Volvo C70 - How are they?

I've had 2 5-cylinder Volvos recently and have had extremely good luck.

But, if reliability is paramount, it's no mystery you should choose a Lexus or Toyota.

The Volvos have done much better in Consumer Reports in the last 2 years, but do not approach Toyota's products.

 

Take a good look at whether the front headlight is out on many of them. We had one in the late 90's with an endemic lighting system problem. Volvo finally admitted it after we dumped the car. I still see cars of that vintage driving around on one headlight.
Don't know about the latest S70, but I drove the hot-rodded one a few years ago, and it still drove like a Volvo- not exactly sporting in road feel, or maneuverability. The old ones were, as they say in Scandanavia, 'strong' cars- you could drive them into the ground. Dunno if they still have that quality, cause that would seem to be their only virtue- they certainly aren't very stylish, or particularly performance oriented. They also seem to attract people in the US who are drawn by the safety claims~ which, in my mind, means folks who are tentative drivers. By contrast, the people who drive Saabs often seem far more aggressive. Just my personal observation....

 

Full Disclosure: I am a Volvo salesman....have been for almost 3 months.

However, I would never hype something simply because I sell it. My opinion of the car is this: it is a decent car. It looks good with both the top up and top down. Most people can't tell it's a convertible (we've had people walk by it, with its top up, and ask us if we have any of the convertibles in stock).

The electrical issues that plagued Volvo for a few years have been worked out, as far as I know. The majority of the recalls of late (across all Volvo lines) have been software updates. Updates of what kind? I don't know.

Reliability.....they are quite stout vehicles. The engine in the C70 is used in the S40 and V50, along with a slightly detuned version in the S60, V70, and XC70. Volvo has this love affair with the 2.5L inline 5 cylinder that I don't understand. However, it certainly does the job well.

Room....at 6'3", I can fit in the back seat with a shorter driver (somewhere below 5'9") up front. There is quite a bit of room for the size of car that it is.

I would caution you, though. They are fairly hard to come by. Please tell me you are not paying more than sticker for it?? What color combo is it?

 

You mean it doesn't have an engine sludge issue like a lot of Toyotas? Actually I think the C70 is a great car, still a bit new but I doubt they have reliability issues. I also think it is built by Pininfarina and Volvo in Sweden.

http://www.pininfarina.com/index/storiaModelli/ultimi/volvoc70

 

The Whiplash Protection System works as such: when you get hit from behind, the seat leans back with the movement of your body, cradling your head and neck (that's why the headrests aren't adjustable, if you noticed). That way, instead of the seat staying still and your back/neck flopping all over, it absorbs the impact that would normally cause whiplash. Now, after such an occurance, you will have to replace the seat (it essentially breaks the seatback). However, replacing a seat is far better than months, or years, of chiropractor visits and back surgeries.

Think of it as jumping onto a bed, back first. If the bed is hard, you bounce off....allowing your back and neck to bend whichever way the momentum takes you. However, if you land on a softer bed, you don't bounce off. You are cushioned with less of a chance of getting hurt. Hope that helps.

Certainly a pretty car. We just sold a Zanzibar Gold over Beige last week. As long as you aren't paying over sticker...then I say go for it (of course, if it is what she wants...which it sounds like it is). But....that's just my opinion.

 

Does anyone pay over MSRP for any Volvo?

 

The other virtue of a Volvo is that people don't seem to mind buying them second hand with a few (hundred thousand) miles on them.

 

Yes. There are several dealers in my area that have been selling C70s for over MSRP since they came out last spring. I can't imagine what they are doing to the S80s, as they have just been released. Our dealer principal refuses to sell our cars over sticker.

 

for living in vegas, i would stay away from a turbo engine. you dont need an extra heat under the hood cooking all the hoses, fluids, and everything else, even if shes not driving it hard...

 

Whatever keeps her happy. I'm glad you considered the C70. Volvo is still trying to get back on the map when it comes to car shopping considerations.

 

My wife has a 2003 Volvo V70 2.4T Turbo Wagon. 53K miles now. No problems at all.

Can you get the C70 on overseas delivery? We did it for our car. Nothing to it. saved a bunch off dealers best price (they were running additional specials beyond usual discount at the time we bought)

 

See if Costco has a member price on it. I know in other areas they have discounts on Volvos. It's usually a no-haggle price somewhere around invoice.

 

My parents have the S60 '02. I think it's up in the high 60k mi range. No problems that I've heard about except that the brake,signal,head lights seem to have really short lifespans. The dealer just pops in new ones without asking questions.

 

I am a Volvo fan and I can vouch for the reliability of the newer models. My wifes V70 has basically the same motor as the C70. I don't think they changed the motor much in the last 10 years. Her car is at 129k and runs like top. I changed the timing belt @ 90k and nothing else but oil changes every 5k. My 240 wagon is about to give up the ghost but she has 245k on her and I work too much to maintain her properly. The motor runs great but the other bits and pieces are failing. Just do the maintenance when required and that car will likely last a loooooong time.

 

Volvo V70R owner here.

I had the C70 as press review car for a while.

off the top impressions...

Nice car, stable, not very sporty, a little under powered. Drives well enough, looks goood enough, but not outstanding in any one area. The top is cool, but makes me think of the maint. 10 years down the road. The engine is bullet proof. The chasis has some flex to it when the road turn real twisty or rough. Its not a sports car. "Mom" will probably NEVER push it anywhere near its limits so its a moot point.

this is the first year of the new C70 platform, so be at least a little wary. Some bug may surface.

If Volvo ever offered an "R" version I might be interested (high pressure turbo).

Good all around car, not spectacular. See if there is an European deliver option on the C70, it would be worth it.

 

Living in Vegas without a convertible is like living in Alaska with no snowmobile.

 

If they offered a C70R (awd and 300hp turbo engine) for a decent price, I would be very interested. So what's the scoop? Are we going to see one of those?

 

Ditto on all points
My press pool was running a little on the shallow end. The Smart Key and the smart car stopped talking and it had to be toed back to base.

 

Good point, the advantage also with a folding roof would be when its Africa hot there in the summer.
Drove a Boxster in Vegas and the A/C could not keep up.

My 850 Volvo has been great, well other than the RMS leaking out this week. I needed a wagon, but have to admit they dont really excel at anything.