Owner review: Sweedish Marque with a twist of Americans - My 2008 Volvo S80

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Basic information of my car:

2008 Volvo S80

Reasons why I bought this car

I was looking for a spacious and comfortable car. Wanted a used car that can be bought with cash because not so comfortable with monthly repayments at this point.

Car selection process  

• I had a budget of: RM 50,000
• Models that I have considered include: Toyota Mark X, Merc C-class W204, Lexus GS350, Toyota Camry XV40
• Reasons why I chose this car:

 I was into more into driving excitement and Japanese cars previously, but have given up those due to the increasing jam and ridiculously road conditions in Sabah. Wanted a car that is soft instead of hard, spacious instead of cramped, quiet instead of screaming. Most importantly, should be auto so that it is easy to drive in the crawling city traffic. As I was already quite familiar with driving Japanese cars and how they work, I thought I wanted to experience something different. Most of all, I need something reliable that will not let me down.

After surveying for hearing many nightmare regarding continental cars, I found that Volvo and Mercedes are the least problematic. In fact, they as hardy as Japanese cars if you take care of them. I was still in doubt, but a friend asked me a question that opened my eyes. He said: “Just look at the number of old, clunky Merc and Volvo around you. They hold up well over the years. Now, try and find a V*********, B**, or A*** of the same age. Do you see them around?”

Between the W204 C-class and the Volvo, I went for the Volvo because it is a class higher; thus, bigger and more comfy. Also, I was looking for something quieter when it comes to presence. The big three-pointed star is a bit “loud” for me. It is easy to spot and commands presence wherever it goes (nothing wrong with that). I prefer something quieter and discreet. People hardly notice Volvos. In fact, just 5 years ago before the launch of all the new models, people often forgot the existence of this carmaker. I love this fact.

User experience

• I have already done 10000 km.

It is a car that held up really well over the years.

Never had any major problems or indication of major problems (at least not yet). But from interacting with other owners, there isn't much to go wrong. Just change the fluids. Basically, all parts (interior and exterior) are still good and functioning. However, I restored and changed a number of cosmetic parts because I am particular about things that I can see. I changed some exterior and interior parts to the 2010 facelifted model and that has given the car a refreshed look. In total, I spend about RM15k. For wear and tear alone, ~RM5k is enough.

The engine that I got is the 2.5L 5-cylinder turbo. One of Volvo's longest-serving and most bulletproof engine. It's a low-pressure turbo and I love the fast response. For a car this size, I would say it is sufficient. It has only 200hp which is modest for a 2.5 turbo engine. But it has 300NM torque which is sweet. Most importantly, because the turbo is tiny (TD04), it spools quickly. Just from ~1500 rpm, I feel there is around 80% of torque. It is not fast but definitely not underpowered. 0-100 in 7ish or 8 seconds. Because of sufficient torque, it always stays at a high gear and keeps the revs low - good for comfort. The unique 5-cylinder is a sweet engine. Quiet and smooth when cruising, but sounds sporty under acceleration. However, sometimes I feel that the engine does not match the character of the car. I couldn't help but think that 6 cylinders would be a better match.

The gearbox is an Aisin 6-speed. I feel that the response is not as fast and clean as modern gearboxes but still livable. It always tries to use the highest gear. Cruising at 80 km/h at top gear (~1500 rpm), I just tap lightly on the throttle and it pulls willingly without a kickdown. But under hard acceleration, the ECU senses the aggressive driving style and will delay upshifts. Sometimes it maintains this character for a few seconds even after I have finished overtaking, which can be slightly annoying.

The comfort is good, not great. The ride is quite and smooth. Volvos have one of the best, most-plush sofas in the market. Leather was made using the softest cowhides. I would rate it above that of Mercedes. However, overall comfort is still slightly below that of Mercedes. The shock absorption is a little stiffer than Mercedes especially at the rear seats. Almost like a sporty suspension. If there are passengers at the rear, the ride quality improves. Maybe Volvo have designed it for the Euro market where people are taller and heavier.

Sound insulation is great! Interior materials are great - lots of soft touches and leather! However, interior fitting quality also lags behind Mercedes. Some of the clips and screws may have worn out over the years and caused some vibration noises especially on uneven roads. I cannot tolerate such vibration/rattling. Not a major problem as I managed to find and retighten them. But it was annoying.

When the car was launched, Apple Carplay and Android did not exist yet. Even head unit with screens were just starting to get popular. Some models of S80 have and LCD screen, but my car came without. However, it makes up for it in a good sound system. Before ML, B&W, and HK got popular in the car scene, this Volvo S80 have collaborated with Dolby Digital and Dynaudio for sound tuning. Three options were offered: Performance Sound System (100W), High-Performance Sound System (200W), and Premium Sound System (300W). Mine had the mid-range High-Performance Sound System (200W) with built-in amplifier, sound processor, and a 9-speaker surround sound. I left it as it was without upgrading.

For a car its age, it has an immense amount of electronics especially for safety purposes. My car came with auto-levelling and active-bending headlamps, 8 parking sensors, 8 airbags, and a vast amount of programmable safety options that I can choose through the in-car menu.

On top of all the safety features that I have mentioned previously, this car is solidly built. It is heavy and the body panels are thick. Always have peace of mind knowing that passengers are protected around a very hard shell. This car is relatively large, weighs like a ship, handles like a ship, and has a fuel consumption like a ship. Fuel consumption and handling is definitely not this car's strong point. But let's face it, nobody buys a large sedan for good handling and fuel economy. From friends' testimony, the Camry, Accord, Mark X, and even Mercedes E-class beats the Volvo in terms of fuel economy. City drive yielded less than favourable figures. A full tank of 70 litres will give me between 470-490km (6.9 km/L). On long distant drives, this figure improves significantly at 650-750km (10-11 km/L)! For comparison, this car weighs ~ 1.6 tonnes whereas most sedans in its class weight ~1.4-1.5 tonnes.

Pros of my car:

• Safety

• Comfort

• Interior quality

• Engine (Nice sound & smoothness)

• Reliability

Cons 

• Stiff rear suspension

• Fuel economy

• No LCD screen

• Engine (sometimes sounds too sporty)

• Slightly outdated gearbox

Ratings: 

Total Score: 4

Performance: 4

Quality & Features: 4

Space: 5

Ride Comfort: 5

Fuel Economy:3

Price & Cost: 5

Summary :

• Good comfortable cruiser especially on long journeys.
• Good amount of safety features for peace of mind.
• Comfortable, yet slightly sporty due to the unique engine. Slightly inferior fuel economy compared to others rivals due to weight and turbo. Good value for money and reliable daily car.

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