- 5,303
- Riverside, Ca
- GTP_Leonidae_MFT
Because everyone secretly wants one.
I'm curious is the Golf not seen as a premium car outside of Europe? I know in the UK it has significantly more prestige than a Volvo, especially the MkIV's onwards.
VW's "premium" image is largely self-spun. It's less premium than the equivalent Audi, and since Volvo has for a fair while been pitched as a Swedish Audi rival, I'd suggest it's more of a premium brand than VW.
Volvo and Saab are the wierd ones... they place themselves as 'quality products' by the pricing level they set, but they aren't seen as such because they don't produce anything that's regarded as even slightly decent to drive.
The only company capable of doing both ride and handling is Mercedes, if the road-tests I've read of their current range are anything to go by.
That's a little harsh.
Both Saab and Volvo absolutely kill virtually anything (currently) made by Audi or BMW for ride quality, and I suspect ride quality is something you can appreciate more often than handling balance or fun, at least in the UK. And lets not forget, both Saab and Volvo also have a pretty good grasp of seat comfort. BMWs aren't bad in that respect but I always get back and arse ache in Audis.
The only company capable of doing both ride and handling is Mercedes, if the road-tests I've read of their current range are anything to go by.
The area where Saab and Volvo are behind the Germans on really is interior materials, but both are getting better at that too.
What does seem to be happening now as well, is that both the Swedes are beginning to distance themselves from the German marques, which historically is always something they've done anyway. It was only really under Ford and GM that they were being pushed as executive rivals and it's not worked brilliantly for either of them. The new aim is to major on style, equipment and utility - just like they always used to.
I'm sorry, Ford? Jaguar?
Seriously drive a Mondeo, Focus or Fiesta. Those things handle like nothing in their class.
Hmmmm, BMW did go through a period where their cars rode badly, some of their cars still do (the 1er is particularly bad in this respect), but the new 5 has a fabulous ride... my brother-in-law has a 530d and one of my colleagues has a brand new this week 520d and both ride beautifully. Last night I briefly drove my brother-in-laws new X5 (a 3.0d m-sport)... even on 20's and ultra low profile tyres it rode very nicely too.
I stand by my statement that Volvo and Saab have never produced any decent drivers cars (ie; cars that are decent to drive).
I've heard the new 5 is good, but then it's also supposed to be less sporting than the previous model unless you spend thousands extra on all the sport bits.
The old (pre GM) 900 Turbo would like to disagree with you. Generally accepted to both handle and ride well. And 9-2s and 9-4s would like a word with you too, courtesy of the Finnish rally drivers who dominated in them
Look dead on the back of it.
Tell me that doesn't look like a "famous website featuring nothing more than a gaping hole being held open by a pair of hands either side"*
Look dead on the back of it.
Tell me that doesn't look like a "famous website featuring nothing more than a gaping hole being held open by a pair of hands either side"*
If that's cool, the universe has had a major restructuring.