What's wrong with a Volvo?

Saabs are better-looking than Volvos in the same parallel universe where down is up.

volvos

I'm tempted to say that apart from the 240, Volvos just aren't all that. Safe, yes; but slow, prone to various engine/elec. problems, and not well styled. But the current S60 is, finally, a great looking car. Is it using the same inline 5, though? They do need to come out with a good V6 or something.

Anyway, I love the idea of a Volvo (safe, slow, boxy), and I'm glad to live in Dan's universe where even ugly Volvos look better than any Saab, but Volvos will invariably turn up with some problem or another... even in the first 3-4 years of ownership. This is not necessarily the case with a BMW or Acura etc.

aw man, I got some good pants from the one in Madrid in like 2001.

Kris, have you ever been in one of the T5 models. You never expect an estate to shift like that but it does.

So (1)they're slow in their class and (2)they're ugly in any class. Plus, they don't hold the monopoly on safety as they once did. The wagon is cool though, as far as wagons go.

Currently I am a bit of a fan ov thee VEL SATIS by Renault:

http://www.autointell.com/european_companies/renault/vel-satis/renault_velsatis-01.htm

I am looking forward to the day when a used example comes dow to my pitiful price range, judging by how often I see them on the roads (once so far) this should not take too long.

When I was 21 a woman in a Volvo crashed into me. I was making a blind left hand turn onto a highway and was creeping forward to clear myself. She was speeding around the bend, saw me creeping, and assumed I was pulling out. So she drove into the breakdown lane and t-boned my drivers side door at 40+ mph. After I crawled out of what was left of my poor Nissan Sentra I went over and checked on her, she was crying inconsolably and dialing her cell phone. First the cops came then her husband came then the husband joked around with the cops then I knew I was in trouble. The accident report was drawn up as if I was in the middle of the road, which was physically impossible given where the cars ended up. It even had a full set of healthy skidmarks even though she had anti-lock brakes. Anyway, I went to a prof's friend who was a lawyer and she looked at the accident report and said "How old was she?" I said in her 40's or so. She said "You're not going to win this one." Indeed I didn't and I lost the value of my totaled car (NJ no-fault) which I couldn't afford to replace and got a $1000+ surcharge added to my insurance for 3 years.

That's why I hate Volvos.

hahaha TOUGH, coz i am a h@t@.

Lexus = r0x0r

Toyota = sux0r

Pashmina, saw this and thought of you.

I'm a J-car hata.

http://www.morris.dsl.pipex.com/Galleries/Vanden%20Plas/images/Picture_0016_jpg.jpg

Toyotaists UNITE!

HONDA ROX U R ALL GAY TIMES 10

so, like, it IS stephin merrit on that volva ad, yeah?

VOLVO! (blimey, that could have been a great typo)

Yeah, the only problem with a Volvo is it's impossible to pronounce without saying vulva instead, esp. me as I am only allotted 20 vowel sounds per day that aren't schwas.

That new S30 looks like fun.

This thread needs some P1800 pictures

http://bringatrailer.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/04/1971_Volvo_P1800_E_Coupe_Front_1.jpg

http://www.linternaute.com/auto/diaporama_legende/images/volvo1800.gif

guess it's a UK ad - will revive tomorrow. but it is merrit. the money-mad fool.

britishers?

Advert here:
http://www.visit4info.com/static/advert_pages/49344.cfm?back_page=4.cfm

BTW don't watch it if you hate smug fucking pillocks

mine 240 wagon has 220k miles on it.

There are two restored Amazons in my neighborhood which always catch my eye.

There's a Bertone-built Volvo 262C in my street. It's gorgeous. Unlike my first car, a 340.

i will drive my 89 240 wagon until it completely refuses to go any further. it is cranky, but i'm pretty sure it loves me. the odometer stuck 2 years ago so i can only guess where it's at. probably 250,000 or so. i would still be driving my beloved 88 240 wagon had some asshole not totalled it for me by running a red light a few years ago. it's odometer had been stuck for 3 years at 380,000 miles and it was running like a dream.

should I buy a 20 year old volvo 240 dl with 200k miles on it from my neighbor for $1000? He bought it for $800 and put $300 of repairs into it but actually has no reason to own this car, he realized. He has all the paperwork and it's been to the same mechanic in town for most of its life. the seats are a bit cruddy but it has a working stereo and AC which are like my only requirements in a car, because my priorities aren't straight.

sounds like a money pit. but it might be good to bum around town in, if you can get over your sense of entitlement!!

i think andrew m's post from a year ago answers your question (xp)

im keeping my eyes peeled for a used cx90. we cant afford it right now but have two cars to trade in.

btw i think i really deserve a second hand volvo

Sunny, I have what you need.

akm that sounds pricey tbqh unless it's in excellent condition: http://www.kbb.com

http://raudebun.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/lolvo.jpg

new volvo automatically applies brakes for you, shame it's fugly

http://www.popularmechanics.com/blogs/automotive_news/4253209.html

Better than the fuglier than fugly Porsche Cayenne.

I just got an S40 yestereday, on a lease program. I've never leased before, but I was so sick of the constant repair bills, breakdowns, and high monthly payments on my old car that I was willing to try it. Also, the Volvo dealer has a special promotion: Full warranty and all maintenance covered for the length of the 5-year lease. So I hope Volvos are good cars. They lack the power and pickup of some other cars I've had recently, but they're stylish and safe. And since this is going to be primarily my wife's car, safety and durability were the priorities for me.

My dad had one. Bit of a dud design wise - so boxy - and certainly after the (second hand) BMW 732 it was such a letdown. i remember how great the BMW felt, like sitting in your damn living room, and then going into that Volvo. Crappers. :-)

Yeah, I had a red 328i a few years ago. So much power. It was like driving a mini-rocket ship.

But it was destroyed when a mango tree in my yard collapsed when Hurricane Katrina rolled through Dade County. After that, I got an Audi A6. Also lots of power, and stylish, but I developed a deep hatred for the car (see above).

The S40 isn't so box-y anymore, I don't think. I like the design. It's surprisingly spacious and comfortable inside. And I chose black, which makes the car look very sleek. But I can't imagine loving it more than my BMW (RIP).

shasta, i can trade you a 97 dodge caravan and a 2002 VW beetle. IT HAS A FLOWER HOLDER.

sees to actually be below blue book for my zip code for that condition. stillhaven't made up my mind yet. I have some time before he decides to sell it anyway. It would be replacing a 1990 mazda 323 that has been in five accidents, has a bent frame, a hole in the exhaust, peeling paint, and leaks so that every time it rains the trunk fills with water.

i test-drove an audi wagon last week and there was seriously something wrong with it, unless I didn't udnerstand the transmission right; it just seemed to surge on acceleration and slowdown. it has a triptonic transmission, maybe I had it in the wrong setting, I dunno. it seemed like the most gutless, powerless thing ever.

I like my Volvo quite a bit. It's a 2001 S40; it's sleeker than the old boxy Volvos but not as modern-looking as the newer S40s.

I've got a 1992 940 estate, with the least powerful engine and a 3-speed auto, and it really is the most gutless, powerless thing ever, but it just runs and runs. Only 180,000 miles so far, but I really don't give it the usage and care that it deserves. $1000 sounds like a lot, (I paid £500 for mine) but the 240s are supposedly even longer lasting than 700/900s so it should give you plenty of time to change your mind.

volvo & saab iconic liberal cars ruined by american companies - these r for dropping yr kids off at soccer practice while listening to npr - u hav to understand yr niche

i test-drove an audi wagon last week and there was seriously something wrong with it, unless I didn't udnerstand the transmission right; it just seemed to surge on acceleration and slowdown. it has a triptonic transmission, maybe I had it in the wrong setting, I dunno. it seemed like the most gutless, powerless thing ever.

― akm, Sunday, September 6, 2009 11:04 AM (19 minutes ago) Bookmark

everyone ive ever heard of that has owned an audi or saab has deeply regretted it

but they are so cute!

annual update. the 89 240 wagon still getting me around town.

everyone ive ever heard of that has owned an audi or saab has deeply regretted it

I deeply, totally, utterly regret my Audi midsize car. I just traded-it in to get an S40, and discovered that I was upside-down on it, as a result of its horrible mechanical problems.

We doubled-down today on Volvos. We got the S40 earlier this month. The dealership tried to entice us to get another. They made it attractive enough so today we got the XC60. Same program on both: 5-year lease, full warranty for routine maintenance and repairs for the full term of the lease. Scary because of the cost and commitment. Attractive because of the warranty program.

One thing is that the S40 lacks pickup. By contrast, the XC60 has the same engine as the S80 and the XC90, but it's much lighter than the XC90, so it kind of roars and is surprisingly agile.

oo...ive never seen the xc60 before.

http://www.auto-techhq.com/wp-content/gallery/general/10187049-new-volvo-xc60.jpg

http://pictures.dealer.com/prestigevolvo/3ce9cece4046387200811e10e9fa5775.jpg

Mine doesn't have a guidance system, much as I need one (to find my way home from the office, frankly). OTOH, SIRIUS Radio!

i like the seats

everyone ive ever heard of that has owned an audi or saab has deeply regretted it

I'm in still in love with my saab, like the first day we met.

Still don't have my license but when I do, I'll be even keener to get a bigger car. I have a tiny Mazda Demio at the moment. But once I replace it, I'm thinking about a Volvo or a Citroen. I want more space for my kids and also the shopping. Now I have to really prop everything inside the trunk. I want a JLo trunk. Also, I want a car that helps me parking (hah), GPS inc, uphill help,... :-) Not sure if I want a SVU) cause they are quite wide and the entrance to the parking lot is amazingly narrow. :-(

Also in doubt about autmatic cause 1 it's more expensive and 2 I have grown to like driving with a stick (even though I think I don't do it 100 procent correct). I would like a 6 shift (?) instead of a 5 one.

Not sure I would ever really trust automatically assisted parking tbh

I trust it more than myself. heehee. (Honestly though my husband's friend apparently has one that really SHOWS you on a screen how to do it. Said it was ace!)

Volvo started the trend of headlights you can't turn off.

well I'd say the Swedish gouvernment started it since headlights are mandatory all year long over there (SAAB's had them for as long as volvo)

Volvo started the trend of headlights you can't turn off.

Yeah, that's kind of freaking me out.

My brother & sister were driving a used 740 sedan about 10 years ago when they got T-boned by a larger vehicle. They walked away with only some scratches from the broken glass, altho car was totaled. Apparently representatives from the state traffic safety commission (or whatever it's called) went to the mechanic's lot to investigate, because they couldn't believe no one was hurt. Supposedly they walked up, looked at the damage, said, "Well, it was a Volvo" and went home.

I don't think Volvo has any kind claim to better safety nowadays. There are a lot of very safe cars on the road made by a wide array of manufacturers. That perception of Volvos being exceptionally safe is a vestige of the '70s and '80s when it may have been true.

I'm sure Volvo makes safe cars but so do many other car companies. SO much has happened in the auto industry and auto safety design since that notion of "Volvos are safer than other cars" first arose. It's a misnomer.

They're still leaders in safety, I think. Heck, if you fail to stop in time to avoid hitting something, the '10 CX60 stops for you.

You're right, the XC60 does seem ahead of the curve in terms of safety features. I've heard of a lot of those features, but not all together on a relatively affordable vehicle.

My new hobby is putting cars together (on the website). Off to do that with the XC60. heehee

haha that is fun

i know! i was trying to be "sensible". hahahaha like i had to actually pay for it. some websites suck donkey poo though. but volvo's quite good. my volvo would cost me about 40000 euros. hahah

so what's the deal with suvs? my husband thinks it's for douchebags (actually only the cayennes). when i get my license (like in 2025) and my pathetic mazda demio is really "tattered" (look it up, boringest car EVAH), i'll get myself something larger. with two kids and lots of groceriesn, you need a bigger can, no? but a SUV?

Yeah. I dunno. When I went back to the dealership, I was intent on just getting a second S40, if anything. They had "loyalty" bonuses that made the S80 tempting (Volvo's biggest model; apparently, Volvo either didn't make the midsize model (the S60) for a year while it's being redesigned). I called my wife, who said that an SUV made more sense, since we have to drive our daughter and two other girls to school in the morning. Also, she's always wanted one. Turns out there was roughly no difference in price, so I went with the XC60.

It doesn't feel like an oversized SUV, tho. It feels sort of sleek. Much more powerful than the S40, which -- naturally -- has become my car.

Fuck, now it's on my wishlist. I have yet to drive in a big car. (Apart from the one time my parents let me drive their BMW 732 like WHY the hell wld they do that? Being 18 I was petrified.) A SUV seems so bulky but what isn't compared to my little Lego car.

My friends with two young children have a Saab station wagon that they like very much. It has a moderate amount of cargo room in the back for groceries etc even with two childre's carseats in the back seat. There are lots of options besides SUVs.

Also, what kind of vans is Volkswagon making these days? I'm fond of them, don't they have a family option?

Yeah. The VW Tiguan:

http://images.myride.com/images/no-transform/myride/promotions/images/images/VW_Tiguan_1.jpg

I really like the interior of a Volkswagon CC, but it isn't practical for me:

http://image.europeancarweb.com/f/10908612+w750+st0/epcp_0809_03_z+2009_volkswagen_passat_cc+interior_view.jpg

I don't like that fake-wood look, but the seats are nice.

They also have the Jetta and Passat Wagons, so you could have your little sporty station wagon bit. Neither of them are hideous.

I hear they have a good deal of mechanical problems, tho.

It scares the fuck out of me to drive inside our parking lot: narrowest entrance EVAH. At least it's chalky walls so not that bad if you drive against it. Well unless you really bump hard into it like I did. hah.

Hmm. Yes, I don't know about that side of things. We had VWs for decades but we have a mechanic in the family (now 2, actually).

For cargo room and maximum passenger capacity, my dad bought one of these:

http://media.mpgomatic.com/images/dode_sprinter_side.jpg

Can move a small household or drive 9 people across the country in relative comfort. Spartan inside, but sufficient. We like it. But DO NOT drive into small places, that's for freaking sure.

Yikes! GargantoVan!

My brother had one of these 544s when I dropped out of high school and moved in with him in the early 1972. Classic hippie car. He was always having to work on it, but was still passionately loyal. I don't know what he's driving now, but I don't think it's one of these. You so rarely see them on the road. All in mothballs, I imagine.

http://wikicars.org/images/en/3/3e/450px-OudeVolvo.jpg

so what's the deal with suvs?

A lot of SUVs nowadays, like the XC60 I'd bet, aren't really SUVs. They're actually more like bulky station wagons. They're built on a car platform and have the innards of a car. People like the beefy bodies and high seating positions and hate the aesthetics of station wagons and mini-vans, so these vehicles are in the vogue. They're usually called "crossovers" in auto-journalism speak.

Crossovers don't have the characteristics that defined the SUV - bad gas mileage, bad handling - because those vehicles were built on light truck platforms and had a lot of the innards of light trucks. So crossovers are totally fine in terms of common objections to SUVs.

I have a Subaru Legacy Wagon and totally love it. For some dumb reason, Subaru doesn't make a legacy wagon in the U.S. anymore (although they do still have the Outback). Very, very disappointing.

As a former owner of a Saab (95 900s) and current owner of a Volvo (07 XC90), I can confidently say: I will never own another Swedish auto in my lifetime. Sorry dudes.

What's wrong with the C90?

(You're scarin' me)

It's fantastic!!! Wanna buy it?

lol. I'M JUST OFF THE MARKET.

Seriously, my lease has a 5-year total coverage (sans major accident) warranty, e.g., oil changes, routine maintenance, loaners for when it's in the shop, all included. It's the only way I'd agree to such a long lease period.

I don't understand the people who claim Volvos are boring. Not because I find Volvos exciting, but because what's to get excited about with any car - provided, of course, the brakes and steering linkage both function.

My brakes stopped functioning once, while headed downhill to a major stoplight. Luckily, I got lucky and survived.

That was not in a Volvo, let me clarify.

We are pleased to have you with us a while longer, gracing ilx with your stylish presence. And while you're up, can you get me a beer?

That was not in a Volvo, let me clarify.

too late, I have already destroyed every Volvo within a 3-mile radius in the name of safety :-(

Well, it's nice to see that you're paying attention, anyway.

the volvo my dad had had problems: the brakes didn't work while he was driving on the highway. freaked him the fuck out and he immediately sold the car. he regretted it about a half year later. now,a couple of years later, he is happy being carless. he lives in japan and would never EVER drive there so...

super cub, thanks for the info. i kinda like the idea of a suv. hate my small car. not really at this moment, but the idea of the future: now i drive alone or with one person but no kids,... in the future though i'd like to get something bigger.

I have that same warranty Daniel. You will get to know your local dealer/mechanic extremely well... It's all about establishing relationships.

Damn. In my case, the mechanic is attached to the dealer's storefront, so it's convenient.

As long as they give me loaners, I'm okay with it. At the end, I let my extended warranty on the Audi expire, and every time it had to go in the shop (almost monthly, 1k or more almost every time), it would have to stay there for a few days, and I had to rent a car. I was hemorrhaging cash on the Audi, so it had to go. I figured the 5-year full coverage warranty is a good alternative. I hope I didn't figure wrong.

Maybe I got lemoned. I'm not sure. 4x a year is a little excessive, esp for someone who drives as little as I do (4-5k miles/year).

My dad IS a mechanic or at least he CAN be one, and he was enthusiastically and vocally happy with all his Volvos. He used to express his outright amazement that certain things lasted so long when he thought they should have been changed already, etc. Wish I could remember specifics but I was a kid at the time. Anyway, they were considered objects of wonder at my house. Sorry to hear yours was not so reliable, Shasta.

Yeah, Laurel's experience is consistent with what I've heard about Volvos.

I hope mine aren't lemons.

My brakes stopped functioning once, while headed downhill to a major stoplight. Luckily, I got lucky and survived.

― that stupid-ass cannibal pen-pal of yours (Laurel), Tuesday, September 29, 2009 12:50 PM (3 hours ago) Bookmark

if it was a volvo it would have stopped for you!

as someone who has owned a VW for a few weeks now, I can confidently say: I will never own another German auto in my lifetime. Sorry dudes.

I was this close to leasing the VW CC a few weeks ago. What don't you like about the Volkswagon?

If you get a Touareg, expect the drive shaft to fall apart at about 60K miles!

My dad IS a mechanic or at least he CAN be one, and he was enthusiastically and vocally happy with all his Volvos.

yeah no wonder, they're a lot of work and keep him in business. my guy is always happy to see me too.

Well actually my dad is a mechanical engineer who specializes in alternative energy systems, but he fixes all our cars for free -- we didn't have "a guy".

oh sorry! no offense meant at all raving laurel!

When I occasionally hang out on Volvo owner forums (mainly trying to work out which size tyres I should be using as no-one can agree, and seeing if there's a way of getting my speedo to work again) the general consensus is everything pre-Ford buyout is great and hewn out of solid rock and everything since then is just the same as every other car.

If you get a Touareg, expect the drive shaft to fall apart at about 60K miles!

I have heard similar stories about Volkswagons. The CC is a nice-looking car. Just don't drive it a lot; it might break.

Hahaha no offense taken! It's just that when my dad puts his approval behind something mechanical, I would be really surprised if it in fact sucked? But perhaps j.o.n.a.(?) has revealed the secret.

I saw this XC90 car at the local creche. Looked totally fucking AWESOME.

My wife loves the XC60 so far.

I bought a V70 (2000) today, for not bad money. seat warmers! the ac works. the radio works after we get the code. it had $2k of service done on it last year so hopefully nothing will fall apart in the next two. it's boxy and ugly, none of the panache of the early 90's 740s though (I found a gorgeous one of those, but they wanted OVER double the blue book on it; it was in unarguably perfect condition and relatively low mileage for a 91 car, but the asking price was ridiculous, it was a $2500 car at best). I feel like a right old woman driving it around.

I'm in love with my S40. There are definitely sleeker cars, but still . . .

Good call to go with black exterior, I think. Was this close to choosing red.

Black is great but less safe.

Still pining for that xc60. Def want automatic and cruise control.

I have my license. Yeeeha!

Congrats on license.

Thanks. :-D

congrats , nath!!

i still want an xc90

They're v. nice, but unless you need the extra seats, the XC60 feels much faster.

I need the the extra preowned in the title which I dont think you can get with the 60 yet

Crap. Sunny, still lust after an xc60. You can get "almost new" ones here.

RIP C30 - heavier and more expensive than a Mini, but weird enough to make me smile whenever I saw one on the street.

I like the V40 a lot, but Volvo won't import them to the US.

The new Volvo Concept Coupe is gorgeous - arriving just in time for when folks don't particularly care about cars any more.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=efiPbdNyhTc

"As you'll see in the video above, a Volvo salesperson recently attempted to demonstrate the XC60 City Safety system to a group of prospective car buyers. What the dealer didn't understand was the safety system, which helps avoid or mitigate collisions, doesn't detect pedestrians." - http://www.autoblog.com/2015/05/28/volvo-xc60-safety-demonstration-fail-video/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8nnhUCtcO8

there seems to be a lot of articles from 2013 telling the story of how Volvo gave away the patent for their fantastic seatbelt since it (like the polio vaccine) would benefit humanity if it were available to anyone - however, in the comments for this version of the article it is suggested that this is merely a spin by Volvo, since at one point they lost a patent case regarding the seatbelt.

Anyone know the "truth"?

no idea.

just coming here to say I have a volvo c30 (now discontinued) and it's the coolest little sporty thing. but it's fucking tiny.

Why do people still heap scorn on these cars? The new ones are patently kick-ass.
― Dan Perry (Dan Perry) Monday, March 17, 2003

No surprise that Dan Perry of 2003 would be impressed with a vehicle whose name is reminiscent of 'vulva'.