No this is not a stupid kill thread.

Just thought those who have wondered would like some impressions, especially if anyone is drooling over the new S60R.

Got a Volvo S60 this morning as a rental/loaner (service guy was paying for a car up to a certain limit then I kicked a couple bucks in for a better car). Very nice car...sharp body, great silver color, comfortable seats....

but....

strange radio controls, poor radio display (polarized sunglasses make it impossible to read from a couple angles), the car feels notably cramped compared to the Max interior, cheap plastic/vinyl visors and other touches, and a horribly slow base engine.

Further proof a Max is a great value for the $$$.

 

ya i sat in a S60 at a car show last year and it didnt feel as refined as i expected, nor was it as large as i like. i gotta say, the interior space that Maximas give is very nice... i'd have a hard time driving a sports car on a regular basis because of the space issue. The volvo I'd love to try is the new S70-R, the 300 hp one. my magazine, Road and Track I think was the one, did a clip on this car and they were very pleased with it. might hafta go to the dealer "interested in buying one" and try it out

 

A colleague of mine has a S60 and everytime he sits in my Max (2k1 or the new 2k3) he compliments the car in terms of design and spaciousness... I remember the first time he saw my car. He was surprised at the amount of rear leg-room it has compared to my accord and his S60. He said something about how nissan has so much room back here that they couldve easily put a reclining/sliding adjustable rear seat! The last time I was riding in the back seat of a maxima, I agreed. Maybe even just a little adjustable lumbar support!

 

My next car will probably be an S60R so this is a little biased.

You must have had a stripped base model, because an S60 with full leather interior and all the options is incredibly nice inside. The stereo controls make more sense than a maxima radio once you get used to the two main buttons that run everything. It is a little more cramped in the back seat but as far as fit and finish, the S60 beats a maxima hands-down.

I nearly bought an S60 T5 (250hp, FWD) but didn't want to spend $38k when I got an engine as nice and more room in the max for $10k less...BUT quality-wise a volvo smears a maxima, embarassingly. There are days when I wish I had shelled out the extra money so I didn't have to deal with some of the quirks in my 2k2 max, but then other days I'm glad I still have $10k in the bank. If that car had been AWD (like the S60R) I would have bought it even at 250hp.

I agree 100% the "Max is a great value for the $$$" but it's not in a class with a loaded volvo.

 

No, this is a full leather, sunroof, etc. model. I simply cannot agree with your assessment, which is disappointing since I have really liked the looks of them since they came out...well, scratch another car from the 'after Max' shopping list.

 

I must say that the new volvo S60R is sickass man...but as most ppl said...the interior is definitely very small....i am 6'4....so last time i sat in a S60 during the car show....my head was rubbing against the roof....totally disappointed with interior room.....

 

I guess we'll agree to disagree, because we're giving two completely opposite reviews (except for back-seat room, we agree it's cramped).

Don't quit on volvo, though... If you were considering an S60, sit in an S80 T6 and you'll have found your next car.

Of course, it's $45k and is *not* a 'sports car' but it's the kind of car you melt into when you drive.

 

Nice, but not the kind of $$$ range I was anticipating for the next car.

Got no problem disagreeing...I didn't say you were wrong and you didn't say I was...which is perfectly fair. Kind of like shopping for furniture...what is really comfy and attractive to one person is just not right for another. Oh, well...

Still waiting for some concept cars to get closer to market before I really get serious about trading anyway.

 

for an american car is hides its roots well

 

I thought they were still assembling Volvos over seas???

 

they are, he's just jealous

ford dumped a bunch of money in volvo but the cars are still manufactured in gothenburg, sweden. I know, I went just last year to pick up my wife's volvo cross-country

 

My dad owns a S60 Turbo those things are pretty quick. Pick up on it is really fast and the whinning turbo sounds sweet. I find it alot more comfortable then our Maxes and the system in it is excellent. Im thinking about the R now.

 

Funny this topic should come up now - recently went to lunch with a friend in his S70. Nice car, feels solid. This car needed new brakes at 25K and again at 56K (he is not a left-foot braker). It also needed new struts/shocks at 56K, and needed a complete tune up. All of this from the owner.

I'll stick with a Max any day.

 

so it didn't need new rotors at 5k and again at 10k, 20k, etc, new shocks/struts at 20k like a lot of max owners are seeing, a new MAF, new paint the day it left the lot, and many other tweaks for (all on my car) misaligned sunroof, hood flutter, cracked wind deflector, rear window wind noise, malfunctioning seat heater switch, and 3 alignments to get rid of a front-end shimmy? And that doesn't include the control arm recall...

I'll say it again, volvo's quality and customer service is FAR superior to nissan's. My wife's cross-country has had one problem... a broken cup holder. And for that they gave me a new S80 for the weekend because they were embarassed they didn't have the part in stock and didn't want to ask me to make another trip.

I am very happy with my maxima for the money I spent, but it is *not* a volvo.

 

JD power and associates ranks volvo reliability near the bottom.

http://www.freep.com/money/autonews/power9_20030709.htm

as i understand, volvo reliability is slipping big time.

 

Didn't mean to start a Volvo bashing thread...just wanted to convey that I expected more and am somewhat comforted with my Max...every so often I get the trade in itch...look around, and then decide to hang onto her.

 

wow, I'm going by my experience. I never would have expected nissan to be higher than volvo.

The volvo has been in the shop once for a broken cup holder. My maxima has been in for all those things listed above.

Although I do suspect there is something wrong with JD Powers... they made this statement Ford Motor Co.'s Lincoln brand scored just above Honda and I just can't see ANY domestic beating a honda in any category.

jjs, I know you didn't start a volvo-bashing thread. I said it a few times, my maxima is an excellent deal for the money. But in my experience owning both, the volvo is lightyears ahead of nissan in quality, fit, and finish...and customer service!!! WOW! Ask me about my customer service experience... ga-head, ask .

 

I think I know better!!!

Yes, I drove it around some more tonight...it DOES have some very nice creature comforts, but also some strange quirks.

Now, back to service...OK, if we put free loaners aside, I must say the guy I work with...Benny at Houston's Mossy Nissan...has been nothing short of fantastic. My car is in now getting the seat bottom replaced due to leather cracking...I took it in 50 or so miles short of the magic 36K mile mark and he wrote the job down AND had it confirmed by the service manager as a WARRANTY item. I know Nissan has had a bad rap due to service, but have happily found someone who actually takes service seriously!!! Go figure!

 

That's excellent. Post their name in the vendor forum so we know who to go to when something goes wrong.

I'll also say my expierence at Rockingham Nissan in Salem, NH has been very good. They sort-of "do what I tell them" meaning I took it in and said it needs an alignment and they did it. No questions, no charge.

Buutttt... (haha) my volvo experience... ask, SOMEONE please ask!!!

 

What, no kill story?!? Man...

Interestingly, I just got back from Detroit (not my favorite city, but the weather was GREAT), and had a Sterling Mist 2k3 SE as a rental there . It was actually a little weird being in "my car" in a different city, sort of a feeling of dislocation.

Anyway, it was interesting playing with a stock SE vs. my lightly modded one. It actually felt it handled better on long sweepers than mine with the RSB and FSTB - has anyone else noticed this? Is the RSB just better for controlling body roll in very hard corners?

Also, did some testing on RPM limits and how the limiter works

 

JJS, I'd wait to see what the new Acura TL will be all about. From the pics and descriptions, it sounds like it may be a good replacement for your 5sp AE.

Also, I just don't think the Europeans are quite there with the Japs in terms of reliability. So Volvos may have nice service and kiss your *** when you come in (if I paid >$40K, I'd expect nothing less), but I doubt they have better reliability, ON AVERAGE.

 

Hey! I was wondering where you were!!

 

The Volvo is a sweet car, but the price is a factor. If you want to spend the $$$$'s then go for it.

 

S60 R's are no joke!

 

Volvo's are HEAVY - they're going to eat brakes and shocks a lot faster than a Max. My wife drives a cross country - the curb weight is something like 3,800 lbs. However, Volvo brakes are the best around - I'll sacrifice pad life for stopping power any day.

 

According to the specs given on the Saab web site's competitive comparison, the Volvo S60 T5 is 3400 lb., and the Max SE is 3460. So it's not the weight that makes the Volvo eat brake pads.

Both cars have excellent brakes and ABS. The MAxima just has longer-lasting components.

Also, I have a Mercury Sable wagon that is at least 3600 lb, including all the junk carried around in it, and those brakes last about 75K generally. This car ain't in the same class as a Max or Volvo or Saab in terms of driveability or status, but it could be considered a lot less maintenance intensive. By the way, the Sable has 121,000 on the original factory struts. Car still handles well, no bounce or rough ride, but they are going to be replaced shortly.

 

Nice, here is somebody else that noticed that RSB is just waste of money. I used to have it on my 2000 SE and before selling it I took it off and I swear I could not tell the difference when taking corners with my car with RSB off.

When I installed RSB it frist time I think felt some difference, but it was mostly in my head I think.

If you AutoX or something like that maybe RSB will help you, who knows, but for regular driving it is just waste of money.

 

It's not just the purchase price or the monthly payment - these cars are far more maintenance/service intensive, which is something that many people do not figure into the cost of ownership - along with insurance.

Another example, my next door neighbor has a gorgeous S60, less than 1 year old, one of the headlights is out already. Also, I have noticed that many German and Sweedish cars often have at least one brake light "stuck on" when driving - what kind of quality is that?

Other than that, they are beautiful cars.

 

funny and sweet

 

I agree, they are very attractive looking cars. That is what brought my attention to them in the first place. Were it not for the lack of power, the cramped space, the numerous blind spots caused by pillars, headrests, etc., and various other problems/quirky traits I might still entertain looking at one...but one day with it was more than enough. Tighter than a Max, yes...more 'cushy', yes...but not enough to make it a real candidate in my book.

 

Whatever floats yer boat.

The most important thing is that YOU are satisfied with YOUR purchase.

 

Well put.

 

Thank you.