Update on approved used Volvo ownership. First fault, water ingress due to badly fitted rear fog lamp on what turns out to be replacement rear bumper (the lamp holder is ruined) not covered under so-called all singing, all dancing Volvo warranty. It’s a bad design too being so low in the bumper it gets all the spray from the rear wheels directly into the wiring and lamp connector. I’ll send it to the trusted local auto electrician I’ve used for years. Mildly miffed as fault was likely there from purchase as this was the first time we used the fog lights. I expected some goodwill. Called the service dept a month after buying to ask when the timing belt interval was (I know it’s 10yrs or 108k) to which they answered 6yrs regardless of mileage. But when I informed them I’d just bought it this figure quickly reverted to the 10yr Volvo recommendation. Seems 10yrs is ok for them but not for the rest of us. Blatant attempt at dishonesty plus lack of any good will for above means my local independent will be servicing the car rather than the main dealer. They have a poor reputation locally but the car itself is a nice example.
I'd find that quite disappointing SLO......the lack of goodwill particularly.
I did use my local Volvo main dealer when I had my V70 and they were good so I guess I got lucky.
Glad you are enjoying the car though.
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“ Glad you are enjoying the car though”
To be honest, I prefer the old Toyota. It rides better, it’s better on fuel, it has more space inside and it’s better made. I’ll wager it’s still going long after the Volvo is in the bin. I’ve far more confidence in it but swmbo wanted a big posh SUV.
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“ Glad you are enjoying the car though” To be honest, I prefer the old Toyota. It rides better, it’s better on fuel, it has more space inside and it’s better made. I’ll wager it’s still going long after the Volvo is in the bin. I’ve far more confidence in it but swmbo wanted a big posh SUV.
Maybe a Japanese or Korean SUV would be a possibility?. Not posh in the traditional sense (apart from Lexus), but the leather upholstery and gizmo's might make it an adequate substitute. And the Mazda CX5 is a handsome machine, for an SUV.
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You can't resist the tide SLO. My wife's Qashqai is the most uninteresting thing to drive. Can't fault it as a car really, but it's slow, handles ponderously, isn't fab on fuel, has too hard suspension and it feels like you're sitting on a bar stool when you are driving it.
A Focus, Astra, Golf or anything similar would a far nicer thing to drive, with similar practicality, but, she loves her sitty uppy car.
I really don't get it, she doesn't have a bad back or anything, so the ease of entry etc is irrelevant.
It's just her preference, and when asked, she can't tell me why. But, I'm old and tired and broken enough to know better than to argue...
;-)
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Bearing in mind the title of the thread, I don't think that Mrs SLO will be getting another new car any time soon!
Time was whern both Toyotas and Volvos had well-deserved reputations for reliabilty and longevity: remember those tank-like 240 and 740 estates? Toyota's reputation is still intact; but as Volvos have become better to drive, they seem to have become less sturdy, perhaps lined with the increased reliance on electronics. Toyotas are full of electronics too, but the Japanese seem to have the ability to test them fully before putting them into production.
Still, even that is better than selling cars while the software is still in development. That could well do VW more harm than 'Dieselgate', which didn't have the effect on sales that some people expected it to.
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I learned to drive in 1975 in my dad's 240. Last time I checked ( about 5 years ago ) it was still on the road. Must see if it still is.
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“ Maybe a Japanese or Korean SUV would be a possibility?. Not posh in the traditional sense (apart from Lexus), but the leather upholstery and gizmo's might make it an adequate substitute. And the Mazda CX5 is a handsome machine, for an SUV.”
I wanted a petrol post facelift CX5 but the gaffer wasn’t keen. The big Volvo is a fine big car (stupid positioning of rear fog lamps aside) it’s just a bit lumpy riding which is normal for an SUV. I prefer a big estate.
It’s the dishonesty of the local Volvo dealer that’s the issue. Sadly this particular firm runs the Honda, Mazda, Suzuki and Mitsubishi dealerships nearby. Customer service is sadly lacking at nice you’ve left the showroom.
Edited by SLO76 on 01/02/2021 at 15:45
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It does though fascinate me, both personally and professionally ( I've been around the premium "branded" fashion business all my life ) as to what people think they are buying into when it comes to car choice, as opposed to what they are actually getting.
Once you get beyond the primary function of efficiently transporting people and their belongings from point A to point B, which can be achieved with the most basic and inexpensive of vehicles of varying sizes, it all starts to get a bit more subjective.
You could draw all manner of Venn diagrams on the subject but with the two main loops being solutions versus statements.
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“ Customer service is sadly lacking at nice you’ve left the showroom.”
Customer service is sadly lacking once you’ve left the showroom.
Damn predictive text.
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It’s the dishonesty of the local Volvo dealer that’s the issue. Sadly this particular firm runs the Honda, Mazda, Suzuki and Mitsubishi dealerships nearby. Customer service is sadly lacking at nice you’ve left the showroom.
That'll be a group beginning with P then ... I thought that they had a reasonable reputation but maybe I am wrong. Mind you my sister has had issues over the years with at least 3 Volvo dealers in the Glasgow area so maybe it's the franchise rather than the dealer? Have you personal experience of all of those local P's Group franchises?
My own experience with 3 different franchises within the AC empire suggests that franchise does make a difference.
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It’s the dishonesty of the local Volvo dealer that’s the issue. Sadly this particular firm runs the Honda, Mazda, Suzuki and Mitsubishi dealerships nearby. Customer service is sadly lacking at nice you’ve left the showroom.
That'll be a group beginning with P then ... I thought that they had a reasonable reputation but maybe I am wrong. Mind you my sister has had issues over the years with at least 3 Volvo dealers in the Glasgow area so maybe it's the franchise rather than the dealer? Have you personal experience of all of those local P's Group franchises?
My own experience with 3 different franchises within the AC empire suggests that franchise does make a difference.
I have bad blood with the Honda franchise and was horrified by the standard of their so-called approved used stock when we went to view CRV’s. My previous example was serviced there and often the work was substandard. They couldn’t even wash the thing properly which they are supposed to do when in for a service. They just moved the dirt around. The difference between them and our local VW dealer is huge but neither of us fancied a Tiguan. My little Polo always came back with any work done properly and it was always spotless.
Edited by SLO76 on 01/02/2021 at 18:33
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“ Glad you are enjoying the car though” To be honest, I prefer the old Toyota. It rides better, it’s better on fuel, it has more space inside and it’s better made. I’ll wager it’s still going long after the Volvo is in the bin. I’ve far more confidence in it but swmbo wanted a big posh SUV.
Well, It's no secret that I'm an out and out Toyota fan and have been for years...tbh I buy nothing else..but at least that's based on experience over the many I've had.
I've never had to question reliability and build quality in any of them.
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Called the service dept a month after buying to ask when the timing belt interval was (I know it’s 10yrs or 108k) to which they answered 6yrs regardless of mileage. But when I informed them I’d just bought it this figure quickly reverted to the 10yr Volvo recommendation
When we bought the 1.4 TSi Leon back in 2013 I asked about cam belt changes and cost since I do not like to get surprises later. Was told it was 3 years or 36,000 miles and the cost was about £350 inc water pump.
Not too unhappy but after a couple of weeks it seemed that with such a short interval they would get very few fleet sales, 36,000 would be about 18 months on our works cars. So I rang another local Seat dealer to be told 5 years or 60,000 miles, better but nowhere near Fords figures.
With 2 very different figures I contacted Seat themselves who confirmed it was after 60,000 miles inspect the belt and if it OK inspect every 20,000 miles after that. Regardless of condition the belt must be changed after 6 years or 120,000 miles.
Personally very happy since it mean't I would not have to change a belt since I would get nowhere near 120,000 miles and would be unlikely to keep it longer than 5 years (we actually had it for just under 4 years.
I could not hep but feel that the dealer we bought from was simply profiteering and since he proved himself to be a liar shortly after we had bought it that feeling was 100% correct.
Well, It's no secret that I'm an out and out Toyota fan and have been for years...tbh I buy nothing else..but at least that's based on experience over the many I've had.
I've never had to question reliability and build quality in any of them.
We have not had reliability issues with any of the car we have had since the mid 80's (when we bought the first Golf) and although I find VAG products perfect for our current needs that does not mean we never look elsewhere. I will always make the final choice on more factors than being happy with a brand in the past. Been very happy with the 4 Nissans we have had but when they don't make a suitable car for us we don't go and even look.
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“ Well, It's no secret that I'm an out and out Toyota fan and have been for years...tbh I buy nothing else..but at least that's based on experience over the many I've had.
I've never had to question reliability and build quality in any of them”
Yeah, they rarely go wrong. I’ve never had any major trouble in all the years I spent flogging them and owning them.
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Forgot to mention that the dealer did (with a bit of arm twisting) fix the problem free of charge. Car has been otherwise faultless but I find I’m not really that keen on it. The 5cyl engine is probably the best part of it, bags of pull and a fair bit of character but the ride quality really isn’t good enough. All irrelevant though as swmbo absolutely loves it.
The choice of who to service it is approaching however and with trust in the main dealer absolutely gone after the timing belt lie I’m left with trusted independent who services “Terrance” the Toyota (wife names everything) and offers “dealer level servicing using genuine manufacturer parts” or do I take a day off work to visit the well regarded Volvo specialist in Glasgow?
Edited by SLO76 on 16/05/2021 at 21:02
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Go for the independent or you'll be a slave to the car. I'm sure the service schedule is readily available in the paperwork or failing that online, and so you can ask that specific things are done ontop of whatever is found to be needing doing. Main dealers, specialists, independents, they can all be toe rags (in my experience a dodgy specialist with lovely family run branding and credentials!). My only stipulation with the indie is that they must use OEM parts (as in the original brands such as Denso) rather than pattern. Usually i supply my own if i am asking for a specific job to be done.
Could the ride quality be improved with higher profile tyres?
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I used to get my Honda serviced by a P ..... franchised dealer - they have loads of franchises.
The last time was when the car was 5 years old. I booked the car in then decided I wanted a wheels off look at my brakes and pads out, handbrake adjusted, greased etc. The car service was £200+IIRC and they wanted £295 for a brake service. I had the service done and got my local Indie to do the brakes - 1 hour labour was the whole charge.
Months later I was checking levels and decided to look at the auto gearbox levels - the dip stick was like a coiled spring. I phoned and they said it was not them - they would say that!
Never paid them another penny - my local Indie stamp in in the service book
Current Honda 5 stamps, Indie 3 in a few months 4 - I will not be back.
26 years ago I bought first Honda at Dunblane Honda (locally owned) then 2001 Helensburgh Honda (locally owned) - used them for servicing etc - Great service.
At around 2005 Honda started shutting local "smaller outlets" - Honda in Scotland is now chains - A Clark, Parks, Vertu, Eastern Western ................ the only small Honda dealers are in rural communities Dumfries, Aberdeenshire, Peebles in the Borders - all too far tor me to use.
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