Volvo S60 beats Merc C-Class

J77

VolvoMan wrote: »

I don't think build quality has ever been an issue with Volvo. In fact, you couldn't find a manufacturer with a better reputation built on such a principle.

They have never produced cars to such a poor standard as Mercedes have in recent years. Throughout the 90's/00's, they were consistently rolling out some right sh1tters, such as the W203 C-Class, the original A-Class and the original M-Class.

Have an 06 volvo S40 2.0D SE since January now. I have had quite a bit of trouble with it and it now appears I will have to replace the DMF. Suffice to say I am less than impressed with volvo. Pity too, was hoping I'd have a great 4 year partnership with this car! First and last volvo. Will have to be an Audi, Merc or BMW next.

VolvoMan

J77 wrote: »

Have an 06 volvo S40 2.0D SE since January now. I have had quite a bit of trouble with it and it now appears I will have to replace the DMF. Suffice to say I am less than impressed with volvo. Pity too, was hoping I'd have a great 4 year partnership with this car! First and last volvo. Will have to be an Audi, Merc or BMW next.

You can be lucky and unlucky with brands you will find, so I wouldn't cut of my nose to spite my face if I were you.

For instance; we have an A4 Cabriolet and since we've had it it's gone through two coil packs and a coolant sensor (this cost 500-600 euro to replace). It also has now developed a fault where the rear brake lights turn on randomly when the car is stationery, draining the battery and also a very noisy fuel pump at the moment. I'm really dreading to think what the these two problems are going to cost.

What ever happens next, I really hope it won't be the Multitronic gearbox.

bazz26

J77 wrote: »

Have an 06 volvo S40 2.0D SE since January now. I have had quite a bit of trouble with it and it now appears I will have to replace the DMF. Suffice to say I am less than impressed with volvo. Pity too, was hoping I'd have a great 4 year partnership with this car! First and last volvo. Will have to be an Audi, Merc or BMW next.

DMF is a problem amongst all modern day manual diesel engines not just Volvo who use PSA diesel engines in the S40.

-Chris-

Bodhan wrote: »

+1 on that, I'm not too keen on the seats in a c-class, they're too hard. The A4 is much closer to the S60. I like the looks of the S60 though and the electronic eye thing that stops you hitting people, there are a few people I'd like to try that feature out on

We had Volvo give us a demo in an XC60 with the pedestrian sensors. Suffice it to say that I wouldn't want my mother to walk out in front of one...

It worked about 2 in 5 tries. :eek:

unkel wrote: »

From the article: the S60 (3-series and c-class competitor) costs more than a better specced more powerful 5-series. No wonder the latter are selling like hotcakes, the BMW 5-series was the best selling car in the country last month :eek:

Very few people will buy an S60 if a 5-series and an E-class are cheaper...

520d is the pick of the litter at the moment, nothing can touch it. It's pushed BMWs market share to something like 8%.

-Chris-

Also, the fact that this article gives the S60 4 stars for styling/looks draws the whole article into doubt. I've seen it in the flesh, and it's an ugly, ugly car (imho).

PaulieC

-Chris- wrote: »

Also, the fact that this article gives the S60 4 stars for styling/looks draws the whole article into doubt. I've seen it in the flesh, and it's an ugly, ugly car (imho).

I doubt the whole article is drawn into doubt because of you opinion. I may be wrong though

blingrhino

unless your going for the "aldi" version ,forget it-it`s just too expensive;)

-Chris-

cambo_gueno wrote: »

I doubt the whole article is drawn into doubt because of you opinion. I may be wrong though

And that's why I put imho in my post...

What was your opinion when you saw it in the flesh?

Eric Cartman

-Chris- wrote: »

520d is the pick of the litter at the moment, nothing can touch it. It's pushed BMWs market share to something like 8%.

+1 there arent really any mid size saloons that can touch it , badge appeal, fuel economy, standard specs, rear wheel drive, handling, fun to drive, its a pity the 535i isnt leading but us irish buy our cars based on the road tax price so nothing over a 2 litre ish diesel is going to be class leader anyway

PaulieC

I like it, its a bit different. In dact, i am considering getting one next year. the interior is fantastic and the soec level is quite good (albeit at se and se lux levels). I'm not sure about the depreciation levels though

GiftGrub100

-Chris- wrote: »

We had Volvo give us a demo in an XC60 with the pedestrian sensors. Suffice it to say that I wouldn't want my mother to walk out in front of one...

It worked about 2 in 5 tries. :eek:




520d is the pick of the litter at the moment, nothing can touch it. It's pushed BMWs market share to something like 8%.

Amazed it worked twice as far as I know the S60 is the first car fitted with Pedestrian detection, the XC60 has the city safety system

VolvoMan

-Chris- wrote: »

We had Volvo give us a demo in an XC60 with the pedestrian sensors. Suffice it to say that I wouldn't want my mother to walk out in front of one...

It worked about 2 in 5 tries. :eek:

GiftGrub100 wrote: »

Amazed it worked twice as far as I know the S60 is the first car fitted with Pedestrian detection, the XC60 has the city safety system

+1

-Chris-

GiftGrub100 wrote: »

Amazed it worked twice as far as I know the S60 is the first car fitted with Pedestrian detection, the XC60 has the city safety system

I've read both brochures and don't understand the difference?

VolvoMan

-Chris- wrote: »

I've read both brochures and don't understand the difference?

City Safety prevents the car from hitting another car in a low speed collision.

Pedestrian Protection does the same except on pedestrians. If you were trying this feature on an XC60, it's a good thing none of you were killed.:eek:

-Chris-

VolvoMan wrote: »

City Safety prevents the car from hitting another car in a low speed collision.

Pedestrian Protection does the same except on pedestrians. If you were trying this feature on an XC60, it's a good thing none of you were killed.:eek:

Well the Volvo rep was doing it by putting a person sized sign and then letting us drive the car at it to see if it would stop. It didn't always stop.

If that's not the point of that particular safety system, then it's probably more of an issue of the rep's product knowledge than the car. Fair point.

unkel

Pedestrian protection (S60):

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

City safety (XC60):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8DBf8GBVmME

That Volvo rep was completely incompetent :rolleyes:

You should follow up on that Chris.

-Chris-

Yep, what was demo'd was the City Safety programme.

It was using an obstacle similar to the one seen at 1:52 in that video.

It's possibly a subtle distinction between the two systems, but the fact remains that the system failed as much as it succeed (in my small amount of experience) and if the pedestrian protection is in any way similar, I wouldn't be using it as a major decision making point if I were choosing between the Volvo and a similar car.

unkel

-Chris- wrote: »

It was using an obstacle similar to the one seen at 1:52 in that video.

That obstacle wasn't really appropriate to demonstrate the system. Did you see all of the video?

-Chris-

unkel wrote: »

That obstacle wasn't really appropriate to demonstrate the system. Did you see all of the video?

Yep.

In our demonstration, what was supposed to happen was at 4:26mins. What actually happened most of the time was at 4:40mins.
We were travelling less than 9mph.

I'm not knocking the system, and every bit of additional safety helps, but as I say, based on my small experience of this system I don't find it consistent enough to consider it a point I'd consider at purchase time.

RedorDead

Which system was this one then??

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

-Chris-

Wow, the poor guy. How do you rescue that one??? :eek:

jayok

-Chris- wrote: »

Wow, the poor guy. How do you rescue that one??? :eek:

"As you can see ladies and gentlemen, the Chinese copy-cat cars have none of a genuine Volvo's safety features. Please assure yourselves that you are only buying a genuine Volvo"

VolvoMan

RedorDead wrote: »

Which system was this one then??

That only happened because the battery had gone flat on the car the night before, jeopardizing the system. The engineers were even reportedly unsure about allowing the car being demonstrated before it took place.

EPM

VolvoMan wrote: »

That only happened because the battery had gone flat on the car the night before, jeopardizing the system. The engineers were even reportedly unsure about allowing the car being demonstrated before it took place.

So everytime the battery goes flat/gets disconnected the system gives up the ghost?

-Chris-

I hope it warns you about that.

VolvoMan

EPM wrote: »

So everytime the battery goes flat/gets disconnected the system gives up the ghost?

That's what I heard, I don't know the details. You may think it, but I actually don't work for Volvo.

Bodhan

I saw the S60 today up close, it's... distinctive, I wouldn't say it's good looking or anything. I also hear that in some demos a dummy was run over a few times, I'm not so sure about an electronic nanny making up for poor driving.
Gimmick anyone?

R.O.R

I'm just back from picking up a demo model S60 for a customer and I'm pleasantly pleased . Although, I may be a bit biased as I've always had a soft spot for Volvo's since my Dad's 86 740GLE 2.3 Estate.

This is a D3 SE model, so has Half (ish) leather. To be honest, they may as well not have bothered with the tiny bits of leather on the seats - I had to look to find it.

Interior is nicely laid out and is fairly similar to the S80. Same radio layout (but with additional buttons), same hand operated parking brake, similar cup holder & armrest combo. It also carries over the floating console from the S40, which give a bit more storage space.

The D3 engine is a cracker. [FELT]There is some lift out of her lad,she's an Antichrist to go [/FELT] Serious pull in each gear with no noticeable lag.

I'm still not taken on the styling of the car. Suppose once you get used to it, it will grow on you.

The gearstick seems a bit long for a "Sports Saloon". With the length of it and the narrowness of the 6 speed box, it can be a little vague finding the correct gear.

I have a feeling that the driver aids will end up being switched off by a lot of people. This one has the BLIS system, which is fairly unobtrusive - just lights a little amber light near the wing mirror if there is something around that area, but it's the amber light on the dash which will be a PITA. I'm pretty sure this is part of the pedestrian city safety stuff so will be on all models.

I'm by no means a tailgater (I know my reactions are cack, so make up for it by leaving a large gap), but if you are any way close to a vehicle in front, the amber light on the dash comes on and reflects at you in the windscreen. It's bad enough in daylight, so I can only imagine that it's very off putting in the dark. I'd either have to switch it off, or leave such a gap that you'd end up being overtaken because you are so far from the vehicle in front.

Lane departure is also fitted on this system and that works. If you cross the lines on the motorway without indicating you get 3 short beeps. Apparently there is also a Driver Alert Control system fitted, but I've no idea what it does or how it operates.

I'd certainly take an S60 over a C-Class or A4. Doesn't beat the 3 Series for driving dynamics, but may prove popular because the 3 series is coming to the end of it's life cycle.

VolvoMan

R.O.R wrote: »

The gearstick seems a bit long for a "Sports Saloon". With the length of it and the narrowness of the 6 speed box, it can be a little vague finding the correct gear.

That's what comes with Mondeo underpinnings I'm afraid. You'll find a similar long throw gearshift in that car is well. It's a shame really, because one thing that could be said about the last S60 was that it had one of the slickest manual gearboxes around.

I'd certainly take an S60 over a C-Class or A4. Doesn't beat the 3 Series for driving dynamics, but may prove popular because the 3 series is coming to the end of it's life cycle.

I personally have a bit of the thing for the current C-Class I must admit. I think it looks stunning in red with Avantgarde trim.

The E90 3 Series on the other hand is a hideous, cramped thing. I never understood how driving dynamics alone could've made it such a highly regarded car by the motoring press.

EPM

VolvoMan wrote: »

I never understood how driving dynamics alone could've made it such a highly regarded car by the motoring press.

Well most of the motoring press would have a greater interest than the average Joe about how it drives hence presumably the career choice. Agree with you though. It's beginning to look very old hat