Overall:
If you are here reading this, you are looking at getting one of the last C70 convertibles out there. I am an actual owner having leased my Black Sapphire C70 LT automatic in Apr '04. I know the model is in it's Swan-Song season as dealers are now (May '05) running low on new, unsold '04s. This can be a good or bad thing depending on your needs. If you love the look of the C70, like I do, and don't mind the last of the kind, this could be a nice opportunity. Dealers are being told by Volvo to sell off the last remaining '04s of any model on the lots. My "deal" a year ago was on a sticker of $41,900 sold to me for $35,900. You should be able to get something similar, especially now. I have had NO PROBLEMS with this Volvo at all. It runs great, rides smooth, and looks fantastic with the top down.
Styling and Accommodations:
Classic good looks with the top up or down. I think it is immediately recognizable as a European Luxury Convertible (or in this case, near luxury). More unique than a BMW 3-series if that is important...you won't see another for weeks at a time unless one lives near you! Great "rounded" rear end makes the side-to-rear views very nice. The car is low at the windshield but more stretched out than a 3 or Audi A4 making it appear midsized next to those compact convertibles (it's most direct competition). I still go out to look at it in the garage and am happy with my choice - I drove the 3, A4, and Saab 9-3 convertibles before purchase.
Interior accommodations are one of the reasons I chose the C70 over the others. This car is big for both the front and rear passengers! The biggest rear seat room in the segment...if you will have kids with you all the time, like my minivan-liberated wife and mom of two, this my be the top choice. The front seat comfort is legendary. Glove soft leather, standard seat heaters, and 3-position memory all mean it is a treat to drive. The touring package($595) really dresses up the driver's station(wood inlays, wood shifter, trip computer) and my wood wheel was a must for us($250). Four people easily fit in comfort, although I think only sub-teens find it easy to get into the back...once there, they can stretch out.
On The Road:
Many will fault the older platform (especially on this site) as being behind the competition and say it is wallowy and soft at the limit, but I say this car is very nice right up to 9/10ths driving. Why anyone would try to push this car like they are at the track is beyond me. It is a great top-down GT cruiser. Smooth straight and smooth curvy roads are its specialty. The 5-speed auto trans gives you that extra cog to be geared low for good performance off the line (the shift from 1st to 2nd is at a low 10-15 mph!) and 5th has the tach at 2,100 rpm and a great 23mpg in the city...more like 27 mpg hiway. The brakes are some of the best I've had, strong and fade free with nice progressive stops easy to accomplish. That's the good news. What have I noticed that I can nit-pick about after 10,000 miles? The engine is not Japanese quiet but above 30mph the wind noise takes over anyway. If you crank the wheel to the limit (steering lock) the rack-and-pinion gear seems to 'protest'...therefore I try not to task it too much in tight turnarounds or aggressive parking lot manuvers (easy enough to avoid). Moving the front seats forward is a slow process to access the rear. Then you have to wait for the seat motor to slowly move them back. The trunk is small, good enough for a week of groceries in plastic bags or two folding soccer chairs, but if it is your Home Depot vehicle some of your stuff will be upgraded to the rear seats. I wish the long retractable antennae would stay down when I am using the CD player and only come up with the radio playing as I think it breaks up the beautiful lines of this car. That's about it. I love driving in and to an extent being seen in this C70. The open air drive by of others leaves them visibly jealous and I look for excuses to take it out everyday.
Safety:
Like the roomy rear seat, the Volvo safety record may be one of the top selling points of this car. A wraparound steel I-beam runs "U-shaped" from one front corner, around the passenger tub, and to the other front corner. This robs the trunk of a "flip up" shel for the top when stowed (like in the Audi) but makes it more SUV-proof in a rear end collision. The front seats "auto-recline" if you are rear ended then tighten the harnesses and rise back up to prevent whiplash. The well placed, large headrests also help here. The Euro-style pop-up rollbars behind the rear seats deploy if the car tips up and the windscreen frame is high strength titanium and is supposed to hold up (not flatten) if you go inverted. For me it seems quite capable of avoiding an accident in the first place, then holding up great if I can't.
Pricing:
I think throughout 2004 Volvo ran a $3,000 cashback incentive and on top of that the dealer was able to negotiate even lower. With them wanting to sell the remaining inventory quickly as we approach summer, I say this may be the LOWEST priced (after negotiation) of this group: CLK320,3-series,9-3,A4,C70. Heck, depending on where you are you might get one for less than the new Toyota Solara convertible! (another one I drove - coupe, conv. wasn't out yet and I'm glad I stuck with my desire for a Euro nameplate.)
Last Words:
While Volvos are not for everyone, this C70 kind of "breaks the mold" and looks nice next to its direct competition. The interior comfort and room place it ahead. It is more of a cruiser than a driver, but that is what alot of top-down owners do with it anyway. If the C70 hits your own personal high-points like it did for me, you will have many a memorable outing with it. Get it while you can (the smaller S40 based retractable hardtop comes out in late '06).
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 35,900
Condition: New Model Year: 2004 Model and Options: C70 LT Auto
Epinions.com periodically updates pricing and product information from third-party sources, so some information may be slightly out-of-date. You should confirm all information before relying on it.
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