Where do you see Volvo against other marques?

[MTerry]

Volvo wants to call itself a premium brand, and back in the 80's the 700 competed with the Audi 100 and the BMW 5-series as the ultimate yuppie-mobile in the US, but today it's what's called here the "near-luxury" class. Not quite premium, but a step above Ford and Chevy and Chrysler. In the US, Volvo competes most closely with Lexus, Infiniti, Lincoln, and Cadillac, although lately the big Hyundais and the new Opel-engineered Buicks have been moving in as well.

[GMad]

Originally Posted by Rawas

A Yanky sleek Corvette then! with a V8 engine to listen to?

Na, my Pontiac is for pleasure, my Volvo is for work!
If I had a bottomless pit of money available to replace my S60, I would buy something along the lines of a Bentley..
But to be honest, I'm not in a money no object position, so I haven't seriously considered what car I would actually have?
No harm in dreaming though

[XCeed]

Originally Posted by Prufrock

...why would you, if considering an ML (horrid thing anyway), go for the XC60? Most people if considering a Volvo and the ML would put the XC90 against the Mercedes.

Interesting that you feel able to call a car like an ML "horrid". Where did the branding/imaging guys go wrong?? There can't be a £60,000 car built that is horrid, but there you are, you are entitled to your jaundiced view...

Re the XC90, this is clearly not the right time to be buying one (even my dealer agreed). The current model is very long in the tooth and the new one is on the drawing board. In fact, the XC90 is probably a cheaper option than an XC60, taking into account the deals on offer.

What I'm trying to say (obviously badly!) in my last paragraph is that Volvo cars, in general terms, stand comparison with many of the so-called premium marques in any given sector. You are welcome to disagree...

[Gucci]

I've owned a BMW Z3, Mercedes C-Class and M-Class - and I can honestly say from an overall satisfaction point of view, my current Volvo D5 V50 is the winner. Yes, the Z3 was fun, the ML sounded great and had great presence but the V50 ticked many boxes.

It's also the only car I've had where complete strangers have stopped and asked how I get on with the car as they quite fancied one too.

As for premium, as many have said, it's perceived in many instances. Yes, it's pretty robust, but then so was the brand new Vauxhall Astra I sat in the other week in Bluewater. And I mean solid - it was incredibly solid.

My view is it comes down to taste. Is the car in good taste...of course that's down to the individual. A Jaguar XF is 'in good taste' - until you opt for it in white with 22" black alloys and a stripe down the middle. Can't see HRH Prince Charles stepping out of that.

[Prufrock]

[QUOTE=XCeed;1200469]Interesting that you feel able to call a car like an ML "horrid". Where did the branding/imaging guys go wrong?? There can't be a £60,000 car built that is horrid, but there you are, you are entitled to your jaundiced view...QUOTE]

My view is not jaundiced (if you know what that means, I'll explain why not in a minute), since 2002 I have bought a new Mercedes S-Class and a new Mercedes ML, I also bought in 2007 a nearly new Maybach. Having said that the ML was the most trouble, admittedly it was the old model but the new crop of Mercedes are suitable for WAGs, but they have no class.

I do not like SUVs unless it's either a Range Rover (careful with those too), a Wagoneer or at least an Explorer - it's a fashion thing, especially the mini-me SUVs like the XC60/Freeloader/Squashguy etc.

Apropos the XC60/XC90 debate, I am fully aware that the current XC90 is being replaced in 2014, and if I were in the market for such a thing I would go for a sub 50.000 mile, just under 3 year old XC90 for less than half the price of a new XC60 - that would be the intelligent purchase.

Back to Volvo, a good range of cars, but yet to become"premium"in the eyes of the wider car choosing public (I say choose as the majority of cars in the UK are purchased with company money). Volvo UK themselves consider this to be the case hence their press releases about the ambition to move"upmarket"; Volvo have already stated they'll lose 20 dealers in the next few years in order to help facilitate this move (currently 110 dealers, and down to 90).

Volvo's MD this month has said, and I quote..."we are...a semi-premium brand in the UK...".

Semi = polite way of saying not.

Why I'm not jaundiced, I shouldn't need to explain, but given I can afford a new XC60 or XC90, means envy is not and has never been part of my character.

And your comment about £60k cars, there are cars that are not good value at all price points, and I've had a few.

Prufrock.

[Rawas]

One of the most interesting threads on this forum, I am so thrilled to see it going with this intensity!

[popuptoaster]

Originally Posted by AndyMJenkins

I'm looking at getting my first Volvo, changing from Mercedes. Everyone I've spoken too, considers this a DOWNgrade.

Where do you see the Volvo brand compared to the likes of MB, BMW , Lexus etc?

Whatabout if you throw the likes of Ford into the equation?

Is it fair to call Volvo a premium brand ?

Who cares anyway? Just buy the car you like and screw anyone who wants to judge you by the car you drive.

Its all bollocks anyway, even the posh stuff these days is built to fall apart and be recycled, isn't any better built and doesn't really come with any extra gadgets you can't specify on a budget Korean shopping car, the only people who care are those who need to show off to everyone else how much money they have (or how much debt they can get into).

[volvorocks]

Originally Posted by XCeed

There can't be a £60,000 car built that is horrid, but there you are, you are entitled to your jaundiced view...

Originally Posted by Prufrock

My view is not jaundiced (if you know what that means, I'll explain why not in a minute).

Why I'm not jaundiced, I shouldn't need to explain, but given I can afford a new XC60 or XC90, means envy is not and has never been part of my character.

Prufrock.

I think XCEED used 'jaundiced' apropos the context - meaning 'distort' - in so far as that you seem to look at something with a prejudiced view, usually in a rather negative or critical manner.

Regards

[Prufrock]

Originally Posted by volvorocks

I think XCEED used 'jaundiced' apropos the context - meaning 'distort' - in so far as that you seem to look at something with a prejudiced view, usually in a rather negative or critical manner.

Regards

This was an interesting thread...I find it rather disconcerting having a stalker...I happily admit to being critical and very discriminating.

Both I regard as good qualities, I would not want to know anyone who did have these.

However when I was educated, jaundiced did not mean distort. And in any case I see no distortion - what nonsense.

Rather conceited of you to speak for XCEED, why don't you just contribute to the thread subject?

Prufrock.

[volvorocks]

Originally Posted by Prufrock

Post deleted: lack of interest (on reflection).

Prufrock.

Originally Posted by Prufrock

This was an interesting thread...I find it rather disconcerting having a stalker...I happily admit to being critical and very discriminating.

Both I regard as good qualities, I would not want to know anyone who did have these.

However when I was educated, jaundiced did not mean distort. And in any case I see no distortion - what nonsense.

Rather conceited of you to speak for XCEED, why don't you just contribute to the thread subject?

Prufrock.

Critical and discriminating - Good qualities you say? Yet you would not want to know anyone who had these 'qualities'..?????????..........

Many may suggest your posts are extremely critical (not in any constructive way mind) and quixotic in nature portraying a degree of arrogance thus serving only to abase anothers position ,posts which in essence do not a person to a state of beatitude lead.

Jeremiah 9:23
Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches,

...is very apt, so maybe you will take note?

.....maybe...??????

...............just maybe...?????

EDIT: Time for you to hit the 'edit' button......