Interesting convo that I wanted to share...

"Tom McParland" (tommcparland)
08/09/2016 at 19:40 • Filed to: customer servis, volvo

Today I was on the phone with Volvo corporate rep. Apparently, when you submit an inquiry to a dealer, sometimes someone from corporate will call you and relay the message to the dealer. Usually, this is back and forth is pretty routine...not today

Anyway, I told the dude that my client was either going to get a new Outback or spend a bit more and get an XC70 because there are some good discounts. I also told him that I understand these cars are different, but my customer has a flexible budget so he wants to explore both options.

So the rep says “Well, the Volvo is ten times safer than the Outback and will last much longer.” Normally I would just blow this off because I get it...the dude works for Volvo and wants to sell his brand. But he was pretty arrogant about it, so I pushed back.

I said, “ You don’t have any data to back that statement up do you. You do know Subaru is consistently ranked as one of the safest cars in the industry and in addition to having some of the lowest cost of ownership from a reliability perspective. I’ll give you that the Volvo is perhaps the nicer car, but my job is to get quotes for my client so he can decide if the Volvo is $10,000 nicer, and it probably wouldn’t be fair to compare the rate of depreciation between the XC70 and the Outback. And let’s not forget that the XC70 a car that has not been updated in some time”

Dude....was not prepared for that. He says... “Uh..well...ok, I’ll pass your info along to the dealer.” After I relay this conversation to my customer he decides to buy the Outback and take the 12k in savings to buy something fun on the weekends.

DISCUSSION (27)

pjhusa > Tom McParland
08/09/2016 at 19:46

The Volvos practically sell themselves, who even would need this so-called “customer service” thing?

iaintafraidofnoghost > Tom McParland
08/09/2016 at 19:50

In a day where info is so readily available, it shocks me some people try to pull one over on people like this. I mean the blatant part is what gets me.

Tom McParland > pjhusa
08/09/2016 at 19:51

A lot of brands do this to track internet sales but it’s kind of random. The XC90 and XC60 move pretty well, but the rest of the lineup needs incentives and heavy discounts to compete against other luxury cars. Don’t get me wrong Volvo makes nice cars and I recommend them often, but if you’re selling Porsches you can be snooty, Volvo not so much.

Anthony Miller > Tom McParland
08/09/2016 at 19:58

Damn, this was savage.

Santiago of Escuderia Boricua > Tom McParland
08/09/2016 at 20:05

Comparing the safety of those two is splitting hairs. Next time ask for HIC and NIJ injury numbers from their crash tests and see what the rep says

Tom McParland > Santiago of Escuderia Boricua
08/09/2016 at 20:08

If he just said “safer” I may have let him go...it was the “ten times safer bit” that pissed me off a little.

Santiago of Escuderia Boricua > Tom McParland
08/09/2016 at 20:11

Yeah. Like, that’s not even possible. It’s not even 10x safer than a Mirage or something.

RallyWrench > Tom McParland
08/09/2016 at 20:31

Thank you for smashing his smug face in with reason.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Tom McParland
08/09/2016 at 21:51

Yeah it might be ten times safer than an Outback from ten years ago, but not a new one.

wafflesnfalafel > Tom McParland
08/09/2016 at 22:18

Ha - honestly, you gave the guy a chance to improve his game, a learning opportunity.

Amoore100 > Tom McParland
08/09/2016 at 22:21

Much appreciated. The XC70 is almost a ten year old design that has been passed over by most automakers in terms of technology and just about everything. The only reason it’s even remotely safe by modern standards is because they overengineered it in the first place. I’d go with the Subie myself, the XC70 is simply a FWD wagon with shittier handling and if I wanted a P3 wagon the V70 is a better choice IMO. The Outback has Subaru’s far superior AWD system and, while it isn’t quite as good looking IMO, the interior is probably light years ahead in terms of infotainment.

E92M3 > Tom McParland
08/13/2016 at 00:11

Yep, in 2 years they will be worth the same amount.

Kinja'd!!!

nlpnt > Santiago of Escuderia Boricua
08/13/2016 at 11:43

Is it even “ten times” safer than an ‘80s Mirage?

Santiago of Escuderia Boricua > nlpnt
08/13/2016 at 12:25

That’s possible, especially for side impact or roll over

DrZ > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
08/15/2016 at 09:24

This. The new Outback and Legacy models have been stiffened in key areas so much that when I was working on the model launch team at Subaru our local fire department in Lafayette, IN had to get a stronger set of the “jaws of life” to cut through the steel. It’s a big improvement on an already incredibly safe vehicle.

The World of Vee > Tom McParland
08/15/2016 at 12:28

Tom. Both of those are terrible choices in automobile. An old volvo or a boring subie? If they absolutely needed a long roof in that price range you should have diverted them to something German or the Flex.

jamsley > The World of Vee
08/15/2016 at 14:33

Outback 3.6 is fantastic to drive for what it is. Depending on client needs why would they go “German or Flex”. I drive in the mountains/snow/logging roads frequently and an Outback is an excellent choice for these. A flex or “German” wagon would not suit mine or many scoob buyer needs.

Only comparison vehicles since I didn’t want another pickup were Xterra and 4runner. I’m a big fan of Xterra’s but the space didn’t suit family needs, and the 4 runner was just simply too expensive.

Price wise to value outback was the clear choice (for the 4 runner I’d want I can just get a cheap ATV to tow behind the scoob for trips that would call for technical terrain).

If ford brought the diesel 4 door ranger here however.......

The World of Vee > jamsley
08/15/2016 at 17:13

An Audi Allroad and a Ford Flex are both just as capable of going wherever your outback goes. I’m assuming you were looking for under 40k which both of those could be had for if you limit some of the options. And “for what it is” is a pretty unconvincing sell on the outback being a fun drive. The Flex is a barn stormer, and when you’re not hauling it’s a competent backroad drive.

gawdzillla > The World of Vee
08/24/2016 at 12:19

Audi Allroad.... reliability much?

DBG > Tom McParland
08/24/2016 at 13:44

Kinda related- if someone wanted a wagon, ideally with a little ground clearance, how would you go about deciding between an Outback, XC70, or an allroad (or something else entirely)? Any advice you (or anyone else on here) might have would be awesome.

I’ve got a longer post explaining what I want better here , but don’t have authorship on Oppo to get anybody to see it :(

The World of Vee > gawdzillla
08/24/2016 at 17:27

I’m an audi nut and unless you forget to follow the maintenance schedule, they’re super reliable.

gawdzillla > The World of Vee
08/24/2016 at 17:41

but the internet is telling me this

you HAVE to believe what the internet says !!!

The World of Vee > gawdzillla
08/24/2016 at 17:50

if you like turbo manual wagons that can go like stink get a 2.7 allroad 6 speed and tune it.

You can dial in the stance and paint/wrap the bumpers if you’d like or leave it stock and just make it fast. Either way I’m pretty sure that was the video that made me question if Freddy knew what he was talking about.

ranwhenparked > Santiago of Escuderia Boricua
08/25/2016 at 01:05

Comparing the safety of most modern cars is like splitting hairs. Honestly, I don’t know why so many companies bother to sell it in their advertising anymore.

functionoverfashion > Tom McParland
08/25/2016 at 13:00

Kinja'd!!!

Didn’t know this guy worked for Volvo Corporate

Jake > Tom McParland
08/26/2016 at 16:06

Did exactly this in our last car purchase. Wanted to justify the Volvo, but the Subaru won out on ~$7,000 price difference, cheaper maintenance, closer dealer and MUCH better interior volume. I wanted the Volvo. We got the Subaru (‘13 Outback 2.5i Limited). Now, if only I hadn’t had to buy the stupid Nav system to get the leather seats. Grumblegrumblegrumble.

Jake > The World of Vee
08/26/2016 at 16:08

I would have loved to have an Audi. But the Allroad is simply not comparable in terms of interior space. The subie has it beat by a mile in terms of back seat. I can squeeze my skinny ass in the middle seat between two huge Britax car seats in the Outback.

Also, AUDI stands for Automobiles Under Demonic Influence.