Volvos Suck.

Curious Joel · #1 03-03-2007, 05:40 PM

They're so dumb. For example, the key fob. There is a button that unlocks the trunk and the trunk only. Once the trunk is closed, it locks again. It's misleading though, because one would think it opens the trunk, like on BMWs, judging by the picture on the button.
Anyway, this wonderfully designed feature is now responsible for us being locked out of our car at Logan Airport. The keys are inside.

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vinuneuro · #2 03-03-2007, 05:45 PM

They suck because Ford owns them. Enough said.

AzNMpower32 · #3 03-03-2007, 06:10 PM

Wow, and I thought my Civic's super-slow reflexes were bad. It's like you hit the remote, and half the time the doors dont even unlock. So you hit it again, and again, and again, until the doors unlock on your 6th press. Same thing happens with the radio/climate buttons. But I guess Ford or Volvo (whoever designed your fob) was no smarter than a 6 year old.

RamVA · #4 03-03-2007, 07:55 PM

Dumber but less dangerous (maybe):

On my 2001 Porsche they use a single button for door lock and unlock. That means you can't be confident that the doors are locking unless you know that they were unlocked before. Dumb.

The lights give you feedback, but to add insult to injury they are the inverse of every other car I've owned - flash once for unlock, twice for lock. That would be fine if it were your only car, which is rarely the case with Porsches.

I'm not sure if they've fixed this, but it's plain stupid.

Curious Joel · #5 03-03-2007, 10:48 PM

Ford really ran them into the ground. I think Volvo has a lot of potential. I really think their designs are nice, especially the new S80 and C70 which are gorgeous, IMO. But they drive terribly. Our 2004 XC70 is actually annoying to drive, and that's something I rarely say because I love to drive. The steering is light as a feather, and there's no feedback. There's a TON of body roll. The DSTC stability control really does nothing once you start to skid. The gas pedal is suspended from the top of the dashboard, unlike the floor mounted one in the BMW. It makes your knee hurt after a while. The turbo has way too much lag. Combined with the terrible transmission, it makes merging an annoyance. The brakes feel like they aren't there. No matter how hard you hit them, they take forever to do anything. You have to push the pedal two inches or so when you're at a light, or the car will idle forward. The BMW's pedal barely has to be touched. I've almost idled into pedestrians before, while stopped at a light and being distracted. The seats are hard to adjust and uncomfortable, and the lumbar support (controlled by a knob, just like back in the 80s) doesn't work well. The rain sensor has like 11 settings, but no matter which one it's on the wipers always go to the fastest setting no matter what. The light switch is a pain. The car has bi-xenons, which are aimed so low they're practically useless. The switch just bothers me. If it's in the "off" position, the daytime running lights go on. If it gets dark, the xenons come on. But if you want to turn on the high beams, you have to flip the switch to "on".. And they clearly haven't heard of ergonomics, because the switches for the heated seats are in the strangest place... bunched together on the far side of the climate control. Also, there is one setting for the seats. Push the switch once, it works normally. Push twice, and it just heats the bottom cushion. What is the point? I'm sorry, I just really don't like that car.

trueX5er · #6 03-03-2007, 11:00 PM

so....um....why'd you guys get it then....?

Curious Joel · #7 03-03-2007, 11:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trueX5er

so....um....why'd you guys get it then....?

My mother wanted a car she could get serviced locally. The only choices around here are Volvo, Saab, Cadillac, etc.. She didn't want a big SUV, so.. what else?

trueX5er · #8 03-03-2007, 11:59 PM

My neighbors have, in additon to a E90 330i, a new Saab 9-3 SportCombi. It dosen't look too bad, and it drives well.
But it wasn't around in 2004 (I think) so it wouldn't have been an option anyways

There's also the 9-5 Wagon, which isn't too bad.

Krunk Man · #9 03-04-2007, 01:35 AM

how did you pull off driving a 335 while mom is stuck with a volvo?

E61Silver · #10 03-04-2007, 08:21 AM

I had a XC70 2001 and a 98 V70. I had a lot of check engine light problems with the 1998 but the 2001 was just about trouble free. It was clear that Ford made the car better. I do agree that the car did not drive like a BMW but both were nice cars. They cost far less than a BMW so it really is not fair to compare. They still are a good choice for a nice, lower cost, wagon not so sure about the sedan. The SUV is ok and a lot of brands offer better chooses (MDX X5).

I looked at the R wagon but it also lacked the driving feel of a BMW. That's how I ended up with the X5 which also drives much better than the ML. I also looked at a 5 wagon but it felt small and the lease cost was much higher. I also looked a the Dodge wagon but its interior was so plastic and the cargo area was lacking.

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