How is Volvo possibly still in business?

[spicyB48]

I really don't understand. Their S60 (Volvo's entry-level offering) is more expensive than a 3 series or C class. They lost their safety advantage years ago, they aren't anything special in terms of performance or comfort, and the build quality and reliability are poor.

They seem to be marketing themselves with "Swedish minimalism" and "sustainability". I guess lacking basic features is indeed minimalist. Their cars have all sorts of weird design quirks and their sedans drive like pickup trucks. I'd imagine that their SUVs feel like semis.

This is just an anecdote, but I had a 2013 Volvo S60 as my first car (it was a hand-me-down). It was maintained at the dealer since new and it still had so many problems. After a couple years, the interior started falling apart. Then it started having electrical problems (the most dangerous one being the dim headlights). At 60k it started burning a quart every 1000 miles. The dealer said it needed an engine rebuild for $6000. I just kept topping up the oil, then it started running rough due to all the blow by. The engine failed completely at just over 76k and I got rid of it.

Seriously, how are people spending $50k or more on these pieces of scrap metal?

[Burrcold]

Decent design and more importantly women like them. That's why.

[spicyB48]

Originally Posted by Burrcold

Decent design and more importantly women like them. That's why.

My girlfriend thought my Volvo was cute. I honestly think Volvos are so ugly, they make the XM look good.

[Burrcold]

Originally Posted by Bimmerito

...they make the XM look good.

No, no they do not. Nothing makes that atrocity look good.

[spicyB48]

Originally Posted by Burrcold

No, no they do not. Nothing makes that atrocity look good.

76,000 miles and the engine failed.

[Burrcold]

Originally Posted by Bimmerito

76,000 miles and the engine failed.

Not sure what that has to do with the looks of the XM...

[Minacious]

Current gen Volvos are far beyond what they used to be, both in looks, engineering and build quality (hence why they are selling so many of them).

The cost argument is also invalid when a standard 3 series can cost upwards of $60k; everything is far more expensive than it should be.

As far as the engine of that S60 giving up at 76k miles, that can happen to almost any brand and it does.

[MalibuM3]

I had a 2002 Volvo S60 and a few years later a 2016 XC60. Both cars had the famous 5-cylinder engine. Both were relaible cars. I also owned a BMW X3 and an Audi Q5, which both had a poorer ride and interieur quality.

We have currently two Volvo XC60 in our household. For the daily run and as grocery hauler they are quite good cars. Much more relaxing to drive as our BMW fleet (M3, Z4, 320i).

[Alfisti]

Volvo hasn't been doing well for a long time though, they have really struggled since they confused their lineup with twin turbosupercvharged engines and the like. I like their design elements and their wagons look great but it's the price point I struggle with.

[stein_325i]

Originally Posted by Bimmerito

My girlfriend thought my Volvo was cute. I honestly think Volvos are so ugly, they make the XM look good.

Very likely a minority opinion. Volvo has a very attractive lineup and restrained styling across the board. Their cars look far more upscale and elegant compared to anything prior to 2016. The XC90 still looks fresh even despite being unveiled close to a decade ago.

More importantly, Volvo has a loyal fanbase, their owners are similar to that of Subaru owners, and despite their small (US) sales figures compared to the Germans, other than 2022, Volvo had year after year growth since 2015.

[spicyB48]

Originally Posted by Minacious

Current gen Volvos are far beyond what they used to be, both in looks, engineering and build quality (hence why they are selling so many of them).

The cost argument is also invalid when a standard 3 series can cost upwards of $60k; everything is far more expensive than it should be.

As far as the engine of that S60 giving up at 76k miles, that can happen to almost any brand and it does.

The S60 engines of that model year were known for piston ring defects and that’s what caused the engine failure.

[nerdogray]

Volvo is like that off-brand of Potted Meat or Vienna Sausage that's just always been on the shelf, but you never pick it, always reaching instead for the luxury and quality of Armour.

[dark_snipers]

I think their recent refreshes in the last 5 years or so have made them more generally appealing, especially with a lean towards their XC line. Would I ever buy one? Probably not, but my wife has at least considered the newer model years.

[2heeldrive]

IMHO, Volvo's have always been over-rated. They were very good at marketing back in the day... made themselves out to be super safe... which, compared to some other cars (Japanese) they probably were. But... in my experience, having owned several, they were very unreliable and costly to repair.

[spicyB48]

Originally Posted by nerdogray

Volvo is like that off-brand of Potted Meat or Vienna Sausage that's just always been on the shelf, but you never pick it, always reaching instead for the luxury and quality of Armour.

Couldn't have said it better. What's weird is that Volvo enthusiasts are obsessed with the "Swedishness" of their cars and "decorate" them with moose badges, fake Swedish license plates, Swedish stickers, and more.

[spicyB48]

Originally Posted by dark_snipers

I think their recent refreshes in the last 5 years or so have made them more generally appealing, especially with a lean towards their XC line. Would I ever buy one? Probably not, but my wife has at least considered the newer model years.

Some of the newer models look fine, but ewww they are Volvos. They have so many electrical problems, which is expected considering that their infotainment system is powered by Android.

[evomike]

Originally Posted by Bimmerito

Couldn't have said it better. What's weird is that Volvo enthusiasts are obsessed with the "Swedishness" of their cars and "decorate" them with moose badges, fake Swedish license plates, Swedish stickers, and more.

opposed to the BMW owners that do this exact same thing, Volvo builds a great car and I would 100% take one over an X3 or X5.

[Clark_Kent]

Very interesting and uninformed takes on Volvo. They are not struggling, at all. There's also appeal even though they may not appeal to you. As someone mentioned in the thread, Volvo's fortunes turned about a decade ago and they've been doing well and capturing market share since.

We've owned three XC90s as a family hauler, two of which were plugins, in the last 5 years. A couple minor issues along the way, but no different than any other manufacturer. In recent years, the styling has improved drastically, the safety ratings are very good, and they lease well.

You want to talk bout a brand losing it's cachet, you should look no further than BMW. They lost their way years ago with questionable styling and unnecessary product stratification with X1s and X2s and X3s all the way up to 7, and 1 series', and faux M cars, and the list goes on. The only forum I've been on where there's a very active thread of former BMW owners who have decided to look elsewhere because of the aforementioned.

[Berzerker]

Originally Posted by Clark_Kent

Very interesting and uninformed takes on Volvo. They are not struggling, at all. There's also appeal even though they may not appeal to you. As someone mentioned in the thread, Volvo's fortunes turned about a decade ago and they've been doing well and capturing market share since.

We've owned three XC90s as a family hauler, two of which were plugins, in the last 5 years. A couple minor issues along the way, but no different than any other manufacturer. In recent years, the styling has improved drastically, the safety ratings are very good, and they lease well.

You want to talk bout a brand losing it's cachet, you should look no further than BMW. They lost their way years ago with questionable styling and unnecessary product stratification with X1s and X2s and X3s all the way up to 7, and 1 series', and faux M cars, and the list goes on. The only forum I've been on where there's a very active thread of former BMW owners who have decided to look elsewhere because of the aforementioned.

Agreed.

The S60 Recharge is also a great sedan hybrid, is more performant, and gets more electric range than a 330e, albeit a little bit more expensive.

[Car-Addicted]

Who owns Volvo now? Just asking for a friend.
I had two Volvo V70 AWD's, ran the heck out of them as a road rep. fantastic car. After Ford bought them, I tapped out.

[spicyB48]

Originally Posted by Car-Addicted

Who owns Volvo now? Just asking for a friend.
I had two Volvo V70 AWD's, ran the heck out of them as a road rep. fantastic car. After Ford bought them, I tapped out.

Geely owns Volvo now. It's a Chinese car.

[spicyB48]

Originally Posted by Clark_Kent

Very interesting and uninformed takes on Volvo. They are not struggling, at all. There's also appeal even though they may not appeal to you. As someone mentioned in the thread, Volvo's fortunes turned about a decade ago and they've been doing well and capturing market share since.

We've owned three XC90s as a family hauler, two of which were plugins, in the last 5 years. A couple minor issues along the way, but no different than any other manufacturer. In recent years, the styling has improved drastically, the safety ratings are very good, and they lease well.

You want to talk bout a brand losing it's cachet, you should look no further than BMW. They lost their way years ago with questionable styling and unnecessary product stratification with X1s and X2s and X3s all the way up to 7, and 1 series', and faux M cars, and the list goes on. The only forum I've been on where there's a very active thread of former BMW owners who have decided to look elsewhere because of the aforementioned.

You are entitled to your own opinion, but to me, Volvo is absolutely the worst carmaker around. I wouldn't take a Volvo if it was free.