A work in progress.

[Piwoslaw]

Originally Posted by euromodder

In Germany, you need a Feinstaubplakette to get into the Umweltzones (vehicle emission control zones), so I got me a green sticker while I was near a TÜV test facility.

For more info, check out Cities restricting use of polluting cars.

[Weather Spotter]

I feel your pain on not reaching your goal. I wanted to beat 50MPG on my last tank, but wind kept me from getting there (I got 49.227).

[euromodder]

The Volvo Libra wheels, though more aerodynamic, are also 3.4 kg / 7.5 lbs heavier apiece than the Cordelia wheels.
I can actually feel the difference when steering, they require more force input than the lighter rims - it can be felt depite the power steering !

Let's hope the aerodynamic benefits will outweigh the greater inertia of these wheels.
I doubt Volvo put them on their DRIVe models just for the looks.

I'm not into cheap stuff, so pizza pan solutions were out of the question ...
Compared to a set of steel wheels and flush moon-eyes, the new alloys were not that much more expensive - if at all !


Temporarily going back from 43.5 psi to the standard 36psi brought about a very notable change in ride comfort !
36psi definitely smooths out a lot of the small bumps and cracks that you feel at 43.5psi.


Volvo Libra 16" : 10.9 kg / 24 lbs



Volvo Cordelia 16" : 7.5 kg / 16.5 lbs

These will get winter tyres.
The old Michelin Energy Savers will be taken off and stored, to serve out their useful thread life when the new ones wear out.

[Arragonis]

Could it be that they workd for coasting - once you get them spinning they keep on going longer ? Your ride quality could be because of unsprung weight and increased pressure combined.

I like the not cheap comments You are a Volvo driver

[redyaris]

I guess Adam Smith must have overlooked Volvo Drivers...

[euromodder]

Originally Posted by Arragonis

Could it be that they workd for coasting - once you get them spinning they keep on going longer ?

I doubt Volvo had coasting in mind when they put these wheels on their DRIVe models (C30/S40/V50).
Coasting distances seem to be the same.
Going off the motorway, I tried to start coasting from further out, but didn't make it to the end of the off ramp.

Your ride quality could be because of unsprung weight and increased pressure combined.

Quite likely. It's indeed a lot more unsprung weight.

So far, they don't seem to be helping in the FE department.
Has anyone ever quantified the effects of new tyres ?
From what I've been reading here, they're supposed to lower FE until they wear in.

The drawback of doing more than 1 change at a time is that you'll never know which mod is the most effective - but I wanted to beat the official FE rating quickly

I like the not cheap comments You are a Volvo driver

Well, I also looked at steel wheels (250 euro new !) and moon eyes (200 USD a set + shipping + import taxes = easily another 200 to 250 euro).


I don't want to ruin the look of the car by the mods I do to it.
The quick & dirty grille block is bad enough as it is

[Arragonis]

How much is a DrivE model ?

[Piwoslaw]

Originally Posted by euromodder

I'm not into cheap stuff, so pizza pan solutions were out of the question ...
Compared to a set of steel wheels and flush moon-eyes, the new alloys were not that much more expensive - if at all !

Who said diy moonies have to be cheap??
Luxury DIY mooncaps

[euromodder]

Originally Posted by Piwoslaw

Who said diy moonies have to be cheap??
Luxury DIY mooncaps

LOL !

[euromodder]

Originally Posted by Arragonis

How much is a DrivE model ?

In Kinetic trim like mine, they start at 28.000 euro for a V50.
I'd expect to get around 10% off the list price, but I've heard there's less of a discount on the DRIVe models.

This is why :
As it produces less than 105 g/km CO2, we get 15% off the price subsidized by the government - with a maximum of some 4.500 euro.


The cheapest DRIVe model is a C30, at 22.000 euro - minus some discount, minus the 15% gov't incentive, you're looking at around 18.000 euro.