Ford Is Selling Volvo !!!

Who exactly would buy Volvo's remaining car factories?

 

The shoe box didn't hit me in the head getting in and out of the car nor did
it introduce blind spots in the name of styling.

I think that Volvo's problem today is that it does not as a brand stand for
anything unique. Volvo's safety engineering is now matched by countless
competitors.

What then is special about Volvo today????

John

 

Ford has shown it will not give up on a marque, look at the work and money

Years ago when Ford bought Lincoln from Henry Leyland it was a unique
automobile. Look at Lincoln now.

At some point when money is tight Ford will put the squeeze on PAG and the
products will follow the X-type model more and more. Tart up an cheaper car
and sell it for more money.

Also it is kind of funny that during the years the press and analyst
community was beating GM silly for having too many brand names they were
praising Ford for running around the globe adding brand names.

Probably the worst effect the whole PAG thing has had on Ford is that Ford
completely took it's eye off the basics of making saleable Ford automobiles.
Remember when the Taurus was the #1 selling car in the US? Luckily for Ford
they have the F150.


John

 

On 26 Feb 2004 23:40:18 -0800, (Patrik) wrote:

Very good post Patrik,

Rumours (and that's all it is) about this popped up several times over
the past years. Volvo Cars is doing well; better than the other brands
in the PAG Group, and better than its owner Ford.

Just BS.


Regards,


; <snip>
; > Word is out in automotive circles that Ford is not happy with
Volvo sales
; > and is not sure what to do about it. The dominant belief is that
Ford wants
; > to sell Volvo. Some also say that the original Volvo Group is
considering
; > buying Volvo (cars) back with some backing from the Swedish
government and
; > also possibly oil money from Norway. This is just a rumor - but
it I heard
; > it from several disconnected sources.
; >
; > Is this new news - or is it well known?
;
; This rumour pops up from time to time.
;
; Volvo Cars sales, esp the XC90, and profit margins are very good.
; Volvo is actually the only company in the group that turns a profit
; right now.
;
; Fords other brands in their PAG (Premium Automotive Group which
; consist of Aston Martin, Jaguar, Land Rover and Volvo) are using
; Volvos expertice and safety research facilities.
;
; The companies in the PAG are also developing a common platform
; together, that the next generation SUV and premium cars will be
built
; on.
;
; Volvos integration in the Ford group has been very successful, and
; Volvo have expertise in areas that other Ford group companies
benefit
; from. There is no signs that Ford is planning to sell Volvo.
;
; However, if you look at manufacturing some Volvo factories may very
; well be sold. Ford wants to cut production costs, and one way is of
; course to assemble their different car-brands in the same
factories.
; /Patrik

Metaxaman

 

I don't know where you get your figures from, but they are wrong. Volvo
car sales for all of 2002 in NAFTA increased about 4% over 2001. My source
is the US Auto Market Report published in 1/03.

The report goes on to state that the level of increase was "disappointing",
but it was an increase nonetheless.

 

I agree with you 100% for the new Volvos made until 2003. We have yet
to see any safety figures for totally new designs that will be introduced
this spring.

Four years ago I sold a 10-year old 760 Turbo, that had been routinely
maintained (with over 180,000 miles). It handled perfectly. The interior
and exterior were perfect - down to the paint, although for the last two
years the car had not been garaged. The impellers on the original Mitsu
turbo didn't whine, and after ten years of service the turbo lag was just
as low as it was when the car was new.

That was the last RWD Volvo I drove. I loved the handling. But the new
AWDs handle better. I am not too fond of the FWD 850s.

 

I am very critical of the new S40/V50. The Mazda 3 got rave reviews.
However, if you go on Mazda user groups on the web, drivers are having all
sorts of nagging problems with this car (in handling, with the brakes, etc.
etc.). I really don't care what happens on a $15,000 car. But if these
problems also occur with the higher-priced S40/V50, Volvo's reputation for
safety and engineering will dragged through the mud.

 

Putting weight in the trunk to improve rear traction, we called it front
wheel drive here in Ottawa. Sorry, I could not resist that .

 

yeah lets hear it for ford selling volvo, Even if its not true yet, lets
make it happen, start spreading the rumor, we call it wagging the dog in
America. it works. we get the media to pick up on it., we dump our ford
motor stock, we challenge Swedish pride, how could they have let ford buy
the best thing to ever to come out of Sweden . the best Volvo I own now is
my 1989 240 wagon, but the best Volvo ever is my 1989 780 bertone, even with
the 6 cylinder engine. It corners and ride like a new car . I used to hope
to one day be able to buy a new Volvo, then the new ones got to expensive
for me to own, but now that ford owns Volvo, it doesn't seem to matter.
Remember spread the rumor. Hardlabor

 

Not countless, just the Toyota Camry which has a slightly lower fatality
rate than the.Volvo 850/S70 [mid-size].

Using crash test results, the only other cars as safe as Volvo 850/S70
[mid-size] are:

BMW 5 series [luxury car]
Buick LeSabre/Pontiac Bonneville [large car]
Buick Park Avenue [luxury car]
Cadillac Seville [luxury car]
Chevrolet Lumina [large car]
Ford Taurus/Mercury Sable [large car]
Ford Windstar [passenger van]
Lexus LS 400 [luxury car ]
Toyota Camry [mid-size car]
Toyota Sienna [passenger van]
Volkswagen Passat [mid-size]
Volkswagen New Beatle [small car]

Hence if you want a good, safe, reliable, economical vehicle with a good
resale value, there aren't many others besides Volvo. Now, if you want
such an AWD wagon, the choice is very limited. Definitely not countless.

 

In general this is true. In specifics there are exceptions and the
Volvo is one of them.

Using crash test results, the only other cars as safe as Volvo 850/S70
[mid-size] are:

BMW 5 series [luxury car]
Buick LeSabre/Pontiac Bonneville [large car]
Buick Park Avenue [luxury car]
Cadillac Seville [luxury car]
Chevrolet Lumina [large car]
Ford Taurus/Mercury Sable [large car]
Ford Windstar [passenger van]
Lexus LS 400 [luxury car ]
Toyota Camry [mid-size car]
Toyota Sienna [passenger van]
Volkswagen Passat [mid-size]
Volkswagen New Beatle [small car]

Using fatality rates, the Toyota Camry [mid-size car] is the only car
with a lower fatality rate than the.Volvo 850/S70 [mid-size].

 

Actually, it was Saab, but Volvo is a close second. Letting GM run
Saab into the ground is apalling - especially since they aren't really
hurting for money with their military sales.

At least you can get a Volvo truck that's the real deal.

Q: what's the smallest Volvo truck that they make?

 

I agree, Volvos have become generic cars. Sad. My wife refuses to buy
another Volvo until they come to their senses again. Thank heavens her
850 combi is so well built thats its still going strong after 10 years.

Indeed. In dry conditions I'm not fussy but if you live in a cold
climate nothing beats 4x4/AWD on icy roads.
RWD is a nightmare in winter, even in a luxury car..

 

Nothing. Hopefully Volvo wakes up soon.

 

The toy ones.

They also made panel trucks. My dealer still drives an antique one.

 

I haven't driven the AWD or FWD Volvo's, but I have been driven in a V70
2.4T... The handling seems pretty decent, there is less body roll then my
965 by far, but it's still a FWD, I could feel it wanting to push forward,
where in the 965 you just feel like the whole car wants to slide sideways
with the turn if you are going too fast around a bend.... and you can't get
that power induced slide with a V70 ;-)....

 

I'm pretty sure the S40 won't use the same parts for brakes and suspension
as the Mazda, Volvo would most likely use parts more cost appropriate to a
30000 dollar car, not one from 1/2 its price range...

Actually that is the only thing that bothers me, it will be the top dollar
model running on that frame, i'm hoping what is great in the economy class
will be far more then acceptable for the premium smaller car class....
Apparantly the car is damn good to drive.

 

Lmao. Of course you would. Unfortunately, it's not anything more
than a souped-up Mazda with a Volvo exterior.

 

I meant new. Lol.

 

The toy trucks are new. See:
http://www.shopvolvotrucks.com/volvo/product.asp?mscssid=45W5UC5HXD369HCE
47CT0357PNHW6CE1&dept_id=6&pf_id=V8611&site=volvotrucks&flag=new&type=1r@
vt

The smallest real truck (not tractor) in the North American market is
the VHD:

VHD Trucks Standard Specs Before Customization

SPECIFICATIONS
? BBC - 113.6 in.
? Engine - Volvo VE-345 HP @ 1800 RPM; 1350 lb-ft @ 1100 RPM; Vectro II
Electronic Engine Controls
?Cooling System - 900 sq. in. Radiator; On/Off Fan; Engine Mounted Fan
Shroud
? Air Cleaner - 16" Single Stage Dry; Dual Side Air Intakes
? Exhaust System - Horizontal Muffler; Verticle Pipe; Spacesaver System
? Electrical - Three 12v1980 CCA Batteries; 12v110 Amp Alternator 33SI;
12v42 MT Starter
? Transmission - Eaton Fuller RTO-14908LL; 10 Speed; 15.5" Dampened
Cerametallic Clutch
? Front Axle - Meritor FL941 20,000 lbs capacity
? Front Suspension - Multileaf 18,800 lbs capacity
? Rear Axles - Single - Meritor RS23-186 23,000 lbs capacity; Tandem -
Volvo VBT4012R 40,000 lbs capacity T-Ride
? Rear Suspensions - Single - Rear Suspensions, Tandem - T-Ride, 2-leaf
parabolic 40,000 lbs capacity
? Antilock Brakes - Meritor Wabco 4 Channel ABS
? Brakes - 16.5" X 6" Front; 16.5" X 7" Rear; Volvo 26.5 CFM Air
Compressor; Meritor Wabco System Saver 1200 Air Dryer
? Frame - Heat Treated Alloy Steel; 11.81 X 3.54 X .31
? Wheelbase - 134" to 320"
? Fuel Tank - 70 gallon LH; Steel; 22" diameter
? Cab - Galvanized HSS Steel; All Welded; Mechanical Cab Suspension with
Dual Shock Absorbers; Integral Air Conditioner
? Wheels - 22.5 X 9.00 Steel Disc Front; 22.5 X 8.25 Steel Disc Rear
? Tires - Michelin 315/80R22.5 L XZY-1 Front; 11R22.5 G XZY-2 Rear