Volvo C70

schuhc

It is my understanding that the first 500 miles should be driven 'inconsistently'. So from the time I left from Goteborg to the time I made Prague (which was roughly 600 miles) I would drive between 60 and 100mph and not stay on one speed for more than 10 minutes or so. I pushed the engine up to 125 only after I had 1,000 on the car. So the time I caught the rock I had about 1,200 on her and was comfortable doing 110 to 125.

schuhc

Hi:

This morning I started my cd burner again. Instead of using Roxio easy cd creator, I used my RealOne program that allows me to select the slowest burning speed to be 4x. I will post a message as to how that worked for me when I get home and pop that cd in the coupe.

I double checked and it is the TDK CD-Rs that I use. I usually get them in spindles at Target. They have been the best out of the half dozen I have tried.

cybrc70thug

My friend was in the car and they just so happened to have a TDK CDR. I pop it in and it works. I go to BestBuy and buy some TDK's with the american red, white, and blue label. I go home, I think I burned at 4x or 8x, but I burned slow. Got in the next morning, pop the CDR and it still didnt work. I cursed the CDR gods and went to work. My was back in the car, they had another CDR (TDK silver no RED,WHITE, or BLUE) it played. Moral of the story is, I should have not been cheap and brought the cdr's my friend had.

Upside to all of this, I love my coupe. 1> I dont see the car everywhere I go. 2> It is just awesome machine. 3> Volvo dealers service department charges $100 to inspect the brakes. (ooouch!!!) I am going to Midas and then buy the parts on line, maybe. 4> I really like my coupe. I wish I would have bought it after I saw the movie the Saint.

Once again, thanks.

qbrozen

so does that mean you used different ones than your friend? what program did your friend use? if you use the same cdrs and the same program and his work and your don't, then it obviously is your burner.

tmart

Originally the frame was going to be replaced using my original fabric top. But they replaced everything. Bad news is the top has to stay up for two weeks so the new fabric can stretch and form to the new frame. The V70 loaner was nice, but no comparison to the C70.

schuhc

Normally I'd feel sorry for you but seeing as how we are looking at 30 degree temperatures this week up north, I hope that Houston is in the 70's and not a cloud in the sky for the next two weeks...

just kidding

tmart

but it does me no good. Wish it were raining, or cold for the next two weeks, actually a week and a half. When I went to pick her up last Wednesday, the passenger seat wouldn't move period. So they kept it until yesterday. Had to replace one of the microswitches in the seat. So, the clock starts from last Wednesday for the two weeks. Will wash her this afternoon and let the Z shine through. Was really surprised how dirty she was. Come on down and enjoy some nice weather!! You all can keep those freezing and below temperatures. How's the XC90 enjoying the Windy City?

schuhc

Right now the XC is enjoying the middle of the Atlantic. Scheduled to arrive in Baltimore on the 8th (at the latest). Then, at most, it will take 15 working days to get to the dealership (my salesman thinks it will be there sooner). Then, as you already know, I've got the windshield to replace and the DVD screens to put in the headreasts which should be another 2-5 days depending on when it arrives.

Already have my 'to-do' list for my baby once the 90 gets here....
1 - reset ALL of the memory settings on the driver's seat to my settings and the passenger settings to Lisa's settings
2 - fix the driver's side window so it seals properly
3 - detail her in and out
4 - buy the hp upgrade from ipd in Portland

dick0823

Schuhc- Might want to see your service manager re: the above. Evidently they had a problem and replaced mine.

soledoc

I have an '01 C70 coupe with 35K miles and the original tires which are Pirelli P6000 sport veloce P225/50 R16. They have done well through 2 Indianapolis winters but now that it's starting to snow I'm thinking I need to replace these tires. I'd rather not buy snow tires and then replace them in the spring. I'd prefer an all season tire. Any suggestions? Also, thanks for the input about one month ago. I've been thinking about giving up my coupe when the lease runs out in May 2004, and I've seriously consider european delivery on an S60R, but I've almost convinced myself to keep the coupe (even though I've got a baby seat in the back!! ugh..)

schuhc

I went from the Michelin Pilots (which were horrible in both Michigan, Chicago, and Indy) to the Bridgestones. I have been very happy with these. They are not as 'soft' as the pilots but they handle great in wet and better in snow. I got them from Tirerack.com and had them shipped to my dealer who put them on for $18.00 per. I would hope that the guys across from Dan Young would do the same for you. I'm sure that you mention "Pirelli" to someone down there and they think you're going to Broadripple for dinner.

As for the S60R.....
I hate to admit it... But I called my salesman the other day and asked him to work out the numbers on what my 01 coupe would give me towards the R. Waiting for him to call me this coming week.

And again...I strongly suggest doing European delivery at least once. It was a blast on the XC and if they tempt me HEAVILY on trading in the coupe (which I don't see happening) we may do european delivery on the R.

tmart

schuhc

Don't worry. The likelihood of them giving me a good price for my baby is slim to none (65,000 miles) and I've got her broken in just right. She's not going anywhere. I'm just going to have to have Lisa make more money so we can have 3 cars!!!!!!

soledoc

Thanks for the advice Craig. In fact I ate dinner last night at Pirelli's in Broad Ripple !! Seriously, I am looking at the Bridgetstone Potenza RE950 for my C70. Also, what do you think about wheels for my coupe? I've got the standard 7 spoke 16" wheels. They look OK, but do you think it's worth about $130 a pop to replace the wheels also while I'm getting new tires. How did that work about shipping the tires to your dealer? Did you call the dealer first and let them know or ask them? Can I got ahead and purchase the tires today (Sunday) and have them shipped to my dealer in Indy?

schuhc

Call the dealer first thing tomorrow and ask if it's ok to have the tires shipped to them and if they will mount them for you for $17.00 to $20.00 per. If you bring danishes in every time you have your oil changed they shouldn't mind (ahhh, the benefits of an extra $11.00 every 2-months). Otherwise, if your salesman loves you ask him and he'll probably ensure that the service guys will do it. You know..something to the affect of..."You know, I have this friend in Chicago that had his tires shipped to his dealer and they mounted them for him for $17.00 per. Would you guys do that for me?". Once they say yes, get on tirerack.com buy them and make sure they put Attn: Soledoc, c/o Keystone Volvo Parts Dept. They're shipped out of Gary so it should take a week at most.
I went with the Bridgestone Protenza RE730s so the ones your looking at are probably the new model (or obviously the 16" tires). I've noticed that the tread wears very evenly. The ride was 'rough' or 'vibrationish' for the first couple hundred miles but since them they've been as good as I can ask on these Chicago roads. I bought them at 42,000 and I'm at 65,000 now and they have AT LEAST another 10k in them I would venture to say 20k as the tread looks real good still.
As far as rims are concerned....
And I chuckle as I type this...
I would buy the 17" rims, have the protenzas mounted on those and then buy snow tires for the 16" rims if you're really in the market for new rims (those 17s can get pricy though and I chuckle because of what my wife would say to me if I did that). The way the 17s handle is tremendous. As an example... Think of going on Fall Creek road from Shadeland to 96th street doing 60-80 the whole way and not needing to apply the brakes once.
Else....
Buy a new set of 16s and have the snow tires mounted on the other set. Mounting and remounting on the same set of rims will increase the wear on the tires. Plus, if you do this you can take chalk and write "RF" "LF" "RR" "LR" on the ones not being used like they do over at that big oval cart path at that golf course out west (Speedway).

You shouldn't have a problem with the dealer/tirerack. If you ever see a Moondust Coupe with Loyola Alumni plates and Purdue Alumni bracket doing 80 on 465 on the way to Geist, buzz me and give me a honk

schuhc

Realizing that you live in Idpls and have a car seat in the back of your C70....

How is it humanly possible to live in Indy with only one car? Just knowing Indianapolis, I would've thought that you would be a two car family.

schuhc

...for my C70 as a trade in value. Evidently they did not figure in the deep emotional attachment that I have to this car and the fact that this is the most sought after car in Illinois.

Didn't want that S60R anyway!!!!

tmart

schuhc

She's worth 2 S60Rs.

On another note. The XC got into port either Thursday or Friday. Salesman called today and said that he expected it in by the end of this week and to give him 3-5 days to drop in the new windshield and the headrests with the DVD screens.

soledoc

No no no. We are a 2 family car. My wife has a SAAB 9-5SE wagon 2001. I also have a car seat in the C70 coupe because sometimes I have to pick up the kid.
Back to the tire thing. Now tire rack is telling me my size should be P205 and I'm driving on a P225 size R16 Pirelli P6000. I called my dealer (I like the danish idea...think I'll try it!) and they told me to look inside the door and there it was...a sticker telling me the size of tire P225/R16. Is it really worth buying new 17" wheels and tires. I'd really like to stick with the 16" with an all season tire. Think that's what I'll do. I have to call tire rack back today and see what they've got.

I'll look for that moondust C70 next time I'm in Chicago. My wife is from Wheeling so we go there frequently (at least she does, sometimes I stay here in Indy with my dog...who also loves the back seat of the C70 even with the kid in tow.

tmart

16 inch all season tires. My C70 convertible came with the 17 inch high performance tires. While they definitely hold the road, there's not much sidewall to absorb bumps, potholds, etc. Plus they're more expensive to replace and tire life is way less than all season radials. My $.02 worth.

schuhc

I agree with Tommy. If you really do like those 16 inchers...then stick with them.

Tommy...We don't have potholes in Indianapolis. Those Ahmish fellers are pretty decent on the roads. We just have to watch out for the occasional gang wars between the Ahmish and the Mennonites. Those can get, well...I'll say it, HAIRY!

tmart

The two weeks were up yesterday, but no cooperation from the weather. So, today was the day. Just to be cautious (paranoid?), I drove to the dealership for the first new top operation, just in case. Top operation was perfect. Reinstalled the wind deflector and drove home topless. SWEET!!

dfwk2500

I guess you are the reason our otherwise nice weather is turning ugly again. How about breaking your top again so we can have another week or so of "top down" weather around here?

schuhc

boo hoo.

Brake your top AND come to Chicago!!! Jesus it's freezing up here.

tmart

50% chance of rain today in Houston, but it ain't FREEZING like it is where Craig is!! I'll take liquid rain over the frozen kind any day. High should be in the mid 60's versus upper 20's. Brrr! Even into the 50's with the wind deflector, seat heaters, heater on high and windows up, going topless isn't bad at all, except for the really strange looks from other folks. Craig, load up the XC90 when she gets in and point her South. Come on down!

schuhc

We won't see 60 again until May 30!!!! And that's if we're lucky. As D and Dona aren't making their annual parent trip this year, we may have to zip down there before then.

schuhc

Drove by the dealership yesterday and saw a Black XC90 in the back with red European plates. Went up to take a closer look and saw the big "?" shaped crack in the windshield, so I am pretty sure that Lisa's car is here. Parents drove up from Indy so we all decided to go take a peek at it when they got here. Needless to say, when we got to the dealership, it was gone. As it's TWENTY DEGREES here I am pretty sure that they took it to the aftermarket group that puts the screens in the headrests and sets up the DVD system. I would imagine that they would want the car inside for a bit before they dropped in the new windshield. I figure we'll be picking it up Thursday or Saturday (as Mark doesn't work on Fridays).
Needless to say, I'm glad it's here. We got a whole 16th of an inch yesterday and I should've had Paul Simon on the stereo (Slip Sliding Away). At least I think it's Paul Simon.

soledoc

Tire rack just delivered my Bridgestone Protenzas P225/R16 V to my local installer (it's a tire shop close to my house...better actually than the dealership). They're going to install them tomorrow. I really need them because I flew in from San Antonio to Indy last night and picked up my C70 from the lot and it was covered with snow and ice! I definitely need those new tires with the snow and ice. My old pirellis (35K miles) are not safe! I'll let you know how they do.

Hey Craig, I think I just convinced my wife to get an XC90 next fall when the lease on her saab wagon is up. That's a great combo...C70 coupe and XC90. We should have that combo by next September..that is if you have good things to say about your volvo SUV.

schuhc

Good choice. We got the T6. I'll leave updates here as to how it is doing.
They're putting the windshield in today and then taking it over to the DVD place. I figure we're going to get it by Saturday or Monday at the lastest.

tmart

soledoc

Well...it looks like my timing was pretty good to get the new tires. We had some snow here in Indy last night/this a.m. and my new Bridgestone Protenza RE950 P225/R16 92V are working well. No spin outs...TCS did kick in once from a start on an icy patch. I felt much safer driving in the snow on these tires than those old Pirellis. Front wheel drive sure beats RWD in the snow/ice. I did get a chance to drive on the dry pavement yesterday and these tires seems to hold the road better especially in the turns.

schuhc

Chris....

Glad you like them. I think they'll work out well for you.
Out of curiousity....Have you been by "THE HOUSE" on Fall Creek and Kessler. Just curious as to how horrid it is this year. And if you don't know what house I'm talking about then you've never been over there.

soledoc

Craig...nope, I haven't been by "the horrid house" you are referring to. I know exactly the one. I remember driving by to see it when I was a kid. My C70 with her new POTENZA tires (not pRotenza as I have been writing) doesn't like to see such horror.

schuhc

I agree.... The sheer sight alone could cause a blowout. Don't worry about the spelling. Us Hoosiers that attended Skiles Test thunk that Potenza is an French word so it's OK for us to missspell that un. We was two poor to have proper learnin when it kame to spellin

Mr_Shiftright

Are we veering back to topic, I hope?

soledoc

Yes, Mr. Shiftright we are veering back to the topic of C70s....even though we never truly left the topic. Just curious, which C70 do you have?

schuhc

Got the XC90 last night. Took the baby in to have the drivers side window fixed. Wasn't sealing properly after we had someone break the window a couple years back. I'll let you know how much it is to have that done. Hopefully less than $150.

tmart

you are happy to finally get it again. Good luck with your window. Goldie will have to be going back to the dealer after the first. New top now not going down properly, after working perfectly for about 2 weeks. My service guy doesn't want to touch it until the Volvo Tech Rep returns after the first. Service guy says the VTR be in Houston for awhile with for some transmission work, and he supervised the installation of the top. Had several days in the 70's and couldn't go topless! What's with the house on Fallcreek and Kessler? Is it in the city or the burbs? Our best friends are from Chicago(are up there now until New Years Eve)and weren't familiar with it. Hope you and all have a very Merry Christmas.

schuhc

That's right....
NINE HUNDRED DOLLARS. Evidently the window apparatus was damaged when the neighbors put the two pry bars in between the window and the door. The body shop indicated that this caused slippage over time and that is why I am seeing the issue now as opposed to 18 months ago when I originally had it fixed. Going to try to call Liberty Mutual and see if they'll do something about it. Wish me luck as we recently switched to Allstate (OUCH!).
The house is actually in Indianapolis (my hometown) so that's why your friends weren't familiar with it.

grandaddewey

Okay, I've done my homework and have test-drivin the Miata, Mustang, Honda C2000, BMW, Firebird, Sebring, Eclipse Spyder and just discovered the Volvo C70 today. Love many exteriors of convertibles above, but interior dashes have been disappointing until the BMW and C70. Who has something to say to convince me that the Volvo C70 is the way to go? I'm very torn, but need a car real soon....used or new. Whaddya have to say?

tmart

you and what you want out of the car. One can't really compare a C70 to say a Honda 2000, or a Miata. They are completely different. The C70 is a true four passenger cruiser with some spunk, but not a sports car. Sorry I'm not more helpful.

qbrozen

Knowing budget would be a bit more helpful. It sounds as though you want a bit of luxury, so let's say its just between BMW and Volvo. For my money, a used Volvo is a much better value. Just check out how old and how many miles you get in a C70 for, say, $25K. Then see what you get for $25K with a bimmer badge on it. Big difference.

soledoc

I agree that it will probably come down to the BMW and C70. Different rides. My feeling is that I would never own a BMW...too common. Go for something unique and good looking in the C70. I have a C70 coupe and love it. I'm coming to the end of my lease in a few months and I'm going to buy it. There's nothing else out there right now that excites me. I also think the C70 convertible is going to be retired soon...so you may need to grab one while you can. It's definitely not the performance maching that the BMW would be, but it WILL turn heads and get you noticed and I think you will not go wrong with that choice....one last thing.....awesome seats!

soledoc

I was thinking about adding the wood trim to my grey leather steering wheel. My interior is beige (except the steering wheel) and the wood trim is the light wood which I think is called birch. The dealer would have to install it and I think they quoted me around $500. Is it worth it?

schuhc

I was thinking about doing the same thing. I have the beige interior with the darker wood. As I understand it they need my vin number to find out from Volvo if there is a substitute for the grey leather and wood steering wheel. The main reason I wanted a change is because the leather has worn at 3:00 and 9:00. I am also struggling with what to do given that the leather on the wheel owould be different then the interior.
Soledoc - do you like the grey wheel with the beige interior? The cost isn't as much of a barrier to me as the difference in color. As I have not seen how it looks I'm at a loss. But if it looks kind of cool, I would jump on it. That wood steering wheel is really nice and I like the one that we have in the XC90.

soledoc

Yes, I do like the grey steering wheel with the beige interior. I was kind of shocked at first when I got the car, but I've got used to it and it goes well with the light birch wood trim. Not sure how I could post a pic of the interior for you to see. Schuhc, is your wheel all beige just like the seats? I have seen some two tone steering wheels (grey/beige) and they look kind of funny to me. I think I'll go ahead and do it as I've got my 37,500 mile oil change coming up. Plus I'm going to purchase the car in May at the end of my lease so that will be my treat to myself.

tmart

talking about a grey wheel with a beige interior! My interior is beige with a beige wheel. I just went to the garage to look at mine and lo and behold it's two tone, beige leather wheel with a grey hub where the airbag/Volvo logo is. Can't believe I didn't realize it after all these years! Soledoc, do you mean your wheel is grey too with the beige interior?

Concerning the wood wheel, they really look fantastic. My wife's ES300 has the wood and leather wheel, and it looks great too, but just doesn't have the grip the C70 has. It also seems a little smaller than the Volvo's. With our weather in the summer, sweaty palms and slick wood means possible grip problems. Also, the wood trim feels much hotter than the leather. Up north, you wouldn't have this problem. Just my two cents worth.

On a side note, still having problems with Goldie's new top. After the top was replaced in December, it worked for about 10 days, and then wouldn't go down. My service guy didn't want to touch it without the Volvo Tech Rep being there since he assisted with the new installation. Now it needs another motor which is gonna take about two weeks to arrive! Know of anyone else having top problems?

schuhc

It's 9:30. 15 degrees out. And I was stupid enough to get online to see what you guys had to say. After seeing your posts, I stopped in midstream and went out to my DETACTCHED garage to check out the deal with my wheel as if I didn't, I would never have gotten to sleep.

My steering wheel is beige around the wheel and grey in the middle, and, like Tommy, I am blown away by my wonderful attention to detail. This definitely heops in my decision in getting the wooden wheel.

soledoc

Geez guys....after all these years driving you've never notice your steering wheel color????
Schuhc I hope your toes didn't freeze going out to the garage to look at the steering wheel color.
Here's the scoop on mine AGAIN.....mine is grey leather around the wheel and grey also on the inside hub where the horn/airbag is. There, now does that make sense. I guess mine is kind of rare to have just one color from what I've seen.
So schuhc you HAVE decided to get the wood? I definitely have too. Are we crazy about our C70s or what???