Where do you see Volvo against other marques?

[Prufrock]

Originally Posted by Rawas

To this;

I don't like SUVs generally (they are a popular segment among"urban adventurers"navigating the school run), but one could argue the Nissan X-Trail is a less fussy design than many on the market today.

It does not have the many styling fripperies you see on most cars. If I wanted a half size SUV Freelander would be my choice for several reasons - one being I have a local Landrover dealer.

I'd just like add something on consumerism. Most cars, let's say the sub 25k ones are affordable for many, so cars are no longer status symbols...the fleet market in the UK is huge and therefore distorts the car market (many of those people are driving cars they could not afford to buy). Jaguar's biggest seller in the UK is the 2.2 diesel XF (it is a fleet car).

No-one needs a Range Rover, and these cars are clearly purchases for the conspicious consumer. There is also the assumption that somehow that latest"thing"is superior than that which preceded it - this in my opinion is rarely the case.

Apropos build quality... we must not confuse the issue of subjective quality - the look and feel of something in the showroom, with objective quality - how it is actually built.

Example, Toyota is without doubt the best producer of quality cars in the world today and has been for years. However, their cars may be bland and they may not always use the best or most desirable materials in their interiors. but the build quality is exceptional (although to an extent the rest of the industry has played"catch up"). Many of Toyotas engineers have been around the European industry and helped refocus manufacturing; an excellent example of this is Porsche (Toyota quality specialists sorted Porsche's quality prior to the introduction of the Boxster).

Apologies for taking this off topic, let's get back to Volvo.

Prufrock.

[gillberry]

Originally Posted by Prufrock

This is patently nonsense, so without privacy glass dogs die in cars?

Missed the point of the thread by a country mile anyway.

Prufrock.

No obviously dogs do not die without privacy glass but privacy glass is not just a tool for posing it does have practical uses . My example is for our dogs but those with children sat in the back of the car will appreciate the same benefits .
Again I did not miss the point of the thread , I was just passing comment on your opinion of privacy glass and how it is actually practical . I take it as you say it's nonsense that you have never had privacy glass or are you just stirring ?

[Volvo2002]

Originally Posted by Prufrock

When the X-Type was first launched it was all wheel drive.

As a medium sized estate with the 2.2 diesel it is a fine, great value for money used car.

Prufrock.

Yes I was aware of that. His particular X-type is FWD.

[Prufrock]

Originally Posted by gillberry

No obviously dogs do not die without privacy glass but privacy glass is not just a tool for posing it does have practical uses . My example is for our dogs but those with children sat in the back of the car will appreciate the same benefits .
Again I did not miss the point of the thread , I was just passing comment on your opinion of privacy glass and how it is actually practical . I take it as you say it's nonsense that you have never had privacy glass or are you just stirring ?

Just stirring...is that what you say when someone has a point of view that you don't like?

Read my post about dog ownership (...dogs not dying...), and yes I have had a few vehicles with privacy glass (it was not a factory"delete"option, and in the days when it was not common), I replaced the glass with normal tinted glass.

When my daughter was young(er), our cars had blinds that would retract into the doors or rear shelf when the sun was bright.

Decent cars often had blinds either as standard or as options, it is much cheaper to fit all cars with chav-glass than to fit or offer blinds - and do you really think the majority of privacy glass is a technical product?

It is a fashion thing for chavs of all ages - this subject has nothing to do with the original thread subject.

Prufrock.

[gillberry]

Originally Posted by Prufrock

Just stirring...is that what you say when someone has a point of view that you don't like?

Read my post about dog ownership (...dogs not dying...), and yes I have had a few vehicles with privacy glass (it was not a factory"delete"option, and in the days when it was not common), I replaced the glass with normal tinted glass.

When my daughter was young(er), our cars had blinds that would retract into the doors or rear shelf when the sun was bright.

Decent cars often had blinds either as standard or as options, it is much cheaper to fit all cars with chav-glass than to fit or offer blinds - and do you really think the majority of privacy glass is a technical product?

It is a fashion thing for chavs of all ages - this subject has nothing to do with the original thread subject.

Prufrock.

I accept that people have different opinions and are free to express them which is why usually I take time to phrase my posts diplomatically . Your reply to my post was as arrogant as me asking if you are stirring which is why I did .
Although this post has nothing to do with this thread you posted a comment about privacy glass and chavs to which I replied with an experience I personally had had which showed a benefit of privacy glass .
Now for someone who mentions about me not liking other peoples opinions you are not afraid of coming forward yourself in your opinions and putting down those that you disagree with .
Now according to your opinions Me driving an xc90 and having privacy glass them I am an urban adventurer Chav . So that's your opinion to which you are entitled but I am entitled to my opinion and so I will put posts on this forum when I wish to express my thoughts .
One other thing how do you explain a Chav , urban adventurer who own a classic Amazon estate and a classic caravan ? I'm sure you will come back with another put down Oh and by the way as to dogs I suppose our german sheperds are chav dogs ?

[volvorocks]

Originally Posted by gillberry

privacy glass is not just a tool for posing it does have practical uses

100% correct there Gillberry.

Privacy glass does have practical uses over and above the perceived aesthetic purpose.

Regards

[volvorocks]

This link about glass is an interesting read.

http://www.saflex.com/en/Default.aspx

Regards

[GMad]

[QUOTE=XCeed;1202764]

Originally Posted by Prufrock

I'm with GMad, and to (hopefully) avoid paranoia, I find it hard to believe anyone would think an XC60 is anything other than ordinary, in that the majority of moderns (including all Volvos) are ordinary - in the looks department. /QUOTE]

Now come on guys, don't hold back. The world's car designers - worthless as they may be - have put their finest collective minds together and tried, tried and tried again to come up with car designs that might appeal to you. Clearly, they have failed. What do they know compared to you? So get your fag packets out and lets see your offerings. A simple blueprint...a wheel at each corner and a stylish hunk of metal to meet needs and please all in the middle.

Only one stipulation. Your design must please EVERYONE.

Over to you...

Just as well beauty really is in the eye of the beholder, or according to you everyone would be driving a Volvo and I would be suffering with willy malfunction!
I cannot get excited by the looks of a Volvo or any other Euro-box at the moment I'm afraid and this is because I don't buy a car because of the way it looks, or indeed the badge that's glued to its boot lid!
Now then Fag packets and offerings! Sadly I am an Engineer by trade and not a designer and I smoke cigars

[volvorocks]

Originally Posted by gillberry

....privacy glass is not just a tool for posing it does have practical uses . My example is for our dogs but those with children sat in the back of the car will appreciate the same benefits .
Again I did not miss the point of the thread , I was just passing comment on your opinion of privacy glass and how it is actually practical . I take it as you say it's nonsense that you have never had privacy glass or are you just stirring ?

Originally Posted by Prufrock

Just stirring...is that what you say when someone has a point of view that you don't like?


Prufrock.

With respect Prufrock,was it not your goodself that suggested that some comments views and or opinions of others should be dismissed and or disregarded if they are not fact based? Are you not that one who is a 'stickler for fact'?

It is a fact that privacy glass has alternative uses apart from 'the look'

Regards

[Thom12]

Originally Posted by Rawas

If you consider the Lexus GS to be one of the best luxury cars on the market today, a lot of people would agree though, do you think it looks good.
I think that there is always something missing in the design of any Japanese car even the luxury ones, no character, no right proportions and no identity. In other words if you look at any european car without reading the badge, you can easily guess what it is, compared to the japanese where you can never tell. Do you guys agree?
In the case of a Lexus, do you think that it looks better than a Jaguar XF?

Jaguar looks better i think.

Originally Posted by Prufrock

The older Jaguars when new were among the best cars in the world, the series 3 cars were just that. Nothing, even today, rides and handles quite like a real XJ6 or 12.

Range Rovers are the height of bad taste whether well made or not - an inflating seat...what is your point?

The GS is the most refined of them all - the classic definition of a luxury car

Prufrock.

Wow, hang on a second here. This is your opinion, all i've done is give share mine without expecting to be told i have reached the height of bad taste. Be civil huh.

My point about the seat, as i originally mentioned (if you had bothered reading, instead of launching into your awesome comeback) is that it is a nice touch. As you go into corners at speed, the more you turn the wheel the seat starts to "buffer" your movement. It's comfortable, that's all.