2011 Volvo S60
 

I'm watching this weeks showing of MotorWeek magazine on HD Theater and they tested a new Volvo S60. It has a six cylinder engine that SITS SIDEWAYS with AWD. The a/c is mounted opposite from the way every other one is mounted (that I have ever seen anyway). It looked to me like it would be a royal pia to work on.

A 2011 anything is a real PITA to work on.

Anything with an east west motor regardless of the year is a PITA to work on !!

I guess that's what you get when you try and make a rather boring midsize sedan be "naughty"....Well no worries as they're already selling the 2012 model.

How about a north/north west motor? like a slant 6 :D

Now all the mechanics have weighed in,
 

If all you guys care about is how easy it is to work on, then buy a '52 Chevy pickup truck with a Stovebolt 6 engine.

That new S60 is gorgeous to look at, corners brakes and accellerates in Audi and BMW territory, has the best seats in the business, which were designed by orthopaedic back surgeons, just like Mercedes and is real real safe in a bad crash.

Otoh, the '52 Chevy pickup accellerates like Molasses, corners like a brick rolling sideways, the seats are like wood park benches and in a crash, Congrats: you just got a steering column through your chest like a butterfly in someone's collection.

Sheesh.

For a 4,000lb car it has impressive numbers, and the fact that they fit a 3.0L I6 transversely is incredible. For the price though, its sort of in a tough territory with its competition, fitting right into a sort-of-luxury-but-not-as-expensive category. The 2.5L I5 engine is pretty lackadaisical in performance and pickup (haven driven S60s numerous times before) and as far as my experience goes, quality, fit and finish are awful. I hope they've sorted that out by now as its based on the same platform as the previous S60 and S80.

Transverse mounted V6s and V8s are nothing new however...just the sheer size of a straight six makes it impressive

I have seen a six cylinder engine sitting side ways in a Honda m/c during the early/mid 70's if memory serves me right. I believe it was a dual overhead cam engine then too. I'm sure that once you work on one you figure out all the ways to work in the tight spaces. You probably just drop the engine out from the bottom of there is anything major. This is real easy with a lift in my opinion. Did ya'll know that there is an o-ring on the back of the block on the later model Ford Power Strokes that you have to pull the cab of the truck off to get to it. Wonder if the engineers that designed this one were some of the same engineers that designed the Ford? With that said I had rather work on the ol Chevy versus the Volvo but if I were going to cover any interstate distance I would rather be in the Volvo. If all I'm going to be doing is be in the woods or on the dirt roads I'd rather be on the 4 wheeler:). The thing I though was kinda unusual was the way the a/c compressor was mounted. It looked like it would be a piece of cake to change out.

I'll stick with a diesel-powered Mercedes-Benz for my auto needs for now. That, and my Ford diesel-powered motorcoach. :thumbsup:

Have you ever lifted up the queen size bed in the rear of a Monaco Dynasty? You can just about crawl down into that engine compartment. Looks like the folks that designed that one built it to be able to get to it and maintain it.

:D:dj: You said it kiddo.

They do look nice, but I don't know if they have been away from ford long enough to want one. Maybe a few more years.

Honda CBX - 680 lbs. of fun:

http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/...onda-cbx-3.jpg

Nah, most snow blowers and lawn mowers are still doable. :D