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We had Volvo sedan for 14 years as family car.
But once you start driving Mercedes, you don't want to go back.
I really liked my W212 and sold it for a few specific reasons, though I never intended to sell it at all. As far as not wanting to "go back" though, I do have a direct comparison I can make.
Last year, while my W212 was in the shop for 5 days, I was loaned a 2020 E450 wagon with quite a few options - MSRP of $78,000. My friend has a 2021 Volvo V60 Cross Country that has every option except Bowers&Wilkins audio (she even has massaging seats), MSRP $54,000. The Volvo is by far the better experience. The E450 wagon was faster and that was the only advantage. I've told this story on this forum before, but this near-brand-new $80k E450 would bottom out the suspension over dips in the highway that I drive on every day in all kinds of cars from my W212 to a Miata and none of them bottom out. It was unbelievable and inexcusable.
I like Mercedes just fine, I've owned 5. They make some great cars. They also make some really terrible ones. I loved my 212, my 211, and my 203. The 204s I owned were OK. But I don't think I'll have any trouble moving to another brand. Hell, one of my favorite cars I've ever owned as a Kia Soul! The XC40 seems to be of similar size and similar character with a lot more refinement, so I'm hoping I like it as much as I think I will. If not.. I can always give it back in 4 months!
what I dislike about all the new Volvos, they are FWD-centric, even if they are AWD. The driving dynamics are just all wrong. Last RWD Volvo was the 960/S90/V90
Not my favorite arrangement, either, but not a deal-breaker especially in a crossover. Like Acura and Audi.. and even I guess Benz and BMW now with the GLA/GLB and X1/X2.
Comparing older model of 1 brand to new model of other brand is never fair, but in the past I did own 4 VW, including 6.9 seconds Sirocco. They were good for me at the time, but when my wife got rear ended in her 1998 ML320, I had 2003 VW Jetta wagon, that I was planning to sell.
So facing Mercedes totaling, I offer her Jetta for test drive. Took her 15 minutes to come back with "no freaking way I am driving VW"
Another myth was that Jetta diesels offer great mpg. At the time I frequent 600 miles San Francisco - San Diego route and later bought 2005 E320cdi.
When 90 hp Jetta was wagon and 205 HP Mercedes was sedan, they deliver exactly the same mpg on the route.
Mercedes gained few minutes due to better acceleration.
Love the color and the Thor's hammer DRL's my son had one almost the same color in a sedan, he loved it. I'm seeing more and more around my neighborhood, thank goodness, in the sea of Subaru's, which is apparently the new woke car.
Volvo's ok.. not the same since the Chinese own them...
We have 2014 XC90 - Nice car... very light on features as they just did not have many as it was basically a duplicate of 2014 as they were in process of being sold to china and new design for the new XC90 they came out with..
No problems for car in 70K miles
Variable AC compressor proportional control valve is wonky as sometimes it does not blow cold. HArd to find someone who wants to work on Volvo besides Dealer.
Volvo's ok.. not the same since the Chinese own them...
I looked into this and what I read seemed to indicate that Geely essentially bankrolled Volvo while allowing them to remain pretty much independent and do their own thing. Apparently there were rumors last year of them finally merging with Geely automotive but that has not happened yet and Sweden seems to understand that will not be good.
Edit: I will say that in the future if Geely takes over Volvo and Volvo loses its independence and identity as a Swedish manufacturer, that will likely be the end of it for me with Volvo. Maybe the Chinese can surprise us but so far I am not impressed by any of their efforts.
Last edited by LILBENZ230; 05-23-2021 at 08:40 AM.
Yes, they saw what GM did to Saab, too bad, I really liked the 9-5 Aero. you would have three to five years before worrying about an independent, they are far more prevalent in large metro areas, I'm sure there's some good ones in Metro Atlanta, My MB dealer is a small family owned dealership that also sells Volvos and has for three or four decades, so pretty safe choice here, I see a lot of XC's around, mostly musicians {classical} and artist {educated} types.
Volvo isn't Swedish manufacturer for generations.
My 1984 Volvo did not have "Made in Sweden" anywhere. I was buying some parts for it and ask local salesman what is made in Sweden.
His answer was "price sticker".
I believe the XC60, XC90 and V90 are made in Sweden still, the V60 and XC40 are made in Belgium and the S60 is made in North Carolina.
I believe you are correct. Volvo is still a Swedish make. I wasn't talking necessarily where they're produced. Mercedes builds cars in South Africa and in Alabama.. still German. The S60 is definitely built in SC.
However, the proposed "Volvo-Geely" brand, which would essentially be pimping the well known and respected "Volvo" name to give status to "Geely", would mean moving Volvo HQ out of Sweden..
Personally, if Volvo is making them money, I think they should leave it be. Interesting cars are disappearing.
I would like a Bugatti Veyron they are interesting, wonder how it would do in Cleveland winters! Yes, Volvo is still Swedish car company and hope it remains so. my friends have the S60 made in the US, they like them just fine and so do I, Just a little more "Austere" than a Benz.
Beautiful XC40! As a Volvo owner as well, welcome to the Swedish mafia . I have 184k on my wagon and put 200k on an XC90. Sat in the XC40 Recharge today, and it's was very comfortable. Friend also has one and saved her from getting into a wreck by a red light runner (stopped itself) the 2nd day she had it. Swears by it now.
My 1992 740 was assembled in Sweden, the transmission was from Aisin-Warner of Japan (Toyota), the fuel injection and ignition and other electronics were mostly Bosch, the air conditioning system was a GM design, with a Nissens compressor (danish), the turbo was Mitsubishi (japanese), the rear axle was a Dana 31, but I think Volvo built the axle around the Dana 30/31 guts.
My 2012 E550 4matic sedan is up for sale. I have replaced it with a Porsche Cayenne S since I needed a tow vehicle. I'm not giving it away, it's been a perfect car and I have kept it very well. I would love to keep driving it a few more years, but needs have changed. I had a buyer about to fly in last weekend, but bailed the day before.
My 2012 E550 4matic sedan is up for sale. I have replaced it with a Porsche Cayenne S since I needed a tow vehicle. I'm not giving it away, it's been a perfect car and I have kept it very well. I would love to keep driving it a few more years, but needs have changed. I had a buyer about to fly in last weekend, but bailed the day before.
Yes, they saw what GM did to Saab, too bad, I really liked the 9-5 Aero. you would have three to five years before worrying about an independent, they are far more prevalent in large metro areas, I'm sure there's some good ones in Metro Atlanta, My MB dealer is a small family owned dealership that also sells Volvos and has for three or four decades, so pretty safe choice here, I see a lot of XC's around, mostly musicians {classical} and artist {educated} types.
My first car was a 1972 SAAB 92, then I had 1974 SAAB 96 and 1982 SAAB 99.
Super nice cars to drive other than the 99 under steers badly in winter conditions. It pushes really badly with slightest “over speed” condition.
The 96 model is not the ugliest car ever made (model 95 might claim that title) but it is far from being pretty. Well, the tear-drop body design comes from the air plane designers and their firs model 92 was only missing the propeller from the front grille.
The 96 was extremely comfortable ride and being a FWD it was exceptionally good around turns. It was very popular with rallye drivers at the time as it turned very well. This quality probably came with the narrower rear axle?
SAAB was in forefront with some safety measures, like even the 1972 model could not be driven with some sort of lights in front. If the simple rocker switch for lights was in OFF position the head lights got 6V feed for half lit appearance. I don’t know if SASB was the first one with the DRL’s but they must be close.
All the above cars had head light washers with wiper blades on them. They were awesome when driving in wet snow condition that can totally cover lights. These wipers cleaned it all with ease.
They made the “safety bumper” that allowed driving the car to a brick wall at 7 km/h speed without damage to the car. Volvo quickly took this same bumper construction to their cars.
The 96 also had this extra hidden convenience, the sprag clutch. This clutch came from the early models with 2-stroke engines that had to have it to prevent burning the engine during engine braking, i.e. the sprag working there was no engine braking. This allowed gear changes without pressing the clutch when car was rolling faster than the engine speed demanded.
And the engine was a FORD V4 that I did not know existed before I pulled the dip stick and it read FORD at the end of it.
Love the color and the Thor's hammer DRL's my son had one almost the same color in a sedan, he loved it. I'm seeing more and more around my neighborhood, thank goodness, in the sea of Subaru's, which is apparently the new woke car.
Thats funny. My MAGA brother harangued me one day about the Chinese content in my W212. He description of the content wasn't that polite
Love the color and the Thor's hammer DRL's my son had one almost the same color in a sedan, he loved it. I'm seeing more and more around my neighborhood, thank goodness, in the sea of Subaru's, which is apparently the new woke car.
around here, Subarus started showing up as Volvo replacements about when Volvo went from ugly-but-practical to their newer sleeker FWD designs, in the early mid 90s. They are still very common here, including the newest versions, we seriously looked at them, and took several new loaded Outbacks out for exfended test drives, but my wife didn't like various things, and I was less than thrilled with the stories of imploding CVT transmissions, and their tendency to blow head gaskets early. our daughter bought a almost-new Forester (first car she bought herself after driving various hand-me-down volvos and mercedes for years).
I never considered Subaru, but only because I don't really care for any of their designs. Honestly, Volvo wasn't on my list either until I experienced one of the new ones. That and the "subscription" (which is just flexible leasing) made the decision for me. I was able to get the window sticker of mine, but it has not arrived yet.
2020 GLS450 / 2024 Ford Bronco / (former) W212 4-matic 350 sport package
Sorry to see you go Lil’, but hope you enjoy the XC40! It is a sharp vehicle for sure! I think you’re wise in your approach with your entry to Volvo. Check them out and see if you like them. I’ve come to the conclusion they’re a bit of a crap shoot sometimes on which ones are great and which ones are not, and I mean than in terms of the old theory of a Monday car or a Wednesday car. I had a 08’ XC90 with the rare Yahmaha V8 that was a disaster, and neighbor had a 2014 new xc90 that was so poorly built he made the dealership buy it back. Yet, I also know quite a few XC90 owners from that era who have over 300k on their clocks and absolutely love them. So who knows!
I do have a neighbor with what is now his second new XC90. When we were looking at the GLS we crossed it with the XC90 and asked him about his. His last one he said had high mileage on it and was starting to need some repairs for pumps, bushings, struts, pulleys etc. His definition of high mileage and my definition did not align. He was at 65,000… the dealer gave him a nice deal on a lease for another one (2020) to replace the old one. So, for him to do it again, and he swears by the car, does say something about the brand loyalty. Similar I guess to MB. Life’s like a box of German chocolate cake; you never know what’s in the icing…
For me, I could see me replacing both the GTI and the w212 for a nice midsized suv someday. I do like the higher up feeling more and more, and the quieter ride because of it. I could see a GLE in my future someday as my only vehicle. Maybe…
I never considered Subaru, but only because I don't really care for any of their designs. Honestly, Volvo wasn't on my list either until I experienced one of the new ones. That and the "subscription" (which is just flexible leasing) made the decision for me. I was able to get the window sticker of mine, but it has not arrived yet.
You've got a really good one there! I really like the bursting blue color on the current Volvos. It truly makes them unique in a sea of monochrome cars. Any thoughts on Polestar software upgrade on the car? Hope to see you over on Swedespeed!
My wife has a loaded XC60/T6 and is extremely pleased with it. The only thing that worries me is the engine - turbocharged AND supercharged!
I have read that Geely gave Volvo a nearly blank check with which to modernize the cars and production systems - and it shows, IMO.
We've never even come close to getting the EPA gas mileage with it and neither of us drive like maniacs.I can generally meet or exceed EPA ratings in most cars that I drive.
Volvo actually came out with their first 'modern' engine several years before Ford's involvement... It was initially released with the 960 as an inline 6 RWD, then the 850 as a transverse inline 5 with FWD. This engine apparently was co-designed with Porsche, and was a modern 'sandwich' construction, comprising of the valve cover (which integrated the cam journals), the head, the actual cylinder block, and the 'oil pan' which integrated the crankshaft journals, and was designed as a modular engine, with a 2.9L 6 cyl, 2.3-2.4L 5 cyl, 2.0L 4 cyl variants. Sadly, the 960 and its successor S90/V90, and the XC90, were the last of the RWD, everything else was FWD transverse, with optional AWD. I had an 850 for a few years, in many ways it was a far more modern car (in 1996) than the 740/940 that preceded it, but it just didn't have the RWD driving dynamics I prefer, in spite of having vastly more power and 'refinement', so I ended up selling that and getting a 740 wagon again which I kept til it had way over 250,000 miles. The 740 was old school, cast iron 2.3L 4 cyl, SOHC, mild turbo that delivered 160 HP and 200 ft-lbs, into an aisin-warner (toyota) 4 speed slushbox, with a live axle rear end. everything I've driven since that 740 has been Mercedes
(my 850 turbo)
the next generation after this was designed before Ford's watch, when they went to the 'hips' on the body... that "P2" chassis, initially offered as the S80 high end FWD sedan, was shared with ford as Ford's D3 platform, and used for the Ford Five Hundred / Taurus, and others, and evolved into the D4 thats the underpinnings of the modernized Ford Explorer, the P2/D3 was also used as a Mazda G platform (626, etc) when Mazda was jointly owned by Ford.
a fun tidbit I remember reading at the time, Ford largely bought Volvo because they wanted access to Volvo's highly automated body assembly line techniques which produced extremely 'tight' bodies with extremely good tolerances, but later was somewhat disappointed to learn that the 'secret' relied heavily on highly skilled assembly technicians to set up and run said automated line, both in Sweden and Austria (where Volvo assembled a lot of their models, including my 850).
I remember reading, Gheely wanted Volvo to make high end luxury cars they could sell to the nouveau rich in China, while Volvo wanted to make practical cars and there was a fair bit of friction between these goals
05-22-2021, 12:01 PM
. I have 184k on my wagon and put 200k on an XC90. Sat in the XC40 Recharge today, and it's was very comfortable. Friend also has one and saved her from getting into a wreck by a red light runner (stopped itself) the 2nd day she had it. Swears by it now.
