Driving impressions ?

thinking of a daily driver.

 

www.swedespeed.com

 

Never involved with the S80 but I took an S60r out for a spin last fall. I would get one in a second. Very fun car and 2007 is the last model year before they start sharing parts with Ford... so get one while you can (or just get a pre-owned down the road)...

 

I don't think the current model of S80s are doing very well ... plagued with electrical problems (Ford parts have already invaded Volvo cars) so I'm not sure how 'rock solid' these cars are compared to the 4-cyl 240 / 740 era of the 70s-80s.

My folks have a 2000 S70 (still boxy) ... only thing that has gone wrong was a front driver's side window motor (covered on warranty). The warranty is gone so I hope they dump it before any more gremlins pop up. Previously, they had a '89 740GL -- that car was a tank, drove like a tank ... but nothing wrong with the motor or electrical components. The cat went after 10 yrs but Volvo changed it free as a good will gesture (and we did trade-in for a 2000 model).

I do like the way the new S80 looks ... hopefully, Volvo has put in the R&D into electronic components and keep the interior fit & finish up to par. I personally would buy a first model year Volvo ...

(Maybe you can find a car that's 2-3 yrs old ... S80s have a tendency to take a beating on initial depreciation)

 

I really like Volvos, but to be honest, I can't tell a S60 and an S80 apart at all unless I look at the badge. The only way I can tell S40s apart is because of their size. Wonder when they're going to get a restyle. Seems like Volvo goes a decade between model designs as opposed to every 4 years.

I drove a 2000 S70 a coupe of years ago, and it was great. Seats were wonderful. I just remember the center console was goofy. If I got a Volvo it'd be one of those or a Cross Country wagon.

 

^ Yeah the S80 is supposed to be the 7-Series or S-Class of the Volvo lineup, but it seems like it doesn't stand out that way in the Volvo lineup. What I mean is that you can tell the 7-Series is the big kahuna of the BMW sedans by looking at it. The S80 is sort of redundant next to the S60.

 

id get the S60r...