The 240s were cool, the 740s were cooler, the 960s were good solid cars. I always liked the wagon versions better.

The 850 was fast, my office manager had a T5-R that “I” helped her get. That car was fast, quite fast for its day, yet was an understeering pig. It also had a horrific climate control and eletrical system that could not be fixed. Her boyfriend at the time was a top notch foreign car mechanic who signed off on the purchase. He was qualified to work on the new Volvos as well. He even agreed the car was a nightmare. Albeit a fast one

She got out of a E30 325i into the Volvo, and then went back to an E36 328i and we swore, never again. There were so many subtle things that the BMW did better. Handling, braking and there is just a feel to them that can not be duplicated.

Also, I can’t tell you how many times I’m behind a Volvo and they stop on yellow lights and hog the left lane. Saturn drivers and blue Oldsmobiles are worse, but only a little. (f course not to forget mommies in Suburbans)

The most polite and correct drivers for the most part always seem to be in Volkswagens.

That should work, these links come up error sometimes

try that

BAMF –”oh, and may I point out that your almighty BMW 7-series doesn’t even offer a manumatic option, like the A8 does? Hows that for sporty… yay, I’m in Drive!”

Dude, come on it’s a BMW of course it has the manumatic option. Look at the steering wheel of the pic linked below.

http://www.seriouswheels.com/pics-2006/2006-BMW-7-Series-Interior-1280×960.jpg

Those silver buttons at 10 and 2 o’clock are the shifter buttons for manumatic mode. In the first year the car came out in the US, 2004(?), those buttons were disabled in the US for EPA milage purposes. Not any more. All BMW Steptronic have one sweet manumatic mode.

I never thought the upscale German brands had any type of “stigma” associated with them. What is the stigma?

I

I must agree that BAMF is right. RWD is for sports/sporty cars, yes. But for a car like a Volvo, FWD is just fine. The cars are just aimed at different types of buyers.

I’d still like to hear any arguments you have against it though.

Yes, BMWs are much more sporting, I wouldn’t attempt to deny that. But you clearly missed my point. The cars are geared towards different buyers. Most car buyers dont require “sport”, because they aren’t car enthusiasts, they’re just people who need transportation. So they pick the car that has a reputation for being safe and practical over the car that has a reputation for being sporty. Its just aimed at a different group of people. Thats why its my daily driver– because its safe, comfortable, and reliable. It sure isn’t a blast to drive, I wont hesitate to admit to that. 0-60 in my S70 is about 11 seconds. But in my daily travels, I dont need to go 0-60 in 4.8 seconds, and neither do most people. In fact, I live in a town where the majority of the vehicles you see on the road are brand new luxury automobiles. But you know what? I don’t see any of the many, many, many BMW drivers blasting away from stoplights. I usually accelerate faster than all of them at any given stoplight, and its not because my car is more capable. The point I’m trying to make is that not everyone wants to race around all the time. Some people just want a practical car, and a Volvo offers that.

“The best way to survive an accident it not to get in one in the first place.”
Yeah, thats why they’re called “accidents”. I’ve never been in an accident that was my fault, but I’ve been hit at 30mph while I was stopped at a traffic light on two seperate occasions, and I’ve also been T-boned in a parking lot by someone speeding recklessly through a stop sign at a blind corner. So thats when safe matters. Again, I agree that other manufacturers make very safe cars! I’m not saying Volvos are far and away the absolute safest cars available. i’m just saying that they are very, very safe cars, because that is Volvos top priority. Safety first. And I love that, because I don’t want to die any time soon.

Also, many people, like my mother, would NEVER drive a BMW, Merc, Audi, etc, simply because they dont like the stigma associated with those brands. She doesn’t want to drive something that screams “I’m better than you.” She doesn’t drive a Volvo, but that would be something much more up her ally. They are understated (like Audis are), conservative if you will.

Yes, all modern cars have crumple zones. Did I say that they didn’t? All I said was “Volvos use transversely mounted engines to give *****MORE AREA***** in the crumple zone to ****ABSORB MORE COLLISION ENERGY****.” The key there is “more”. Thats the point. Not just safe, but safer. And when did I say a Volvo could out brake a BMW? I didn’t. But thats only one thing you’ve offered in your argument in terms of superior safety.

Quit comparing Volvos to BMWs– They are not the same type of car! Yeah, 0-60 in 4.8 seconds is impressive, but since when has performance been Volvos priority? Never, and I’m willing to bet it never will be. But thats fine, because not everyone buys performance. Thats all I’m trying to say. I dont know why you have such a big problem with what the people at Volvo are doing. They build great cars, just as good as anything else. They just have different goals. Just like you and I clearly do. Apparently, you want a race car. I do too, and one day I’d love to own a supercar, or something close. But for now, I have what I need. My cars are fast enough for my needs. My Audi is plenty sporty for my needs— oh, and may I point out that your almighty BMW 7-series doesn’t even offer a manumatic option, like the A8 does? Hows that for sporty… yay, I’m in Drive!

Look, I love driving fast, sporty RWD cars as much as anyone else on this forum. But that doesn’t mean nothing else can exist. RWD just isn’t the most practical setup for everyone. Oh, and if AWD is so inferior to RWD in every way, then why does BMW offer the option of AWD? You saying that AWD doesn’t provide any more benefits in the rain than RWD is a JOKE. I’d love to hear your logic behind that.

I’m sorry if I come off as condescending, but I’m not the one claiming that RWD is the absolute most superior drive setup. My point is that people have different needs, different requirements, and not everyone needs/wants a BMW.

Sorry, 0-60 in 5.4 seconds… still impressive. That would be the S60R.

The 60s? I have a 98 S70 with 210,000 miles on it, with no major repairs needed over the cars life. Plenty of my friends drive newer Volvos, and they haven’t had any problems with them.

Sure, I prefer RWD, but I really dont see anything WRONG with a FWD car. I’m not racing my Volvo, I just use it as my daily driver, and it goes where I point it– thats what I need, and thats what most car buyers need. And I CERTAINLY dont see anything wrong with AWD. I love the grip my A8 provides in the Florida rain at high speeds. In last months Motor Trend, the less powerful, heavier Audi S6 won in a three way comparison over the BMW M5 and the E63 AMG, because they loved the way the AWD system put the power to the ground– it beat the other two cars around both tracks they used to test the cars. So I dont see any problem with that.

Personally, I think the current Volvo lineup is very attractive, in many ways more attractive than BMWs lineup. It looks more like what BMW would’ve looked like if Bangle hadn’t interfered. The exterior is conservative (which is probably why you criticize it… but I’m sure you’ve complained about BMWs styling), yet sporty and attractive. The interiors are modern, stylish, and comfortable. The cabin is a very nice place to be– and easier on the eyes than the interior of a Bimmer.

Transverse mounted engines bothers you a lot? Do you even know why they do that? Positioning the engine sideways allows for more area in the crumple zone to abosorb more collision energy. Hence, SAFETY. Sure, plenty of other manufacturers make cars that are just as safe, but Volvo is still considered a leader of innovating safety technology. The Volvo S80 is regarded by many to be the safest mass-produced car in the world.

Lastly, what is your problem with people putting rainbow stickers on their car? You have some problem with gay people? That just shows how ignorant you are. I’m not even going to get into an argument about that, but I dont see why the sexuality of a car driver matters at all. I know a gay guy that drives BMW 3-series, so by your logic– what? Does that make the car gay or something? Dont be a bigot.

Too safe — I would not consider a VW, Merc, Audi or BMW any less safe

Too reliable — who ever said current Volvos were the paragon of reliabilty. Maybe back in 60′s

0-60 in % sec too slow? — yes. What Volvo gets to 60 in 5 flat just out of curiosity.

I hate FWD in premium cars, that is all Volvo has that and FWD based AWD systems. Crappy weight distribution and transverse mounted engines. For what you spend on many Volvos you can get a BMW that is better. For the lower cost Volvos a VW will be a better choice.

Also many Volvos have either John Kerry stickers on them or” Rainbow” Gay Pride stickers or both.

Comment by XeroBlue, posted on February5 at

SOUND GREAT TO ME

No one is making you purchase it if it doesn’t appeal to you.

Don’t worry, Leftlanenews, there are other motorcycle websites that will provide this news. Its not your job!! Ur job is to provide car-related news. Thank you!!

Why not?

Actually, this whatever it is, will be able to brake better, and handle the wet better than a regular cycle.

Any vehicle that can attract more people to the sport is ok with me.