New car for SWMBO need the panel's verdict
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flango
Hardcore MB Enthusiast
Neither
Apparently attributed to Frankie Howard, John Inman and Larry Grayson according to the Interweb
MOCAŠ
MB Enthusiast
Apparently attributed to Frankie Howard, John Inman and Larry Grayson according to the Interweb
Frankie Howerd.
Not sure which interweb you've been using...
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flango
Hardcore MB Enthusiast
Frankie Howerd.
Not sure which interweb you've been using...
Thank you for pointing out the errors of my ways sir
don't know my a's from my e's which is a phrase SWMBO uses but it's usually related to elbows and a... well you get the picture
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flango
Hardcore MB Enthusiast
Quick update we are down to two cars the volvo c30 r design and vw scirroco the two cars are similar yet different volvo is more luxurious and sits lower with an aggressive look the vw screams build quality and with its wide stance I suspect handles well, we got a c30 all Thursday morning and the scirroco Thursday afternoon so a good back to back test.
Will report back after the test drives
Will report back after the test drives
grober
MB Master
The Scirroco is technically a far better car. Make sure you make full use of the VW adaptive chassis control [ ACC] = transforms the ride/handling characteristics. Unfortunately its £800 extra on the base model but I wouldn't buy one without it. Its almost certain the demonstrator will have it as they are never usually a base spec car.
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Deleted member 11979
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the vw screams build quality and with its wide stance I suspect handles well, we got a c30 all Thursday morning and the scirroco Thursday afternoon so a good back to back test.
Will report back after the test drives
In my opinion, after owning both a VW Golf 6 and a Volvo C30, I can report the Volvo is better put together. The VW plastic quality deteriorates very quickly as you get away from things that are touched on a regular basis (just look at the difference in carpet quality - try vacuuming a VW carpet - virtually impossible to get it clean as all the bits stick in it).
Also, the reason we ended up with a MK 6 Golf is that our previous car, an Eos, leaked and leaked and leaked and then leaked some more, to such an extent that the car was undriveable as it was always misted up! After 3 fixing attempts VW gave up and bought it back from us (for what we paid after 9 months and after the wife scuffing 3 wheels and denting it and the small child feeding coins into the CD player) with a huge discount on our new Golf - so from that point of view I was impressed with their customer service.
But then, thinking about it, our V70 lunched it's auto box, and Volvo fixed it (when it was technically out of warranty) with little bother, so that was a good ending too.
Verdict - both companies better than Mercedes - but Volvo has the edge in my eyes on quality.
st4
Banned
If the Volvo's handling isn't up to much just modify it to suit her needs....
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flango
Hardcore MB Enthusiast
Based on her recent performance I'd be better fitting a roll cage and roo bars round all 4 sides
You can get the performance pack for the Volvo which drops the already lowered R design another 28mm and comes with adjustable suspension like the Scirroco, will report back after a day of fun tomorrow
Only downside on Volvo no D5 available only D4 at just over 170 bhp but Polestar Performance mapping will sort that one and get it over 200 bhp
trapperjohn
MB Enthusiast
Based on her recent performance I'd be better fitting a roll cage and roo bars round all 4 sides
You can get the performance pack for the Volvo which drops the already lowered R design another 28mm and comes with adjustable suspension like the Scirroco, will report back after a day of fun tomorrow
Hmmm. Ponders and strokes chin.
Do this mean SWMBO is as much of a petrol head as you are Ian. Or are you speccing her car up for a quick borrow?
There is a 2.0D R design 3 door parked in our car park currently.
I just had a quick look as I parked my car.
Twin tone seat coverings look nice, car looks a good stance on 18" wheels? (they look big) exhaust looks naff only one on.. just like the original TT's where the 180bhp had one and the 225 had two but the cut out was still there if you got the 180,,,
So I would add the extra one unless the model your looking at comes with it?
However... There is also a white Scirroco on the road to my house with a black pano roof... and I have to say (and of course this is without driving either)
purely on looks and badge assuming they drove the same I would have the VW
I just had a quick look as I parked my car.
Twin tone seat coverings look nice, car looks a good stance on 18" wheels? (they look big) exhaust looks naff only one on.. just like the original TT's where the 180bhp had one and the 225 had two but the cut out was still there if you got the 180,,,
So I would add the extra one unless the model your looking at comes with it?
However... There is also a white Scirroco on the road to my house with a black pano roof... and I have to say (and of course this is without driving either)
purely on looks and badge assuming they drove the same I would have the VW
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flango
Hardcore MB Enthusiast
Well after a morning in the C30 I am very impressed it's like a rocket powered roller skate, very well upholstered 4 individual seats and a nice place to be, the demo car was in passion red which really suits it with the off black leather interior. One of our criteria for buying a car is it's handling and as some of you will know from my V70 thread we have a bend near referred to locally as "Velcro bend" and it's one of the measures of how good a car is. My V70 will handle it at around 72mph before getting twitchy, well it's pouring down here today so I did not expect anything too grand out of the c30 in these conditions so took it steady and it gripped fine, second run close to 80 mph and it took it in it's stride it really is a good little car. Another one of my tests is to go hard downhill into one of the local roundabouts and deliberately try and get it out of shape, if I do this in the CLK I can get it to spin a full 360 degrees but of course it is rear wheel drive The Volvo was very composed and settled and I had to push it very hard before it got nervous and slidey. The car really comes into it's own after about 1750 rpm and has a real sweet spot at about 2250 rpm during me pushing the car it gave 46 mpg on the readout and when zeroed and run on SWMBO's normal work route gave 57 mpg, although it is quiet this week due to the holidays. SWMBo and Sis just gone to pick up the VW will report back on that this evening
The Volvo was very composed and settled and I had to push it very hard before it got nervous and slidey. The car really comes into it's own after about 1750 rpm and has a real sweet spot at about 2250 rpm during me pushing the car it gave 46 mpg on the readout and when zeroed and run on SWMBO's normal work route gave 57 mpg, although it is quiet this week due to the holidays. SWMBo and Sis just gone to pick up the VW will report back on that this evening st4
Banned
Nice review Ian, my boss is considering a C30. I will pass this on to her.
grober
MB Master
Has there been a "domestic"?
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flango
Hardcore MB Enthusiast
No the Chinese restaurant got in the way on the way back Well the Scirroco is good in the looks department and reasonably priced List Price is £22,225 + £800 for ACC so call it £23K, Volvo all in with performance pack and polestar remap is £23.5k list. Scirroco ride is harder and even with ACC handles no where near the class of the Volvo velcro bend could not be taken at more than 68 mph even in sport mode without it getting out of shape and at the roundabout test it broke away completely it just cannot keep traction on the road, I'm really glad it poured it down today as it has shown the cars true light in really bad conditions, the Scirrocco is all fur coat and no knickers, when it comes to the bits you need to rely on they are just not there, also the interior is hard plastic, no leather and flimsy switchgear. Scirroco is 140 bhp and it can't handle that Volvo estimated 180 bhp with polestar but test car 150 bhp, only 10 bhp in it but the Volvo feels the quicker car by a mile. Visibilty is better in the Scirroco but the back end is so light it's scary and is definitely the achilles heel of the car.
Vauxhall dealer rang today offering an Astra GTC Saturday morning, so for comparison purposes we are going to give it a go but so far the C30 is well in front
Well the Scirroco is good in the looks department and reasonably priced List Price is £22,225 + £800 for ACC so call it £23K, Volvo all in with performance pack and polestar remap is £23.5k list. Scirroco ride is harder and even with ACC handles no where near the class of the Volvo velcro bend could not be taken at more than 68 mph even in sport mode without it getting out of shape and at the roundabout test it broke away completely it just cannot keep traction on the road, I'm really glad it poured it down today as it has shown the cars true light in really bad conditions, the Scirrocco is all fur coat and no knickers, when it comes to the bits you need to rely on they are just not there, also the interior is hard plastic, no leather and flimsy switchgear. Scirroco is 140 bhp and it can't handle that Volvo estimated 180 bhp with polestar but test car 150 bhp, only 10 bhp in it but the Volvo feels the quicker car by a mile. Visibilty is better in the Scirroco but the back end is so light it's scary and is definitely the achilles heel of the car.Vauxhall dealer rang today offering an Astra GTC Saturday morning, so for comparison purposes we are going to give it a go but so far the C30 is well in front
Bellow
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ftfy.
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Vauxhall dealer rang today offering an Astra GTC Saturday morning, so for comparison purposes we are going to give it a go but so far the C30 is well in front
Go Volvo!
I bet the GTC will give it a good run for it's money, by all accounts it's a great car and a really good looking one too.
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flango
Hardcore MB Enthusiast
Your comments in post #87 mirror exactly my thoughts so far on the VW vs Volvo
Astra GTC will be interesting and exactly same list price as the pair already tested so a fair comparison
davidjpowell
MB Enthusiast
I am impressed with your research - I don't think I've ever driven more than two cars when car hunting.
I did make the mistake when I was young and green of holding my company car list when I went into a dealership. Never have I seen so many sales staff run at one time - right away from me...
I thought originally, and still do that you will end up with Volvo - I think you a little psychological tenancies in that way..
I did make the mistake when I was young and green of holding my company car list when I went into a dealership. Never have I seen so many sales staff run at one time - right away from me...
I thought originally, and still do that you will end up with Volvo - I think you a little psychological tenancies in that way..
