the team was sold and captain-genius here had zero contact details for people (I was young ok) and everyone I knew had moved on to other projects/teams.
Still, I have all my team gear and factory shirts (plus the steel-toed puma…

Scratch that, it was 2006, I still have photos of it as I seem to remember being impressed enough to take them:

I actually remember seeing this thing at the Autosport show when it was being touted as the next big thing (2005). I was a trade guest whilst studying motorsport engineering on placement at Jordan F1... It was hideous then and hasn’t aged well.
Though I still remember being impressed by the premise enough to while…

From a friendly Brit I must say, bravo old chap, you ex-colonials certainly know a bargain piece of British engineering when you see one, tally ho! And the fact that you’re really stuffing it to the old limeys by making them pay for the maintenance, what jolly good fun!

I have to say I was originally rather worried…

Ah, excellent choice sir (being British it makes me proud you would want one of our exports, even if it is unreliable as hell ;) )
At those prices they’re cheaper than they are here, which given our terrible depreciation issues (second hand UK cars are silly cheap mostly) I’m mighty impressed.

Not a patch on your XK but…

That’s the spirit! Fast Volvos for all!

Best to see one of my other replies in this thread.

Honestly it’s just the Volvo’s leather, it is super supple stuff rather than coated. Good choice on the Jags by the way!

To quote one of the replies I had when I was researching them:
“The weak point is the take off for the rear drive. There is a hollow splined coupler which transfers drive to an angle gear box and then rearwards. The splined collars are a well known weak point and their failure often takes the angle gear with them.”
Not…

Yeah, the snow part is rather wishful thinking in the UK too... It was 16C (60F) here yesterday. Looks like a British summer out there at the moment but slightly more “festive”.

I did allude to the “known issues”, but for that price, who cares? Buy it, hoon it, make sure you have a second car to rely on.

It happens to all of them (well, the lighter coloured leathers). The metallic blue seats others had were slightly better at hiding this sort of thing but they were all super-duper soft open pore leather from what I remember, so wore very badly.

It’s a fast capable AWD manual wagon with a decent interior at a reasonable price, what’s not to like? A spicy Swedish meatball!

That said, after looking into buying one myself in my native land (the UK) I know they do have their well known issues... That wouldn’t matter at all when you’re listening to that awesome 5…

I know they’re not “Fed legal” to import yet but you can prize the Integrale Evos from my COLD DEAD FINGERS!!!

Seriously though, bugger off. I’d hoard them all if I had more than £2.

I really dig the look, I know others have complained about this and that but overall it works well as a semi-stealth motor. My main issue is the blow through carb/turbo setup, get it injected and I’d be all over this.....

I can see the potential, I cannot see the point.

A nitrous Crewe CP with a Bentley badge.