Volvo's Polestar map on the D5 - worth it?

[Bonefishblues]

Originally Posted by Sotosound

1) Volvo

2) Profit.

There's always someone who'll buy a Polestar upgrade, so why not sell it?

It's also something that motoring journalists ought, perhaps, to campaign about, but I doubt that they will.

There are too many vested interests involved for this to change.

You mean the obvious answer really was obvious

[Spike56]

Followed a Toyota something or the other. Badged Toyota Optimised. Think Mercedes and AMG BMW and their M3 etc. Some remaps some optimization. You are right though. Why not just release the vehicle at it's best performance?
Probably profit or simply a way to make drivers happy.
Take your pick.

[Tatsfield]

There's always someone who'll buy a Polestar upgrade, so why not sell it?

Sadly true. And I'm one of them. I bought the car second hand and wanted to improve it's performance and had little option if I wanted to stay within the protected Volvo environment. I wasn't looking for boy racer power and engine stress, just a better car. Had I been buying new, which is beyond my finances, I'd have selected a model with the power output that I wanted but second hand being able to add to the performance separately removed one of a criteria of preferences and allowed the search to look at condition, age, mileage, other levels of refinement etc.

I absolutely agree that the optimum software must have been developed when the electronics for the car were being developed and tuning the performance down must have been a deliberate choice by Volvo, but the basic car was more than adequate for most drivers and the extra power would have endangered the overall safety record of the car, which Volvo market as a main asset, and increased the insurance premiums for all their vehicles. In that light it's not an unreasonable management decision.

[Spike56]

And it's fun!

[yostumpy]

What's the going rate for a Polestar upgrade at the mo?

[hora1]

Originally Posted by yostumpy

What's the going rate for a Polestar upgrade at the mo?

It's discounted to £599 currently

[Tatsfield]

If you are a business user registered for VAT and paying income tax at the standard rate, you will get tax allowances reducing the actual price to £360 which isn't too bad but you have to be in business to do it and that doesn't apply to many owners.

[yostumpy]

My XC 70 D5 is 2016 model, I think I am right in the fact that these were actually 220bhp?

[Bonefishblues]

Originally Posted by yostumpy

My XC 70 D5 is 2016 model, I think I am right in the fact that these were actually 220bhp?

220ps/215bhp IIRC

[Gazdkw]

I was told many manufacturers restrict engine performance based on increased reliability.

I guess the theory is that if all stock vehicles were limited then reliability would be increased and so would reputation etc. If someone decides to have the performance increased from another source that isnt the main dealer, the liability is with them. I rememner having a stage 1 remap on a Passat I had years ago. Performance change was phenomenal. Lasted 6 weeks and the turbo shat itself.

In the case of polestar, I guess Volvo charge that amount to take on that liability. So maybe there is both elements at play here.