the Volvo c30 looks to be a fun ride! SMall two door hatch, 218 HP 236 ft-lb turbo 5, stiffest chassis Volvo has ever made, and ~$23k.

More competition for the Mini!

Matt

 

how much does that car weight?

 

6 speed, 2900 lbs, 0-60 in 6.2; estimated EPA 22/30. No handling numbers. Stock, I don't think it will compete with a Mini in the corners, but the potential is there for more than it comes with.

But even though it's a bit heavier, it's every bit as quick. The mag points out that it's more a direct competitor to the GTI, but there's overlap here as well. Small footprint, 4 buckets, 2 doors, more for scoot and fun than most other vehicles. Same price range, nice interior build quality. It will take a few Mini sales as well.

Volvo wants to sell 10k of them here a year, starting in the summer of 07. MT think they will sell more....

But it's nice to see that there are more cars that offer some degree of sportiness and practicallity with some style at a decent price...

Matt

 

I believe the euorpean Focus RS and WRC Focus have the same engine. unlike ford usa, volvo is bringing the T-5 to the states.

 

Sounds like a good one, but the exterior styling doesn't do much for me.

 

Growing up in a lifelong Volvo family I have been anxiously awaiting the coming of the C30. This summer, I was trying to buy an S40 to tide me over until next year but due to snobby dealers I passed over buying another Volvo and I eventually got hooked on the MINI. It will be tough to get me away from owning a MINI but as soon as they are released, I am going to go test drive the C30 and decide from there. I love the styling and it should be pretty fast too. It also looks like Volvo is trying it's hand at the "youification" concept as it is offering a lot of personalization options in Europe (not sure yet about the U.S.). There were also some interesting variations of the C30 at the SEMA show done by the three major Volvo aftermarket tuners.

http://www.swedespeed.com/features/e...006/index.html

 

The C30 is getting some great accolades. The German newspaper, Bild am Sonntag just gave it a Golden Steering Award (MINI also received one this year). It also was included on the list of the World's Most Beautiful Autos as chosen by various car designers and artists (MINI was on this list as well).

 

Volvos have never done anything for me. I never really think about safety when it comes to buying a car. It didn't help since Volvo pushes safety first, They were off the list fast.

Medic

 

To each his own, but Volvo has made some great progress in performance and style recently and have proven IMO that cars can be both safe and fun to drive. All of the reviews I have read about the C30 so far have indicated that it has a much stiffer chassis than previous Volvos and it should be one of the most fun to drive Volvos ever made. So I wouldn't discount it solely because it's "safe." I'm not going to argue that Volvos haven't been complete tanks in the past, but I'm excited that they are starting to improve performance and the C30 will be a big step in the right direction. I would imagine that with it's 218hp turbo engine it will be as fast if not faster than an MCS.

 

I liked Volvos pre-1970, but not so much since then. The styling doesn't appeal to me, but that's just me.

 

You're just being disagreeable because you know I like Volvos

 

I'm glad to see more cars entering into the small 'hot hatch' segment and I'm looking forward to the Audi A1, which I hope they bring to the US (too bad it won't be out until 2009).

 

if awd version becomes available, its overrr

pass down my mini to my nepthew and get the c30..
good lord its smoking

 

I'm not being disagreeable...I thought my comment was pleasant for one not a Volvo-admirer.

 

More competition for MINI can only be a good thing because it will ensure that MINI will have to always be on top of it's game both in the features offered, performance, and quality. In the meantime there are some intriguing cars coming out in this segment.

I kind of like the BMW 1-Series too and there is rumor that there might be an "M" type version (although they won't be able to call it the M1, I think it will be the 130i).

 

I know, it was quite pleasant, I was just giving you a hard time MINIclo

 

well, let me put you back to reality then.

volvo's are UGLY! jk or am i?

 

Actually I would agree with that statement in some instances.

I've always said that Volvos are the anti-cool cars which IMO makes them cool because they aren't all that popular or mainstream. Although that is less true of the newer models, at times I fear that Volvo is losing some of the quirks that made them so unique.

 

I am to young to buy a volvo.....

Until they remove the stigma that has been associated with thier brand...they will never escape being well....to put it lightly....they will never escape being Volvo.

 

And to some people out there, MINI will never escape its "stigma" of being a cute little teenage girl's fad car... A closed mind never knows what it's missing.

 

with the list of cool hatches I saw in Europe this summer the Mini looked dated in comparison... we get screwed out of some nice rides... this Volvo looks very good to me

 

Let's hope the trend in the U.S. toward small cars continues. If demand is high enough we'll start seeing some of those fun little cars. I'm not sure if Volvo would have sold this car in the U.S. five years ago, it wasn't even a sure thing that it would be sold here but they got a huge response at the Detroit Auto Show so I think that pursuaded them to give it a shot.

 

You need to watch Speedvision and see the Volvos running in front othe BMWs etc

 

you know what, that's very true. why be like everyone else when
you have a great thing going, right?

 

My favorite Volvo was the 1989 740 Turbo Wagon I drove in high school. It had some issues but I fell in love with it because it had a lot of "character." Most people probably would have hated it, but I sure had some great times

I think my love for quirky and different cars is one reason why I ended up buying a MINI.