pickles69
@rubbingstrip
pickles69

Good move VW. I was trying to build out a Golf and GTI for a friend who was downgrading from an Audi A3 hatch- she didn't 'get' why VW didn't let you build and just got frustrated. She thought it meant VW was a much lesser brand because of it. Brand perception is important in all ways -especially with conquest

In fact, Volvo has had a long run of numeric or alpha-numeric names -though without researching I can think of two letter-only names: 'Coupe' for a year or two of the 780 and 'Duett', though that never appeared on the cars so it is negligible. Coupe certainly did though.

When a Highlander Hybrid can easily be $51,000, I'd say this price for a Volvo is no problem. Further, most of the XC90 owners I've known had real money who didn't want to appear gauche (by driving a BMW or MB).

Wagons and butched up minivans. That's what I'm missing. It's bizarre to me that none of the van makers have tried to ape what the Outback, Cross Country and Allroad did to wagons. SUVs are just insecure station wagons.. but a jacked up van is opportunity on wheels. Do it.

I've been casually (constantly?) car shopping for a few years to replace our super 2002 BMW 325it. Considerations: must be narrow (cars are too wide for our old garage), gotta get better mpg (easy), must have hatch. Considerations: BMW X1, Lexus CT, Volvo V60, Prius.. it's an odd bunch but who cares? Each has virtues,

In the same breath.. will hatchbacks replace utility starved sedans? They already look like hatchbacks. They just lack the nice big lift back…

… and the submission to blecky CVTs.

I'm always perplexed by people who only compare cars that are the same. Why bother? Lets compare a Mazda3 hatch with a Volvo v60. Why? Because we can. IF I had all this woman's money, I'd probably compare a BMW 3 series wagon with a Mini Countryman with a brand new Volvo XC90- just beacause I like them for different

I think it's the only interesting looking BMW currently, but I'm the last guy who'd want a car that looks like a Honda Accord/Infiniti Q50 (had to look that one up)/Masarati Ghilbi/Hyundai Sonata/Ford Fusion. This looks COOL. With seats down, it looks capacious. What car would you compare it to for cargo?

I wouldn't buy either of these vehicles but I am cross shopping the following because I don't give a crap about the price (to an extent) yet I do need the narrowest, heated-seats, hatch car I can get with decent mpg: BMW 3-series Wagon, Prius4, Cooper Countryman, Kia Soul, BMW X1, Subaru Crosstrek, Ford C-Max, Lexus

I fought to stay out of a Sienna for years but work demanded it. I move high end stuff and a wagon, despite the Saabs, BMW and Volvos I've had wasn't cutting it. I *never* knew I could drive 149,000 miles and only do oil, tires, general maintanance. The only thing that's gone wrong with this hideous but brilliant

For this country, the sales will all be hatchbacks… except the rental car companies for some reason seem to prefer sedans. Maybe it would be good for cranking sales numbers up but nothing else.

The price diff between the base SUV XC60 and the base wagon V60 is $450. Though the mileage is vastly better with the wagon, anyone on the fence between jacked up truck and wagon would need little convincing to rise into an XC60. The virtues of the Cross Country wagon might have an harder fight with the XC60.

Slow down on the obit- the fact that Volvo INCREASED its sales by 4319 is a very good sign for a company that hasn't had a new model in aeons. Further, this thing is still about $40,000 lightly optioned. The economy is getting better but it's not a cheap choice- and there are very few in stock around my parts, so I'd

I think the Mazda CX-5 did excellently -it was the older, bigger CX-9 that was a mess.

The 'buy a skirt' line in the MGB category was pretty tacky, small minded and childish. Somehow in my travels, I've met a lot of people.. and quite a few cross dressers or 'sissys' or whatever he/she is implying. One skirt wearer is a former Nascar driver. One is the most expensive cabinet builder in Sonoma County.

That's easy. Everybody knows Lexus is luxurious and reliable. They've got that sale made for anyone who wants that. Now they want the sales from people who want zing, élan, surprise. Those buyers typically have found little at the Lexus dealer to impress them till recently.

Do you know someone who's actually had to replace a hybrid battery? Most taxis where I live are hybrids- usually with 100,000-200,000 miles and I've never heard a driver say anything but praises. No replaced batteries so far. They might not drive with vigor but being honest, this is a stunningly reliable category of

How wide is it, unfolded side mirror to unfolded side mirror? For some inand reason, car companies quote width with mirrors folded. OH- and does it have power folding mirrors? (I really get into the sexiest questions..)

There's a 5 speed manual ES300 on Craigslist in Palo Alto, CA for $1000.