The MOOSE - Kevin's '11 Volvo C30

[kcdehart]

Suppose I should go ahead and make a build thread instead of just posting things in my intro thread...

On 12/31/16 I sold my TT-swapped 3000GT and picked up a bike. Unable to go a full year without a sporty car, I picked up this '11 Volvo C30 R-Design on 12/30/2017

I'd looked around at C30s and Mk6 GTIs for a while. What sold me on the C30 was their styling and fun out of the box. The GTI is a bit more of a tuner platform, but as a stock daily, the C30's 2.5L T5 has more power/torque and turns a few more heads. Plus I've always wanted to have a few prancing moose badges.

I found this one at a dealer in Townsend, DE in early December and inquired about it before she'd had a chance to upload pictures of the car. It was the closest of four 6-speed manual R-Designs for sale in the country at the time - so I didn't wanna pass it up. I ended up putting a (refundable) deposit on it and driving up in a friend's Mk7 Performance Pack GTI (relevant) on the 30th.

Man, was I glad I did. The car was in pristine condition on the inside, with only a few scrapes on the lip from shitty driving/parking on the outside. We did feel a vibration when test-driving, though. Both during acceleration and while cruising. Ended up making a deal with the dealer that she'd pay for a new wheel since we believe that to be the problem.

 

Naturally, I did a few pulls against the GTI on the way home - and ended up being faster! Odd, since the performance pack Mk7's apparently make a good bit more power to the wheels than C30s generally do.

Got the car home, did some research into the vibrations, and ended up replacing 2 engine mounts (should probably do the third, as well). I also used this as a chance to do a common Volvo upgrade to the 'e-focus' torque mount that's much stiffer than stock, and to replace a cracked/leaking coolant reservoir. 

Unfortunately, not all vibrations were cured by the new mounts. So I took the car to a shop and got the news that all 4 wheels were fairly bent -_- And that it would be ~$3,000 for OEM Volvo wheels. Mmmmmmmmm NAH.

Ordered a set of Enkei TY-5's in Pearl Black and slightly larger 235/40-18 BFG Comp-2 A/S tires instead and love em! Much better fitment and I love the look. Needs maybe a tad more low though...

   


My end goal for the car was originally gonna be a stockish daily. Oops. I'm now planning to go stage 3 and shoot for a bit over 300whp/340wtq (which is about maxxed out for the stock turbo). The next mod will likely be exhaust, because I really need some more 5-cylinder moose-noise

Ash she sits right now - 
 

I'll possibly start threads for the CBR & 4Runner when I've got time. But at least wanted to get this one out there!