Ford selling Volvo?

[Aawara Chowdhury]

In <[email protected]>,

I understand the 5 cylinder FWD engine is a BMW design, at Volvo request.

No, it isn't. The modular engines (6, 5, 4 cyl.) were designed at
Porche's Weissbach design facility, as per Volvo's needs.

AC

 

[Stephen Henning]

Steve, what is wrong with the Yamaha V8 ? I have never read anything bad
about the engine, apart from the fuel consumption, Rob

QED

Very inefficient.

Volvo engines have a long reputation of efficiency and durability.

 

[blurp]

In my fantasy world a Swedish industrialist would buy Saab and Volvo and
turn them into great companies with a strong Scandinavian viewpoint.
Not going to happen, but would be nice.

And then they'd crank out updated 240's....

 

[Mike Lindsay]

Is a car that is designed in Sweden and built in Sweden and Belgium,
with Japanese transmissions, German. I don't think so. I don't think
the present Volvo is American either. Ford's only contribution was
adding the V-8 engines which I avoid like the plague.

There is a new Volvo on sale in the UK, called C30. It looks very like
what we know as the Ford Fiesta. Anyone know anything about it?

 

[Stephen Henning]

There is a new Volvo on sale in the UK, called C30. It looks very like
what we know as the Ford Fiesta. Anyone know anything about it?

It is a "near-luxury" hatchback/coupe and is coming to the US in October
as a 2008 model.

A hybrid version is in the works. It shares the platform of the Volvo
S40/V50/C70. The term platform is very vague. This C1 platform is
designed for either front- or all wheel drive. The C1 platform was
designed in Cologne, Germany as the "C Technologies Program". Thirty
engineers each from Mazda, Ford, and Volvo worked to combine the compact
car engineering from all three automakers. This is especially beneficial
as each manufacturer involved assisted in certain areas that they are
well known for, Volvo with safety, Mazda with handling, and Ford with
cost cutting.

<http://www.volvocars.com/campaigns/MY07/C30/OpenDoors/default.htm>

<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volvo_C30>

 

[Stephen Henning]

And then they'd crank out updated 240's....

I hope not. I owned 5 240's and 3 850/V70's and the 240 is a giant step
backward in safety, economy, power, reliability, longevity, luxury, and
roadability. Other than that it was not too bad. Volvo could never
bring it back because it doesn't come close to meeting their present
safety standards. Maybe a retro on a modern platform, but not the real
thing. NEVER. But then they should go back to the 444/544/Amazon for a
retro, not the 240.

 

[James Sweet]

I hope not. I owned 5 240's and 3 850/V70's and the 240 is a giant step
backward in safety, economy, power, reliability, longevity, luxury, and
roadability. Other than that it was not too bad. Volvo could never
bring it back because it doesn't come close to meeting their present
safety standards. Maybe a retro on a modern platform, but not the real
thing. NEVER. But then they should go back to the 444/544/Amazon for a
retro, not the 240.
--

While it'll never happen, many of us, myself included like the 240, it's
fine if you think it's a step backwards but the fact remains that it's still
a very safe car, even compared to much of what's out there now. It's
comfortable, dependable, simple, easy to work on, parts are plentiful, and
it has that classic Volvo styling. I've often compared the 240 to the DC-3
aircraft, much more advanced vehicles have been produced in the meantime,
many are improvements in many aspects, but IMO there has never truly been a
replacement for the durable, versatile, economical, and iconic workhorse
that the 240 is. There's a good reason many thousands of 240s are still on
the road well over a decade after the last one rolled off the assembly line.

 

[blurp]

While it'll never happen, many of us, myself included like the 240, it's
fine if you think it's a step backwards but the fact remains that it's still
a very safe car, even compared to much of what's out there now. It's
comfortable, dependable, simple, easy to work on, parts are plentiful, and
it has that classic Volvo styling. I've often compared the 240 to the DC-3
aircraft, much more advanced vehicles have been produced in the meantime,
many are improvements in many aspects, but IMO there has never truly been a
replacement for the durable, versatile, economical, and iconic workhorse
that the 240 is. There's a good reason many thousands of 240s are still on
the road well over a decade after the last one rolled off the assembly line.

Well said, James.

 

[sorint]

QED

Very inefficient.

Volvo engines have a long reputation of efficiency and durability.
--
Cheers, Steve Henning in Reading, PA, USA
Owned '67,'68,'71,'74,'79,'81,'87,'93,'95 & '01 Volvos.
The '67,'74,'79,'87,'95 and '01 through European Delivery.
http://rhodyman.net/homevo.html

I just sold my 95 940 wagon that was not even pulling 24mpg, unless on
a highway. And it wasn't even a turbo. Where was the efficiency in
that? and it was so underpowered that it was literally painful to
drive. Between that and a new 90 series that has the same mpg I'll
pick the last one even if it has twice the cylinders (all other things
being equal, of course). Now, I'm not complaining about its
reliability, that was great.
No, I'm not bashing Volvo, I am a big fan and I still own an S70 but
that 940 was painful to drive, plain and simple AND getting a horrible
MPG. That combined with a lack of manual transmission in the late yrs
of 940's have lost me as a fan of the series. Now I'm looking for a
manual 850 or S70 that are very difficult to find.

 

[z]

I have got the impression, that selling images is what is the main business of
every big company nowadays. Product quality and customer satisfaction are
definitely secondary or tertiary issues.

And it's come home to roost. Image eventually matches reality. There
aren't any teenage boys anywhere bugging their fathers to buy an
Impala anymore.

 

[John Horner]

I understand the 5 cylinder FWD engine is a BMW design, at Volvo request.

joe

Everything I ever read about that was the Porsche's contract engineering
unit helped Volvo with the design, not BMW. Few people realize that
Porsche has a huge contract engineering group.

 

[Mike Lindsay]

It is a "near-luxury" hatchback/coupe and is coming to the US in October
as a 2008 model.

A hybrid version is in the works. It shares the platform of the Volvo
S40/V50/C70. The term platform is very vague. This C1 platform is
designed for either front- or all wheel drive. The C1 platform was
designed in Cologne, Germany as the "C Technologies Program". Thirty
engineers each from Mazda, Ford, and Volvo worked to combine the compact
car engineering from all three automakers. This is especially beneficial
as each manufacturer involved assisted in certain areas that they are
well known for, Volvo with safety, Mazda with handling, and Ford with
cost cutting.

<http://www.volvocars.com/campaigns/MY07/C30/OpenDoors/default.htm>

<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volvo_C30>

Thanks for that informative answer.

Not sure if I like the idea of 30 engineers from different countries all
with a finger in the pie. Someone described a camel as a horse designed
by a committee.

 

[Richard Polhill]

Thanks for that informative answer.

Not sure if I like the idea of 30 engineers from different countries all
with a finger in the pie. Someone described a camel as a horse designed
by a committee.

A bit unfair on camels which are eminently suitable for their environment.

 

[Patrick Barnes]

I just replaced struts, strut mounts, and a inner axle boot, on my "07" S-80 . Being new to Volvo, I was surprised and quite disappointed to see the FOMOCO stamped into the parts. I have never been a Ford fan, and I am hoping I didn't make a mistake. I love the look, and feel of the car, I guess time will tell.