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Very interesting post. I had a 2005 S60 D5 (the 163hp version) and loved the car. The ride was not good though, although handling was fine. Comfort was good and the best bit was a 5 pot engine with character and lots of grunt.
I needed an estate car and the bigger the better, so at 3 years, 90,000 miles I changed it for a BMW 5 series Touring with the 177hp 2.0 diesel engine. The differences are marked. The BM is more practical (of course, it's an estate!), as comfortable to drive long distances (just done 1,300 miles in the last 3 days across to Germany and back) and is much quieter. At 100mph on the Autobahn a conversation can be held without the need for raised voices.
But I miss the Volvo. It had character, which is sadly lacking in the Beemer. It feels sterile and although more powerful it has nothing like the grunt the Volvo did. I seem to be changing gears all the time in the BM whereas the Volvo stayed in top from 30mph and if you wanted to go faster you just prodded the pedal. And it was a Volvo, and so not as common as a 3 series which I liked in a perverse way.
I think it is the character of a car which the road-testers miss out on describing, but then it is so subjective isn't it? I loved the 5 pot sound in the Volvo, others call it noisy. The BM engine is not audible on the move which therefore means quiet = good. Well yes, but not for everyone. Horses for courses I suppose.
And the reason why Volvo did not sell me a V70 was a; I didn't like the styling and b; the BM was sooooooooooo much better BiK-wise (and fuel consumption-wise for the company). Better residuals too. Oh, and better equiped as standard, and cheaper to service. But sterile...........
The Volvo however was more reliable. The BM has been to visit the dealer so often I think it's having an affair with someone in the service department.....
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