Do any of you think that Volvo is cool?

[matek]

Nah theyre not that ugly,
Ikea are suposed to be all cool minimalist/stylish the same with VOLVO if you go into the new S40 the front control column (radio, A/C, etc) is brushed aluminium with nothing at the back so its literally just a panel.

And if you really want to scrap the barrel James Bond had one so it can't ba all bad

[MrKipling]

In a funny way, I think they're actually less cool than they used to be.

I reckon the coolest things are those whose styling has clearly been influenced by function over form. Volvos were always work-horses, with amazing safety features... I think they've lost some of that single-minded geeky coolness, which created their earlier cars, through their pursuit of 'mainstream cool' and mass market appeal.

I might be wrong though.

[LotusLocost]

This IS nice...

[Rijoh]

Volvo's are very safe and safety is boooooring I really dislike the old boxy Volvo's, they're just so passionless. They just didn't even try to make them look a bit nice.
The new designs are pretty good, but I still wouldn't buy one.

[Fiorano]

Safety isn't boring- lack of power is... that has been volvo's problem... but many have pulled alot out of the near indestrucible volvo.
they are cool, always were.
an all black 855 R wagon- or a new v70 Wagon with 300 lbft and 300 ponies, adn 4 piston brakes all around and 4 wheel drive.
pretty Effing cool. and crank up the boost or new exhaust and what do you know? super cool

[MrKipling]

But that was never the point of Volvos, and that is when they lost their cool.

[nota]

Like MrKipling I think its older rwd Ovlovs that are the real charmers. Tough unpretentious old buggers that were practical to a fault, reliable and safer than they needed to be. Built to last in a way few cars were (or are) and fun things too in their own perverse way, just an all-around honest machine

In later years Volvo squandered the immense goodwill earned by these core 'brand values'. To illustrate, I noticed that 2nd-hand S80 Turbos looked like a tempting buy, as their prices are way, way lower in comparison to equivalent year/models of competing brands. But it seems the reason for S80's lousy retained-value has less to do with 'perceived image' problems, moreso crap quality

For a sobering read, scroll through the "36 comments click to read" link midway down this page

http://www.carsurvey.org/review_10526.html

[Matra et Alpine]

Volvo Amazon used to be THE car to try to beat in world rallying

[MrKipling]

Yeah, they were very big in the Marathon Rallies weren't they? Along with the TRs and Dolomites

[TVR IS KING]

Lol Volvo.
"Hey man, I got a new car."
"hey that looks alright...whats it got under the hood?"
"Oh mate. Shes got a T5! Feeding power through the front wheels!
" T....5?"

Still...I reckon the new ones look great. Well...not great. But better than good.
?

[Matra et Alpine]

We had Tim Harvey drive a T5 during one of our trackdays at Knockhill.
He was taking 3 passengers at a time out in the T5 and STILL beating guys out in their "fast cars"
Caused me to squeeze the rectal muscles when he got it sideways out of the hairpin in front of the A610, had to pick my spot and hope that he kept it under control as it was too late to brake
The T5 was the ultimate sleeper

[MrKipling]

Quality! I loved those big Volvo estates in BTCC, I know it's a bit wrong to say this, but it was so funny when they got broadsided - some of the loudest crashes I have ever heard.

I heard a similar sideways story from a colleague: He was being taken round Silverstone a couple of years ago by Jon Palmer (not the most humble man in motor sport) who was right on it, when all of a sudden Jackie Stewart flies round the outside of him on a turn of opposite lock, casually chatting to his passenger. Palmer's response? Tongue firmly in cheek, "I hate it when he does that"

[QBridge]

It's really a great car manufacturer, lots of good models. And the best thing is that Volvo doesn't just on safety, they're also good looking! My favorite Volvos are:

Good looking and nice interiors but very expensive to repair like Audi for example. Regular maintanence is probably a pretty penny also just like Audi.

[Matra et Alpine]

Build your own T5 at http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/forum...0&postcount=35

[woodstock827]

I actually like the new C70 quite alot.. the old C70 wasn't bad neither...
S70 was pretty nice at the time too..