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I am writing to seek your advice about the purchase of a new Volvo S80 DRIVe and would appreciate your views about the current quality of Volvo cars. I am taking one out for a test drive tomorrow and from reading your comments about the car I understand expectations regarding the performance. However the S80 meets all my other requirements I would like from the car. Volvo has always had a good, solid, reliable reputation but I am concerned that following the sale of part of the business by Ford to a Chinese company these qualities may not be maintained. Have I any cause to be concerned? What I would like from the Volvo car is good economy and value for my money. I intend to keep the car for many years. Is there another model I should be looking at that I have overlooked in the Volvo range. I intend to spend about £25k, give or take a bit. You have advised me a couple of times before and thank you for that, particularly with the air filter issue last year on the C-Max. I look forward to hearing from you in due course.

Asked on 17 July 2010 by JB, Burton upon Trent

Answered by Honest John
I don't think you will get another car that size with such low emissions (119g/km). The valiant 1.6 diesel engine is, of course, the same belt cam unit used by Citroen, Ford, Mazda, Peugeot and BMW (in the MINI), here developing 240Nm torque at 1,750rpm and rated at 62.8mpg combined. I think you will be pushing it to get 62.8mpg in real life use. I averaged 55mpg over 8,000 miles in a Focus ECOnetic with the same engine and an official combined figure of 58.9.
Dear Honest John,

Please help me choose my next car. I would like it to have:
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Very comfortable seats and excellent ride quality. Feels like a solid and well made car.
 

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