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?

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'.