Anyone drive a C30?

[saabhutter]

Re: Anyone drive a C30?

If only they had flush navigation within the center dash and not a motorized one... Sigh.

I agree, it's pretty brutal. I think navigation is a waste of money anyways though. I bought some "Nordic Oak" interior trim today to replace my aluminum R-Design trim. I think it brightens up the interior and with it being real wood, gives it a more premium feel. Here's a pic of what my interior will look like when it install the wood (except for my seats are all black rather than with the cream inserts).

[flipstah]

Re: Anyone drive a C30?

Navigation is absolutely terrible but I disagree on the interior part. Everyone has their own tastes/opinions.

If only they had flush navigation within the center dash and not a motorized one... Sigh.

[saabhutter]

Re: Anyone drive a C30?

I love how the C30 looks and the R-Design trim line should've been the one for me but VW's interior beats the Volvo one out by a mile. Being well acquainted with an XC90, I'm more than familiar with Volvo and while I like the floating center dash design, I saw that same design in 2004. At least change something!

The navigation is also a POS.

Navigation is absolutely terrible but I disagree on the interior part. Everyone has their own tastes/opinions.

[flipstah]

Re: Anyone drive a C30?

I love how the C30 looks and the R-Design trim line should've been the one for me but VW's interior beats the Volvo one out by a mile. Being well acquainted with an XC90, I'm more than familiar with Volvo and while I like the floating center dash design, I saw that same design in 2004. At least change something!

The navigation is also a POS.

[CGY_GTI]

Re: Anyone drive a C30?

Oh ok, my bad. I agree with you that they're comparable when it comes to performance and the R-Design makes no difference in that aspect.

[saabhutter]

Re: Anyone drive a C30?

Well a C30 doesn't really compare to a base Golf. The 2.5 is nothing special. All I'm trying to say is that I think the R-Design is more comparable to the GTI IMO.

Sorry, I think we misunderstood eachother. What I was saying is that since the R-Design package is simply exterior and interior upgrades, I think the base C30 T5 is still comparable to the GTI. If you raced a base C30 T5 beside a fully loaded R-Design, it'll be neck and neck.

[CGY_GTI]

Re: Anyone drive a C30?

Well a C30 doesn't really compare to a base Golf. The 2.5 is nothing special... Aren't they only like 150 HP? Whereas the GTI is 200. All I'm trying to say is that I think the R-Design is more comparable to the GTI IMO.

[saabhutter]

Re: Anyone drive a C30?

True enough about the engine. My reasoning for choosing the R-Design was because it's the sportier model, just like the GTI is the sporty Golf. Also because you get the sport suspension in the R-Design.

The R-Design is only aesthetically sportier, you aren't getting any more power out of it than a base T5, unless you happen to buy one with Polestar. What does a base Golf have for power, 170HP? The 40HP bump must be nice. You are right about the sport suspension, that is R-Design specific and probably worth the extra money.

[CGY_GTI]

Re: Anyone drive a C30?

Had you not chosen the R-Design package, you'd be in line with the price of the GTI. Keep in mind that you're getting an extra cylinder, more horsepower, and with the R-Design package, leather. When I price a base model of each they're within a few hundred bucks as well as when I completely load them. Volvo just must have made a mistake when pricing various options.

True enough about the engine. My reasoning for choosing the R-Design was because it's the sportier model, just like the GTI is the sporty Golf. Also because you get the sport suspension in the R-Design.

[saabhutter]

Re: Anyone drive a C30?

Yeah, I agree. The trans in my old S40 was actually one of the few parts that didn't give me trouble.

My GTI is loaded except for the leather interior - adaptive xenons, sunroof, nav, Dynaudio, DSG. I was comparing it to the base R-Design model with an auto trans since my GTI is DSG. Yeah, it must have been priced incorrectly... I've never seen one for that price. If Volvo were to bring down the price $3000-4000, I bet there would be a lot more of them on the roads.

Had you not chosen the R-Design package, you'd be in line with the price of the GTI. Keep in mind that you're getting an extra cylinder, more horsepower, and with the R-Design package, leather. When I price a base model of each they're within a few hundred bucks as well as when I completely load them. Volvo just must have made a mistake when pricing various options.

[CGY_GTI]

Re: Anyone drive a C30?

2001-2004 was a pretty dark time for Volvo. Their automatic transmissions have gotten a lot better. My garage now has two P1 platform cars with T5's and Geartronic autos. I have no complaints with my C30. What options does your GTI have? I've optioned both out and they seem to be pretty similar, the base price is within a few hundred dollars. I'm lucky to have my dad being a dealer and having access to dealer auctions. I bought my R-Design from Volvo Financial for $21,500 as a 2011 model with 20k on it in July of 2012. Sticker was close to $45k as it is completely loaded, other than the terrible NAV system. It was the same price as the base T5 models they were selling so it must have been priced incorrectly. I was pretty happy to find that car for that price.

Yeah, I agree. The trans in my old S40 was actually one of the few parts that didn't give me trouble.

My GTI is loaded except for the leather interior - adaptive xenons, sunroof, nav, Dynaudio, DSG. I was comparing it to the base R-Design model with an auto trans since my GTI is DSG. Yeah, it must have been priced incorrectly... I've never seen one for that price. If Volvo were to bring down the price $3000-4000, I bet there would be a lot more of them on the roads.

[saabhutter]

Re: Anyone drive a C30?

They're nice cars. I've never driven one, but I've driven quite a few Volvos and owned two of them. My 2001 S40 was a real money pit at times even though it was always maintained properly. I've never liked the Volvo automatic transmissions, although the one in the XC60 T6 I drove a couple weeks ago felt a bit better. I had a bit of a look at the C30 while I was looking at my GTI but I found that a C30 similarly equipped to my GTI would have been at least $4000 more (before taxes, etc) than my GTI was AFTER taxes, 3M and all of that good stuff. I'd definitely consider buying a used one, but I found that you don't get as much for your money when buying one new.

2001-2004 was a pretty dark time for Volvo. Their automatic transmissions have gotten a lot better. My garage now has two P1 platform cars with T5's and Geartronic autos. I have no complaints with my C30. What options does your GTI have? I've optioned both out and they seem to be pretty similar, the base price is within a few hundred dollars. I'm lucky to have my dad being a dealer and having access to dealer auctions. I bought my R-Design from Volvo Financial for $21,500 as a 2011 model with 20k on it in July of 2012. Sticker was close to $45k as it is completely loaded, other than the terrible NAV system. It was the same price as the base T5 models they were selling so it must have been priced incorrectly. I was pretty happy to find that car for that price.

[CGY_GTI]

Re: Anyone drive a C30?

They're nice cars. I've never driven one, but I've driven quite a few Volvos and owned two of them. My 2001 S40 was a real money pit at times even though it was always maintained properly. I've never liked the Volvo automatic transmissions, although the one in the XC60 T6 I drove a couple weeks ago felt a bit better. I had a bit of a look at the C30 while I was looking at my GTI but I found that a C30 similarly equipped to my GTI would have been at least $4000 more (before taxes, etc) than my GTI was AFTER taxes, 3M and all of that good stuff. I'd definitely consider buying a used one, but I found that you don't get as much for your money when buying one new.

[VwSweetHeart]

Re: Anyone drive a C30?

I really like the look of them!

Me too. Was considering this as the next car but fwd just doesn't cut it. If it was awd, it would still be on my list for possible next purchase.

[T-Dubbs]

Re: Anyone drive a C30?

I really like the look of them!