Slightly OT: Reatta and Volvo C30

Bushwack · January 25th, 2012

Has anyone seen a Volvo C30? The styling reminds me of a modern day Reatta (coupe). I have a suspicion twenty years from now these cars will have the same aura around them for some as the Reatta does today.
2012 Volvo C30 Coupe

padgett · January 25th, 2012

Looks like they took a Mazda and added a Volvo diagonal bar.

Recian · January 26th, 2012

that volvo looks more like this than a reatta

Honda Civic Hatchback Body Kit Vizage Polyurethane Type A 92-95

mongeonman · January 26th, 2012

all i know about this car is that it was designed by someone from Québec,Canada.I think it looks nice but nothing like my REATTA.
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KDirk · January 26th, 2012

When I first started seeing the C30 around a year or two ago, I thought it a very odd looking car; at least from the back. That is a monster tailgate window. Now, that kind of car isn't my taste and I won't say it looks bad exactly, but something about it is "off" in my eyes.

Can't really see much similarity to the Reatta in it either, but maybe that's just me. The fact that it has a hatchback and not a trunk makes it different enough to preclude comparisons IMO. They do seem to be fairly popular around my area, I see them on a fairly routine basis. Lots of yuppies on a budget in these parts, and MSRP of about $25,000 (per the linked website) is a relative bargain for a Volvo.

Seems I see a lot more Audi's than Volvo's around here now, used to be just the opposite about 10 years ago. I wonder how Volvo being owned by an Indian car company (since Ford sold their interest) has impacted their popularity and reputation.

Such seems not to have done wonders for Jaguar, which no longer even has a dealer in the St. Louis market after the lone franchise here closed up due to tax/bankruptcy issues I believe. Then again, I hear the XF has been a reliability disaster. Kind of a shame, I always thought Jaguars were nice looking cars even if they required constant work.

KDirk

padgett · January 26th, 2012

I still can't keep my eyes off the oil pressure gauge. 40 psi at 3,000 rpm hot.

Thomas Foraenos · January 27th, 2012

I'm gonna say that I don't really much care for the current trends in car design. I'm much more partial to the cars that didn't get sucked into the SUV craze, like the last Thunderbirds, current Mustangs and Chargers... and of course the Reatta. The list of cars with four doors that I love is much shorter than that, at solely the Jaguar Sedans while the company was owned by Ford.

zoltanb · January 27th, 2012

To me it looks like a throw back to the p1800 wagon with a bunch of lights thrown in for "Swedish Safety"

padgett · January 27th, 2012

I am of the FFF school and since the 55 went away drag is important. Frankly I am amazed at the levels of power modern alloy engines with direct ijection and VVT get: the same power as our 3800s from 2.5 liters (am looking at a DOHC 16V 2.3 that develops 244 hp and can run on 87 PON in a SUV).

Still have reservations about boost in a gas engine at low altitudes but keeping my mind open.

ps I have always liked the P1800ES.

wws944 · January 27th, 2012

Back in the day, I knew someone who had a '73 1800ES. Neat little wagon. Had D-Jetronic and a 5-speed. I didn't realize how rare that car was. According to wikipedia, only 8077 were built.

A friend has a C30 and yes, it seems like a spiritual descendant of the 1800ES. When he bought it, I mentioned the 1800ES to him, but he had never heard of one. (Obviously not a 'car guy'...

) Interestingly, he bought it after their Prius got involved in a accident and didn't fare very well...

68vwdubb · January 27th, 2012

Hey Bushwack!

Is that Another new ride in the pic?? If it is, you're on Fire!!

NCReatta · January 27th, 2012

First off it did remind me of a P1800 ES. That's one of those cars that I've just fallen in love with. If this new Volvo turns out to be anything like the P1800, I might just buy one.

Mike_s · January 27th, 2012

" I wonder how Volvo being owned by an Indian car company"

According to this article on oct 6, volvo is owned now by China's Geely, with rumors that were they were considering buying Saab as well.

Volvo owner Geely denies reported interest in Saab | Reuters

KDirk · January 27th, 2012

Hmm,

Could swear I read something about an Indian automaker taking a controlling interest in Volvo when Ford decided to unload it. Either it was speculation, a deal that didn't happen, or a figment of my imagination.

Saab got killed because GM wouldn't agree to Chinese ownership of the company. Funny that, since GM wanted badly to sell Hummer to a Chinese industrial interest at the time it was swirling the bowl.

In any case, Jaguar is Indian-owned. Seems like they have the resources to develop new models (The XF being the first post-Ford to come out), but are having a lot of problems in making them reliable. Same as ever for Jaguar it seems.

As to that 1800 wagon, I had never seen one before. It's just old enough (and rare enough) to have never been on my radar. I will say clearly it must have been a design inspiration for the C30. Save for the low horizontal taillights, it could almost be an older version of C30 when viewed from the rear in much the same way the current Mustang emulates the look of the mid 60's models.

KDirk

Mike_s · January 27th, 2012

About 7?yrs ago I saw a p1800 wagon at a volvo showroom when I was looking at a used c70 coupe. I also thought the p1800 was a reall cool car. The c70 seats were so comfortable to me I still ocassionaly think about trying to put a pair into the reatta.

padgett · January 27th, 2012

I'd take a P1800ES, makes more sense now than it did then. Last year the American (poor imitation) version of Top Gear bought a P1800ES from a used car lot in Calif for a couple of hundred dollars for a segment.