I found this article on AOL this morning....

http://autos.aol.com/article/coupe/_...17135009990001

Pretty good comparison and the Mini S did well.

 

ok they are both european , but really ! compare a mini to a volvo? please! When i start driving a volvo people will know my 44 year old testes are in a jar somewhere.

 

I rather like the C30 styling....but it is no MINI.

 

I actually really liked the styling of the S40, not so much the C30 but it's growing on me. Volvo's have come a long way and have more in common with MINI's than you'd think. Both are incredibly safe cars and have some of the most stylized interiors out there and Volvo enthusiasts are just as passionate and diverse as MINI enthusiasts.
I'll be burnt in effigy for saying this but if it were to come down to the C30 and the R56, it would be a tough choice for me. Now if Volvo would release the S40R (300hp turbo 5cyl. w/ AWD) they teased us with a few years back or put that drivetrain in the C30, I'd really want to jump ship here.

 

And really, it's all about that isn't it??

 

I test drove and was nearly sold on the C30 before buying my Mini. I was looking for an upgrade to my mazda3 hatchback and liked the styling of the C30....and was set on a hatchback no matter what. I had also just been in an accident which totaled the mazda and wanted something with a known safety reputation. The C30 was NICE...very smooth, quick and decent suspension. Not what I had expected from a Volvo. The interior was great and seats extremely comfortable. However, getting the version 2.0 with the options I wanted was setting me right at or over $30k and I just didn't want to do that.

The boyfriend insisted I give the Mini a chance and test drive one...I completely forgot about the C30 at that point!

 

A better comparo would have been the GTI to the R56
or WV GTI 4-door or Mazda Speed3 to the Clubman S... just say'n

and no, I don't like the rear of the C30 at all

 

the people of volvo were nice enough to let me and my buddy test out a c30. we had a blast with it, tearing up the autobahn and the city too. it was fun to drive and i like the styling but since its new, it doesn't have the cult following of the mini. plus it feels really wide when driving. nice car; but i am mini thru and thru!

 

Funny you'd look at the C30 as an upgrade to the Mazda 3 since they are built on the same chassis, the Volvo has a much better interior, a few more safety bits, and much better suspension tuning as you noticed, but the Mazda 3, Ford Focus, and Volvo C30/S40/V50 all share similar architecture.

 

I have been meaning to stop by my old VW/Volvo dealer to check one out. The back looks cool, but the front is too plain, just like any other Volvo. I think they stayed too conservative with the design, and as a result it's not going to be a big hit. I have yet to see one on the road.

 

I think the Volvo C30 is ugly compared to the Mini. I guess that's why they make different cars.

 

That Volvo isn't ugly....it's fugly...

 

Yes, a Volvo *is* an upgrade from a Mazda, don't you think? I already knew the mazda3 was built on the same chassis as the S40 but the C30 is technically not the same chassis as the 3. Knowing about the shared chassis and that Ford essentially owns Mazda and Volvo...it made perfect sense to me to upgrade from a japanese 'econobox' to a more luxurious and refined european car in the same 'family' because I was very very happy with my entire Mazda experience.

That little econobox 3 performed very well for what it was, was an excellent daily driver and I walked away from the accident without so much as a scratch. I had no real problem with staying in the same brand 'family'. If I had not driven the Mini I may have ended up in the C30 but I also couldn't help but feel the C30 is overall not much of a value for what they are charging. The standard safety features on that C30 are also pretty amazing...but that is what Volvo prides itself in.

To each their own but my mazda experience left me pleasantly surprised (everything from the dealership/sales and service experience to how the car performed on a daily basis and even at an auto cross school day). I am loving my Mini to death right now but I am just hoping that after several yrs if I will feel the same way about the Mini brand.

 

lol...it isn't the most exciting looking car out there...that's for sure.

I am never going to live this down but.....I used to think Minis were atrocious looking. No doubt their styling has grown on me. I will say I bought my car for how fun it is and not necessarily how it looks...

Of course, my idea of 'perfect styling' and 'beautiful' for an 'attainable' car are the elise and the exige...so everything else on the road just looks bleh in comparison!

 

I think the only reason there are a lot of MINI and C30 comparos out there is the size aspect. From everything I've seen, the C30 is a nice car, typical Volvo. Solidly built, quality components, but it's not nearly as "sporting" as the MINI and not nearly as capable at the limits.

I would certainly look at the C30 if I was shelving my testes, as another poster put it!

 

I would say the comparisons are made due to size and price. Both are the main players in the "Premium compact" class... More so than even the GTI

We are rather fond of the C30's rear styling, but as owners of two 1800ES's, we're somewhat biased...



Fortunately, Volvo is offering a rather ****-poor choice of colors... as if the C30 was available in a similar green to our ES's (both of our car's are the same green), then the MCS would be in trouble...

 

 

Check this out...
http://www.eurotuner.com/featuredveh...struction.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4aWIuVlosr0
http://www.evolvecars.com/site/index.php
This may make you rethink the C30 and Volvo... I really like what they did, even if it is overkill.

 

c30 is a bit expensive if you want to order a cool one. i'd rather pick up a used v70r

 

It took me a second to get what you were saying. But very true.

And IanF, you're right about the price / "market segment" thing. That's more accurate. Still think they aren't directly competing for many people.

 

FWIW if you are considering a new Volvo check out Volvo's website about overseas delivery. From my understanding you can get a new one back of invoice with a free trip for two to Sweden. I thought about it ...........................however I ordered my Mini which is supposed to be completed and waiting to take a cruise today.Order a Mini let it take the cruise.

 

Love all the "testes" comments... maybe you should look into what Rica is doing with their stage III before you so quickly dismiss. I just ordered my C30 Ver2.0 with all the bells and whistles, minus NAV (overpriced) and sunroof (never use 'em) and got it for $27K... less than the comparibly equiped GTI or Mini... military deal, gotta love it, wish others did it!

Anyway, we still love the wife's 03 "S" and I will admit it comes right out the box with much better handling, but that's all part of the fun... getting it to where you want it... so, throw on some H&R sport springs, Evolve rear sway, and Quaife LSD, problem solved... I think when I'm putting nearly 300hp to the road, all you guys unwilling to put your testes in a jar, can line up next to me, and I'll roast 'em for ya!

2.5T with a GT30RS turbo and Stage III tune on a car this compact will definitely get the job done... ;-)

 

Yeah, definitely drive a C30 before making up your mind that it is no competition. It's a pretty damn fun car IMHO, and they seemed infinitely more willing to deal on them then the 2 regional MINI dealers I've visited (offered me $3K off sticker for an order and $3K more on my trade in pretty much right off the bat).

Feels a bit quicker to 80mph or so than the 08 MCSs I have test driven, has a more usable back seat, and superior cockpit ergonomics and materials.

It falls short in the handling dept. w/ a fair bit more plowing and torque steer than the MINI, but was suprisingly planted none the less and was probably no more than 3-5 MPH slower through the twisties at around 6- 7/10ths. With the additional 350 + lbs., 2.5 L displacement, and no direct injection, it will probably get significantly worse real world mileage than the R56 MCS as well.

Styling is always a subjective thing, and I do like the looks of the R56 MCS better than the C30 V2 (but not quite as much as the R53), but the C30 certainly isn't aesthetically boring to me, inside or out.

In the end the 08 MCS won out for me in my recent new car due dilligence(gots to get my high mpg motoring on...), but the C30 V2 was a not too distant second, followed closely by the A3 2.0 S-Line.

 

yeah, leave it to Volvo to make a decent car, and our decision tougher. I narrowed my selection down to a handful of competitors, the C30 obviously, Mini "S" VW GTi, and A3 2.0T... all had advantages over the other, but in the end, I just felt the C30 had more to offer in what mattered to me most. Can't really say which one's better than the other, because what's important to me, might not even be on someone else's radar.

I can't claim the C30 is "everything" I want in a car... but because all the premium European car manufacturers aren't bringing their 4-cylinder, turbo, AWD hatchbacks to the U.S. of A. we all have to pick from what they DO offer.

By the way, if Audi ever decided to bring the S3 over here, and I'm not talking about the watered down mini-station wagon version, but the 260hp, AWD 3 door hatchbacks I've actually driven overseas, I'll be trading in a C30 for one.

 

I've only seen one of these on the road. I thought it looked pretty cool. I passed the dude on the interstate....and never saw him again.

But it is a Volvo. I'm sure it drives and rides like a Volvo. Aren't they owned by Ford?