Have volvos shrunk?

[thinfourth2]

Overtook 2 volvos the other day. One was an old school 940 estate and it was HUGE the next was some modern unknown volvo estate thingy and it was similar size to the cars around it.

So when did volvos become normal sized cars

[Frederick]

When they became rebadged Fords...

[S3_Graham]

i can safely say that having to drive our company V70 NO! It is genuinely a PITA to park, the turning circle is utterly shocking and half the time it sticks halfway out of the spaces!

[y2blade]

No
Volvo still make mahoooosive models, but they now also have some decent "normal sized" and smaller models in the range too

Edited by y2blade on Friday 27th August 08:01

[pimpin gimp]

Are BMW's getting smaller? i saw a 90's 7 series the other day and then I saw a little hatchback, 116 or something? When did BMW's get small?

Oh, a different model? Nooo...

[GravelBen]

Won't be too long before the 1-series is bigger than an old 7-series though!

[jimbobsimmonds]

yes, owned an S70 and can confirm the S60 is smaller... boots is much narrower and rear leg room is down...

[jimbobsimmonds]

yes, owned an S70 and can confirm the S60 is smaller... boots is much narrower and rear leg room is down...

[williamp]

I was shocked and wrote a strongly worded email when I realised the Volvo amazon wasn't as long as the actual amazon...

[LuS1fer]

Modern cars are bigger. My Mondeo is probably bigger than the old Scorpio Bloater and barely fits lengthways in most parking spaces. I keep a spare 960 Volvo in the boot.

[mike325112]

GravelBen said:

Won't be too long before the 1-series is bigger than an old 7-series though!

I parked my 1 series next to an E34 estate a couple of months back. The 1 series was about the same size!!! I couldn't belive how lardy it looked.

[jbi]

Volvo's aren't actually that big...

The old 940's and whatnot just look bigger due to their design and proportions (small wheels)

940 Length

Saloon: 191.7 in (4869 mm)
Estate: 191.7 in (4869 mm)

BMW 5 Series Length

Saloon: (192.9 in) 4,899 mm

BMW 7 Series Length

Saloon: (205.2 in) 5,212 mm

[.:ian:.]

The 940 is only 6" longer than a V70, while being narrower and shorter. You could have seen a V50 which is a fair bit smaller (getting on for Focus sized)

[Dog Star]

.:ian:. said:

You could have seen a V50 which is a fair bit smaller (getting on for Focus sized)

There's a reason for that

(Nice looking car too, the V50)

[tim2100]

jbi said:

Volvo's aren't actually that big...

The old 940's and whatnot just look bigger due to their design and proportions (small wheels)

940 Length

Saloon: 191.7 in (4869 mm)
Estate: 191.7 in (4869 mm)

BMW 5 Series Length

Saloon: (192.9 in) 4,899 mm

BMW 7 Series Length

Saloon: (205.2 in) 5,212 mm

Which model BMW's are you comparing there to say the Volvo is small?

the current 5 & 7 are huge!

[thunderbelmont]

Shhh don't tell them that a V50 is actually a Focus..., or is it the Focus is a V50... hmmmmm
(was working on a V50 yesterday)

What you do notice is small cars that are now much bigger than they used to be.

Take a Honda Civic for example. When it came out it was a small car that you could fit in your wallet, but still big enough for a 7ft American Police Cadet to learn to drive in. Now look at them. They are as wide as the old one was long.

The Vauxhall Corset is now as big as the Astra used to be, and the Astra is almost as big as the Cavalier was! (OK, a bit shorter, but as wide!)

There is one thing that still holds true - car parking spaces are still painted out to fit Austin 7's!!

[jbi]

I would not call the current 5 Series "huge"... it's just about bang on average.

Vauxhall Insignia

Saloon: (190.2 in) 4,830 mm
Estate: (193.2 in) 4,908 mm

Chrysler 300C

Saloon: 196.8 in (4,999 mm)
Estate: 197.7 in (5022 mm)

Or compared to my current car (celsior)...

(196.7 in) 4,996 mm

[Jonathan27]

I drive a V50, and it is relay just a Focus Estate. If anything, its smaller than the average estate (Jag X Type / 3 Series). but there is still the V70 for those who need a massive car.