by "LJ909" (lj909)
Published 09/21/2017 at 12:12
by "LJ909" (lj909)
Published 09/21/2017 at 12:12
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STARS: 1
Sorry. I just think thats the reality of it. You go on the site and everything, even the photos have young people in it. They use phrases like “confidently urban” and “designed for you”. It bugs me because automakers have a history of not getting us. And no Millennial outside of Jalopnik and other car sites is checking for a Volvo. Some dont even know what a Volvo is. But I bulit and priced it since its up.
It starts at $35,200 for the T5 like the article earlier stated. Every metallic color is a $600 option. If you want a Mini/Ford Flex style white contrast roof, thats $300. Every wheel option, and there are 3, are $800. There are 4 interior leather color choices: blonde, amber, charcoal and red. Luckily they dont cost extra. There are 5 option packages:
Premium which is $1400 and includes Intellisafe Assist (Pilot Assist Adaptive Cruise Control),Power Front Passenger Seat,Storage Box With Lid Under Driver Seat Cushion, Power Child Locks (Rear Doors),Heated Washer Nozzles ,Foldable Cargo Floor Storage / Grocery Bags, 2-Zone Climate Control + CleanZone (which is an air filter system that gives clean air into the cabin)+ Cooled Glove Box HomeLink™ + Compass In Inner Rear View Mirror, Inductive Charging For Smart Phone,Keyless Entry w/ Hands-free Tailgate Opening, Power Folding Rear Backrest From Tailgate Opening + Power Headrests Interior High Level Illumination
Vision which is $1100 includes Auto Dimming Exterior & Interior Mirrors,Park Assist Pilot,Front and Rear Park Assist,Power Retractable Rear View Mirrors,Blind Spot Information System and Cross Traffic Alert
Advanced, which requires the aforementioned Vision package (and Im not sure why) and is $995, includes Visual Park Assist + 360° Camera,Active Bending Lights,Headlight High Pressure Cleaning,LED Front Fog Lights with Cornering Function
Heated seats and heated wheel package which includes just that and is $750. I didn’t include this package in my build because California.
And finally the Multimedia Package which is $1375 and include Harmon Kardon premium sound system and Volvo’s Sensus Navigation Pro nav system, which honestly wouldn’t get used much because of my phone. But sadly to get the sound system you have to get this so I included it in my build.
So far with all those packages except the heated wheel and seats Im at $42,165. Keep in mind still that this is the base T5.
Options wise, there are 6:
White mirror caps, which require the white roof. I didn’t add this because I think that would be too much with the already white roof. No price on this.
A charcoal headliner which is $200. I tried to add this to contrast with the red seats but it wont let you get that with the red seats. It makes no sense.
The keyless entry with the popular thing now that Ford started, the hands free tailgate that you open with your foot. It was already included with one of the above option packages.
Laminated panoramic glass roof which is $1200.
And the last 2 options are Volvo prepaid maintenance plans and Service contracts.
With everything, total for this base model T5 with some of the above options is $43,365. Tell me how many young people you know (aside from yourself) that can afford that.
The R Desgin starts at $37,700. One of the first differences I see option wise are the availability of only one wheel option: an $800 20in design. The second difference with the R Design is that there is only one seat upholstery option: a good looking suede like charcoal nubuck leather. Add to that for $100 Lava (an orange almost rust like color in this instance) carpet, tunnel console and door inserts. It looks good. The R also gets what Volvo calls cutting edge aluminum inlays on the dash and an R design wheel and gearshift.
Weirdly option package wise it has the same packages expect Multimedia which is its own stand alone option for the Harmon Kardon for $800. Picking the $900 premium package requires that you add both the advanced and vision. Adding the sound system and the glass roof, an R Design XC40 fully loaded will set you back $44,590. Not bad, but not cheap. What do you guys think of the pricing?
"E90M3" (e90m3)
09/21/2017 at 12:15, STARS: 1
With everything, total for this base model T5 with some of the above option is $43,365. Tell me how many young people you know (aside from yourself) that can afford that.
How young are we talking?
"Nibby" (nibby68)
09/21/2017 at 12:15, STARS: 0
I know 4 year olds who can afford this.
"CB" (jrcb)
09/21/2017 at 12:17, STARS: 5
So, according to Wikipedia, the term “millennial” applies to those born between the early 80s and late 90s. So, at the oldest, millennials are pushing their mid-thirties. So yeah, there are probably plenty of them who would be able to afford them.
"Mid Engine" (jdlogan2006)
09/21/2017 at 12:20, STARS: 0
I don’t necessarily disagree with the pricing, after all a nicely optioned pick up truck costs more than that. It’s more about value, how do other manufacturers stack up relative to the Volvo?
"fintail" (fintail)
09/21/2017 at 12:22, STARS: 0
I think a number of 35 year old millennials could buy one, 22 year olds, not so much. Like boomers, it is a wide age range, and they aren’t the youngsters anymore.
"LJ909" (lj909)
09/21/2017 at 12:24, STARS: 0
Millennials.
"LJ909" (lj909)
09/21/2017 at 12:24, STARS: 0
Yea trust fund 4 year olds.
"LJ909" (lj909)
09/21/2017 at 12:25, STARS: 0
Yea oldest Millennials are about 34. So yea some. But student loan debt still saddles a lot of us. So when you’re paying a car payment a month just in loan payments, something in this price range is a luxury.
"E90M3" (e90m3)
09/21/2017 at 12:26, STARS: 0
According to wikipedia, it’s people born in the late 80s to early 90s, so actually a lot of people.
"R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet" (r-saldana)
09/21/2017 at 12:26, STARS: 1
You only pay a car pyament amount in student loans? Wow, I have seen people paying mortgage totals for student loans in the last few years.
"PotbellyJoe and 42 others" (potbellyjoe)
09/21/2017 at 12:27, STARS: 1
Depends on what they lease for.
I’m a tweener; not Gen X, not Millennial. The people older than me buy big, people younger than me lease whatever the hell they want typically premium.
$35k means nothing, it’s what the lease prices are as I imagine 60% of XC40 sales will go that way.
"promoted by the color red" (whenindoubtflatout)
09/21/2017 at 12:27, STARS: 0
All I want to know is if the “new” ownership program lets me borrow a S60/V60 Polestar.
"nermal" (nermal)
09/21/2017 at 12:28, STARS: 3
I think it’s priced well and will sell well as long as it is marketed correctly. The target for these isn’t 30 yr old baristas with student loan payments higher than most mortgages. The target is those 25-35 yr olds working in STEM with $100k+ incomes.
"CB" (jrcb)
09/21/2017 at 12:29, STARS: 5
It’s also important to remember that not every millennial is on the same path. Some didn’t go to university and went into trades instead. Some went into paths that actually pay well. Some are better at managing their money than others. It’s a little absurd to paint all of us with a broad brush. For example, I probably only have two and a bit years left on my student loans with the rate I’m paying it, and I’ve only been out of school for a year and a half. A car like this, with the right monthly payment and depending on how work in my field turns out, could probably be feasible by the time I’m 27 or so.
"LJ909" (lj909)
09/21/2017 at 12:34, STARS: 0
With this? I think they are all about the same. The GLA is actually a few hundred bucks higher when its optioned. The Q3 is actually a few hundred bucks cheaper on both of its trims. So I would say its not the most expensive but it is inline with the competition. The thing is though I dont know if these buyers will cross shop this.
"LJ909" (lj909)
09/21/2017 at 12:35, STARS: 0
Yea 35 year olds maybe. The majority of us are in our mid to late 20's. Then its not so much.
"LJ909" (lj909)
09/21/2017 at 12:35, STARS: 0
No not me. But car payment amount as in $3,4,5 even $800 a month on their loans.
"LJ909" (lj909)
09/21/2017 at 12:37, STARS: 1
The thing is I think this will sell to the older people. It always works that way. Automakers target us, the older people end up being the majority of buyers.
"LJ909" (lj909)
09/21/2017 at 12:37, STARS: 0
Or an S90.
"LJ909" (lj909)
09/21/2017 at 12:39, STARS: 0
Even then thats a small field relative to what they probably want to sell a year. Those people probably have just as much in student loans as they make a year. Some, if they are lucky, have paid them off. But like I said, from what I know, not to many people my age have ever actually considered a Volvo or even know what a Volvo is. This might change that, but its a big might.
"Mid Engine" (jdlogan2006)
09/21/2017 at 12:39, STARS: 0
Exactly what I was referring to, the competition is similarly priced and from what I hear, the Volvo has a very nice interior. Bear in mind for many millenials it’s not about the purchase price, it’s about the monthly lease payment.
"PotbellyJoe and 42 others" (potbellyjoe)
09/21/2017 at 12:39, STARS: 0
Correct, but there’s a hidden variable in that as well. Many younger drivers have parent buyers. This was the issue for Scion using average purchaser age, when Dad is buying a car for his 19-year-old daughter, that registration is to a 53-year-old man, not the 19-y/o woman.
The CX-5 is doing really well with younger buyers by me, I could see the Volvo playing that space. They’re not buying the clapped-out FWD models.
"LJ909" (lj909)
09/21/2017 at 12:43, STARS: 0
Oh no I’m not painting everyone with a broad brush. Im just going off of what I know and research Ive done. Im one of the ones that went to college for a little, but I don’t like debt so I stopped and worked my way into the field I wanted to be in. But I also know what I can and cant afford and unfortunately a lot of us aren’t good with money and overextend ourselves. And the realities are not to many will afford something like this, let alone even consider a car from Volvo.
"LJ909" (lj909)
09/21/2017 at 12:45, STARS: 0
Thats for everyone, it always comes down to the monthly. I used to tell people that all the time when I sold cars, dont worry about the down or purchase price, the monthly is whats important.
"LJ909" (lj909)
09/21/2017 at 12:47, STARS: 0
Scion failed overall because the buyers they were targeting weren’t the buyers that were actually buying. I always saw so many older people in Xb’s. tC’s actually sold to their target buyers, mostly girls though.
The CX-5 is doing good. And its a way better buy than the way too small CX-3. But this is playing in the entry lux game. Those buyers might cross shop the base models of this, but not the R Design.
"FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com" (alphaass)
09/21/2017 at 12:48, STARS: 1
All I want to know is if it has a transverse leaf spring suspension like it’s big brother the XC90. Because if it does you could argue that’s it’s a budget Corvette and then it doesn’t seem like a bad deal anymore :)
"Bytemite" (bytemite)
09/21/2017 at 12:48, STARS: 4
I honestly don’t understand what the appeal of Volvo is and it bugs me that people here even give Volvo the time of day. They are a manufacturer that builds cars heavily based on passive safety, driver disengagement, and heavy performance sapping bloat. What exactly is enthusiastic about this? Every single car is getting more and more of these traits every year, do we really to like a brand that accelerates this safety bloat?
And for the shoppers of luxury brands, Volvo doesn’t appeal to status driven shoppers that just want a car to say “fuck you I’m rich” like BMW, Audi, and MB. They aren’t as reliable and cheap to own while being just as luxurious as Lexus, Infiniti, and Acura.
So they have a “R-line” and some “Polestar”. What’s new? Every brand has those...the only reason any of you guys like Volvo is because they are obscure and irrelevant to non-enthusiasts, just like many of our other more enthusiastic tastes (purpose-built sports cars, wagons, RWD, manual, etc).
Same misplaced affection as those of you still thinking diesels are cool. They are shit. Seriously take a 2.4L run of the mill 4 cyl, and rev-limit it to 5k rpm. There you go, have your shitty diesel.
"PotbellyJoe and 42 others" (potbellyjoe)
09/21/2017 at 12:54, STARS: 0
Again, it all depends on how it leases. If that R-Design is $120/month more, there could be plenty jumping at it.
Scion failed for myriad reasons, among them is the xB was never allowed to be a thing because Toyota feared counter-acculturation as they were the beige mega-hand of the market, but also because the marketing efforts were a bunch of 40 year-olds tweetbooking. I was simply saying the average age for Scions was not the complete picture of the drivers due to parents buying cars for their kids, thus gaining more higher age and limiting the lower age segments in that calculation.
"Textured Soy Protein" (texturedsoyprotein)
09/21/2017 at 12:55, STARS: 1
I’m 35, have a comfortable 6 figure income, student loans, and combined monthly car payments of $710. I can certainly afford to lease, if not buy, a car in this price range.
"CB" (jrcb)
09/21/2017 at 12:56, STARS: 1
That article was also written two years ago. A lot can happen in two years.
Most people aren’t good with money, that’s not just a millennial specific thing.
"fintail" (fintail)
09/21/2017 at 13:01, STARS: 1
Maybe the strategy is attract interest now, and in 10 years there will be more customers.
Also, as the population grows, there will be more coddled trust funder or otherwise aided types to buy such vehicles at young ages, so sales would still increase.
"LJ909" (lj909)
09/21/2017 at 13:02, STARS: 1
Nice rant. But you are right, and will probably get shit for calling people out the realities of the situation: Volvo really isnt all that. Ive known that for years. But as of late people have latched on to them and sometimes it seems like its because of an absence of Saab, who I liken Volvo too. They have the same dedicated fanbase and the same owners who just purchase from them over and over again.
I appreciate their strides in design and engineering of late though, but I have never been interested nor have cared enough to ever considering purchasing one. And thats the problem I see with them and this new XC40. Millennials wont care enough. Those that do know the brand but arent car enthusiasts view it like Buick: for old people. Others dont know it nor would they consider it. They are in a weird gray area like you pointed out: not cross shopped with the other luxury brands the company wants them to be compared to while at the same time not being cheap nor that reliable and barley better than Acura and Infiniti.
"LJ909" (lj909)
09/21/2017 at 13:05, STARS: 0
It could be a good lease buy. I mean I would, especially considering the depreciation hit Volvos take.
But I agree with you on Scion. Even in high school ( I was about 15-16 when Scion came on the scene) and I remember a lot of people getting xA’s and xB’s as first cars or grad gifts from parents. Their marketing was brilliant though and I never understood why it didint catch on. I used to go to some of their events and they did tuner shows, they had some of the best mixtapes ever ( I still have some) and their auto show setups drew attention. My gen just didnt buy em.
"LJ909" (lj909)
09/21/2017 at 13:06, STARS: 0
That’s just one of many articles. But yea most people arent good with money. I see that everyday in my line of work.
"Mid Engine" (jdlogan2006)
09/21/2017 at 13:08, STARS: 1
I own three cars, outright. I pay cash for my cars and very glad I did when I found myself out of work for over a year..
"Bytemite" (bytemite)
09/21/2017 at 13:17, STARS: 2
We all need a reality check on occasion. Saabs have always been boring FWD quirky premium cars so I guess the aficionados of these sort of cars need to go somewhere else to get their kick. I don’t think we need any more FWD luxury brands though. If they aren’t even willing to build a dedicated chassis for their luxury car, what exactly are we paying for? The badge and the leather? The illuminated door beam option? It’s silly. We should really be applauding MB, BMW, Lexus, and the Genesis brands for making dedicated RWD luxury cars instead of giving money to badge engineering and platform sharing “luxury” brands like Audi, Acura, Volvo. Especially Volvo. You are buying a Geely with a Volvo badge on it. As enthusiasts, you should know better.
"RT" (rt-p)
09/21/2017 at 13:18, STARS: 2
To quote a fellow Opponaut on Volvo:
"Bytemite" (bytemite)
09/21/2017 at 13:20, STARS: 1
Yeah, he is one of those with the misplaced affection I’m talking about. He doesn’t find passive safety bloat and overreaching safety tech features to be boring? Okay then, every car is going to be fun for him. I’m kind of envious actually of the blissful ignorance of thinking Volvos are “fun to drive”, I wish I never knew what it felt like to drive something other than a 4500 lb whale with a beltline up to my neck that brakes for me whenever a pedestrian is 10 feet away.
"DAWRX - The Herb Strikes Back" (karsonkinja)
09/21/2017 at 13:21, STARS: 7
There’s an enthusiast for everything. There can be car enthusiasts who don’t care about power, handling, or driving experience, but who appreciate well thought out and attractive design, practicality, efficiency, safety, and luxury. I’m a power and handling slut, but that doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate the well laid out and attractive interior (and exterior) of a modern Volvo. I also can appreciate from an engineering perspective the amount of time and effort Volvo puts in to be leaders in car safety. Not every corner is to be carved, not every red light turned green is a drag race waiting to be won.
If I could afford a new Volvo wagon, I’d love to get my wife one. She drives way more than me, and we have practical uses for it, it would keep her safe (she’s been in a head on collision before, so I do have legitimate concerns here) and not to mention its a damn nice car all on its own.
"DAWRX - The Herb Strikes Back" (karsonkinja)
09/21/2017 at 13:22, STARS: 5
Never underestimate the power of easy financing and bad decisions.
"LJ909" (lj909)
09/21/2017 at 13:29, STARS: 1
That is not a good thing and sadly is one of the reasons behind the record car sales of the last few years.
"Bytemite" (bytemite)
09/21/2017 at 13:30, STARS: 0
Okay I agree with your reasoning. But here’s my beef. There are so many options out there if your stroke is luxury, safety and nice interior. Isn’t every single brand adding more of these traits to their cars? Every good luxury brand has a nice interior and has all the modern nanny safety features. There’s a plethora of choices to choose from other than Volvo. The Japanese will give you ease of maintenance with their much larger dealer network, high build quality, cheap parts shared with their parent brand. The Germans will give you history and bragging rights. They all perform well, they all have safety, they all look nice inside and out.
As for those of us who like cornering, feeling the road, actually driving. There is nothing new out there. Miata and GT86 is it for affordable options. After that, we’re jumping straight into 60k minimum territory with Lotus, Alfa, Porsche and dedicated track cars.
"Bytemite" (bytemite)
09/21/2017 at 13:34, STARS: 2
The amount of repos and defaulted sub-prime loans is increasing. On top of that, the amount of sub-prime auto loans being applied for and being funded is increasing. It’s going to hit the fan sooner or later.
"LJ909" (lj909)
09/21/2017 at 13:38, STARS: 0
The the lenders and automakers aren’t helping. Loan terms have crept up the last few years with them offering 72 and even 84 month sand in some extreme cases 96 months. All to get monthly cheap. 60 used to be the standard and anything longer was foolish. Now its the norm.
"DAWRX - The Herb Strikes Back" (karsonkinja)
09/21/2017 at 13:41, STARS: 3
I know a guy who got a 7 year loan with a minimal down payment on a Kia Soul a few years ago.
He’s probably more underwater than Houston.
But however, some of these loans are beneficial to people who need reliable transportation, and don’t have a lot of cash on hand, but know they can afford a $200 a month for the foreseeable future. Its still a bad financial decision, but it enables that person to continue to hold down a job and contribute to society without some shitbox car getting in the way. So I get that, and I’m not gonna sit on my Ivory tower of being able to save and afford large down payments and talk down to people who are less fortunate.
BUT, a 7 to 8 year loan on a luxury car that’s gonna devalue like a rock dropped from a 747 at cruising altitude just so you can appear to be well off? Nah brah. That’s a bad financial decision no matter which way you slice it.
"Bytemite" (bytemite)
09/21/2017 at 13:44, STARS: 1
Very true. The salesman at the dealership only wants his commission. It doesn’t matter the least bit whether the buyer makes his payment or not. There are lenders out there coming in to swoop up the high risk, high return 24% interest rate auto loan market. The saddest damn part is that these buyers are getting a heavily marked up car as well, often $5k+ more than MSRP, on a 24% interest rate loan...and they don’t know about it because to them, they just drove off the lot paying their $1000 down payment.
Example: Used Dodge Avenger that is at best a $12k car will be sold for $20k out the door with a $1k down pay, 20%+ rate. And the guy will have a god damn $500/mo payment for a DODGE AVENGER. You can get a BMW for that monthly payment. You could even get a damn Corvette.
"LJ909" (lj909)
09/21/2017 at 13:47, STARS: 0
That goes back to my point: the millennials that are buying cars get targeted with shitty loans either by name brand dealers pushing first time buyer or cheap,no down payment specials (Kia’s with Souls and Optimas, Nissan dealers with Versa’s, Altima’s and Sentras. I once knew a girl that was paying $450 a month on a base, crank window Versa) or the buy here pay here places that let people ball on a budget and push even shitter loans on em. Places that will have a 2012 5 series with 95 thousand on the odo for 15 grand.
"LJ909" (lj909)
09/21/2017 at 13:49, STARS: 1
Trust me. I work with loans and I see it every day. I even write about it sometimes and a lot of people are truly fucked in the deals they locked themselves in. Not only financially, but with the car they choose as well.
"for Michigan" (formichigan)
09/21/2017 at 13:51, STARS: 1
Everybody isn’t enthusiastic about the same things when it comes to cars. Some people like to drive cars hard and enjoy crisp handling, a firm ride, and a rowdy exhaust note. Others like to feel isolated from the world outside of their car and enjoy unperturbed handling, cushy suspension, and a quiet interior.
Still other people appreciate both in different contexts and so equally enjoy a track-prepped Miata and a floaty old Buick.
Just because a person’s tastes are more Volvo/Buick than BWM/Mazda doesn’t make them any less of an enthusiast than someone whose preferences are the opposite.
"DAWRX - The Herb Strikes Back" (karsonkinja)
09/21/2017 at 13:56, STARS: 1
You forgot to account for taste. a Volvo buyer doesn’t want a Lexus or an Acura. They want a Volvo. I’m not saying you’re wrong per se, because I believe anyone who doesn’t cross shop is hurting themselves, but a Volvo buyer is the person who has already seen what everyone else has to offer, and they like Volvo’s way of doing things. It really comes down to personal preference.
I get you dude, but don’t forget about the Fiata (new), the Fiesta ST (axed but still around), Focus ST (sales success, doubt this one will disappear), the WRX (not going anywhere), the EcoBoost Mustang (mustang...), the Civic Si (new), the GTi (not going anywhere). All can be had new under 30k. And when you go used even more options are opened up for the driving enthusiast. However the performance car has always been a niche, and will always be a niche. While we will never be an automakers main focus, I definitely think we have much better choice these days than we did 10 to 20 or even 30 years ago.
"DAWRX - The Herb Strikes Back" (karsonkinja)
09/21/2017 at 14:08, STARS: 2
Yeah it’s terrible. But its just the tip of the iceberg of America’s debt problem. And debt is just one symptom of the whole disease. Its whole multifacted culture.
"RT" (rt-p)
09/21/2017 at 15:08, STARS: 9
I’d rather not start a huge comment war, but I am a fan of Volvo myself, please hear me out.
Firstly, generalising everything a single brand makes is somewhat ignorant. In history: designers have come and gone, ownership changes and as does just about every person involved with the brand. A brand is just a name that the people behind it use for their products (and those people change).
So are there any fun Volvos? See the 850-R with its roaring 5-cylinder layout, the homologated turbos that annihilated the competition in the 1985 ETCC http://touringcarracing.net/Pages/1985%20ETCC.html and the drop-dead gorgoeus P1800 - just to name a few.
The next thing to consider is priorities. Volvo does not specialise in lightweight sports cars, but they do seem to be concerned with quality products - lately beating companies like Mercedes at their own game when it comes to interiors. You may not want to drive their current offerings on the track, but on real life roads few cars suit the task better.
Car companies are also a business, not a charity. Making crossovers and downsizing engines is a matter of survival more than anything else - and that doesn’t stop them from getting 450hp out of only four cylinders. http://jalopnik.com/how-volvo-will-crank-450-hp-out-of-just-four-cylinders-1643311981
So Volvo have made their fair share of interesting ‘enthusiast cars’, beat luxury brands at their own game and adapt to the current market without sacrificing quality. Let’s go for the elephant in the room - safety.
Volvo were the first to offer three-point seatbelts in their cars - instead of patenting the device for money, they gave it out for free to save lives. Already you can probably see a difference between ‘unnecessary bloat’ and genuine efforts to save lives. http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/three-point-seatbelt-inventor-nils-bohlin-born Especially when you consider one of Volvo’s main demographics are families. I don’t know about you, but I’d take a weight penalty over getting my wife and kids killed.
Don’t forget too, one of Motor Trend’s picks for Best Driver’s Car 2017 (the Alfa Romeo Giulia) is also one of the safest cars ever tested in history - so don’t say safe cars are inherently bad to drive. That’s just wrong. http://oppositelock.kinja.com/alfa-romeo-giulia-crash-tests-1782429166
So Volvo are not Lotus, because they make big luxury cars instead. But they do not fool around. Rather, they are a haven for superbly engineered daily drivers that keep your family safe (and even know how to have fun once in a while).
Even if their cars are still not your thing, be thankful they handed out that patent which could potentially save your life one day. That’s all.
"Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs" (yowen)
09/21/2017 at 15:13, STARS: 1
Not all of us millennials are broke anymore. You can be as old 36 and still be a millennial. I’m 30, I’m a millennial and I could afford the XC40 quite reasonably.
The reason I’m not going to is because I don’t want one and I personally am not the type to lease anything.
So yes, there are also plenty of us that are still broke and can’t afford it, but far from all of us are.
"Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs" (yowen)
09/21/2017 at 15:18, STARS: 1
Somewhat true. But, their design language is unlike any other manufacturer. It evokes emotions within me that most other new vehicles do not. I think my reason for liking Volvo is as simple as that.
I mostly like their larger more expensive offerings, S90, V90, XC90 stuff like that, I think they are beautiful cars inside and out. They aren’t enthusiast cars in the RWD/Manual sense. But for what they are they are in my eyes the very best in their segment, especially the S and V.
I like them because they break the mold of their counterparts, the 7 Series, the Audi Q7, the Mercedes luxobarges. They manage to stand apart. Sure, I’ll shop elsewhere if I want an enthusiast RWD manual, but if I want comfort and style and happen to be loaded at some point, a Volvo will be at the top of my list.
"CB" (jrcb)
09/21/2017 at 16:04, STARS: 0
I’d rather drive a Volvo than a Miata if I could have one car. Yeah, it’s not going to be an enthusiast’s ride all the time, but that’s not what I (or most people) want out of a daily driver, especially if they’ve got a family to carry around.
"For Sweden" (rallybeetle)
09/21/2017 at 16:08, STARS: 8
I will fight* a comment war in defense of Volvo
*but not on Oppo. Be excellent to each other everyone.
"ZHP Sparky, the 5th" (e30s2k)
09/21/2017 at 16:13, STARS: 1
I get where you’re coming from – but at the end of the day people have different priorities, risk preferences, and budgets.
My wife and I both have graduate degrees (in actual technical in-demand fields!) and have a good
combined annual income. But we’d rather focus on getting student loans
completely wiped out and get ahead of our mortgage payments as much as possible.
We both drive newer cars but nothing premium. Sure, I’d like something nicer
for our next upgrade – but neither of us feel it is a good use of our money, at
least not brand new. We may compare a few used premium options against newer
warrantied blandmobiles (especially given that even these are much better now –
you can have most of the benefits of a premium brand as far as options go, just
not the name and maybe fit and finish to an extent) and maaaybe we’ll take the
risk, but most likely we still wouldn’t, at least not for our next 1-2 car
purchases.
But many people just aren’t like that. For some it’s worth more to have that enjoyment than to pay as much as they can towards a mortgage or wiping out debt, and yeah that bugs me…but at the end of the day it’s their life and their money. There are still others who are even bolder – throwing many hundreds towards a lease while complaining about rent being too high and how huge their student loan balances are…those people I just cannot deal with. I’m as big a snowflake liberal as they come but dude come on! I empathize with actual poor people and the middle class who are having trouble affording an education or making ends meet – but fuck you for believing you MUST have a luxury automobile, or even a brand new one and expecting empathy from others about your struggles to make ends meet. Some folks just need to reassess their priorities in life.
"Amoore100" (amoore100)
09/21/2017 at 16:14, STARS: 2
Volvo isn’t a car. It’s a state of mind. The idea that you can be part of a community of car people who are a sort of anti-car people. Volvo fans love all cars—it’s something I’ve discovered after years within the community. Perhaps it’s because we know that Volvos are not the best and never will be, and thus we’re comfortable acknowledging the amazing cars that exist in the world, yet we still are loyal to this endearingly idiosyncratic Swedish automaker because it is familiar and comfortable. When I get into my XC70 after a long week, the first think I do is relax, settle into the plush brown armchair, fire up the smooth, smooth turbo six, and hear it roar into a gentle idle. There’s no urgency, no flashiness even—the idea of Volvo is that it is home and not a showcase of wealth or status.
We don’t want luxury, bragging rights, extreme reliability, etc. We just want a Volvo—comfort, practicality, peace of mind, and a great sense of belonging to this community. Stealth wealth is knowing what you want to have rather than what you want other people to think you have. It’s an amazing feeling every time someone new gets in my XC70 and says “Wait, this is actually really nice”, or “Is this a luxury car?” simply because they can’t imagine how the plain looking dirty brown station wagon in the corner of the lot can be so inviting and luxurious inside.
Moreover, you get the feeling that there are a great number of people who love Volvos without loving cars. They couldn’t give a shit about what the fastest car in the world is, but they love their XC60s and are proud of it. That’s not something you usually get with Nissan Rogue owners or RAV4 owners who see their cars as appliances. And what I love about that is it breaks down the boundaries between petrolheads and the general public. Everyone knows someone who’s had a Volvo, and most people who’ve had them love them. The car with the most mileage in the world is a Volvo. Countless Volvos have gone millions of miles, saved lives, transported families, etc. This may not be because Volvos are better than anything else, but because people simply like them. And to like something is inexplicable—if someone loves you, you don’t question their motives, and likewise, if you love Volvo, it’s just something that happens. It’s a state of mind.
"Bytemite" (bytemite)
09/21/2017 at 16:15, STARS: 1
I actually would curse them for giving out seatbelts and ultimately having them be mandated. I don’t care if others use them but I don’t want the government mandating me to put mine on and the carmakers putting on those lights and beeping sounds to annoy me. I never have my seatbelts on in my Miata and it is such a relief to not have any light or beep go off. Even in the Prelude, I have to ignore a red light on the dash, which isn’t too bad since therre is no beeping sound at least.
But yes I see your point. Very well made response. I personally don’t like what their brand identity stands for, which is more safety above weight savings and efficiency and driving dynamics. I love my cars to be the other way around. As for the regular people liking Volvos, I understand as well...majority of car buyers look for safety, safety and more safety and quality above all else so why would some of them not love Volvo. What I’m saying is as far as driving fun goes, they are not the brand for that and I thought oppo would be mostly comprised of driving enthusiasts rather than safety enthusiasts.
"Nothing" (nothingatalluseful)
09/21/2017 at 16:15, STARS: 1
MSRP is old school. What’s the lease payment on one?
The average age of the new car buyer has always been around 50, give or take a couple of years. The simple truth is it isn’t terribly common for whatever the current “youth” generation is to be purchasing new cars, regardless of how the car is designed.
"DAWRX - The Herb Strikes Back" (karsonkinja)
09/21/2017 at 16:25, STARS: 0
Do you have a problem when tracks mandate 5 point racing harnesses to race on their track?
I am definitely a safety enthusiast. I love my car. I love driving. But I don’t want to die driving.
"RT" (rt-p)
09/21/2017 at 16:25, STARS: 5
I understand, I’ll keep it short too, for sake of being excellent to each other. Just two things I can say.
1. People aren’t either a ‘driving enthusiast’ or a ‘safety enthusiast’. It’s not black and white, people have their own tastes and it stems from there.
2. I don’t want to sound like a nag, but wear that belt, it’s the difference between walking off without a scratch and hitting your head at 40mph.
But yeah, thanks for reading everything and being respectful. Appreciate it~
"Bytemite" (bytemite)
09/21/2017 at 16:28, STARS: 0
I personally feel a seatbelt would be appropriate for track duty. I would put my seatbelt on at a track. 5 point harness should be optional to the driver’s wishes. Why are tracks mandating extra safety gear if the driver himself is willing to take the risk and signs a liability form?
"haveacarortwoorthree2" (haveacarortwoorthree2)
09/21/2017 at 16:30, STARS: 2
I’m still a little disappointed we couldn’t make it to the Volvo museum when we were in Gothenburg a few years ago with my son’s soccer team. I bet they have some awesome stuff in there.
"Bytemite" (bytemite)
09/21/2017 at 16:35, STARS: 1
Appreciate your responses too. Good oppo. True you can be a both. I just wish every car sold didn’t have to be laden with 400 lbs of safety gear. We could have 50 mpg, fun to drive cars again. it’d e good for the environment, and maybe even get people off their phones since they’ll feel more of the danger.
I will not wear my belt for the time being. It’s uncomfortable. My choice will definitely be different once I’m older and have kids, I know that. I just think it’s important that we have the freedom to choose just how much safety we want and when we want it.
"DAWRX - The Herb Strikes Back" (karsonkinja)
09/21/2017 at 16:44, STARS: 1
Someone more qualified than me can probably answer in greater detail , but a 5 point harness holds you in your seat better, which is important in racing so you don’t slide around too much. In addition, seat belts aren’t designed for the high speeds faced on a track. A 3 point belt wouldn’t help much in a collision it wasn’t designed for. And a properly set up 5 point harness keeps you from “ submarining ”, which is a person sliding down the seat and into the foot-well and can injure a person greatly.
I see where you’re coming from, but no track wants to be the one people die at, even if its not their fault. And its not just death the tracks or the government is worried about. If you get seriously injured you may not be able to work anymore. This means you are now a drain on the governments resources, your family’s resources, etc. when if you had been using safety equipment properly you could perhaps still have a normal life.
"themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles" (themanwithsauce)
09/21/2017 at 16:56, STARS: 0
“maybe even get people off their phones since they’ll feel more of the danger.”
No it won’t. I see people texting while riding motorcycles. Helmet and seat belt laws exist because people say they’re “aware of the risks” but then when forced to face their consequences, they pitch a fit and whine about how dangerous what they did was. Clearly they were not aware.....