Is a Volvo under Ford as good as older Volvo?

Question

I'm thinking about a new car. I have a Volvo S80 from the pre-Ford days and I really love it. It's not going to last me forever, and since I love mine so much I'd like to get another Volvo. But is it going to be as good as the one I've got?

Answer 1

Yes the new Volvo S80 should be as good as or better than your S80. Module and software upgrade-related problems are relatively common for modern Volvos compared with other issues. I don't agree completely with the other post. Volvo has been making many cars at its Ghent, Belgium facility since 1965. Cars assembled there use Swedish-built engines. Besides, automatic transmissions are shipped from Japan by Aisin Warner. Belgian and Swedish-assembled Volvo cars use parts from Germany, Spain, Japan, and other countries. They are global cars with Swedish design, but not completely Swedish engineering. Volvos in the past (and probably still) were known by mechanics to use primarily Bosch parts like the German automakers. So mechanics likened them to German cars. Volvos are not as Swedish as they seem, and it doesn't matter much. I expect modern Volvos to last a long time with a few glitches here and there. Ford's management of Volvo does not bother me. I think it has been beneficial. Ford did a much better job managing Volvo than GM ever did with Saab.

Answer 2

My personal experience with later model Volvos has been substantially worse than expected. I would not have any Volvo later than the 940 model which was phased out in the mid-90s. My '98 S90 was the worst car I ever owned. This was a pre-Ford model and had nothing to do with Ford. It was merely a rebadged 960. I still have a '66 Volvo and it's essentially bulletproof. I'll drive it 'til I fall over from old age.
Volvos have become so complicated that reliability has suffered greatly. You have to show up at the dealer for "software upgrades" every time something goes wrong. These upgrades aren't cheap.
You are fortunate that your S80 is as good as it is because the early ones were very problematic.My estimation is that today's Volvos are nowhere near as reliable as in the past. Various consumer group studies back this up. I'd consider an alternative.

Answer 3

I cannot believe what I read from previous Volvo owners regarding the new ones made since Ford took over Volvo's passenger car (only) division in 1999 and placed it in its Premier Automotive Group. Ford has left Volvo pretty much alone and their cars are still largely manufactured in Sweden. The latest is that some new model mfg (C30 and XC70) will likely be moved to Gent, Belgium and Wales, England, but other model manufacturing will remain in Sweden.

The reviews I have seen are all very much positive: more standard and optional safety features, redesign, better gas mileage, hybrid technology research, etc.
Yes, like most cars they are more computerized and those with nostalgia for fix-it-yourself cars and boxy Volvos will, I am sure be disappointed. However this has nothing to do with Ford taking over reigns. The opposite is true. Ford is putting a lot of $$ into D&R that Volvo by itself couldn't.

So, just go ahead and buy with confidence. You have 4 years/50K miles of Volvo's bumper-to-bumper warrantee to find out if what I say is true. And if you just bought one, congrats for an excellent decision.

Answer 4

I completely consider Arthur. I even have 2 older Volvos that are nonetheless going sturdy, yet owned a 'ninety 8 form that replaced into an absolute nightmare. I spent greater on the 'ninety 8 form to maintain it on the line that I paid for it new. The engines and transmissions in Volvos are very sturdy and could final a protracted time, yet all the different much less costly technical and electric powered wizardry is amazingly much less costly made and breaks. all of it expenditures a fortune to replace. as an occasion, the a/c condenser went undesirable at a value of $2500 - I even have by no skill had yet another motor vehicle in my existence that ever had a undertaking like that. The headlight swap fell aside in my hand at some point, the door and potential window switches failed three times and had to get replaced. I replaced 4 wheel hubs (all on the comparable edge), the ABS administration module died, the air pump died, the overlaying on the doors (indoors) got here unglued and numerous small plastic aspects broke off. the vehicle replaced right into a humorous tale, in spite of the indisputable fact that it ran so good, I hated to do away with it. i replaced into compelled to because of the fact it replaced into draining my economic employer account. So, no the recent Volvos are no longer good vehicles and that they have got been going downhill previously Ford got here into the image. it rather is a shame too because of the fact the older Volvos I even have are sturdy as a rock.

Answer 5

No Volvo quality has definately slipped. Volvos used to be handmade in the pre Ford days, but not anymore. Look at an Acura or a Lexus. The German/Scandanavian car manufacturers have all definately slipped, BMW and Mercedes included.

Answer 6

I hope so...only because I just dropped $40k on an 07' S60....oh boy!

Ahh...it's all under warranty and drives like a charm...I'm in love!