New car for me.?.?. UPDATED 2012 Volvo C30 R-design

[Gas Man]

Well I test drove the GTI. For all the hype around this car I was disappointed. It was ok quick in 1st & 2nd gear but then it faded bad. Just another disappointment.

I was told by one of the nearby VW salesman that even though he owns a Volvo, that I would be disappointed in the C30 after driving the GTI.

and...

He was DEAD wrong!!! The C30 I think looks better in person, where the GTI is more boring in person. The added hp & torque of the C30 is way more noticeable even though the C30 I test drove was a craptastic auto where as the GTI was a stick (the way these cars should be IMO).

Then on the highway, the old saying "there's no replacement for displacement" held true. The Volvo's higher displacement (the 5th cylinder) did much better on the highway... constant & linear pull straight thru and over 100mph.

The things I didn't like about the C30 like the non-body color trim all around the car is painted body color on the C30 R-design. The R-design has nicer & bigger wheels (they didn't have one on the lot) but off pictures.

Then the while the VW offers 3yr/36k warranty and free servicing. The Volvo gives you 5yr/50k maintenance free, I'm talking light bulbs, oil changes, wiper blades, tire rotations, everything.

It keeps getting better for the Volvo. They offer this thing called "overseas delivery". So on the C30 R, they sell it to me for 3.1% cheaper than here, they fly me and one other person to Sweden, all expense paid, factory tour, food... I take delivery of my car in Sweden and drive it around where ever I want. Then I fly home and they ship my car to my dealer as well. WIN WIN!! I'm not sure why or where but I'm sure they are saving some import tax or something.

Details
http://www.volvocars.com/us/sales-se...s/default.aspx

So that did it... The Volvo C30 R-Design. Just as I posted earlier...

Just have to wait to see what happens with my current ride...

[derf]

Originally Posted by Gas Man

Well I test drove the GTI. For all the hype around this car I was disappointed. It was ok quick in 1st & 2nd gear but then it faded bad. Just another disappointment.

I was told by one of the nearby VW salesman that even though he owns a Volvo, that I would be disappointed in the C30 after driving the GTI.

and...

He was DEAD wrong!!! The C30 I think looks better in person, where the GTI is more boring in person. The added hp & torque of the C30 is way more noticeable even though the C30 I test drove was a craptastic auto where as the GTI was a stick (the way these cars should be IMO).

Then on the highway, the old saying "there's no replacement for displacement" held true. The Volvo's higher displacement (the 5th cylinder) did much better on the highway... constant & linear pull straight thru and over 100mph.

The things I didn't like about the C30 like the non-body color trim all around the car is painted body color on the C30 R-design. The R-design has nicer & bigger wheels (they didn't have one on the lot) but off pictures.

Then the while the VW offers 3yr/36k warranty and free servicing. The Volvo gives you 5yr/50k maintenance free, I'm talking light bulbs, oil changes, wiper blades, tire rotations, everything.

It keeps getting better for the Volvo. They offer this thing called "overseas delivery". So on the C30 R, they sell it to me for 3.1% cheaper than here, they fly me and one other person to Sweden, all expense paid, factory tour, food... I take delivery of my car in Sweden and drive it around where ever I want. Then I fly home and they ship my car to my dealer as well. WIN WIN!! I'm not sure why or where but I'm sure they are saving some import tax or something.

Details
http://www.volvocars.com/us/sales-se...s/default.aspx

So that did it... The Volvo C30 R-Design. Just as I posted earlier...

Just have to wait to see what happens with my current ride...

Yeh you save on an import corporation tax because you are importing it instead of them. BMW started doing it in the 90s and it was a huge selling point for their cars, drive from the factory to the boat and the car meets you at your house in a few weeks. BMW would do a key ceremony where they brought you on the factory floor to put the last bolt on the car (after they had finished building it and did all the quality control checks and what not), then a bunch of the factory workers give you a certificate saying that you helped build the car then they clapped as you drive off (while the next schlub walks in the door to put the last bolt on his car). It was a good program and made many really happy customers out of people.

[Gas Man]

Yeah I knew it has to do something with the taxes. But at the end of the day for me, I get the car for cheaper and a free trip. What's not to love?

[derf]

Originally Posted by Gas Man

Yeah I knew it has to do something with the taxes. But at the end of the day for me, I get the car for cheaper and a free trip. What's not to love?

I dunno, that extra few days of driving vacation in europe seems like a pretty big bonus to me.

[Adeptus_Minor]

Originally Posted by Gas Man

Then the while the VW offers 3yr/36k warranty and free servicing. The Volvo gives you 5yr/50k maintenance free, I'm talking light bulbs, oil changes, wiper blades, tire rotations, everything.

It keeps getting better for the Volvo. They offer this thing called "overseas delivery". So on the C30 R, they sell it to me for 3.1% cheaper than here, they fly me and one other person to Sweden, all expense paid, factory tour, food... I take delivery of my car in Sweden and drive it around where ever I want. Then I fly home and they ship my car to my dealer as well. WIN WIN!! I'm not sure why or where but I'm sure they are saving some import tax or something.

So that did it... The Volvo C30 R-Design. Just as I posted earlier...

Yeah, Volvo is definitely doing more to build their appeal these days.
Good choice, man.

[Dave]

Originally Posted by Gas Man

Well I test drove the GTI. For all the hype around this car I was disappointed. It was ok quick in 1st & 2nd gear but then it faded bad. Just another disappointment.

I was told by one of the nearby VW salesman that even though he owns a Volvo, that I would be disappointed in the C30 after driving the GTI.

and...

He was DEAD wrong!!! The C30 I think looks better in person, where the GTI is more boring in person. The added hp & torque of the C30 is way more noticeable even though the C30 I test drove was a craptastic auto where as the GTI was a stick (the way these cars should be IMO).

Then on the highway, the old saying "there's no replacement for displacement" held true. The Volvo's higher displacement (the 5th cylinder) did much better on the highway... constant & linear pull straight thru and over 100mph.

The things I didn't like about the C30 like the non-body color trim all around the car is painted body color on the C30 R-design. The R-design has nicer & bigger wheels (they didn't have one on the lot) but off pictures.

Then the while the VW offers 3yr/36k warranty and free servicing. The Volvo gives you 5yr/50k maintenance free, I'm talking light bulbs, oil changes, wiper blades, tire rotations, everything.

It keeps getting better for the Volvo. They offer this thing called "overseas delivery". So on the C30 R, they sell it to me for 3.1% cheaper than here, they fly me and one other person to Sweden, all expense paid, factory tour, food... I take delivery of my car in Sweden and drive it around where ever I want. Then I fly home and they ship my car to my dealer as well. WIN WIN!! I'm not sure why or where but I'm sure they are saving some import tax or something.

Details
http://www.volvocars.com/us/sales-se...s/default.aspx

So that did it... The Volvo C30 R-Design. Just as I posted earlier...

Just have to wait to see what happens with my current ride...

Toldyaso how'd you like the character of that I5?

[Gas Man]

The extra cylinder of the I5 really showed face on the highway...

[101lifts2]

Originally Posted by Gas Man

.....It keeps getting better for the Volvo. They offer this thing called "overseas delivery". So on the C30 R, they sell it to me for 3.1% cheaper than here, they fly me and one other person to Sweden, all expense paid, factory tour, food... I take delivery of my car in Sweden and drive it around where ever I want. Then I fly home and they ship my car to my dealer as well. WIN WIN!! I'm not sure why or where but I'm sure they are saving some import tax or something. ......

I'm not sure why someone would do this..but..you are not an importer, which is required for any vehicle that is 25 years old or newer since it has to be proven to meet U.S DOT, NHTSA and EPA regulations. Also, it is U.S. VIN'd? If not, you cannot register it. Also, there may be no implied warranty.

[derf]

Originally Posted by 101lifts2

I'm not sure why someone would do this..but..you are not an importer, which is required for any vehicle that is 25 years old or newer since it has to be proven to meet U.S DOT, NHTSA and EPA regulations. Also, it is U.S. VIN'd? If not, you cannot register it. Also, there may be no implied warranty.

No they sell you the car to US specs (meets all requirements to be tag'd and titled in the US) and do all the shipping on your behalf and you contract with volvo to ship the car. Basically they take advantage of loopholes in the system. But there is no barrier to getting the car into the US.

[Gas Man]

Thank you derf.

Also, I should have mentioned... the base performance stereo in this car... OMG!! The most amazing stereo system I've ever heard in a manufacture car. It had bass like you would think it had a 12" sub in the trunk.

And I will order mine with their upgraded premium sound system... WOW.