GTP Cool Wall: Volvo C30 R-Design

  • Thread starter TheBook
  • 82 comments
  • 7,926 views

Volvo C30 R-Design


  • Total voters
    83
  • Poll closed .
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.

I wouldn't say that. Take any current Volvo and compare it to the equivalent VW - C30 and Golf, S40 and Jetta, S60 and Passat, XC60 and Tiguan, XC90 and Touareg - of all those I'd say the Volvo is either equal to or more of a premium product than the VW.

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.
 
VW is as "premium" as Vauxhall or Opel....i.e. not at all. I wouldn't say Volvo is "premium" either (surely executive or posh are better words? :P), but I'd agree its a little bit more than VW at the very least.
 
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.

Oh I'm not disputing that, I have this argument with my TT (Hairdressers Golf) owning friend all the time. He goes on about the build quality and reliability etc.. being better than anything else but the stats say otherwise. My 12 year old Almera is a better built car but it's doesn't have that 'sense' of quality because all the effort went into actually making it well built rather than seeming so.

A VW's price may only just be above that of a Ford or Vauxhall but there is a sense that it doesn't mark you out as cheap because it's still a quality product.
 
When VW prices cars at the same point as Hyundais....It really can't be that much more premium.
 
VW is certainly a level above Ford and Vauxhall from an image perspective... but behind Audi and BMW IMO.

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 odd thing about what you said there...is that I see young affluent people in Saabs all the time around here. It's a phenomenon I've yet to explain (other than they're sold at a very powerful Chevrolet Dealership) but it seems that, at least in Peoria, Saab is a premium marque. Volvos as well, though I see fewer.
 
Some brands images are very country specific... my comments apply to the UK only as I know Saab, Volvo and VW have different images in the US for example.
 
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.

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.
 
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.

I'm sorry, Ford? Jaguar?

Seriously drive a Mondeo, Focus or Fiesta. Those things handle like nothing in their class.
 
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.

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.

Audi's are a different matter all together... for the most part they drive terribly, but they have had a few moments of clarity... R8 & RS4 for example.

I stand by my statement that Volvo and Saab have never produced any decent drivers cars (ie; cars that are decent to drive).
 
I'm sorry, Ford? Jaguar?

Seriously drive a Mondeo, Focus or Fiesta. Those things handle like nothing in their class.

I was referring to the German rivals, since they're the ones being discussed. Obviously there are other companies who can do both ride and handling...

And I used to own a Fiesta. I'm aware they handle and ride well ;) Though all the current models are supposedly a little soft compared to their immediate predecessors. There's always a little trade-off.

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'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.

I stand by my statement that Volvo and Saab have never produced any decent drivers cars (ie; cars that are decent to drive).

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 ;)
 
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 530 has all the trick electronic bits (James loads all his cars!) and whilst it's not quite as sharp as the last generation it is VERY wieldy for such a big car. Not sure about the boggo 520d... I've only been in the passenger seat.

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 ;)

The older Saabs were good, both on and off road... but they aren't the same now IMO.
 
The new 5-series will actually still try to kill you if you trail-brake into a corner at a good clip with all the aids off.

I cannot provide video evidence because the friend who did the said attempted assisted suicide does not wish said evidence to ever come to the light of day.

That said... Volvos are fine... a bit less naff than Lexii in the lower price ranges, but not quite as good in the higher ones, but let me beat a dead horse by saying that one of the nicest cars I've gotten to drive over the past few year (and that includes some BMWs, some Mercs, a few really expensive Jags) has been the S60 T6... which I would fully consider over a a BMW 535 or a 335... especially as it's much cheaper than the 5 and much roomier than the 3, with a pretty nice interior, to boot.
 
The best thing about owning a Volvo saloon or estate, and it has to be in a generic grey, blue or silver colour, is watching the traffic in the outside lane part and let you through like Moses leading his people across the Red Sea.
 
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.



*You know the one. Yes. No, I'm not saying it. Nor are you.
 
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.

Thanks for that. I'm going to have that image in my mind every time i park behind my nextdoor neighbor's car :yuck:
 

Latest Posts

Back