PDA

View Full Version : Factory car track



barrysharp
02-04-2003, 08:36 PM
I understand that at the FDC there's a test track for Volvo cars of somesort. What is this? What are you allowed to do and does FDC in anyway encourage its OSD customers to use it? Is it worth a spin?

If anyone has used this car track circuit I'd appreciate some feedback as it intrigues me http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif For example it would be good to put the AWD thru its paces and I wonder if the FDC staff provide any useful hints on how to best drive the XC70 AWD in adverse raod conditions -- the factory test circuit seems the proper place for a newbie AWD person to start off with -- plus my son is very eager as well http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif and we both really don't want to pass up on what appears to be a golden opportunity.

rkestner
02-05-2003, 05:40 AM
barry,

it is a very small track just outside the fdc, straight across from the 'delivery' room.  my guess is that it is less than a quarter mile, flat, with two turns at each end to prevent it from being oval.  it was one of the few disappointments at the fdc/osd.  you may be able to see the track in my pictures of the delivery room, specifically the one shot of the exit door.  all at www.virtualtourist.com, homepage=RichardBlaine.  i had envisioned a half mile, banked oval with trees, guard rails, high speed markings, etc.  not so.  it is separate from the main highway, and directly across from the fdc.  we took a spin around it just to check for noises, leaks, speedometer usage, brakes, etc.  all the things on my inspection list in the operate/test track category.  hope this is helpful.  feel free to email me for specific questions if you think i can help.  GOOD LUCK on your upcoming osd experience.

rkestner
02-05-2003, 05:48 AM
sorry for the second reply-should have re-read your question before finishing.  i do not believe the fdc folks would take kindly to getting off the paved track to try out the awd, but you might ask.  the track is bordered by a 3-5 ft. high berm that could be traversed to check the awd.  it is grassed, and if there is snow or rain, it might be challenging.  btw, the track is so short i could only reach around 40 mph on the straightaway before having to break for the end curves.  one option that i missed by just a few days on the calendar last september was the volvo driving school.  i had the impression from the description in the brochure it was more 'professionally' oriented, on a real high speed track, skid pad, and slalom than the fdc track.  you might inquire about the availability of the one day, high speed driving school.

purush
02-05-2003, 06:54 AM
rkestner
 Could you, would you, share your checklist with us?  Especially if you have it an electronic form.  I would be a great deal of help for all of us.

thanks
Purush

barrysharp
02-05-2003, 07:45 AM
</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">rkestner
Could you, would you, share your checklist with us? Especially if you have it an electronic form. I would be a great deal of help for all of us.
[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>

DITTO -- I was about to ask the same favor -- the five pages of &#39;heck items&#39; would be a great starting point for all OSDers and could be refined/customized as necessary. I look forward to see rkestner&#39;s check list http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif &nbsp;

For me, having decided to spend &#036;36K+ on this car I&#39;m somewhat anal http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif &nbsp;and owe it to myself/wife to ensure all is right at FDC -- and I have no doubts that it will as the FDC folks are tremendously helpful. They reply to my Email each time within 24hrs. My last request was for a wood/leather steering wheel that my dealership said was no longer available. FDC has come thru with flying colours for me on this and have said &quot;YES Mr Sharp, you can have it&quot; &nbsp;http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif &nbsp;http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif &nbsp;http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif &nbsp;The FDC folks are tops with me.

barrysharp
02-05-2003, 07:51 AM
rkestner:

THANKS for those details on the FDC track. It does sound very tame. However, it&#39;s better than nothing and can at least be used to run the car up and down a few times to get a good feel that things are hanging together correctly. The real test drive will be reserved for my tour around Sweden/Norway after pickup at FDC.

Incidentally, do they have automatic car wash facilities in Sweden/Norway? I would hate to return car to FDC covered in mud and such http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

purush
02-05-2003, 07:58 AM
</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (barrysharp @ Feb. 05 2003,09:51)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">rkestner:

Incidentally, do they have automatic car wash facilities in Sweden/Norway? I would hate to return car to FDC covered in mud and such http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
Barry

I know you didn&#39;t ask me:) &nbsp;But, yes, there are automatic car washes in Sweden. &nbsp; &nbsp;However, the name of that chain escapes me. &nbsp;

It is surprising how most of western europe (and Scandinavia) is like the good old USA. &nbsp;Food and most other things come in smaller portions and cost a little bit more; however, they are all there.

Purush

bavioder
02-05-2003, 09:17 AM
They recommend you not use automatic car washes for the first six months as the Clear coat has not fully harden. &nbsp;It is possible that it will create micro scratches to the paint. &nbsp;I wouldn&#39;t worry about washing your car before you return it as they will do a thorough cleaning of the car before it is put on the boat. &nbsp;U.S custom regs require the car to be fully steam cleaned in order to prevent mad cow and other agricultural problems from spreading to the US.

barrysharp
02-05-2003, 09:34 AM
Purush: &nbsp;THANKS for your info.

bavioder: THANKS for your update on the car washing question -- yes, I forgot about the need to avoid hard washing in first six months -- thanks for the reminder http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

AutoMonkey
02-05-2003, 09:34 AM
Presumably, the main advantage of using a track is to make your car do speeds and maneuvers that you can&#39;t (legally&#33http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif do on the highway... I&#39;m not sure that I&#39;d want to take my brand new vehicle with next to no miles on the odometer and successively redline it within the first few hundred miles. Isn&#39;t it still recommended to drive fairly conservatively for the first few hundred miles on a new engine? Has anyone here actually driven out of the factory straight to the track and floored it? http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/nervous.gif

AutoMonkey

bavioder
02-05-2003, 09:50 AM
They recommend you keep the RPMs down below 4000 for the first 1200 miles. &nbsp;I was a bit reserved in the manuevers I tried. &nbsp;I pretty much got them out the dealers test drive. &nbsp;The track itself is also termed a &quot;closed road&quot;. &nbsp;I, too, was very disappointed with the track since I had envisioned a large track you see on racing programs. &nbsp;But really it is just a loop with all the loose rocks they through down on the road to improve the tractions. &nbsp;After three loops, we parked it in the parking lot.

Low Tide
02-05-2003, 10:06 AM
Hey, the new OSD section seems to be off to a flying start. &nbsp; Perhaps this will set the standard for the place to go for the &quot;real&quot; OSD details.

On to the point. &nbsp;Track sounds like a way to make sure the tires won&#39;t fall off when you leave the FDC.... &nbsp;http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif &nbsp;

rkertsner&#39;s checklist is much appreciated as are the shared experiences. &nbsp;Your site was quite useful when I was deciding what to do and wanted a little info as to what to expect. &nbsp;I am sure that this next group of OSD groupies will add to that experience- and coastal&#39;s offer to add the section and a &quot;handbook&quot; of sorts will certainly help those that go after. &nbsp;I am still interested to here of past OSD experiences- as I am sure there are many. &nbsp;

Last- Barry, it seems that you have established good contact at the FDC. &nbsp;Would you say that we would all be best suited to contact the FDC once to send them the list of accessories we want added? &nbsp;Would this help their schedule for install and FDC delivery prep? &nbsp;Something like the Wood Doughnut would probably take a little time to get on board you think? &nbsp;Have you encountered limits to what they can and are willing to do? &nbsp;

-LT

rkestner
02-06-2003, 06:41 AM
CHECK LIST.

i used early 20th century technology to make my list, i.e. paper, pen and ruler. &nbsp;i began with 21st century technology however. &nbsp;i compiled and printed a listing of all my car&#39;s items from the volvo &#39;build your own volvo&quot; web site. &nbsp;added by hand the few items not listed or that i was providing, e.g. first aid kit, tire gage, duct tape. &nbsp;i took the printed list and went through each item and designated it as inspect, operate or test track. &nbsp;for example:

&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Inspect/operate/test track &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;electric sun roof
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; inspect/operate &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 8 way electric passenger seat
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; inspect &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; pen holder
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; inspect/operate &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;emergency flashers
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; inspect &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; pirelli scorpion tires
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; inspect/operate &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;cd player
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; inspect &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; laminated side glass
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; inspect/operate &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;parking brake

etc./etc.

when hans introduced us to the car, i was able to go through most of the inspect items as he did his &#39;from memory for the 10,000th time&#39; instructional spiel. &nbsp;when he was finished, i did all of the operate and inspect items he did not cover, not many. &nbsp;then, we went out on the test track for the test track items. &nbsp;because it was a tuesday with fewer deliveries, because we were the last delivery of the day, and because of our positive attitudes, hans and the rest of the fdc folks had plenty of time to spend with us and seemed appreciative of our compulsive, comprehensive approach. &nbsp;

i hope this is helpful to everyone. &nbsp;i honestly believe you will be better served to make your own list for your specific car. &nbsp;if you really want a copy of my beat up, marked up list, send me a good fax # and i will try to locate it in my records for you. &nbsp;i would warn you however, that i was unable to locate my fdc/stateside accessories price comparison list for kersti. &nbsp;

car washing - we paid close attention to all the instructions for new cars, including the 4k rpm limit and the washing. &nbsp;we washed our car by hand with a chamois, sponges and a bucket we bought when we got there. &nbsp;we used very, very little dishwashing detergent and lots of water. &nbsp;we washed after each ferry ride, whenever we got really, really dirty, and whenever we were going somewhere the car might be a point of presentation (like just before turn-in). &nbsp;we had plenty of opportunity to show our car off to europeans who appreciate the design and cost and were drawn to the special license plates.

had one other thought on the test track - it is a &#39;test track&#39; not a &#39;race track&#39;?

rkestner
02-07-2003, 08:51 AM
coastal,

if you can remove the previous three replies, assuming this on gets the two jpg files up, i would appreciate it.

http://www.zianet.com/k235family/checkl~1.jpg
http://www.zianet.com/k235family/checkl~2.jpg