|
I wasn't going for complete a Volvo bashing. I had just paid major bucks for my A/C compressor b/c Volvo refused to pay for it despite my bringing it in with the exact same problem at 40,000. That got me thinking as to why they hadn't redesigned or at least outsourced their A/C systems. There's no excuse to not fixing something this common. The only explanation I come up with is some companies get too focused on short term profits and neglect making their product the best possible. This is the case in most all auto companies. I do believe however, the Japanese companies focus on long term profits more that any other. It's shown in their credos and history. IMO of course.
Now I'm not sure about labor costs up north or out west, but my Indy Volvo shop is about $70/hr however they routinely do extra things, and that's what makes Indy shops attractive. The Subaru dealer here in GA charges $50 an hour. My Volvo dealer tops the scales at $91 per/hr.
I'm very active on the Subaru boards also. I researched the hell out of the forester before I purchased and I've never read about it's 2.5L blowing a gasket or any significant engine problem. Now, I've read about people loosing their rear differential which can be costly, but much like the Volvo AWD system you have to use the same tires or things get screwy. Nothing on those boards seems to have the regularity of issues with the S70 model which I'm familiar with. As for other Subaru models such as the WRX, Legacy, ect. I’m not too familiar with them, but they all share the same power plant. I would guess any clutch issue that comes out of the WRX would be driver abuse. However, I will agree their clutch is very temperamental as I will not buy a manual Baja due to it’s “whiplash” effect when letting off the gas at low RPMs.
I was making the point that Subaru and others are making great strides towards Volvo’s core image of safety. If you had a choice between two cars that you believe to be the safest on the road, but one outshines the other in reliability and value you would buy that car. Volvo has to watch its step here.
As for the Honda mini van. I'm not familiar with their problems. I try to comment only on the cars that I know. Between my family and I we've owned 3 Honda accords, and still to this day we own all three. A 97, 98, and a 99 V-6. The only part replaced between all three has been an alternator on the 97. I've replaced over 10 parts on my Volvo in 1 year of ownership, and now add an A/C to that mix. You have to ask is it worth it? I wanted to be a Volvo loyalist but it’s proving to be too costly.
JH
|
