by "sm70- why not Duesenberg?" (sm70-whynotduesenberg)
Published 09/28/2017 at 17:28
by "sm70- why not Duesenberg?" (sm70-whynotduesenberg)
Published 09/28/2017 at 17:28
No Tags
STARS: 0
I admit that the 2nd generation Volvo C70 is not a car that I would normally have a particular desire to own. It’s sort of a slightly more posh Chrysler Sebring. However, please consider some of the other things I’m looking at right now. Suddenly, the Volvo is a reasonably good-looking, comfortable, acceptably equipped hardtop coupe that has a top which can come down for those sunny days. Provided it will cruise happily at 80mph and not become dangerous when presented with an emergency avoidance situation or an on-ramp, I don’t care how exhilarating it is to drive. So what’s the catch? Pricey maintenance? Finicky top? Incredible chassis flex?
"Camshaft Chris: Skyline/McLaren/Porsche Fanboy" (camshaft-chris)
09/28/2017 at 17:34, STARS: 3
Pricey maintenance for sure. The engine will run forever and ever, but it’s all the other little shit that’s gonna be a pain. My MIL had a V70 and some little fuse or sensor or something went out on it. $5 part; $980 repair job because they would have had to remove the entire dashboard to get to wherever the hell it was tucked away.
"PS9" (PS9)
09/28/2017 at 17:43, STARS: 5
You won’t unsee the part of the C70 that exists in the Youabian Puma.
"Where have all the lightweights gone?" (sniderjadam09)
09/28/2017 at 17:46, STARS: 1
My aunt had one of these, and it’s one of the worst cars I’ve ever driven. It’s really heavy, so the car’s a dog from the start. Couple that with a really soft soft brake pedal, and I was scared to drive it.
My aunt was in a phase of her life where cars went to die in her hands frequently, and I was not surprised when she crashed it.
"awmaster10" (awmaster10)
09/28/2017 at 17:57, STARS: 1
I love the first gen hardtop c70. Second gen is alright, but yes high maintenance cost. My 01 Volvo s70 had 150k on the clock and never really gave me any troubles though.
"Sovande" (sovande)
09/28/2017 at 18:22, STARS: 1
I know nothing of the convertible top and the issues it may or may not have, but the engine is pretty well bulletproof. Too say that they are easy to work on is an understatement and for about $200 you can get a dedicated laptop with the Volvo software to diagnose problems. The software also then provides the service manual with directions for how to fix any issues. They are not sports cars and are heavy, but they can be made fast pretty easily with the addition of a tune and simple suspension changes. My C30 (same engine) makes like 315hp and almost 400 ft lbs with a tune and simple bolt on mods.
There is an active online community as well, which is nice.
"AC2 - The Now 15 Year Old Jalop" (ac-2-shoes)
09/28/2017 at 18:23, STARS: 1
My old music teacher has one of those. She loves it and I see her regularly driving it around for fun
"LOREM IPSUM" (lorem---ipsum)
09/28/2017 at 19:13, STARS: 1
I dont know about that model but craigslist is full of dirt cheap Volvo’s that look great. It’s just that they’re pretty much guaranteed to be unreliable, expensive to fix, and can apparently be difficult to diagnose for the uninitiated. I considered one for the safety aspect, but at the end of the day wouldn’t touch one thats out of warranty or without free towing and a loaner program.
Ymmv, of course. They certainly have a dedicated following, and the prancing moose almost makes the headaches worthwhile.
"Vimto" (smudgey)
09/28/2017 at 20:35, STARS: 1
I owned one of these for a year and 25,000 miles (55,000-80,000) and the only cost beyond oil changes was a $110 headliner replacement. I realize this is purely anecdotal but the car never once threw an error/CEL and I trusted it completely, and the top worked flawlessly, except when the headliner’s glue gave in and had to be replaced.
"SpeedSix" (speedsix)
09/28/2017 at 22:56, STARS: 0
I think quite a lot of Oppo would like to hear more about C30/C70 ownership ..
"m-b-w loves his SUBAROO" (m-b-w)
09/29/2017 at 00:43, STARS: 1
I will say that they’re quite safe! Last summer, I watched one with its top down get t boned right in front of me by an older Outback going about 35 to 40 mph. I remember seeing the airbag deploy almost in slow motion. I stopped in the intersection and ran over expecting to find someone severely injured or worse, but instead was relieved to find that the two men and their dog inside were completely unharmed.
"Forrest" (forrest)
09/29/2017 at 09:40, STARS: 0
That’s how my V70 is, too. It starts every time, but the electrics are junk. Like, 1990s Audi level of junk.
"Sovande" (sovande)
09/29/2017 at 10:35, STARS: 0
The C30 is pretty good stock. With a little work, all of which is completely doable by anyone who can turn a wrench, they can be great. It took me an hour and half to do a full suspension swap with a jack and jackstands. The exhaust was a pain in the ass because it’s the exhaust, but it was not difficult. The tunes are loaded via the ODB port. The engine is like a big lego set. I love working on mine because it is, quite simply, dead easy. The only thing I have taken it to the shop for is tires and alignment and an AC recharge. I also had a guy help me loosen the AC clutch because it broke my tool when I tried. It broke his tool too, but we eventually got it off. I would not hesitate to buy another.