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Comments
Rocky
Another salesperson had the remote about 25ft away from me.
Rocky
Many thanks for even a partial answer.
Auto on headlights, standard
adaptive headlights, optional
side mirrors that turn, yes on the Euro version, not sure on the US.
Backup camera, optional if you have the nav system. Camera is dealer installed
Paddle shifters, nope
Heated steering wheel, nope
Do the latest Volvos have the same expense when getting the 7,500 mx service as the 99-2000 ones?
We had a new 99 S80 and it was the most comfortable car we've ever had (from Plymouths in our youth to Cadds and MB 320s in our most recent years.) But each time I took it in for service, it was as bad as the MB--$150-600.00. Not that anything was really wrong with the car, that was the cost of the service.We had it for our normal 6 years and had none of the problems I read about on these discussions.
We now have a 05 Toyota Avalon Limited and like it except that the seats aren't as comf. as the Volvo.
Also, I've read that the 07 S80 has had a major upgrade, but the pics I see, I can't tell any diff. from our 99.
Any advice here?
Thanks.
John D
As far as the redesign, yes it is all new. Alot of folks won't be able to tell just by looking at it, as the skin is similar to the outgoing model, but its what underneath that counts, and that's where most of the changes have taken place.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '08 Charger R/T Daytona; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '08 Maser QP; '11 Mini Cooper S
The first major service is now 60k instead of 30k.
If you can get an M-B dealer serviced for $150-600 you are doing really well!
And what is changed ' under the skin"? The only thing I read is that there is a tire pressure monitor and it is 6 cy rather than 5. What else is there to the new car?
I do see that much of what was standard on my 99 is extra on the 07.
I'm not arguing with you, I just want to know before I agree with my wife that we may trade cars after only 2 years rather than wait out our normal 6.
As for the MB service, I traded the last 320 in when I purchased the 99Volvo, so the cost of service then may have been a little less than now days. But the normal services on the MB and the Volvo and what they were costing are now 65.00 on the Avalon with no major service until 75k. Yes, I try to have all my servicing done at the dealer where I buy the car. Had a bad experience once with one of the quick lube/service deals and don't care to risk it again.
Apologists will reluctantly acknowledge that Volvo had some problems with the previous car, but now they learned their lesson and the new 2007 car is completely redesigned to avoid such concerns. Are you willing to take that bet with YOUR $55-65,000 dollars? Do you think that the Ford Motor Company that lost 250 million dollars/day over the past year (per Automotive News) is going to offer generous support for the new S80 while they're hemorrhaging red ink? Ford has one mantra these days and that's cost containment, period.
Before you buy, ask your Volvo dealer what routine service costs will total for 75,000 miles. Ask him to quote you on the sorts of routine replacement parts and services that you'll likely encounter during your term of ownership. What's a major service cost? What does a set of windshield wipers cost, or a replacement alloy wheel, or a headlamp assembly, or a complete brake job. You'll discover just how proud Volvo is of it's parts. Cost of ownership issues. What is the retained value of the previous generation S80 after five years? Hugh cost of ownership issue. You had better like this car a whole lot because you'll be paying for it at least twice if you keep it for five years. I replaced my Volvo with a Toyota that has yet to be back to the dealer in 22,000 miles, and everything functions perfectly. Yes, I surely do miss the irreproachable comfort of the Volvo, but nothing of the reality of the ownership experience. Stick with the Avalon.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '08 Charger R/T Daytona; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '08 Maser QP; '11 Mini Cooper S
As for the actual mechanical problems, there were very few that were not covered by the warranty.
One that hit me, not the cars fault, was when the rats got into the engine compartment and chewed many things up. All kinds of warning lites lit up. My insurance covered all of it after the deductible. I live in the country and field rats try to come in every fall/winter.
But all of this is off subject.
What has changed in the 07 S80 and are the services still as expensive?
As for as the reliability, I had no complaints.
Rocky
The adjustable suspension is amazing. In Comfort mode my wife was very happy with the ride and I felt entirely comfortable with the degree of control. Sport mode tightened it up so that I was pleased with its ability to quickly set itself up in cloverleaf ramps and fast corners. I couldn't find a good place to test the Advanced suspension, so I can't say just how much of an improvement it would be. The ride was better to my taste than the M35x (I'm looking for AWD) and a lot better than the A6 with S-line enhancements.
The BLIS works just as advertised, right and left. The warning light is visible in the corner of your eye, and very noticeable when you look over a shoulder to switch lanes. It comes on just as the car is leaving the rear-view mirror and entering into the blind spot.
Radar cruise control is excellent. First time I've used that technology, and with my foot poised to hit the brake in case the system didn't work as expected, the car automatically slowed and then gently braked as the car in front slowed to a stop.
Sound of the engine was satisfactory; very quiet in 6th gear at 1500 rpm; good sound as it downshifts and revs up. Won't be confused with a Ferrari, but a good enough melody. 311 HP in a 3900 pound car is just fine for my needs.
The interface to the settings menus looks pretty straightforward, a lot more intuitive than iDrive and Audi's equivalents. (Not that they're difficult, but just less sensibly organized.) I didn't play very much with them.
The V8 with the Sports package doesn't have a spare tire; the tires don't seem to be run-flats, either. There's an engine-operated pump in the area where the spare would be, and a can of some kind of [non-permissible content removed] that seals leaks from the inside. Not so great.
A manual lumbar support wheel! Least adjustable seats I've seen in a car even close to this in price. I'm sure I'll find a perfectly good seating position, but I'll miss the little adjustments in my 5-year old BMW X5. OTOH, the perforated leather seats with heating and cooling are very comfortable and for my short legs, good around the thighs.
No reverse tilt-down mirrors--a minor failing, but I will notice it when backing into parking spaces, I'm sure.
I'll probably order one (10-12 week delivery on special orders to the Mid-Atlantic area) next week.
Rocky
I just got rid of my 1999 S80 at 94K - the shortest time I've ever kept a car. Here are the hard numbers:
cost of repairs (not maintenance!):
11.2c/mile vs. 5.6c/mile large car avg.
cost of tires: 0.12c/mile vs. 0.07c/mile large car avg.
depreciation: $5500/yr vs. 4500/yr large car avg.
There were 20 similar vehicles for sale at the same time as mine, all asking $9K-$10K. And not moving. The realistic price for even a well-maintained and low-problem S80 like mine is more like $5K.
I bought a Camry Hybrid. The only thing I miss from the S80 is the more adjustable memory seats and more trunk space.
Undeniably, Volvos are comfortable, roomy cars for the most part. The cost of ownership has been an issue for Volvos for decades. Given that Volvos seem to be a generation behind the near-luxury class leaders in things like engine and suspension technology and sound isolation, particularly over textured or rough roads, purchasing a new Volvo isn't a wise decision in my estimation. Go Japanese.
Rocky
Rocky
We do make an inline 6.
This will be the engine in the new XC70.
After a while the new turbo 6 will be an option.
That's good news. Hope they don't "supersize" the new XC70.
It will use the new S80 chassis.
Now, where can a guy find a new XC70 in Barents Blue with Premium, Climate, Zenons and the HU850 sterio? Although on second thought, at $43055 MSRP you are right close to a one or two year old E350 AWD wagon. I'd love to hear your thoughts on the $57K E350 AWD wagon vs. the XC70. A lot of people, I think even Edmunds, class the Suburu and other lesser cars with the XC70, which I think is a mistake.
The E350 wagon isn't a vehicle that is cross shopped against the XC70.
Usually because the Mercedes faithful consider the Volvo beneath them.
The XC70 has better ground clearance and is a better off road vehicle.
The Benz is rarer and more luxurious.
Neither car is going to have spectacular resale.
Over time, the Benz will cost more to repair and maintain.
My thoughts exactly. The XC70 and V70 have aged remarkably well, styling-wise.
1) The S80 3.2 has the same size engine as an E Class 6 cylinder, much the same equipment, etc. all for perhaps 16K less. For anyone in the Northeast, it has FWD. On the other hand if you want performance you can buy the V8 AWD and get E Class V8 AWD performance for, again, a lot less.
If you were shopping the S80 against the E Class, the sweet spot though seems to be a "base" S80 V8 with AWD for about 8K less than a 6 cylinder AWD E Class and maybe 12K less than a V8 E Class. Almost all new E Classes that I see in the Northeast are Fourmatics and by far most are 6 cylinders.
All this assumes that you don't want the E Class Diesel which to some people at only 1K more than the gas E Class is really the way to go.
2) The S80 matches up nicely against the BMW 5 Series with more standard equipment. The S80 3.2 again has FWD and a bunch more standard equipment than a BMW 525, in fact any BMW, because BMW plays the options game almost as ruthlessly as Porshe. ("Oh, did you want leather in your BMW? Well thats part of a package for 4K more. Sunroof? Oh, dear, thats more money also.") The S80 V8 AWD should run away from a BMW 530 six cylinder, especially after the roads get slick.
So, the S80 vs. BMW comparo is going Volvo's way until it comes to resale. Them yuppies do want the BMW and the resale shows it.
I think Volvo has a hit on their hands.
M-B resale is average to below average.
BMW, outside of the 3 Series, is average, until you get to the 7 which isn't great at all.
Of course, when 1 car is $10,000 more than another it will resell for a higher dollar amount, but the percentage won't really be better.
The previous S80 had bad resale for a few years, although the 05 and 06 cars have done better.
Given the high content, I expect the new S80 to do about average in resale.
I'll accept that maybe the resale on a 5 Series is "average" but is it higher than its comparables (i.e, E Class, etc.)? If it is, then it is above average for its class.
Secondly, I may have been little overenthusiastic on the S80 being a hit. Since that post I've seen more of them up close. To my eyes they just don't have the same "presence" as an E Class or a 5 Series. While in many other regards the S80 holds its own, this "presence" thing could hurt the car with people who buy a car for its bold statement to the world that the driver is either very successful (MB), very stylish (Jag) or very sporty (BMW) . Now a lot of people, many of them Volvo owners, don't buy a car as a rolling megaphone but some people do.
The E Class really isn't a standout looking car.
If it didn't have a star on the end of the hood, most people wouldn't give it the time of day.
I think the Volvo interior is light years ahead of the Benz.
The bimmer is a better looking car than the Benz.
Is it better looking than the S80?
Not sure.
Wait until you see a pimped out S80.
Both cars have more status than the Volvo.
However, both cars charge you alot more for that status.
There are plenty of people for whom money is no object and the want the designer label.
Volvo isn't going to get those people.
The Volvo customer is more pragmatic about what they drive and in many cases is uncomfortable with a car that shouts their status.
The S80 isn't going to be the hit that the XC90 is, or that the XC60 should be, but I think it will garner more than its share of sales.
So, in a comparison between the S80 and A6 it may come down to "did you want to save a few grand to get the same thing in an Volvo or did you want to spend a few grand more to get a really better AWD V8 car?"
For instance, there are several desirable features for me - 17" wheels, sunroof, remote garage opener, memory for driver's seat, parking assistance, leather seating surfaces.
That all is available in the base Volvo +$495 option.
To get all this in Audi you have to cash out almost $51K, getting premium, convenience and technology packages + $750 wheel upgrade.
Given, that you will get a bunch of other options (that I could care less).
So, new S80 is a tremendous deal, in both 6 and 8-cyl version.
In fact, anyone who was interested in leasing we told to wait until Feb.
Much better lease program now.
Too bad you couldn't wait.
I'd like to drive it before making any assumptions but, I hope it doesn't drive like traditional Volvo's. ie. Numb steering, body roll, not very engaging in general.
Just curious......
Rocky
Still, it is going to be hard to give up my R! The dealer told me that there are no more Rs for now... but perhaps after the redesign of the S60...
SO, my Q...any R drivers tried the V8? BHP is a little higher, but of course the car is bigger and heavier than my wonderful S60. I'd love the upgraded interior (though the seats in my R are unbelievable)...IF the drive is comparable (though I'd still need to come up with the extra 10K ;-).
Thoughts? Thx.
Scott
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '08 Charger R/T Daytona; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '08 Maser QP; '11 Mini Cooper S
The manual R is much faster.
Only, if you really know how to drive it. I remember the R introduction event several years ago, where hundreds of people were allowed to run laps and try a straight line acceleration of manual S60R and auto V70R.
In both categories, the best results among amateurs (myself included), were registered consistently, for V70R auto. The average driver just could not shift fast enough. The auto box has done more efficient job.
The professional assistance crew recorded the laps with S60R manual that were significantly faster than any of guests.