RE: Volvo reveals 408hp C40 Recharge
Discussion
reeventu said:
If it is only available online and there are no dealers I guess that the part exchange haggling is no longer available. Basically it seems this is the price take it or leave it , and its up to you what you do with your old car.
also what about checking the car actually suits you , comfort , seating , controls , driving etc , etc.
also what about checking the car actually suits you , comfort , seating , controls , driving etc , etc.
To me the big issues with online are:
Who do you go to if there's a problem with the car? The dealership is the company who sold you a car so ultimately they are the ones with the responsibility for customer service.
How do you get a test drive, compare different models etc?
Do you get 15 days (as per distance selling regs) to return it for any reason? If that's the case there have to be limits or do they just refuse to take another order? I'm guessing they've compared the cost of handling returns with dealership margins.
Seat comfort, driving position etc are all essentials. It gives me the impression it's OK for people who don't care about the way their car drives. Fair point that I've bought laptops and washing machines online but a car is more than that. Or maybe not for Volvo?
TinyMonster said:
Can you *imagine* how awful busy roundabouts are going to be in that world?
All drivers will need to attend driver training in Milton Keynes. Everyone who lives there is already adept at negotiating roundabouts at high speed.I’m convinced that when in other towns and cities folks are genuinely scared / deem my driving too aggressive around roundabouts at speeds which are normal on the MK racetrack that all the locals are comfortable with.
That said my 3rd party Tesla app is showing that 99% of all other Tesla drivers have better driving efficiency than me...oops.
CDP said:
To me the big issues with online are:
Who do you go to if there's a problem with the car? The dealership is the company who sold you a car so ultimately they are the ones with the responsibility for customer service.
How do you get a test drive, compare different models etc?
Do you get 15 days (as per distance selling regs) to return it for any reason? If that's the case there have to be limits or do they just refuse to take another order? I'm guessing they've compared the cost of handling returns with dealership margins.
Seat comfort, driving position etc are all essentials. It gives me the impression it's OK for people who don't care about the way their car drives. Fair point that I've bought laptops and washing machines online but a car is more than that. Or maybe not for Volvo?
the Carguy said:
CDP said:
To me the big issues with online are:
Who do you go to if there's a problem with the car? The dealership is the company who sold you a car so ultimately they are the ones with the responsibility for customer service.
How do you get a test drive, compare different models etc?
Do you get 15 days (as per distance selling regs) to return it for any reason? If that's the case there have to be limits or do they just refuse to take another order? I'm guessing they've compared the cost of handling returns with dealership margins.
Seat comfort, driving position etc are all essentials. It gives me the impression it's OK for people who don't care about the way their car drives. Fair point that I've bought laptops and washing machines online but a car is more than that. Or maybe not for Volvo?
I was simply pointing out that I want to look at a car and have a test drive before buying and if it all goes wrong I want to be able to talk face to face with the people who sold it me.
Those don't seem like a lot to ask in return for a lot of money. It's not a fridge you know.
AshD said:
All drivers will need to attend driver training in Milton Keynes. Everyone who lives there is already adept at negotiating roundabouts at high speed.
I’m convinced that when in other towns and cities folks are genuinely scared / deem my driving too aggressive around roundabouts at speeds which are normal on the MK racetrack that all the locals are comfortable with.
That said my 3rd party Tesla app is showing that 99% of all other Tesla drivers have better driving efficiency than me...oops.
None of that seems like anything to be proud of but that's possibly just me.I’m convinced that when in other towns and cities folks are genuinely scared / deem my driving too aggressive around roundabouts at speeds which are normal on the MK racetrack that all the locals are comfortable with.
That said my 3rd party Tesla app is showing that 99% of all other Tesla drivers have better driving efficiency than me...oops.
I'm still not a fan of the trend for all mainstream EVs to be some variant on the compact SUV bodystyle, although I do like the ridiculously chunky proportions that make this look more like a 1:1 scale Hot Wheels than a normal car.
I'm hoping things get better once manufacturers are building pure EV architecture. The C40 suffers because the CMA architecture gives it that awkward "front axle tucked under cabin" appearance of a car with a front transaxle, while also having the height of the underfloor battery packs to contend with. (I'm no expert, but I imagine the need to fit conventional engine and transmission bits to the same platform limits what can be done in terms of the battery packaging, as Tesla seem to be able to make things much lower and longer). I'd love to see something like an electric version of the V90 or a car which uses the pure EV packaging flexibility for a wheel-at-each-corner setup, at this point new electric announcements are getting a little, "yawn, another compact SUV" no matter how impressive the power figures.
I'm hoping things get better once manufacturers are building pure EV architecture. The C40 suffers because the CMA architecture gives it that awkward "front axle tucked under cabin" appearance of a car with a front transaxle, while also having the height of the underfloor battery packs to contend with. (I'm no expert, but I imagine the need to fit conventional engine and transmission bits to the same platform limits what can be done in terms of the battery packaging, as Tesla seem to be able to make things much lower and longer). I'd love to see something like an electric version of the V90 or a car which uses the pure EV packaging flexibility for a wheel-at-each-corner setup, at this point new electric announcements are getting a little, "yawn, another compact SUV" no matter how impressive the power figures.
CDP said:
?
I was simply pointing out that I want to look at a car and have a test drive before buying and if it all goes wrong I want to be able to talk face to face with the people who sold it me.
Those don't seem like a lot to ask in return for a lot of money. It's not a fridge you know.
Suspect you’ll be able to book a test drive online and have an ‘experience car’ delivered/collected. I was simply pointing out that I want to look at a car and have a test drive before buying and if it all goes wrong I want to be able to talk face to face with the people who sold it me.
Those don't seem like a lot to ask in return for a lot of money. It's not a fridge you know.
Ray_Aber said:
Not good. Dumpy, on stilts, with a dreary colour in the pictures. I much prefer the XC40 and Polestar 2.
Ah well. Where's that Ioniq 5? Now THERE's an attractive car!
Ah well. Where's that Ioniq 5? Now THERE's an attractive car!
Dumpy sums it up very well.
Also, it may have 400bhp but what does it weigh? And will if feel like the mustang mach-e (slightly disappointing performance-wise, according PH review)?
rwindmill said:
449 bhp.............................Very unsporting!!
Oh remember how we all laughed, at the ridiculous notion of a 'Sporty Off road vehicle'.
Who would have thought Lamborghini were such visionaries.
Dohnut said:
Suspect you’ll be able to book a test drive online and have an ‘experience car’ delivered/collected.
still need to get rid of the old one even if it is electric.Do not think I would just hand over 60k without spending sometime with the car ,what happened to the 48 hour test drives of 2019 ?
dukeboy749r said:
For a company that is keen to limit anyone driving its vehicles to 112mph and their focus on being a safe/comfortable/sharp end of innovation - why the need for 400bhp, versus say 300 mile (plus) range?
Because with electric motors/batteries peak power and range are linked. Reducing the peak power output does not increase the range. Dohnut said:
CDP said:
?
I was simply pointing out that I want to look at a car and have a test drive before buying and if it all goes wrong I want to be able to talk face to face with the people who sold it me.
Those don't seem like a lot to ask in return for a lot of money. It's not a fridge you know.
Suspect you’ll be able to book a test drive online and have an ‘experience car’ delivered/collected. I was simply pointing out that I want to look at a car and have a test drive before buying and if it all goes wrong I want to be able to talk face to face with the people who sold it me.
Those don't seem like a lot to ask in return for a lot of money. It's not a fridge you know.
I think I'd miss the ability to look over a car in the showroom though.
Of course if this becomes more common it opens up the established players to newer entrants. Especially the Chinese, although Volvo's owners are probably happy with this...
TheOrangePeril said:
The difference is that was actually built to go fast off road. The modern blobs of pure mass and air resistance have no such purposeful justification, other than ego signalling to the neighbours.
Great rant. The only problem is when you ask around, some people actually find taller cars better than lower cars, so they don't buy (or rent if we are really in rant mode) these cars to show off to the neighbours, that's just something that's said on Piston Heads.
AshD said:
All drivers will need to attend driver training in Milton Keynes. Everyone who lives there is already adept at negotiating roundabouts at high speed.
I’m convinced that when in other towns and cities folks are genuinely scared / deem my driving too aggressive around roundabouts at speeds which are normal on the MK racetrack that all the locals are comfortable with.
I used to visit family in MK when I had my VX220, I loved barely lifting for the roundabouts.I’m convinced that when in other towns and cities folks are genuinely scared / deem my driving too aggressive around roundabouts at speeds which are normal on the MK racetrack that all the locals are comfortable with.
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