Volvo - Geartronic / Automatic - Differences

1ofaKind

1ofaKind

1ofaKind

Associate
Joined
10 Apr 2004
Posts
839
Hi All,

I've been looking round at Volvo V70's on the web and see a majority are automatic and some are geartronic.

Whats the difference? Is geartronic some form of CVT or tiptronic box.

Anyone got any experience of either? Are they reliable or am I better off looking for a manual.

Cheers
 
ill give you a review of the s60 auto (not sure if its trip or standard) later on in the week.
i have one for the next 4 days, 2.0l turbo iirc- 180bhp
 
Never used the geartronic, but it's a dual auto/manual system giving you the option to change gear however you want.

Morba, the S60 is a great car, but the engines of choice are the D5 diesel or the T5 pertol. Both are superb. Only problem I've found is that the turing circle sucks with 17" wheels on.
 
the avis man did mention the turning circle, he said thats why all 4 alloys are scuffed :D
it feels superb tbh, nice electric leather seats that are very comfortable, also a good driving position!
 
Official blurb on Geartronic:

Five-speed Geartronic transmission
Gives you two gearboxes in one: firstly, a five-speed adaptive automatic transmission for relaxed driving, and secondly a manual gearbox for when you want to drive more actively. In Automatic mode, the transmission registers your driving style and adapts the gearchanging pattern accordingly. The auto transmission is also perfect if you need to get the car to crawl slowly with a heavy load under difficult conditions. A separate Winter mode makes it easier to get under way when conditions are slippery. In Manual mode, you change up by pushing the gear lever forwards, and down by pulling the lever towards you. (2.5T, 2.4D EURO III and T5 only)
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Official blurb on the standard automatic:

Five-speed automatic transmission
The responsive five-speed adaptive automatic transmission senses your driving style and adapts the gearchanging pattern accordingly. A special Winter mode makes it easier to get moving – and keep moving – on slippery roads. (2.0T and Bi-Fuel only)
Click to expand...

Based on that I'd say one is a standard automatic transmission whereas the other is a tiptronic box. You still have a torque converter and a standard ratio layout, but you have the option of forcing a gear change.

Hope that helps.
 
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Morba said:
the avis man did mention the turning circle, he said thats why all 4 alloys are scuffed :D
it feels superb tbh, nice electric leather seats that are very comfortable, also a good driving position!
Click to expand...

I've had mine for a few weeks and it's fantastic when you let it off the leash a bit and it's stupidly comfortable when you are racking up the miles.

The T5 surprises a lot of people and if I'm wearing a white shirt and dark tie, no-one overtakes me.
 
Thanks for replies :)

Maybe a peaked cap on the rear shelf or a fluro jacket ;)

I don't know what others think but I've always heard people avoid CVT boxes so if both are normal style just different (if you know what I mean) then its all good. I know the auto knocks the mpg down a fair notch but saves on the left leg :P

I've been in both V70 (2.4 turbo) and S80 (D5) and they were mega comfy - v.nice spec'd and also suprising economical (manuals). I also love the 5 cylinder warble - my childhood dream was a 10v or 20v ** Quattro :drool:

Do they all come with heated front screen - a ford feature that gets a big thumbs up
 
1ofaKind said:
Do they all come with heated front screen - a ford feature that gets a big thumbs up
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You know, I'm not entirely sure. The windscreen clears from frozen in about 10 seconds but I think it's just a serious amount of blowing from the fans when you press the front windscreen button. I've not noticed a chicken-wire effect so I don't think it's there.

Mine is a 2003 52 so it might be there on newer ones.
 
[DOD]Asprilla said:
You know, I'm not entirely sure. The windscreen clears from frozen in about 10 seconds but I think it's just a serious amount of blowing from the fans when you press the front windscreen button. I've not noticed a chicken-wire effect so I don't think it's there.

Mine is a 2003 52 so it might be there on newer ones.
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I *think* it should only be Ford badged cars or a VW Sharan / SEAT Alhambra that'll ever have a heated front windscreen.

I stress think.

*Add Jag to that list
*Add on Aston Martin, along with Mercedes who pay mega-£££
 
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PMKeates said:
I *think* it should only be Ford badged cars or a VW Sharan / SEAT Alhambra that'll ever have a heated front windscreen.

I stress think.

*Add Jag to that list
*Add on Aston Martin, along with Mercedes who pay mega-£££
Click to expand...

I'm sure the Land Rover Discovery I was in had it.
 
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