I was cleaning old files on my computer and came across a couple pics of what is to date my fovorite car . I got rid of this to "settle" on the STR.
This was a one of a kind as it was made to specs for the actor who did volvo voice overs for years. It had a dual tube ram intake, header back exhaust, ecu map and upgraded turbo, and custom wheels. It was a race car period. my guess is it was a 4.5 to 4.6 car. it had 380/350. Closest race was to an e55 AMG. only loss was a Z06. the pics are the day i took delivery here in mass..happy day indeed!

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Mn that is sweet

 

Looks like fast rice to me.

Your STR is better.

 

really...how so..thats all bone stock

 

Isn't fast rice an oxymoron?

 

Indeed. I overuse the term b/c I like it. Don't get offended fergs. She's nice.

 

The one I miss a lot





After a truck pulled out in front of me

 

I actually looked at Volvo R's before I got my STR. The thing that threw me off what all the problems they have with the hubs. All I kept reading about is how the bearings go really quick. I would be driving it as a daily driver so I passed. I love the way they look. They are some nice cars. I just wish they were RWD. I was looking for an AWD 6 speed and they were really hard to find.

 

Alrite you made me open up pandoras box, have some old school pics back in the day of my whilte Mitsubishi 3000GT SL 92' White and after selling that one I moved up to the big boys club to get the 3000GT VR4 twin turbo 93' Black......ohhhh what memories

**Can anyone tell me instead of showing images as icons, how are you guys inserting images, I see that it ask for a URL when clicking on that icon, is there another way? Thanks.

 

Nice ride, but why did you have to get rid of it?

 

Oh ... you must mean the addition of HID conversions, blue tinted bulbs, tinny exhaust tips and such. Much like some of the threads that can be found right here. Endless agony over whether a slanted or oval tip is worth 25 rwhp.

Just because someone starts out with porridge, italian sausage, herring or sauerkraut doesn't mean it's not immune to the addition of rice.

 

I had one and I can't imagine why you'd say that.

I replaced it with a 84 Maserati Biturbo which I still have and it was such a better car. The GTV6 was a warmed over but attractive GTV 4 cyl with a decent enough engine but it was a very old car by then. The transaxle was poor. The synchros didn't hold up and it was grossly underpowered compared to my Maserati. I did like it but to compare it to a S-Type R pleeeze!

That's not fair to the Alfa.

 

Those pics were when I was in High School when I had those cars. I sold VR4 when I started college then purchased a 735IL Bmw(big no no ;had my share of problems with that car) lolz..Whatever money I saved up, I use to buy and sell, and change cars every 1yr or less, . Sorry for the poor resolution, I was too lazy to scan the pic, I just snapped it from my Iphone

 

my wife hated it...she did drive it at times.. the car was extremely low, and that was factory,( even lower on the stiffest setting) it was a pretty harsh ride, even on the softer suspension setting (it had 3 ) and it had a terrible turning radius...and it was brutally fast..there was no in between..it was always go go go. even though it had rear seats they were useless and we had at the tie a second grand kid on the way.

I had already purchased an AMG Mercedes but afer 3 months...she just happend to see an STR on a lot and actually told me how she thought it was awesome....so here we are now !

overall...comparing all three cars in several categories, looks, performance, ride/comfort, amenities, cost( upgrades !!) I would honestly choose the STR.

But for pure thrill of any car I have ever owned..the volvo was the best hands down...but that would not have been the case for a stock volvo R for sure

 

The quirkiness of the car is what I loved about it. I had close to 200k miles on it when it was in the accident! And I loved the seats. No car I had has ever had better ones.

 

You were right at missing the Volvo . That was a decent ride indeed .

 

I've had a fair number of Italian cars and that Alfa had the oldest and cheapest design on everything except the engine which was very nice and used a decent Bosch FI system. Gearbox just horrible. Window mechanisms and sealing were like something from the late 60's early 70's which is when the car originated. Cheap dash and instruments. They attempted to dress up a very old car as an exotic Italian luxury sport GT. It didn't work but I did like the styling and at the time I was so tired of my 280ZX. God what a boring car that one was. Alfa made very poor cars at that time but they were Italian!

Mine was an 82 so yours probably had different seats. Mine were just OK but the car I replaced it with, Maserati Biturbo, has the most comfortable seats I've ever experienced. No good at keeping you held in though. Just terrific on really long drives. Just sitting in that car is like having good sex with a beautiful woman. The car also exhibits other traits typically associated with a lot of beautiful women ...

The STR seats aren't too bad considering how well they keep you planted.

 

Translation ... the car was like a hot hooker. Good for an few exciting rides but not something to own?

 

Michael Star, are you looking for a project Alpha that runs, needs some southern rust repaired? I am looking at a red one (identical to yours pictured) and a grey one for parts. They are my next door neighbors and I am willing to bet he would sell them at a fair price. They are located at the NC/SC border directly off I-77.

 

I love Volvos.

In three weeks I will be getting one of these....