Just saying Hello

2846 Views 16 Replies 3 Participants Last post by brianf, Oct 9, 2004

brianf

Discussion Starter · Oct 2, 2004

I sign up as a very unhappy Volvo owner. I purchase a 2004 S60 AWD in March. I now have about 12,000 KM (7,500 miles). I thought I would grow to like this car over time, but that is not the case. I have never seen a car with so many basic design flaws in todays very well thought out auto world.

I never test drove this car when I bought it so it is entirely my fault.

Any way, trust me, I am nt here as a troll. I just want to see if others are having the same thoughts as me.

brianf

1 - 17 of 17 Posts

Bannerman

· #2 · Oct 3, 2004

QUOTE(brianf @ Oct 2 2004, 11:10 PM)I sign up as a very unhappy Volvo owner. I purchase a 2004 S60 AWD in March. I now have about 12,000 KM (7,500 miles). I thought I would grow to like this car over time, but that is not the case. I have never seen a car with so many basic design flaws in todays very well thought out auto world.

I never test drove this car when I bought it so it is entirely my fault.

Any way, trust me, I am nt here as a troll. I just want to see if others are having the same thoughts as me.
brianf

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I'm also an S60 (2.0T SE) driver (bought it last month) with 24,000 miles on the clock.
I like mine - it's smooth and quiet and comfortable, the only problem I have is with daylight running lights, I have twice switched to sidelights and twice forgot I had by the time I had finished my journey, with the result that twice I had a flat battery.
Would you care to elaborate on your misfortune.

brianf

Discussion Starter · #3 · Oct 3, 2004

This car has the worst turning radius of any car I have driven. You need to plan half an hour in advance to park it.

No power trunk release from the inside of the car.

No engine compartment light.

If you are going to make a key the size of a cell phone put the ignition on the dash or centre console. My knee hits the key.

Absolutly no rear seat leg room. No way an adult can sit in the back.

The door locks are stupid. If I use the fob to open my door and then stop along the way to let someone else in, you must first lock all the doors, then unlock them again!!!! Retarded

The heated seats are terrible. I've have had it in to two different dealers for a total of 4 times. The driver seat just barely gets warm, the passenger seat not at all.

Now my main beef. No car made has worse steering. After 2 hours you are exhausted from the constant steering and corrections. It's like driving a bike with straight forks or riding on a thin layer of ice. After a couple of alignments the mechanic took me aside and told me I'd have to live with it, they are all that way (AWD).

The paint/dye on the leather drivers seat is worn through to the natuaral color of the leather. (This car is less than a year old and only has 12,000 km. A second car for us).

The front & rear defroster buttons are on the passenger side of the console.

Poorly designed HVAC controls. The sales rep even said they are poorly designed.

On the good side: Great seats for comfort, and a quick acting AWD system and very good gas milage.

Now I noticed they have fixed these issues on the new S40. The power door locks work like all the other cars in the world now with a rocker type open close switch. And the key now goes in the dash.

Whoooo. I feel better now.

brianf

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Bannerman

· #4 · Oct 5, 2004

Gee !!
There must be a big difference between USA/CAN and UK cars - or those with AWD (which mine doesn't).
I have a 2.0T SE. To answer your points in turn.
I admit the turning radius is large - certainly gteater than my previous car - a Mazda 626.
The next 2 points must be standard for american/canadian cars - not so in the UK.
I have noticed that the steering wheel is a little low and I would have liked the rake to allow the wheel to rise a bit more - my seats are as low as they can go and the wheel is quite close to my knees.
I can't comment about the rear seats as I don't sit in the back.
I don't get the bit about the door locks, mine opens with the key fob - all doors, not sure what you mean about stopping along the way and having to lock all doors again.
My leather is sand coloured , 24,500 miles on the clock - no wear.
My defroster buttons are on my side of the central console just above the heated seat buttons.
Heated seats are just great.
HVAC - now there I do agree - I was a bit confused myself with the A/C manual/auto setting initially.
What I do find irritating is the daytime running lights - who need their lights on in bright sunshine (not that we have many of those !) and you can't turn them off. The best I can do is turn the dipped lights to sidelights, which I have forgotten about twice, and twice returned to find a flat battery as there is no 'lights on' alarm to remind you about that.
Any car I have previously driven has also had a rear wiper and that is something I'm having trouble adjusting to.
Having said that the demisters clear the windows front and rear pretty quickly, but it is still autumn here - wait for winter.

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Moray

· #5 · Oct 5, 2004

The Dealer can programme the Daylight Running Lights to OFF.

It was the first thing I had done on my new (in July) S60R.

Agree about the turning circle, suppose it's a penalty of having the front wheels powered.

Everything else is great.

Moray.

brianf

Discussion Starter · #6 · Oct 5, 2004

QUOTE(Moray @ Oct 5 2004, 12:59 PM)
Agree about the turning circle, suppose it's a penalty of having the front wheels powered.

Everything else is great.

Moray.

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Many many other cars even larger cars that are front wheel drive have much tighter turning circles.

brianf

brianf

Discussion Starter · #7 · Oct 5, 2004

QUOTE(Bannerman @ Oct 5 2004, 07:58 AM)Gee !!

I don't get the bit about the door locks, mine opens with the key fob - all doors, not sure what you mean about stopping along the way and having to lock all doors again.

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The way mine works is, I go to get in the car so I hit the key fob and it opens the drivers door. All is well. Drivers door is unlocked all the others locked. Now if I go to pick you up along the way I need to press the button on the door to unlock the door for you. But---- AH Ha, The first time I press it it locks all the doors, then you must press again to unlock all the doors. This is crazy. They have fixed this since on the new S40. The new door unlock switch rockers back and forth. Forward unlock, back lock. No need to pound it twice to open all other doors if just the drivers door is unlocked.

brianf

brianf

Discussion Starter · #8 · Oct 5, 2004

QUOTE(Bannerman @ Oct 5 2004, 07:58 AM)My defroster buttons are on my side of the central console just above the heated seat buttons.
What I do find irritating is the daytime running lights - who need their lights on in bright sunshine (not that we have many of those !) and you can't turn them off. The best I can do is turn the dipped lights to sidelights, which I have forgotten about twice, and twice returned to find a flat battery as there is no 'lights on' alarm to remind you about that.

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Your car is right hand drive so the defroster buttons and seat warmers are on the correct side.

I think Volvo sells more left hand drive cars so you think they would have flipped those controls around.

As far as the running lights go, in Canada they must stay on!!!! You cannot drive at any time without the headlights on, but there is also no way that you can leave them on. Pull out the key and they are off regardless of the position of the lighting switch.

They also have a nice feature where in the day the xenon lights do not run and get wasted, a plain halogen bulb hadles daytime running lights.

brianf

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brianf

Discussion Starter · #9 · Oct 5, 2004

BTW; do any of you know how to turn off the Service Required message????
Thanks

brianf

Bannerman

· #10 · Oct 6, 2004

Brian,
Go to http://www.vvspy.com/w-agora4/view.php?bn=...last=1092423339

It didn't work for me but I drive a UK car - maybe they're different.

Bannerman

· #11 · Oct 6, 2004

Brian,
Go to http://www.vvspy.com/w-agora4/view.php?bn=...last=1092423339

It didn't work for me but I drive a UK car - maybe they're different.

Bannerman

· #12 · Oct 6, 2004

You could also follow this thread
http://www.volvoforums.com/m_661/tm.htm

brianf

Discussion Starter · #13 · Oct 6, 2004

Hi Bannerman;

Many thanks for the links but no luck. Something did happen though. As the yellow triangle flashed 4 times the Service required message went away and was replaced with the figures 045. But when I released after a few seconds the service required light came back.

I have a friend that used to sell Volvo's. He will call a mechanic friend of his at the dealership and see if there is a trick on the 2004 model.

When I get a response I will post it here.

Many thanks for your reply.

brianf

Bannerman

· #14 · Oct 7, 2004

Brian,
Thats what happened to me - getting the 045, and my message also returned.
I spoke to the dealer after posting the previous reply and he said that all vehicles after 2000 had to be reset by the dealer.
Now since the S60 only came out in 2000 that would imply that all S60's must be reset by the dealer.
So why do people in other replies think that it can be reset by a combination of trip reset and ign key, if you read the replies, it has for some. Strange.
I also asked if I could turn off the daylight running lights and he said to read the manual, it tells you how to in there - it doesn't - I checked.
Coming from Canada it is a legal requirement to have them but ask your friend to ask his mechanic if it's possible to do it or does the dealer neeed to do it.

brianf

Discussion Starter · #15 · Oct 9, 2004

Bannerman;

I will ask about the lights for you. Just curious, why do you want them off?

brianf

Bannerman

· #16 · Oct 9, 2004

Brian,
I work at an airport and in going to work I must first pass through a security checkpoint. It is courtesy to put the lights to sidelights (or parking lights as you might call them) I have done this twice and got out of the car when I arrive at the door forgetting that I had left them on ( there is no 'lights on' alarm) only to come out at the end of the day to find the battery flat.
I believe it is law that they should be on in Canada but I don't think it's law in the UK.

brianf

Discussion Starter · #17 · Oct 9, 2004

The way the lights work here is the moment you turn the car on the small round inside driving lights come on. The moment the car turns off the lights go out. They are not a very high intensity light. When it gets dark or cloudy the sensor turns the main xenons on. Less wear on the xenons this way. There is no way to leave the lights on by mistake.

Yes it is the law for lights to be on here in Canada. I think some states in USA have that rule as well.

brianf

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