between GTI, C30, and Cooper S, where they said (among other things) that the Volvo had the worst shifter and clutch they had ever witnessed. Total slop.
Which, for me, would ruin an otherwise great car. I mean, if it's notably worse than a VW shifter, that's pretty bad. And if I can have better handling than all of them (except maybe the Cooper) for $2-4K less by getting a Civic SI, and get one of the best clutch and shifters in the industry at the same time, the C30 recedes even further from consideration.
But I would be interested in driving one if any ever come in - my local dealer hasn't had one yet - they like to deal almost exclusively in XC90s and S80s.
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
How different can the manual in the C30 be from the manual in the S40? The S40 has a pretty good shifter and clutch. I wonder if something was wrong with the Volvo.
That's what I was wondering too when I read that article. Although I should add that I have never been very impressed with Volvo shifters. At least they usually feel solid, like the rest of the car.
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
So I don't get where they come off as poor or sloppy. I actually find them to be very direct and very easy to engage. You can actually slap the sucker into the next gear! Sure the throws are kinda long, but an aftermarket shorter shift arm can cure that.
I still find the gearbox in my S to be the best ones I have ever driven, but the VW/Audi is something special for its non-Honda traits.
It's funny, there's a loaded 2.0 manual for test drives at my local dealer right now. The one I rode in was a 1.0 strippo auto, as my friend doesn't have the coordination to drive a stick :sick:
My friend is the sales manager there and he was complaining that most of their demand, say 60-70 percent, is for manuals and they have three automatics in stock. :confuse: :sick:
One of them is their demo so they won't be selling that anytime soon and it was the one I drove. It was basicly optioned the way I, even the right color, but I want a V2.0 and a stick and this was a 1.0 auto.
That could be it. I know the Volvo dealer here does a good business, as the wagons are very popular out here...but I would expect the same in your area.
The 2.0 here was a grey color I think, and the 1.0 I rode in was blue with a Swedish flag on the roof.
Volvo Cars isn't going to make much,if any money on this car. So, no marketing. It doesn't make sense to spend money knowing you aren't going to get anything back. Volvo's marketing budget is small enough as it is. Plus, in addition to the C30,they are also launching a new XC70 and a new V70, as well as the S80 T6. Those cars are profitable models for Volvo.
What you will see for the C30 is some internet marketing.
Volvo Cars isn't going to make much,if any money on this car.
Really? They start at 23,5 before any options and I've loaded one of these suckers up to mid 30's, that's Acura TL territory. Where is all the money going?
Seriously, I am not knocking the car one bit, the thing looks fantastic: link title
And the options, the available 6-speed, NAV, Volvo safety has really caught my attention. I bet there would be even more attention if younger folks saw an ad or two on TV.
Remember what Ford always says about the Euro Focus?
We can't afford to bring it over here because it would cost too much money. We can't even afford to build it over here because we would never make a profit. No one would pay that much money for a Ford Eeeeconnnomeeey car.
Well the C30 is about as close a car to the Euro Focus as we are ever going to get but they are building it over in europe so it costs even more. Then you have the weakness of the Dollar relative to the Euro which hurts even more. I doubt Volvo makes will make very much money on this car but it will pump up volume slightly and will bring new blood into Volvo showrooms.
How about Mini? Does BMW make little money on those as well?
I doubt Volvo makes will make very much money on this car but it will pump up volume slightly and will bring new blood into Volvo showrooms.
Absolutely. Everyone I have shown the car too wants one. These are folks who wouldn't even think to drive a Volvo. In todays day in age with cookie cutter sedans and coupes, this car really makes a statement. It's stylish, substantial and solid, a ton of car for the money. P
People need to know about it elsewhere though because I can only tell so many people! :P
How about Mini? Does BMW make little money on those as well?
Yup I had a MINI and new several people in the organization on both the retail sales and service level. In order for BMW to make money on the MINI Oxford has to be cranked out to the max. The margin is so slim on that car that they can't afford any production interruptions. One of the reasons MINI is coming out with so many different models is to spread development costs out and make more profit per model. In a few years you will have just in the US a
1. MINI Cooper and Cooper S 2. MINI Clubman and Clubman S 3. MINI Cooper Cab and Cab S 4. MINI SUV of some type 5. MINI SUV convertible version most likely.
If you look at the average Volvo sedan prices,they are in the mid $30's. The S40 T5 starts at $28,500,and Volvo makes precious little on those cars. So, a C30,which is essentially a cut down S40 T5 at $23,000 is no money maker. Remember, these cars cost a phenonmenal amount of money to produce.
* We would like to confirm the announcement of the BMW X1. This model is going to complement the successful X family, together with the BMW Concept X6 presented at the Frankfurt Motor Show. * Furthermore, we decided to manufacture a four-dour Gran Turismo based on the CS concept study showcased in Shanghai. * Another result of our strategy is that we will not build a space-functional concept. It will be replaced by a fundamentally altered concept. What I am talking about here is a new segment. We currently call the concept Progressive Activity Sedan or PAS in short. Expect this concept to introduce its own interpretation of the sedan and to surprise you with intelligent features. * As far as Rolls-Royce is concerned, we would like to confirm our plans for the third variant of the Phantom: a coupe. Moreover, we reevaluated and confirmed an additional Rolls-Royce model during our strategic review. It will slot in below the Rolls-Royce Phantom in terms of both size and price. * At MINI, we opted for a further model in the sports activity vehicle segment. * We will continue to extend the range of products under our BMW Motorrad and Husqvarna Motorcycles brands in the years ahead.
Shame there is so much profit lost in making them overseas.
On a side note I really hope Ford keeps the brand around. I keep reading about how they're on the auction block with Jag and LR but I think it would be a huge mistake to let Volvo go. It's probably one of the main reasons why I root for Ford on the Domestic front, just because the substance and safety aspects that Volvo brings to the table translate to Ford models.
Usually I find the Ford products that have been infused with Volvo blood tend to be free of the dull, lifeless feel that plagues the full on American Fords.
It isn't WHERE they are made,it is HOW they are made.
Volvo uses expensive materials and techniques in the construction of their vehicles,and they have expensive,state of the art facilities. The labor expense is the LEAST of the costs involved. Esp since the Swedes don't have the legacy costs of UAW employees
September sales were announced for the automakers. Total industry sales in September ran at a seasonally adjusted rate of 16.23 million units compared with 16.6 million, down 2.2% from September last year. Read a quick recap in North & South
20% or something, because they couldn't sell 20K Tauruses to rental agencies? Whoa. Down 13% for the year...I wonder if it is any comfort to their shareholders that they responded to these sales figures by saying they had already expected to be down every month this year. :-P
Toyota down for the third straight month, but still up for the year. Honda continuing its charge, still just shy of 10% market share in the U.S.
Civic sales WAY down this year - what happened there? Prius sales WAY up this year, will they make 200K for the year?
Mitsubishi, WAY up for the year. Looks like the new Lancer and last year's new Outlander are having a positive effect.
And Isuzu, down another 18% for the year?? I didn't know they had another 18% to lose. :-P Will they just call it quits already?
Of the domestics, it seems only GM has really made their turnaround work, as yet.
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
They don't have UAW workers(and the legacy costs involved) building their cars. They do have a union,but they don't pay healthcare. Sweden has a wonderful(jk) socialized medical program.
Comments
Which, for me, would ruin an otherwise great car. I mean, if it's notably worse than a VW shifter, that's pretty bad. And if I can have better handling than all of them (except maybe the Cooper) for $2-4K less by getting a Civic SI, and get one of the best clutch and shifters in the industry at the same time, the C30 recedes even further from consideration.
But I would be interested in driving one if any ever come in - my local dealer hasn't had one yet - they like to deal almost exclusively in XC90s and S80s.
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
I still find the gearbox in my S to be the best ones I have ever driven, but the VW/Audi is something special for its non-Honda traits.
I know, tough to explain...
My friend is the sales manager there and he was complaining that most of their demand, say 60-70 percent, is for manuals and they have three automatics in stock. :confuse: :sick:
One of them is their demo so they won't be selling that anytime soon and it was the one I drove. It was basicly optioned the way I, even the right color, but I want a V2.0 and a stick and this was a 1.0 auto.
The 2.0 here was a grey color I think, and the 1.0 I rode in was blue with a Swedish flag on the roof.
No offense to those folks nor the Country, but I just had to chuckle at that one.
-Rocky
The C30 I drove was the same Brilliant blue with a Swedish flag.
Did yours have the grayish cloth int?
So, no marketing.
It doesn't make sense to spend money knowing you aren't going to get anything back.
Volvo's marketing budget is small enough as it is.
Plus, in addition to the C30,they are also launching a new XC70 and a new V70, as well as the S80 T6.
Those cars are profitable models for Volvo.
What you will see for the C30 is some internet marketing.
Really? They start at 23,5 before any options and I've loaded one of these suckers up to mid 30's, that's Acura TL territory. Where is all the money going?
Seriously, I am not knocking the car one bit, the thing looks fantastic:
link title
And the options, the available 6-speed, NAV, Volvo safety has really caught my attention. I bet there would be even more attention if younger folks saw an ad or two on TV.
We can't afford to bring it over here because it would cost too much money. We can't even afford to build it over here because we would never make a profit. No one would pay that much money for a Ford Eeeeconnnomeeey car.
Well the C30 is about as close a car to the Euro Focus as we are ever going to get but they are building it over in europe so it costs even more. Then you have the weakness of the Dollar relative to the Euro which hurts even more. I doubt Volvo makes will make very much money on this car but it will pump up volume slightly and will bring new blood into Volvo showrooms.
I doubt Volvo makes will make very much money on this car but it will pump up volume slightly and will bring new blood into Volvo showrooms.
Absolutely. Everyone I have shown the car too wants one. These are folks who wouldn't even think to drive a Volvo. In todays day in age with cookie cutter sedans and coupes, this car really makes a statement. It's stylish, substantial and solid, a ton of car for the money. P
People need to know about it elsewhere though because I can only tell so many people! :P
Yup I had a MINI and new several people in the organization on both the retail sales and service level. In order for BMW to make money on the MINI Oxford has to be cranked out to the max. The margin is so slim on that car that they can't afford any production interruptions. One of the reasons MINI is coming out with so many different models is to spread development costs out and make more profit per model. In a few years you will have just in the US a
1. MINI Cooper and Cooper S
2. MINI Clubman and Clubman S
3. MINI Cooper Cab and Cab S
4. MINI SUV of some type
5. MINI SUV convertible version most likely.
The S40 T5 starts at $28,500,and Volvo makes precious little on those cars.
So, a C30,which is essentially a cut down S40 T5 at $23,000 is no money maker.
Remember, these cars cost a phenonmenal amount of money to produce.
One portion of their long term plan emphasis mine
Here is an outlook until 2012:
* We would like to confirm the announcement of the BMW X1. This model is going to complement the successful X family, together with the BMW Concept X6 presented at the Frankfurt Motor Show.
* Furthermore, we decided to manufacture a four-dour Gran Turismo based on the CS concept study showcased in Shanghai.
* Another result of our strategy is that we will not build a space-functional concept. It will be replaced by a fundamentally altered concept. What I am talking about here is a new segment. We currently call the concept Progressive Activity Sedan or PAS in short. Expect this concept to introduce its own interpretation of the sedan and to surprise you with intelligent features.
* As far as Rolls-Royce is concerned, we would like to confirm our plans for the third variant of the Phantom: a coupe. Moreover, we reevaluated and confirmed an additional Rolls-Royce model during our strategic review. It will slot in below the Rolls-Royce Phantom in terms of both size and price.
* At MINI, we opted for a further model in the sports activity vehicle segment.
* We will continue to extend the range of products under our BMW Motorrad and Husqvarna Motorcycles brands in the years ahead.
On a side note I really hope Ford keeps the brand around. I keep reading about how they're on the auction block with Jag and LR but I think it would be a huge mistake to let Volvo go. It's probably one of the main reasons why I root for Ford on the Domestic front, just because the substance and safety aspects that Volvo brings to the table translate to Ford models.
Usually I find the Ford products that have been infused with Volvo blood tend to be free of the dull, lifeless feel that plagues the full on American Fords.
Volvo uses expensive materials and techniques in the construction of their vehicles,and they have expensive,state of the art facilities.
The labor expense is the LEAST of the costs involved.
Esp since the Swedes don't have the legacy costs of UAW employees
Toyota down for the third straight month, but still up for the year. Honda continuing its charge, still just shy of 10% market share in the U.S.
Civic sales WAY down this year - what happened there? Prius sales WAY up this year, will they make 200K for the year?
Mitsubishi, WAY up for the year. Looks like the new Lancer and last year's new Outlander are having a positive effect.
And Isuzu, down another 18% for the year?? I didn't know they had another 18% to lose. :-P Will they just call it quits already?
Of the domestics, it seems only GM has really made their turnaround work, as yet.
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
The Swedes, don't have union labor, building their cars ????
That's news to me. :confuse:
-Rocky
They don't have UAW workers(and the legacy costs involved) building their cars.
They do have a union,but they don't pay healthcare.
Sweden has a wonderful(jk) socialized medical program.
-Rocky
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071023/AUTO04/710230333/1148- /AUTO01
-Rocky