2008 Volvo C30 Hatchback

Posted by Bill Belew on June 8th, 2008 in Japanese Products | Comments Off

For the first time in nearly 30 years I drove a non-Japanese car.

Living in Japan for nearly 20 of those years had something to do with it. When I returned to the States and needed a car, I headed for a Japanese lot.

Then last week, I drove a Volvo C30 Hatchback.

To be sure, there are other cars, quality cars, than those the Japanese make.

This car had a 2.5-liter, 5-cylinder engine with some get up and go. I once owned a Daihatsu that had a 1-liter, 3-cylinder diesel engine. The Daihatsu got better mileage, 50+mpg than the Volvo, 25 mpg. But, the Volvo is a car, solid, sporty, classy and the Daihatsu, had I had some red and black paint, I could have made it look like a Budweiser beer can.

I bounced that beer can, Daihatsu off a guard rail in a snow storm once and the guard rail won.  I saw a Volvo in front of a dealer in Buffalo, NY that looked like a paper wad. There was a sign next to it "the driver walked away unharmed."

Safety vs economy. There's always a tradeoff. With a new addition at my home, safety is the new priority. Though, I must admit the $4.53/gal price for the cheap stuff makes me think. Okay…okay….safety first when it comes to the little one. I did have to go through the hatchback to put the baby in the car seat, however.

The Volvo C30 Hatchback has a 48-month/50,000 mile limited warranty and a 12-year unlimited corrosion protection. (Even in Salt Lake Buffalo, Snow-capital of the United States, NY.

The one I drove had a price tag of $29,350.

Besides feeling a tad cramped at 6-foot and on the wrong side of 200lbs, make that 210 (do I hear 220?), the car was comfortable for me, my petite wife and our little one. 

It is not, IMHO, however, a family car. But, I think I heard the car say, "Psst, I don't want to be a family car." 

While driving, I got cut off by a Toyota Corolla. I passed the baby crown and was feeling pretty good about myself when an Audi pulled out and cut me off. I thought to myself, hmm…maybe, just maybe…I'd better obey the speed limit. I was pretty sure, however, that the car would have listened had I said, "Let's go."

It was quite nice to drive a car that I felt was safe, good looking and had some real gumption should I need it. 


 

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