A car aimed at me?

[foggyjames]

I can't help thinking I should be buying a C30.

# It's argueable the closes spiritual sucessor to the 300 series, which 'fit' me.
# It's aimed at my demographic (20-something professional without family)
# For a fairly boring but high quality car to 'just travel' in, it seems ideal.
# I like it!

Your thoughts? I'm particularly interested to hear what other people from the target demographic think.

Time will tell, but I have a feeling Volvo have really got this right. It's arguably a couple of grand too expensive...but I still want one. That's the thing...I WANT one. Dammit, they got me - hook line and sinker! Trouble is, I just bought a house instead. Bugger.

If I was playing the game, I'd buy an Audi A2 TDI now, and swap it for a 2-3 year old C30 D5 in 3-4 years time. Having said that, my 240 on LPG is almost as cheap to fuel, still puts a smile on my face (people are TERRIFIED of it! The land-barge effect :D), will almost certainly be just as reliable, if not more so, and isn't going to cost me (tens of) thousands of quid to buy.

That's basically the only turn off. The car may be nice, but compared to a quality used car (say dropping 2-3k and getting a Passat TDI, or similar...or even 5k on an S60 D5), it's VERY expensive. It's not like a 5 year old car is ready for the scrap heap! Anything up to 10-15 years should be perfectly trouble free these days. With a little TLC, me and my housemate are happily daily-driving (for work, etc) a pair of 20 year old Volvos - both of which were free. How do they 'sell' such an expensive concept to people? I'm not poor, but I'm not stupid either...doing the sums, buying a new C30 for any reason other than "I want to" really doesn't make sense.

Apologies if I'm rambling here...just the thoughts of someone who could, and argueably 'should' be buying a C30. Thought it might be interesting...

cheers

James

[adamsky01]

I can't help thinking I should be buying a C30.

# It's argueable the closes spiritual sucessor to the 300 series, which 'fit' me.
# It's aimed at my demographic (20-something professional without family)
# For a fairly boring but high quality car to 'just travel' in, it seems ideal.
# I like it!

Your thoughts? I'm particularly interested to hear what other people from the target demographic think.

Time will tell, but I have a feeling Volvo have really got this right. It's arguably a couple of grand too expensive...but I still want one. That's the thing...I WANT one. Dammit, they got me - hook line and sinker! Trouble is, I just bought a house instead. Bugger.

If I was playing the game, I'd buy an Audi A2 TDI now, and swap it for a 2-3 year old C30 D5 in 3-4 years time. Having said that, my 240 on LPG is almost as cheap to fuel, still puts a smile on my face (people are TERRIFIED of it! The land-barge effect :D), will almost certainly be just as reliable, if not more so, and isn't going to cost me (tens of) thousands of quid to buy.

That's basically the only turn off. The car may be nice, but compared to a quality used car (say dropping 2-3k and getting a Passat TDI, or similar...or even 5k on an S60 D5), it's VERY expensive. It's not like a 5 year old car is ready for the scrap heap! Anything up to 10-15 years should be perfectly trouble free these days. With a little TLC, me and my housemate are happily daily-driving (for work, etc) a pair of 20 year old Volvos - both of which were free. How do they 'sell' such an expensive concept to people? I'm not poor, but I'm not stupid either...doing the sums, buying a new C30 for any reason other than "I want to" really doesn't make sense.

Apologies if I'm rambling here...just the thoughts of someone who could, and argueably 'should' be buying a C30. Thought it might be interesting...

cheers

James
sorry a liitle on track and of
i like this new bug yes not bad
but it just looks to fordish
oh the other thing what do u get to the galon on ur 240 lpg because mine seems like it cheaper to run on petrol at the moment

[Kimbie]

I have to agree with Adam, on the ford looks, I cant help thinking they have taking a fiesta and just put another body shell on it.

I do and dontl ike it, much like my thoughts on the Megane when it was releaunched with the odd end

Kimbie

[imac]

Hi James,

Right. I have also been considering the C30 (And a lot of other cars, to be fair). I've arranged test drives, but I've had to delay them due to the pressures of being a final year Uni student.

Anyway.

The ones to go for are, in my opinion the 2.0D, the D5 and the T5.


T5-

Basically this is just a tarted up Focus ST. I would save some money and buy a year old Focus ST in a subtle colour with all the toys (Xenons, Sat Nav etc) for about £10k less than a new C30 T5 costs. The same companies tune them with good results. The Focus is a little more... common? And doesn't quite have the looks of the C30 (and the uniqueness), and it also has a horrid dash - but for £10k saving I'd probably live with that.

2.0D-

I've driven the V50 with this engine earlier this year and it was a good all-rounder. Did exactly what it says on the tin. Not really very exciting though.

D5-

This is where it gets interesting. A small car with a nice torquey engine. Generally I'm not a fan of small cars, but I did have a complete hoot in a Peugeot 307 with the 136 HDI engine (same as the 2.0D Volvo unit) in France. Very impressed with the mid range but felt it could do with a bit more. As standard, they are obviously 180bhp and remapped over 200 and I think they will be great fun. I'm genuinely quite excited about this concept but as you say - they are SO expensive for what they are. If you spec one with the "right" options (Se sport, sat nav, lots of toys) you're looking at about £28k+.


At the end of the day, they will cost you heaps more than running an old 200 series. But you get all the toys, a warranty and a brand new or newish car. Some people like this, some people aren't bothered. I fall mid-way and thats why I got myself a newish (2.5 years old when i bought it!) S60 D5.

Most dealerships have them for test drives now, so go and see what you think!

[James_N]

Ive been debating whether to buy a newer volvo, but i just cant do it because:

- I enjoy the cheapness of my 7
- its easy to service and all work can be done yoruself, meaning no trips to stealers.
- I dont have to pay any big finance / insurance bills
- Really all i have to pay for, is fuel

I have to say also, im converted to big cars like the 2/7 series. My mate had a fair smash about a year ago. He screwed his leg up pretty bad, resulting in him being off work for a long time (hes not long gone back). At the time he was driving a VW Bora that he had just bought off a member of his family.
Had he been driving his pug 306 at the time, i dread to think what the outcome may of been.

That said, whats posted above, is my opinion.

Plus points for the new C30, is that its rather good looking, comes with some very good engines, and hopefully it should be trouble free motoring for 3 years or so (given the warrenty with it etc).

I just couldnt buy a new one and live with the depriciation.

[ahal]

Hi all,

My local dealer assured me that the C-30 was "better to look at in the flesh", having asked me if I'd seen the car online. Never did go for a test drive, but a few weeks later I caught up with a promo one on a ramp outside a shopping centre.

First thing which struck me was that the wheelbase seems too short. It looks at least 6 inches too short, and - again MY OPINION - gives the car a slightly 'caricature' ( spelling? ) look. Next thing I noticed were the side - skirts. That's the last place I'd put highly finished ( metallic ) composites. I can imagine a lot of ugly stone damage over time.

The front looked fragile to my eyes ... as though a good downward push on the bonnet would break it. I love the tailgate design ... it's the one thing I really loved about it. As for the rest of the car, I think they could've pushed the design much further.

The 480 is nothing if not an oddball. A beautiful oddball, that is. Maybe market forces have changed since 1986 to the point where that sort of a gamble is not a runner, I dunno. Far from being a 480 replacement, the C-30 just has a tailgate overtone.

Like a lot of modern cars, the rubbing strips at along the sides have been abandoned in the design. Huge mistake, methinks. Especially if one ever intends entering a supermarket car - park.

Cheers,

Anthony.

PS: Though at the same price as the new Corsa, I'd choose the C-30.

[classicswede]

240 on LPG should do about £7 - £10 per 100 miles

[Muscas]

Interesting topic,

I just went through a similar decision process recently.
My criteria was a small new economical diesel car.

I went and had a look at Audi A3 3-dr TDi, Volvo C30 2.0 TD, the S40 TDi Sport and the Honda Civic Type S.

Without hesitation I chose the Honda, I strongly suggest you go and have a look prior to any final decision, IMO it was streets ahead of the C30. Just go and have a look you might surprise yourself!

Hope this helps.

Patrick

[ahal]

Hi Patrick,

Yes ... the Honda's nice. That's the one with the headlights which 'continue' all the way accross the front? Didn't like the last Civic ... surprisingly very tweedy ... but Honda seem to have gone back to groovy styling again with the latest one!

Haven't seen a single C-30 on the roads yet. Wonder how they're selling ....

Regards,

Anthony.

[JayK]

Haven't seen a single C-30 on the roads yet. Wonder how they're selling ....



Very well! Volvo are deliberately restricting supply to keep demand high.

Soon there will be loads about and prices will drop, I prefer the Golf GTi myself.

[foggyjames]

I've seen three now - two in this country, one in Germany.

cheers

James

[ahal]

Hi there,

Guess the old 40% or so Government Tax is scaring people away here. At 30,000 euro it's reasonable, but there's a lot of choice out there for that price ... and that price is for the base 1.6.

Great thing about the E.C. is that a car here costs more than it does just about anywhere else in Europe. It's great being a 'European'! All that talk about price harmony suddenly makes sense ( not ).

Cheers,

Anthony.

[C30fan]

Interesting thread. Thought you might like to hear a different viewpoint as I have just acquired a C30.

Firstly I should say that I am familiar with running older quality cars on a shoestring, having had a succession of Saab 900's and yes it can be very satisfying, although I did need to call on the recovery service once or twice...

I am also perfectly familiar with car economics and know that Volvo depreciation is not the best.

Anyway just for once in my life I found myself in a financial window of opportunity where I could afford a new car. My target was an attractive quality hatch or coupe capable of seating four people. I duly considered the options: 1-series (ugly, dismissed out of hand), A3 (good, but boring test drive), new Civic (good, but iffy looks and uninspiring drive), Golf (good to drive but too common), Alfa GT (tempting but a heart-only decision), RX-8 (brilliant, but horrendous fuel bills).

I had previously tried an S40 (actually on the same day as the Civic) and been very impressed with it, dismissing it only because it was a saloon. Then I heard about the forthcoming C30 which seemed to tick all my boxes. I tested an S40 with the 1.6D engine (which Autocar reckoned was the best unit) and duly ordered a C30 1.6D. I am delighted with it – see the new thread on this car.

To reduce this to the simplest level, I made a consumer decision, i.e. given that I had the money I chose to buy a C30 because I really liked it. I chose it in preference to a few exotic holidays or a new conservatory. I will have to devote my savings over the next few years to getting my son through college so there won’t be another new car coming along! The C30 will have to last me a very long time (possibly 10-15 years) so I’m not bothered about the depreciation.

That’s my story, we’re all different…

[foggyjames]

It's good to get another perspective. Much as I might complain that although I can afford it, the money is a turn off...it's obviously very different if you can 'really' afford it, if you get me. I know so many people in my position who have significantly stretched themselves to buy fancy cars. I'm in no hurry to follow suit.

Of course if you have the money, good luck to you. I'd have an Aston DB9 if I had the money. What I was pondering was more that it seems the car is aimed at people who don't really have £20k for a new car...so how are Volvo going to tempt me into debt? What's the big draw? Personally, it'd better be good!

Buying new does make more sense to me if you're in it for the long run. You've gotta have a serious quantity of excess cash to buy new cars every few years. My 240 was bought brand new by my friend's folks in 1986, and handed over to me almost exactly 20 years later. Regardless of depriciation, you've gotta say they've had their money's worth out of the car.

How are you finding the 1.6D? I believe it's the same 16v unit you can get in some of the new Citroen / Peugeot cars. If so, my friend has it in his Picasso, and it's a cracking unit - quite remarkable performance from such a small unit, although you do seem to pay for it in terms of a lack of typical diesel 'grunt' - it likes to be revved, and is surprisingly easy to stall.

cheers

James

[CTCNetwork]

Hi,
Hi there,

Guess the old 40% or so Government Tax is scaring people away here. At 30,000 euro it's reasonable, but there's a lot of choice out there for that price ... and that price is for the base 1.6.

Great thing about the E.C. is that a car here costs more than it does just about anywhere else in Europe. It's great being a 'European'! All that talk about price harmony suddenly makes sense ( not ).

Cheers,

Anthony.
You can blame the tax on ford as it was agrees between fud and the irish government for the tax on all imported cars when fud was making cars in ireland.

Of course, the irish government was in no rush to remove the tax when fud withdrew from ireland.
However, I don't see irish consumer groups leaping hand an foot over each other to challenge the tax/government in court - particularly the european courts to have the tax ditched...
Do you???

Des. . . ;)

[C30fan]

How are you finding the 1.6D? I believe it's the same 16v unit you can get in some of the new Citroen / Peugeot cars. If so, my friend has it in his Picasso, and it's a cracking unit - quite remarkable performance from such a small unit, although you do seem to pay for it in terms of a lack of typical diesel 'grunt' - it likes to be revved, and is surprisingly easy to stall.
This is my first diesel and I am very impressed. Yes it is the same unit as the HDi in Citroens/Peugeots and the TDCi in Fords. Having come from a revvy Mazda MX-5 1.8 I have not found the switch too traumatic. It does rev happily (redlined at 5500rpm I think) and is remarkably quiet apart from the inevitable rattle at start up. I have treated it gently so far but on the odd occasion when I have had to put my foot down the turbo kicks in and the car positively leaps forward under torque. I have stalled it a couple of times but I have put that down to my gentle running-in tactics. After 1000 miles I will be giving it full welly and don't expect that to happen again. Although thinking about it I once had a Focus TDCi hire car that was very prone to stalling and I had an embarrassing moment holding up the traffic on a roundabout on the A1...

[foggyjames]

My initial thought was that the 1.6D would be pretty underpowered, but if my mate's Picasso is anything to go by, it'll be just fine for pootling around, and the occasional bit of rather more enthusiastic driving. In fact, if the 2.0D is the slightly older 8v unit, the consensus seems to be that that engine is the underwhelming one!

cheers

James

[C30fan]

A quick Google reveals our little star is the DLD-416 or DV6-TED4 16-valve common rail intercooled turbodiesel, developed by PSA and producing 108 or 109hp and 177lb ft. Applications include Xsara Picasso, C4, C4 Picasso, C5, Focus, C-MAX, 206, 307, 407, Mazda3, C30, S40, V50...! Volvo fit the diesel particulate filter system. PSA plan a hybrid HDi for 2010 which if I've got my conversion right will offer over 80mpg!

Anyway it's a great little unit. What I don't know yet is how reliable it will be and if it will last as well as the larger capacity engines.

[ahal]

Hi all,

Good reviews C30fan, I'm with you particularly on the BMW 1 - series. It reminds me somewhat of the fake mobile phones which were bought to impress in the days when real ones were difficult to afford. One thing I really do like about the C-30 is the centre console 'slab' idea, where there's space behind it.

I have a feeling that the C30 is one of those cars where colour makes a huge difference. I personally found the silver / brown combination of the one I looked at yukky. Then again, each to their own.

Interesting one Des, knew a fair bit about Ford in Cork, but not that. Yeah, consumer rights aren't much of a thing here yet ... it's easier to whinge down in the pub. Heard a woman on the radio last week suggesting a "riot" here over the lack of childcare facilities, and sure enough, she'd a British accent.

As for the French, they'd be throwing live sheep at politicians. The only representation for the motorist here is a yuppie from the AA who actually has the cheek to talk about Insurance ( which the AA provide too of course! ) from a Motorist's perspective!

Actually I've had the idea for some time of doing something along the lines of your own Mike Rutherford of the 'Motorist's Association'.

Cheers,

Anthony.

[C30fan]

I have a feeling that the C30 is one of those cars where colour makes a huge difference.

Having spent months agonising over the colour, I couldn't agree more Anthony. I would recommend that any potential C30 purchaser travels around and gets to see as many colours and combinations as possible. The excellent 360 degree interactive viewer at http://www.volvocars.com/All-Cars/Volvo-C30/gallery/360.htm does give a fair idea but it's important to see your choice in the metal before ordering.

Being an early adopter this wasn't an option for me and I had never seen a photo of my specification, let alone a real car. Fortunately I wasn't disappointed (I'll post some pictures when I can). You also have to consider if you want the bodykit (in various colours) or the T5 wing, which can be had as a dealer-fitted option on any car in the range. Some colours look good with these addenda, some don't. Buyer beware!

My personal conclusions, for what they're worth:
The C30 generally looks better in lighter colours, but there are exceptions.
The bodykit can make the car look fat and bulky if the same colour as the car. When a different colour, some of the combinations are horrid. But again there are exceptions!
The T5 wing looks good on most cars IMHO.
Best colours: whites, silvers, Orinoco Blue
Good colours: any other blue, Titanium, Flint Grey
Debatable: reds (but they look great with full bodykit), blacks
Avoid: Safari Green

And then you need to consider the interior colour and the wheels - they make a big difference too...

[Singlofty]

mine is white metallic SE (no body kit) with quartz beige interior - seems to work for me. I wouldn't mind 18" wheels though (they weren't an option)

[mortyst222]

The comparison with the C30 to the Focus ST ends once they put the engine & box in...the rest of the car bar the platform and calipers is different and fifth gear proved this, the ride and handling has nothing on the ST and the power plant is diluted some what. I liked the concept of the C30 alot but once final pics were out it just look abit of a let down.

I think Ford could have done alot more and taken a leaf out of volvo's book and made the ST abit different from the rest of the **** that comes from Ford.

I do own a year old Focus ST and love it the performance is good but not the type that blows you away(used to own a scooby) and the dash is not that bad the layout is to hand but I would have prefered the audio controls on the steering wheel rather than the cowling????not sure why they did this.

Any way im sure Ill be shot down in flames so im going to get my coat and run.

Cheers

Darren

[foggyjames]

Not at all Darren - welcome!

I was under the impression that the ST and T5 motors are identical in terms of the hardware, albeit running different software? I guess that can account for a huge difference though - sharpen the fly-by-wire throttle right up, and bring the boost in hard, and you have a different engine to the punter!

If I understood him correctly, Don of Kalmar Union was saying that once you're underneath, it can be hard to tell whether you're under an S40 or an ST...that could get confusing :)

cheers

James

[mortyst222]

I think that is the case James the floorpans are Identical so underneath would be the same but component wise I.e suspension, braking system, exhaust system and most other things are different.

Cheers

Darren