Edmunds.com | Inside Line | Auto Observer Your Account | Help | Directory
You are here:
![[F]](http://a332.g.akamai.net/f/332/936/12h/www.edmunds.com/media/townhall/webxicons/site.gif){kind=small}
Forums
Sedans Volvo S40 Volvo S40 vs BMW 3 Series
83 messages, Last post on Dec 14, 2008 at 2:58 PM
You are in the Volvo S40 Forum. Your Hosts are pat & karens
|
Replying to: cubanomx (Jun 21, 2007 1:34 pm) Volvo for life is an advertising campaign. BMW's is "the ultimate driving machine." I could use _that_ to argue that volvo is inferior because it's not ultimate. As for longevity, i don't think you guys are playing with real data: http://www.desrosiers.ca/pdfs/2002/2002-4.pdf In any case, both marquees do pretty well in this regard. "And about security: Volvo beat BMW, just check the S40, S60 and C90 qualifications" You'll have to explain why one should draw the opposite conclusions from the safety test results in regards to safety.
|
|
|
Replying to: dhanley (Jun 21, 2007 1:45 pm) About the conclusions I base my words in a single fact: I see an S60 accident with a garbage truck when I purchased my brand new s40 last year. My eyes don't believe what I see... no doubt is a SAFE car. Volvo reputation is bassed on security and reliability (MACK and VOLVO trucks... see that)... I hear some stories about people having accidents and they save his life because they was driving a volvo. I love BMW as well but a 330 cannot compete with a T5 AWD, this is a real fact.
|
|
|
Replying to: cubanomx (Jun 21, 2007 9:15 pm) This may or may not be true(do you have numbers to back this up?), but this doesn't seem to be resulting in them building the safest cars, is it? Since i don't think any of you are disputing BMW's superior crash test scores?
|
|
|
Replying to: dhanley (Jun 22, 2007 12:02 pm) http://www.driveandstayalive.com/info%20section/crash%20testing/crash-testing-centers_volvo.htm "Volvo's crash laboratory is the most advanced in the world. It has two test tracks, one permanent and one movable, which can be turned by as much as 90 degrees. Advanced laser technology ensures that every test is conducted with millimeter precision. Sensors and high-speed cameras document events. The ability to combine two tracks makes the laboratory at the Volvo Cars Safety Centre unique. In addition, Volvo's high-tech collision barriers, which weigh 800 metric tons (881 short tons), can be moved into position using air cushions, making it is possible to re-create many different accident situations" Volvo have an "Unique Crash Simulator". Volvo also has invested in a unique physical crash simulator in which real-life collisions can be simulated without destroying the car body itself See the first fully SUV rollover Volvo crash laboratory and how amazing the passenger cage is designed: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqNITUm3WA8 See the frontal impact motor absortion design and 4 steel security basis from Volvo: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HwjwEwUPzwA&mode=related&search= And personal security is getting important too. Volvo wins award for innovative security technology on 2007: "Volvo’s unique Personal Car Communicator" with heartbeat sensors: http://www.easier.com/view/News/Motoring/Volvo/article-123069.html Volvo: "It is associated with the Group’s core values – quality, safety and environmental care" Volvo is a pioneer in the security fields in cars. see: Volvo was the first company to produce cars with padded dashboards Volvo developed the first rear-facing child seat Volvo introduced the first central high-mounted stoplight Volvo introduced the introduced the first three-point seatbelt for the middle of the rear seat and a child safety cushion integrated in the middle armrest Volvo in 1991 came the introduction of the Side Impact Protection System (SIPS) Volvo introduced its Whiplash Protection System (WHIPS) In 2004 Volvo introduced the BLIS system Security in a Volvo new models is beyond imagination: The all new Volvo S80 is also the first Volvo model to feature Adaptive cruise control (ACC) with Collision Warning and Brake Support (CWBS) So as you can see, yes. Volvo is s secure car, no doubt.
|
|
|
Replying to: cubanomx (Jun 22, 2007 12:40 pm) Bear in mind, a lot of the technology that's so impressing you is advertising jargon, and all the other "safe" manufacturers are doing it too, just using different names. You seem to think volvo has some usiqueness in doing safety testing. Maybe they were pioneers 30-40 years ago, but that doesn't mean they have the safest cars on the road today.
|
|
|
Replying to: dhanley (Jun 22, 2007 1:35 pm) If you want to understand me, go to an insurance company or a volvo dealer where you can see a crashed volvo car. When you see a volvo car crashed, even in the worst event and with big trucks, high speeds, etc and you see the passenger cage, you will understand what I mean. Other companies can have similar technologies like the ones I explain in my previus messages, but volvo was the FIRST in have such kind of technology. No other car manufacturer spend so much on security than volvo. Not even another car manufacturer have extreme car security diagnosis program and testing centers than volvo. They spend lot and lot of money, more than anyone else in design and solve the security issues in cars. But if you still refuse to understand, look this article titled: Volvo, safest car in the world: http://www.autoworld.com/apps/news/FullStory.asp?id=445 and see this words and understand why the ratings you see between BMW and Volvo in regards to security don't mean the BMW is better than volvo on security: "The tests only cover some of the situations that the Volvo is designed to withstand. Neither do the tests rate the multitude of advanced systems found in the volvo cars" |
|
|
Replying to: cubanomx (Jun 22, 2007 4:55 pm) Since you're now trying to dismiss the crashtest numbers, and claiming that volvo is designing cars to protect passengers "in real life" instead of performing well during crashtests, you could look at real-life driver death rates: http://www.iihs.org/sr/pdfs/sr4204.pdf Kind of interesting. The s40 had 89 deaths versus million miles driven versus 35 in the 3-series sedan/coupe. So you're over 2.5 times more likely to die in a crash in an s40 compared to a 3-series according to these numbers. And this is the e46(older) bmw. The new e90 has significant safety upgrades. Really, according to this list, dollar-for-dollar, you can get much s a much safer car then a s40. The s40's death rate is nearly twice that of the golf, and trails the saturn ion, the civic, and the corolla. ( yeah, i was surprised too. I assumed the s40 would beat those, especially the ION ). Heck, a hyundai sonata is 73, mini cooper is 68, and a passat is 37! The s80 has 29 deaths per million miles driven, while the 7-series has 11! The awd v70 is the best performing volvo at 26. The x5 is at 19, though. They're not really comparable, but there's no xc90 or 5-series wagon on the list. Honestly, before this topic came up, i assumed all the lux manufacturers were neck-and-neck, and none were really much safer than the others.
|
|
|
Replying to: dhanley (Jun 22, 2007 9:46 pm) As I explain before: no other company expend the ammount of money on security like volvo. I trust 100% on BMW (my next SUV will be the new X5) but Volvo is with no doubt a sign of secure and reliable car. Thanks for the info and drive safe!
|
|
|
Replying to: cubanomx (Jun 23, 2007 6:51 am) Oh, yeah, silly me for thinking crashtest scores and driver death rates mean anything in regards to safety. :/ Good luck with the x5. |
|
|
There are a few facts that aren't open to debate. 1. Volvo is safer than BMW 2. Volvo is more reliable and last longer than BMW 3. BMW outperforms Volvo on the race track 4. BMW is more popular than Volvo However it is debatable whether Volvo or BMW is better...well not really, it comes down to a matter of personal preference/choice |
|
You are here:
Forums
Sedans Volvo S40 Volvo S40 vs BMW 3 Series
New? Join Now!
Forum Tools
Search Forums
Browse by Vehicle
2010 Volvo S40
2010 BMW 3 Series
Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
Today's Chats
