FIRST DRIVE: 2011 VOLVO S60 T6 AWD
With the reintroduction of the 2011 Volvo S60, the S60 is one of the most impressive Volvos yet – and it hints at things to come.
Hop in while we check it out.
Volvo S60 Review
The new S60 is a vast improvement over the model it replaces. With new driving dynamics, not to mention the expected safety that is built into every Volvo, the 2011 carries many of the cues from the past built into a sleeker shape. One that you actually could call sexy. A car that doesn’t cause you to make excuses to the neighbors.
The S60 is benchmarked against the various aspects of a range of different cars. Starting with the Audi A4, and moving on to the BMW 3-Series, Infiniti’s G37 and others, the S60 takes a excellent stab at the field in an effort to bring power, handling, stability, and safety into one package.
Good looking, or what?
Volvo design chief Peter Horbury calls the S60 a coupe with four doors. Using the C70 convertible as a canvas, he outlined, with masking tape, a second set of doors so the other designers could get inside his head to see what he was talking about. Soon they were off to work. To our eyes, it is not as swoopy as the standard bearer of the four-door coupe segment, the Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class, but we do like the final result.
From the shoulders, which add the appearance of width and strength to the classic Volvo ironmark in the grille, to the distinctive Swedish rear end of the car, these guys are really onto something.
New technology
Volvo reached back to the outgoing generation of S60 and current S80 for the look of the dashboard space. With controls slightly canted towards the driver and their now classic waterfall centerstack, a Volvo owner will feel right at home here. The company is hoping that it will become the home of choice for many upwardly mobile drivers who transition over to the brand from Toyota with their Camrys and Nissan with their Altimas.
A new audio system featuring a seven-inch color monitor for navigation and HD radio, and Sirius Satellite radio with a complimentary six-month subscription.
Seats are as we have come to expect from Volvo, ergonomically designed to leave occupants refreshed when they arrive at their destination. Our driving sample featured big chunky grained leather in Beachwood brown. An attractive form of tan finish, they look as good as they feel. With power adjustable controls, and lumbar support dialed in through a knob on the side, everyone can have a go at their particular degree of comfort.
Under the hood
Our S60 sample was powered by the ubiquitous 3.0-liter, short inline six-cylinder (SI6) turbocharged engine. Used in various iterations throughout the line, we find it here producing 300-horsepower and 325 lb-ft. of torque. It was mated to a six-speed Geartronic automatic transmission with manu-matic functionality.
Although our S60 was an all-wheel-drive version with what Volvo calls Instant Traction, the car will also be available with standard front wheel drive. We felt the speed-sensitive steering gave instant--and excellent feedback while winding through the broad sweeping turns found near the Oregon/Washington State border.
On the road it was quick and offered easy doings through the slalom events as well as a chunky enough feel to aid you quickly through the turns of the highly technical course. The S60 aids corner traction control by torque vectoring, which enabled us to cut through the turn a lot faster, as our outside tires would spin faster to assist the turn in. It works seamlessly in the background and you don’t really feel it intruding into the driving experience. In those times where we hit the slalom area a bit too fast, the S60’s Dynamic Stability and Traction Control (DSTC) would let us slide to a degree, then rein us in to complete the left-right-left exercise in traction control.
We also had a chance to try out some of the features of the S60’s Technology Package. The two most impressive were the Pedestrian Detection system and the Collision Warning system, both utilizing Full Auto Brake controls. At speeds under 19 mph (usually in urban situations), the system either pre-charges the brakes or automatically brakes the car to a complete stop to prevent a rear-end collision (or at least to minimize the impact).
DFrst impressions of the S60 exceedingly positive: A sporty Volvo, it is.
Car review: 2011 Volvo C30
By Bill Jackson
I really enjoyed the 2011 Volvo C30. It's fun to drive, has an excellent interior and it looks great after its recent redesign.
Getting Around The C30 is a fun car to drive. It has a 227-horsepower, turbocharged five-cylinder engine that makes 236 pounds-feet of torque, which is a lot of power for such a small car. It's estimated to get 21 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway, and it used premium fuel during my test, though Volvo says regular fuel is recommended.
Our test model came with a five-speed automatic transmission, but I've driven a C30 with the available six-speed manual, and that's the model I strongly recommend if you want a sporty driving experience. It gives more immediate response when you want to get going. That's a shame, because you can tell the C30 has a good engine, and when it gets going it's a lot of fun, but the C30's automatic spoils the fun more than most. The transmission has a manual-shift mode, though, so you can shift using the console-mounted gearshift. Once I started doing that I enjoyed the car a lot more, but it's still not as good as a stick shift.
The C30 held the road well. It has a stiff suspension, so there's basically no body roll, and the car feels planted to the road. Volvo says it built the C30 so the wheels are at the corners of the car to provide better handling, and I think it pays off.
Seeing, Being Seen & Being Heard Visibility is good in the C30, even bordering on exceptional. I didn't find any objectionable blind spots.
In addition to being a distinguishing design feature of the C30, the large glass hatch in back helps you see what's going on when you're backing up. When I first got the C30 I wondered if a tailgating car would appear to be too close, but I never got that sensation while driving.
I wasn't cramped for space while driving the C30. I took it on a couple of three-hour road trips and emerged from both feeling pretty fresh. Volvo provides comfortable seats in the C30 and puts padding in the right places -- like where your elbows are.
The cargo area behind the rear seats is small. I could carry a week's worth of groceries pretty easily, but if I had to buy food for more than one person I'm pretty sure I'd have to fold the seats flat.
Overall interior quality is extremely good. I thought the materials used were very nice, and I was a huge fan of how simple and clean everything appeared in the C30. There were a few more buttons than I like in parts of the center console, but overall it was very easy to live with..
Sharp-eyed folks will notice that the C30 has been redesigned for 2011. Changes include a new hood, front fenders, headlights and grille. (Check out the changes for yourself here.) The rest of the car looks pretty much the same, and I have to admit, I've always been a fan of the car's design. The C30 always looks fresh to me.
There are two trim levels of the Volvo C30: T5 and R-Design. The T5 is the "base" model, and the R-Design is the sportier version. It has a sport chassis that Volvo says lowers the car's center of gravity, plus it gets a stiffer suspension and a quicker steering ratio. It also includes 18-inch wheels, as opposed to the stock 17-inchers. Both the R-Design and T5 get the same engine and either a five-speed automatic or a six-speed manual transmission.
The T5 and R-Design normally look different from the outside, as R-Design models add a spoiler, some body-colored trim pieces, 18-inch wheels, and a bunch of R-Design-branded elements on the inside. I say they "normally" look different because you can buy a T5 with an R-Design package that gives you all the R-Design model's looks, but skips the stiffer suspension. Our test model had this appearance package.
Normally I don't like go-fast appearance pieces, but I'm a big fan of this package. I like how the R-Design model looks, but I'm pretty sure I wouldn't want the stiffer R-Design chassis if I intended to drive the C30 every day around Chicago. This lets me have it both ways.
Check out a Volvo for you!
George Turner's 42 Years of Dedication to Detail
George Turner, Manager of Herb Gordon’s New and Used Car Prep Department, has been dedicated to the details since he started in September of 1968. That's right, for over 42 years George has been there to help take the breath away from a car owner. "There is nothing like when an owner sees their car after we've made it look like new again."
"I've enjoyed working for Herb Gordon since day one. It's a great company with great people." With nearly ten people to manage, George teaches his team to be sticklers for doing things right. "I've seen some of the same customers literally for decades! Whether it's a special request detailing or just a complementary wash, we make sure the customer is happy."
"From the products we use to the training I provide to my staff - we try to do everything to be a top-tier provider of quality service." Be sure to stop by and say hello to George the next time you visit; he'll be sure you leave with a car that takes your breath away.
Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk
On October 24th, MileOne Automotive employees, friends and family in Maryland joined together to participate in the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk in Baltimore. MileOne Automotive is a long-time participant in the event and look forward to this day each fall.
The weather and turn-out were both great for this year’s event. Team members met at our Flagship Sponsor tent in a park at the Harry and Jeannetta Weinberg YMCA Center in Baltimore. Before the walk began, team members enjoyed light refreshments, turned in their last-minute donations and got ready for the event to begin!
Jerry Fader, President of MileOne Automotive, spoke to all walkers at this year’s Making Strides event before the beginning of the walk. He addressed the importance of fundraising and the impact that The American Cancer Society has in all of our lives. After the speech, there was a quick MileOne team photo taken then everyone headed to the start line.
The walk took place on a scenic, 4-mile course throughout the Mayfield neighborhood of Baltimore. Part of the walk included a trip around Lake Montebello. American Cancer Society volunteers, neighbors and even some cheerleaders encouraged walkers along the way. Everyone ended the walk under a huge pink balloon arch, welcoming them back to the event’s main area. Music, snacks and water were on-hand for all participants.
Overall, the event was successful for MileOne and The American Cancer Society, further strengthening the partnership between the two organizations. Throughout the Making Strides season, MileOne employees helped to raise thousands of dollars, as they do each year, to benefit the ACS. This event each year is a great celebration for all participants to recognize strength, volunteerism and community.
The First Minivan
The 1936 Stout Scarab came about in the early 1930s when William B. Stout, head of the Stout Engineering Laboratories in Dearborn, Michigan, dreamed of rear-engine/rear-wheel drive. Stout created the 1936 Stout Scarab so that drivers would have better visibility. His Scarab, with its flush glass and electric door locks, bore scant resemblance to any car on Depression-era roads.
Although the Scarab looked long -- like an old Greyhound bus with postwar "bathtub" Nash overtones -- the dimensions weren't terribly startling. The 135-inch wheelbase was on the long side, but the overall length of just over 16 feet-about the same as a 1936 Pontiac-allowed only minimal overhang at each end. And the rear-mounted engine couldn't be more commonplace: an 85-bhp flathead Ford V-8 hooked to Ford's three-speed gearbox. On a 6000-mile trip, Stout's car got a creditable 18.8 mpg.
Scarab interiors were as unique as their bodies. Only the driver's seat was fixed. All the others could be moved around the big, flat floor-even positioned around a fold-down table if desired.
A Stout ad in Fortune announced that 1936 production would be "limited to 100 cars," with prices starting at $5000. Scarabs actually cost a lot more to build, however, and nearly all of them went to Stout board members, including such notables as Phillip Wrigley and Harvey Firestone.
Ahead of its time? Absolutely. Not everyone falls for the unorthodox shape, but they all take notice if a Scarab glides into view. Just a glance at that elegantly fanned rear grillework confirms that the Scarab was -- and is -- something special.
Maryland has how many counties? (Do not count Baltimore City.)
27
19
23
14
See answer under Car Doctor.
Winter Auto Maintenance Checklist
By Matthew Wright
In addition to the added perils of winter driving, the change in weather can bring peril to your car's systems. Freezing temps, salted roads and wintery precipitation can gang up on your car if you don't give it a baseball-bat sized maintenance session. These winter maintenance jobs will keep you out of trouble.
• Check your antifreeze
Your antifreeze (the juice that goes in your radiator) is an essential part of your car's winter protection. Your car contains a 50/50 mix of water and antifreeze. Make sure the level is full and the mixture is close to 50/50. Many service stations and repair centers will check this mixture free, or you can buy a tester for around $5. You did remember to perform a radiator flush last spring, didn't you?
• Inspect your tires
The last line of defense between you and an oak tree are your tires. Winter is not the time to get cheap about your tires, so take the time to check the tread depth. The National Highway Transportation Safety Board says you need at least 2/32" of depth to be safe. It's been my experience, especially in winter weather, that anything less than 4/32" (1/8") be replaced soon. The old penny test is as reliable as anything to find out whether your treads are ready for winter action. Also, be sure to check your tire pressure. Believe it or not, they lose a little pressure when it gets cold, so pump 'em up.
• Replace your wipers
Wipers? What do your windshield wipers have to do with winter weather? Two things. First, anything falling from the sky is going to end up on your windshield, and unless you have a team of beavers riding on the hood of your car the task of clearing it falls on your wipers. Second, in areas that see snowfall in the winter, you're also driving through that soupy muck that's left on the road once the highway department does their thing. This muck includes a lot of sand and salt, both of which end up on your windshield. It takes wipers that are in top shape to keep your windshield clean and safe.
• Check your windshield washer fluid
You'll be using lots of washer fluid as you try to keep your windshield sparkly. A mile stuck behind an 18-wheeler will have your windshield looking like a Desert Humvee if you're low on washer fluid. *Tip: Don't fill your washer fluid reservoir with anything except washer fluid, it won't freeze!
Annual Maintenance Procedures
On top of the checks you need to perform to ensure safe winter driving, now's a good time to do some annual maintenance. These aren't necessarily specific to winter driving, but it's a good point on the calendar to get around to doing this stuff.
• Clean your battery posts
Starting problems are a bummer any time of year. Regularly treating your battery to a cleaning can keep electrical gremlins at bay.
• Inspect your spark plug wires
Cracked up plug wires affect performance, gas mileage and general reliability. Be sure yours are in top shape.
• Inspect your brakes
Brakes are not a good area to cut corners. Be sure your brakes have enough meat left to get you through the season.
• Check Your Engine Oil
This should go without saying and should be done at least monthly. But in case you're an amnesiac ... you should also do an oil change!
Cold weather safety should be a concern for anybody living in a cold climate. These tips will give you the upper hand when Old Man Winter tries to put a chill on your winter travels. If you're extra curious about staying generally safe in winter weather, the National Weather Service has an excellent Winter Safety & Awareness guide that covers everything from how storms brew to a list of history's billion dollar winter wonders.
Make sure that your automobile is up to date on its service schedule.
Click Here to schedule a service appointment at your nearest Mile One Service Center.
The correct answer is 23
Anne Arundel, Allegany, Baltimore, Calvert, Cecil, Charles, Caroline, Carroll, Dorchester, Frederick, Garrett, Harford, Howard, Kent, Montgomery, Prince George, Queen Annes, Saint Marys, Somerset, Talbot, Washington, Wicomico, and Worcester.
