Quote:
Originally Posted by sprout99
how does it compare to the BMW when driving? quality etc?
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Well.... not so easy to compare, but if we ignore the engines and the weight of the german, I would say that the Volvo is incredible agile and great through corners. It's also quite stable at speed but once you start passing the 135mph mark, then the Volvo becomes a bit "choppy" on the motorway. Not sure why... have checked the tyre pressures (correct) but perhaps it's due to the ultra hard suspension?! Steering is very quick on the V40 and I would disagree with anyone who thinks Volvo does not have feedback through its steering.
You can feel that power through the steering wheel but it's not as bad as the 850 T5's were when they came out (ie twitching to left and right).
The Volvo has the very destinctive warble from it's 5-cyl engine which is very entertaining to listen to. Gives a reason to down turn the awesome Premium Sound System and listen to the engine only!
Quality - I find the Volvo on par or above in many areas of all german makes (Audi comes to mind). Only in certain places have Volvo saved a few quid by using less desirable plastics/cheaper materials (ie footwells) than in the rest of the car.
The quality of the Volvo leather is by far superior to most other car makers IMO. Including the more expensive offerings of "Nappa" etc. Volvo use really good stuff. Soft, supple, comfortable yet suporting seats are known to be the best in the business - for years!
I don't really want to go on about how good the german is (it is actually very good) as I am a Volvo man at heart, but started to look at other car makes as Volvo is refusing to be more "interesting" in the engine department + very expensive to buy/lease in Germany. In the UK I drove Volvo for almost all of my 15 yrs living there!
I did do a short write up on the forum between a Hertz rental V70 and my 5-series estate (see below).
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A Volvo will ALWAYS be a fantastic car IMO. Big, comfortable, safe, does the job perfectly fine etc etc. I guess this is the reasons most people buy one. However, in my case, I want a 6-cyl diesel engine - something Volvo haven't done for years (nor seems to want to release in order to compete with the 3 germans).
As for comparison....well, both have their good and bad.
Volvo V70
Good: A very large car, has the best leather quality (on par with the "Nappa" offerings of the Germans, a costly optional extra), fantastic climate control system. After a few tweaks, fantastic sound from the stereo - with or without the Premium Sound option. Silent. Good load ability of the boot with its straight (-ish) windows. I like the new digital speedo's and the Sat Nav + whole system very much. Lots of toys to play with!
Bad: 5-cyl diesels are very agricultural - in particular the D5 IMO. Geartronic gearboxes are getting better, but still miss that little to be at the top. Terrible design at the rear - whoever made it should be fired! Engines could be both much cleaner and more powerful to compete better (the former is a bit strange coming from Sweden with its huge distances and super clean thinking of the environment etc). Volvo could be alot braver with the interior colour options. A little choppy in the ride - not convinced this is down to the 18" wheels when driving on super smooth german autobahns though.
Bmw 5-series Touring
Good: Engine (would be as I have the 535D and 313bhp - tuned to 265bhp), 8-speed auto, sport seats are very comfortable. Leather is of nice quality. Feel just as safe in this car as in the Volvo. Sat Nav and the whole setup of the system is almost as good now (was better before) as in the Volvo with the latest Sensus software. Love the options of other interiour colours than just black or beige. Super clean engines compared to everyone else. I do love the looks of the 5-series saloon or estate, especially in sport (the latter I have).
Bad: Drug dealer image. Standard seats are crap IMO and one needs to spend top money for better ones. Everything is costly extra's. Not as big inside as the V70, especially the load area.
Which one is best I could not tell. I like them both! I like my wife's new V40 very much (although she won't let me drive it too often!). Volvo's are safe and dependable cars that probably won't let you down, ever. I think it's only really the (hardcore) engine and drive which I really do like of the 535D compared to the Volvo.
My pref option would be a Volvo with a 6-cyl diesel engine around the same output (say in the range of 280-300bhp) as in the Bmw. Then I would be the first to order one!