[WeaverBeaver]

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classifi...01601290527019

What am I missing here??

£34.5k for a basically new 350bhp fully loaded V60 Polestar - Even with a whopping £8.5k discount on C2C these are over £41k new. Looks an absolute bargain to me for an awesome car.

[SkyJawa]

Originally Posted by WeaverBeaver

What am I missing here??

Its a Volvo

[WeaverBeaver]

Originally Posted by SkyJawa

Its a Volvo

Come on now, you can't be serious - it's an impressive bit of kit extensively fettled by Polestar, an ultimate Q car, only 125 in the UK, not just a Volvo...

[creepy coupe]

I like em. I like em a lot.

[TodmordenLad]

My verdict
Its a lot of car for £34.5k - 6 cyl turbocharged petrol engine, 4 wheel drive, decent suspension components, not bad looking, exclusive model etc, whats not to like?
Depreciation will be massive and consumption awful (23mpg mixed) but probably decent enough to drive

Auto Trader Verdict:
Fast estates are as beguiling an idea now as they were when Volvo entered an 850 Estate into the cut and thrust of the British Touring Car championships a decade ago. The limited-edition V60 Polestar is a fine example of the breed, with tonnes of kit, a thumpingly fast engine and fantastic looks. Despite all these abilities, it is flawed, and you’d have to mentally forgive it for quite a lot before choosing one over one of its more obvious Germanic rivals. Even so, it’s charming enough that you just might.

[WeaverBeaver]

Originally Posted by TodmordenLad

My verdict
Its a lot of car for £34.5k - 6 cyl turbocharged petrol engine, 4 wheel drive, decent suspension components, not bad looking, exclusive model etc, whats not to like?
Depreciation will be massive and consumption awful (23mpg mixed) but probably decent enough to drive

Auto Trader Verdict:
Fast estates are as beguiling an idea now as they were when Volvo entered an 850 Estate into the cut and thrust of the British Touring Car championships a decade ago. The limited-edition V60 Polestar is a fine example of the breed, with tonnes of kit, a thumpingly fast engine and fantastic looks. Despite all these abilities, it is flawed, and you’d have to mentally forgive it for quite a lot before choosing one over one of its more obvious Germanic rivals. Even so, it’s charming enough that you just might.

A lot of the reviews however are based on the ~50k RRP which is the main criticism posed against it. Would have thought they've already taken the main hit of depreciation if low £30s with only a dw k miles and given so few in the country might actually hold value better in long run than say a 340i?

[SDH]

I appreciate the cars specification but IMO it's pig ugly

[Daftasabrush]

They're pretty cool, if only for uniqueness, but I find the 340 touring a nice place to be. They absolutely drink fuel too!

[isleaiw]

I have also been looking at these - even though I have read all of the magazine reviews and none are particularly complimentary! Why do I still find them interesting? Well, I like Volvos, I've had a few mainly boring ones but I like the seats and the (lack of) image. I need something that will take two spaniels in a pen in the boot - it ticks that box (although boot isnt great). I dont do many miles - station car and train in the week so its a weekend car for doing the necessary journeys with a bit of fun. I like the look and I like the AWD.

And its not a grey / black / white 3 series / A4 / C Class..... I do think the biggest enemy to the big 3 german manufacturers is themselves - they are just getting too popular...

But a 340i Touring is still the best available alternative....

[TodmordenLad]

Originally Posted by isleaiw

I have also been looking at these - even though I have read all of the magazine reviews and none are particularly complimentary! Why do I still find them interesting? Well, I like Volvos, I've had a few mainly boring ones but I like the seats and the (lack of) image. I need something that will take two spaniels in a pen in the boot - it ticks that box (although boot isnt great). I dont do many miles - station car and train in the week so its a weekend car for doing the necessary journeys with a bit of fun. I like the look and I like the AWD.

And its not a grey / black / white 3 series / A4 / C Class..... I do think the biggest enemy to the big 3 german manufacturers is themselves - they are just getting too popular...

But a 340i Touring is still the best available alternative....

Yep, the 340i Touring will be a better buy, not as quite as fast but more forgiving and more comfortable. All the reviews I've read slam the ride quality of the Polestar, some describing it as brutal. Pity really, if it was less thirsty, rode better, and was available in higher volumes, it would be an attractive proposition, given the discounts likely to be available

[Daftasabrush]

Originally Posted by TodmordenLad

Yep, the 340i Touring will be a better buy, not as quite as fast but more forgiving and more comfortable. All the reviews I've read slam the ride quality of the Polestar, some describing it as brutal. Pity really, if it was less thirsty, rode better, and was available in higher volumes, it would be an attractive proposition, given the discounts likely to be available

Thought the 340 was quicker than the polestar?

[TodmordenLad]

Originally Posted by Daftasabrush

Thought the 340 was quicker than the polestar?

0-60 in 4.8secs

With more hp (350) and more torque (500Nm), it probably feels quicker too

[WeaverBeaver]

Originally Posted by TodmordenLad

0-60 in 4.8secs

With more hp (350) and more torque (500Nm), it probably feels quicker too

Actually the 340i is about a second quicker to 100mph and 2 ish secs quicker to 124mph than the Polestar based on published tests. Videos on YouTube seems to confirm the 340i is definitely quicker above 60mph. About 200kg lighter and power at the wheels probably the same or slightly higher given less drivetrain losses of RWD. The Polestar is still quick mind and sounds downright rude.

[isleaiw]

Originally Posted by TodmordenLad

Yep, the 340i Touring will be a better buy, not as quite as fast but more forgiving and more comfortable. All the reviews I've read slam the ride quality of the Polestar, some describing it as brutal. Pity really, if it was less thirsty, rode better, and was available in higher volumes, it would be an attractive proposition, given the discounts likely to be available

yep - but there will still be more 3 series than Mondeos on the roads, and I dont really get excited by the inside of the 3 series....

You would think when spending £40k something would jump out at you as being the one!

[TodmordenLad]

Originally Posted by WeaverBeaver

Actually the 340i is about a second quicker to 100mph and 2 ish secs quicker to 124mph than the Polestar based on published tests. Videos on YouTube seems to confirm the 340i is definitely quicker above 60mph. About 200kg lighter and power at the wheels probably the same or slightly higher given less drivetrain losses of RWD. The Polestar is still quick mind and sounds downright rude.

I'd rather have a new Focus RS than a V60 Polestar if I was going for a performance car with a reasonably sized boot - same hp, 4 wheel drive, probably more comfortable and a lot cheaper, albeit with a 4 pot engine.

Quite happy with my MPPK 330d Touring for now, although it's no performance car!

[dopper99]

Road tax £500 a year? No thanks, not for a 3.0 in this day and age.

Not unless it's a supercar.

[isleaiw]

Originally Posted by dopper99

Road tax £500 a year? No thanks, not for a 3.0 in this day and age.

Not unless it's a supercar.

I dont get people getting hung up about that - its less than one months depreciation on the car....

If it got me the car I wanted I wouldnt hesitate....

[dazzapb]

Originally Posted by isleaiw

yep - but there will still be more 3 series than Mondeos on the roads, and I dont really get excited by the inside of the 3 series....

You would think when spending £40k something would jump out at you as being the one!

Pretty much everything now outsells the Mondeo, seems to be small 4x4 or just small!

Massive cars off the radar and with 80% on finance people now tend to go German

The top 10 best-selling cars in Britain in 2015: smmt
1) Ford Fiesta - 133,434 units

2) Vauxhall Corsa - 92,077

3) Ford Focus - 83,816

4) Volkswagen Golf - 73,409

5) Nissan Qashqai - 60,814

6) Volkswagen Polo - 54,900

7) Vauxhall Astra - 52,703

8) Audi A3 - 47,653

9) Mini hatchback - 47,076

10) Vauxhall Mokka - 45,399

[dazzapb]

Originally Posted by isleaiw

I dont get people getting hung up about that - its less than one months depreciation on the car....

If it got me the car I wanted I wouldnt hesitate....

If I was buying - probably but as you say tiny cost in the grand scheme, however a lease or PCP might factor in more depreciation and cost you more in the monthlies.
In 07 I had a 335i on order, road tax went from £200 odd to £400 odd and I hadn't taken delivery. Not much as you say but when it came to sell in early 09(I bought with cash) most were just interested if it was the 'revised' 335i that was now £200 - it was an extra depreciation pressie

[SkyJawa]

3 poxhauls in the top 10, stupid Brits!

[gtsussex]

Originally Posted by dopper99

Road tax £500 a year? No thanks, not for a 3.0 in this day and age.

Not unless it's a supercar.

Hah! Try having a Disco and an M235i to tax in same month every year!!!

[isleaiw]

Originally Posted by dazzapb

If I was buying - probably but as you say tiny cost in the grand scheme, however a lease or PCP might factor in more depreciation and cost you more in the monthlies.
In 07 I had a 335i on order, road tax went from £200 odd to £400 odd and I hadn't taken delivery. Not much as you say but when it came to sell in early 09(I bought with cash) most were just interested if it was the 'revised' 335i that was now £200 - it was an extra depreciation pressie

retrospectively changing I get - but I suspect as we know the new scheme coming in 2017, fiddling with rates on older cars wont happen as much.

I guess the issues comes when its a £8k car and £500 a year for RFL is a bigger slice of running costs...