Apparently launched in January 07 , I have yet to see one on the road. I assume it's been a bit of a flop. Anybody else seen one in the flesh?
Also tonight saw a Proton Satria Neo (I believe) for the first time , thought it looked quite good(although the light was fading).Does anyone have any knowledge of these?
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I saw a C30 today, in black, my first parked on the road away form the Volvo dealerships.
I've seen a few of the newer Protons around here (Eastbourne), the Gen-2 and the Savvy. I guess they appeal to the older generation of which there is plenty here, who want a new car but haven't got much money to spend.
IMHO, where as the 'budget' manufacturers such as Kia and Hyundai have moved away, or are trying very hard to move away from the budget image and become more European, Proton seem to want to stay as a budget manufacturer, building cars that look and feel a little cheap.
The Satria Neo is advertised on the Proton website as '.....the ultimate hot hatchback. From the distinctive design and unique extras to the numerous safety features, it's way ahead of its class......'
From the look of it I'm not so sure.
Under the Main Features on their website, the 2nd item they list is Prominent wheel arches and centre exhaust. I think their C02 emissions or NCAP rating is more important to tell potential customers than the fact that the car comes with flared arches.
Chris
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I noticed on the Volvo website they are offering 0% finance over 2 years with a 50% deposit so sales must be poor.
I guess the problem is price. Fot £16k do you buy a 1.6 C30 with a few toys or a Focus ST ?
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I've seen a few of the newer Protons around here (Eastbourne) the Gen-2 and the Savvy.
I saw my first ever Savvy the other day in Inverness. I must confess that I had never even heard of them before.
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I saw a black C30 in North Berwick 3 weeks ago. It might have been the same one Chris White saw in Eastbourne.
What is a Proton Savvy? (It's ok no need to reply, I'll google that question)
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Was wondering what their reputation was like ? Probably the most budget brand on the market , yet they offer a six year warranty. Just liked the styling to be honest , looks a lot better in real life than from the photos I've seen. Handling tweaked by Lotus too! I think it appealled to the ageing boy racer in me.
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The only C30s I've seen have been within spitting distance of the local Volvo dealership. A neighbour has a Savvy - it looks cheap to me - yellow backed dials do not make a car more appealing!!
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I saw a C30 on demo in Basingstoke shopping centre back in March, didn't see one on the road until last week, now seen another one. I quite liked the look of it, the rear end reminded me of the old P1800ES a bit.
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Seen a couple of poverty spec ones... thats it really
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I saw a C30 on the M90 a few weeks ago, only one never seen another.
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Reread HJ's assesment:
www.honestjohn.co.uk/road_tests/index.htm?id=251
Volvo, at launch, were predicting 5000 per annum and it got a pretty good review.
The only thing I can think which is putting people off is the four seats or, possibly the prospect of main dealer servicing costs vs. something like a Ford, SEAT or Skoda.
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SWMBO is the proud owner of a 2.4 litre D5 C30 Geartronic auto. - Has had it since March and says it is much nicer than the previous BMW 320d!
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It's funny, I saw one driving dwn the A3 last night and said to mysef "You don't see many of those cars."
Whereas I have seen at least 4 new Smart 4-2s and a couple of Pug 308s and a new Fiat Bravo.
I also saw a new Honda Legend the other morning for the first time and said to myself "Gosh, that's the first new Legend I've seen, and they have been out quite a while now - I've seen more C6s than that - so the Japs can't do big cars either!"
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I also saw a new Honda Legend the other morning for the first time and said to myself "Gosh, that's the first new Legend I've seen, and they have been out quite a while now - I've seen more C6s than that - so the Japs can't do big cars either!"
Lexus??????
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The only C30s I've seen have been within spitting distance of the local Volvo dealership.
I think I've seen two of them but one had main dealer stickers all over it..
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Nicer looking car than a 1-Series or A3 (the obvious competitors)
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Not a competitor if you need 5 doors.
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Is it practical? How can a car with such big fat hips and a butt to match have such a tiny hatchback door?
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Not very practical, Mike. I've only clambered over a couple of C30s in a showroom, but my observation is that while the 'look-through' boot and rear window probably make it nice to drive in traffic and very easy to park, the flip side is that there's no secure luggage space. Since most potential buyers are likely to be in the laptop-carrying classes, the idea of having to take everything with them when they stop at Woolley Edge services for a pee may be enough to put them off. (And yes, I know they tell you not to leave anything in the car, but...)
And if that's how they're thinking, they probably mention it to their Volvo dealer and drive away in what may be the C30's main competitor - an S40.
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Does the C30 exist? Yes, I saw it the other day.
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Yep, funnily enough I saw one in the wild on my way home yesterday. It was in that pearly off-white colour - although without the brown fringes that I doubt many will be brave enough to specify - and looked rather striking. What it didn't look, though, was small - this may be a truncated S40 but it's still a hefty lump of car.
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Agreed, and I've said this before. To look right it would have to be about two-thirds the size it is.
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I've been thinking the same thing.. think I've seen maybe two or three on the road so far - don't think the A3 and 1-series have much to worry about!
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I think its troubl is that it's marketed as a coupe but (at least from the side) it looks more like a basic 3-door S40, the sort of thing companies give to junior reps, who may get a 5-door if they meet their sales targets for a year. Shades of that awful 3-door 1.3 Ford Sierra.
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Saw one yesterday in Edinburgh. NOt sure what it;s trying to be, but if it's based on the S40 platform, then I'd give it a wide berth (Yep - had an S40 and it was absolutely the worst car I've ever had - 3 years of complete misery until the lease ran out. - not many parts hadn't been replaced, and the need to go through a litre of oil every 500 miles!! (That was after they replaced the piston rings! - It got 700 miles per litre before that!).
But as for the C30.... don't see the point of it really - too small for a reasonable 4 seater, doesn't look that sporty, and too damned expensive for what is a mondeo in focus clothing.
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Can report another sighting of a C30 (off-white-ish colour again) on Sat 22nd September in Street, Somerset. Didn't think it looked too bad from the rear three-quarter but that was the only view I had.
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Whilst I can sort of see an attraction in the side and rear profiles, I think the whole thing looks too lame with that black plastic running along the sill and over the wheelarches. The front is also nowhere near 'agressive' enough for a supposed sports car.
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Latest offer from volvo on the C30 is 0% over 3 years now and free insurance.
They must be really struggling to shift these things.
I have a funny feeling this model will not be replaced.
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And I can't understand why they were doing a low emission version of the 1.6 diesel (at Frankfurt motor show). It's not very sporty for a sports car. But it's overpriced and compromised in space as a 3-door hatch. Only BMW with the 1-series seem to be able to pull the 'quality' wool over peoples eyes in this particular segment of the market.
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I think I know why it is'nt selling. My local Volvo dealer has one in the window, and on the car is a sticker detailing the optional equipment fitted to the particular model. The only item listed is a 'load area cover' - parcel shelf to you and me. They want £138(!) for this valuable option!
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Test drove a 2.0D two weeks ago. Very nice ride, very comfy seats, 45mpg on long commute. Like the shape, loved the P1800. Tiny boot, rubbish luggage cover (it needs that parcel shelf). NO LW radio is the killer for me (need my Test Match Special) - that's basically ruled out Volvos for me.
Then I saw three on the same day! Oxford Volvo are selling a brace off cheap. I think it's the boot that is putting people off. Space in the back for two modest size children is good. The R-design version looks cheap on our car scheme compared with A3 and 1 Series, although the BMW economy is far better.
Others in the running are Eos and Alfa GT. I liked the Civic Type S, but counted 27 in Swindon last weekend :-)
daren
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I think the difficulty in this "personal car with a bit of class" segment is notoriously fickle - you are aiming at people who could chose something more practical but instead buy something more distinctive/aspirational/of the moment. At the moment I'd imagine the Mini is picking up most of these sales and the A3 or 1series is hoovering the rep user chooser element. The idea of a volvo for thrusting young execs in the UK is still a harder sale. In the US Volvos were always marketed and also perceived to be the sort of thing that architects/designer/ad agency types bought. here there are more solidly middle class.
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