Wall Street Journal article: [URL]http://301url.com/ccm[/URL]
If that price is for the T5, then you folks (in the US) are getting it a darn sight cheaper than we are down here in Oz ! Using today's exchange rate of AUD$1 = US$0.86, that equates to AUD$27,273 ! The C30 T5 Geartronic is around the AUD$44k here (US$38k) and that's before taxes and on-road costs which brings it up to around AUD$50K on the road. They are right about the fuel consumption too, it's very thirsty around town, but pretty good out on the highway. Cheers Mal Oz
It's a nice looking small car with a cramped interior that is best described as a 2 seater with modest storage room. A much roomier V70 2.5T can beat the really poor MPG of the C30 easily.
Cramped ?? You must breed them long and tall where you come from ! Correct it is not a large car, definitely not aimed at families with children or a large dog. I had a couple of 6 footers in the rear, and their feedback was along the lines of 'good leg room for a car of this size', they were impressed. Granted this was on a relatively short trip. It is a 4 seater (only 4 seats and belts) but it appears the rear seats are pushed back a little to create the rear leg room. This probably accounts for the very small boot (trunk). This can be an issue if you carry a lot of stuff around. Folding down the rear seat gives you some additional room (quickly) and I haven't had any issues with this so far apart from trying to fit a 6 burner BBQ in the back - a bit optimistic ! Storage space for books, maps is Ok, but not great. Glove Box is very small. The map pocket under the front seat is a good idea though. I use the central arm-rest storage box for my CD's. Once this is gone there isn't much left apart from the doors and behind the floating console. But you can manage. We go out most weekends into the hills and take the kettle, camping stove, a couple of folding chairs, picnic basket etc and it all fits in nicely without having to fold the seats forward. This car isn't going to suit a lot of people and there are other Volvos that will meet their particular needs better. We need to remember the rationale behind the design of the C30 in that they (Volvo) are trying to attract a new demographic to the marque - one that may not have considered Volvo in the past. Whether we like them or not the 3-door sports hatch format seems to be very popular (aka VW GTI, BMW 1 Series, Audi A3, Alpha 147, Opel Astra etc) so what better way for Volvo to take advantage of this popularity and introduce the C30. This strategy appears to be working down here in Australia as each shipment is presold before it hits the shore. According to Volvo my wife and I fit the target demo quite well, late 40's, kids left home and a bit of disposable income to play with. We bought it because it's the format we like (3-door) looks great, is well appointed, drives well and is (for the moment) a little more exclusive on the Australian roads. Cheers Mal Oz (no, I don't work for Volvo..just a satisfied customer)
The 3-door format may look good but the doors are much larger and much more difficult to use when parked next to other cars. Of course some people are more concerned about looks than practical matters.
Concur, you do need to be careful when opening the doors. This is my 3rd hatch so I'm quite used to squeezing out through the small gap - it also helps that my wife and are are not endowed with the 'tall' gene! Mind you the worst one we had was a Mitsubishi Lancer my wife had a few years back, the doors were bloody huge It's just a pity other people are not as careful when they open their's. Cheers Mal Oz
On top of that, the rear hatch is so darned small that the C30 is less useful than a 1990 Honda Civic hatchback! You'd have a hard time squeezing a boxed full-size microwave oven into the back. Too bad - I really like the styling.
to me, volvo is still all about safety...how will the c30 do in a blunt/fast collision w/a gmc yukon ? On top of that, the rear hatch is so darned small that the C30 is less useful than a 1990 Honda Civic hatchback! You'd have a hard time squeezing a boxed full-size microwave oven into the back. Too bad - I really like the styling.[/QUOTE]
If you want to regularly move big stuff, don't but the bloody C30 then ! or pay the microwave shop to deliver the darn thing ! -- Cheers Mal Oz http://maloz.bigblog.com.au/index.do "Espressopithecus (Java Man) >" <Espressopithecus<> wrote in message
I don't consider a microwave oven to be "big stuff". Most 2-door hatches will handle a microwave with ease -- including a 1990 Honda Civic. Java
