Test drive: 2009 Volvo V70
Friday January 16, 2009
A couple of weeks ago, I mentioned that I was swapping a Dodge Challenger SRT8 for a Volvo V70 wagon -- and if that doesn't have let-down written all over it, I don't know what does. Well, the Volvo did turn out to be a little boring -- but I liked it. I liked it a lot, in fact. Get the whole story in my 2009 Volvo V70 test drive and review. -- Aaron Gold
Photo © Volvo
Comments
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Your review brings back memories of the Taurus wagon when it came out in the early, mid-eighties. It too did a lot of things well, but was about as exciting as a peanut butter sandwich.
Talk about boring stuff, Aaron where is the good reviews from the auto show, where is the insight stuff on the show, where is- well to put it bluntly where is the beef all I have seen so far is the fluff…and very little reporting !!!
I guess you were having to much fun with the big boys to report from the show as many other blogs have done so well…
Allen, this is primarily a car review site. Blogs like Jalopnik and Autoblog do a great job reporting from the auto shows, and I wouldn’t dream of trying to compete with them. Of course they also send a team of six or ten people — at least two teams of writers and photographers plus a crew in the press room to edit photos and post things as they happen. They also have a healthy budget to cover their expenses. Me, I’m just one guy going to the show — but I like to share what I see with you guys and gals. (Believe it or not, compiling this year’s Detroit show photo gallery took about six hours. And you guys looked at it for, what, two minutes?
)
As for the in-depth reporting and analysis — the beef — remember, what we see at the auto shows is what the automakers want us to see. It’s *all* fluff. The beef comes when I get to actually drive the cars and see if they live up to the manufacturers’ hype. — Aaron
PS, Insight stuff is here.
OK, I get it !! You are a “Auto Reviewer” with a small budget.
I just thought that since you were at a major Auto Show in the heart of American car land surrounded by Detroit’s best as well as many off-shore auto manufacturers that you could have picked up on some insights into the direction things were going. At least shared a hot dog with some lowly Chrysler executive.
Having now been given the “Insight” (Honda) very cute, I now know your working parameters as a “Auto Reviewer/Driver” and will not be expecting as much in the future.
PS: You were inaccurate, I spent 10 mins looking at the pictures and another 10 in giving my thoughts. Sorry it took you so long.
Hey Allen, to be honest, I think that Aaron’s site is more about just average guys like me who aren’t motor-heads, yet really do like cars. Pics from the auto shows are great and a BONUS, but none of us really look to this site for insights into trends and the like. We’ve got Car & Driver, Motor Trend, Automobile, etc. to take care of that. I think the multi-national auto makers respect what Aaron does, but see major publications as a preferable vehicle to disseminate the latest inside developments and trends.
Personally, I hope Aaron doesn’t change a thing.
Aaron, I enjoy reading your reviews and think you do a great job of truthfully analyzing cars for people like me who are average non-gearheads.
I own a 2004 V70R which is pretty much a different car than the one you drove even though it is still a V70. The R has AWD, 6 sp manual, active suspension with 3 different settings, Brembo brakes and a high-pressure 300 hp turbo. This car is far, far from boring to drive. It has the most comfortable seats in any car I have ever driven and it is a blast to drive. On top of it being a sleeper, it is extremely utilitarian. I fit my family of 5 in it comfortably, it is a master of snow and ice and I average about 28mpg on the highway. Not bad for a car that will do 0-60 in under six seconds.
Unfortunately Volvo stopped making the V70R (and S60R) after the 2007 model year. I hope they bring back the V70R soon. I will buy another one and it would be an answer to their old boring run-of-the-mill V70.