EXCLUSIVE: Volvo Quietly Shipping C30's Back to Sweden To Sell There-Why Is It Flopping In the USA?

Let's see.

Raspy underpowered inline 5 cylinder. Check
Boring, plain jane interior. Check
Confusing options and ordering specs. Check
Overpriced for what you get. Check

Chance of luring buyers from the GTI, Mini or the 1-series. 0%

— Chip (View Profile)

Posted on 7/23/2008 3:33:06 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 7   

I honestly can't remember the last time I saw a commercial for the C30, let alone if I have ever seen one at all. But IMHO, the problem begins and ends with Ford.
In between, you have a lone engine option that numbers wise is on par with a VW GTI and Mini Cooper S, but can't match their performance or fuel economy. There isn't an option for a less expensive, less powerful and more fuel efficient base model, like the base Mini Cooper, which gets great gas mileage and still has a lot of "get up and go".
As a guy, I think the car isn't as "girlie" as its perceived to be. But being a guy, I know that the C30 is built on a shared platform, Ford's global compact auto platform known as "C1".
Why is this important? Because for guys and gals who have a need for speed, there is a better option that uses the platform for about the same starting price as the C30, the MAZDASPEED 3.
Like I said, the problem begins and ends with Ford. Ever since they had acquired Volvo (and formerly Jaguar and Land Rover,as well as GM with SAAB, etc., etc., etc.) it's been nothing like its former self.

— Bored (View Profile)

Posted on 7/23/2008 3:59:25 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3   

They should have sold the 2.0 litre engine as well. I like it though.

— Rupert (View Profile)

Posted on 7/23/2008 6:37:21 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

This car's only fault were the people who stood behind it.

— Need4Speed (View Profile)

Posted on 7/23/2008 7:00:20 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

Don't blame Volvo, blame Ford.

— vladyxa (View Profile)

Posted on 7/23/2008 9:00:29 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

Chip said:
Confusing options and ordering specs. Check
Overpriced for what you get. Check

I heartily agree with those two. I was seriously shopping this car (I'm getting a '09 A3 instead), but quickly ruled it out. Is EVERYTHING an option? It's not price competitive once you get a reasonably equipped model. I think they went ridiculously overboard trying to make people feel their C30 was CUSTOM.

Acura has its own problems, but one thing they do really well is make the buying experience easy. Tech package or no tech package.

— finishline (View Profile)

Posted on 7/23/2008 9:29:10 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 4   

It's simple....
People here in the States do not associate luxury cars with 3 door hatchbacks.
That is why the 318ti was a failure and the C230 coupe.
That is why Audi brought out the A3 Sportback only and not the 3 door for the U.S Market.

— AlexTx (View Profile)

Posted on 7/23/2008 10:06:36 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

I was prospectively looking at the C30 when it came out. But I was hard to do so for a few reasons.

1) Where were they? At launch I did not see one at the dealers near me on display, no signage.

2) Commercials? I had to look online to see when it was around because I never saw one commercial about the car.

3) Appeal, after careful though I realized that as nice as it is, it is ultimately an upscale Ford Focus. Not the US version but the Euro spec. The car has the same underpinnings as the Focus ZX5 and general same size.

4) The money factor, for what you get in the car it seemed a bit overpriced. Especially when compared to the next step up S40.

5) Hype of an R version but never saw one, Similar to the Dodge Caliber SRT, it's out, but I don't see one on the road.

The car was not ever going to compete with the A3. I will not use the GTI or Mini because those are not luxury cars, therefore it would only be striving to take buyers looking to move upscale towards the C30.

Just goes to show that Americans still have a ways to go in the thought process of small luxury cars. Hopefully the 1 series can help with that a bit.

— Whelan (View Profile)

Posted on 7/23/2008 10:34:30 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

Well, here in Brazil they did a comparison of the C30 and the A3 and it was pretty amazing. In terms of "luxury", the A3 had an advantage for the build quality and materials, not to mention the chassis. Now, when comparing performance, although the C30 had well over 20 hp advantage, the A3 won in every aspect, including handling, braking, etc. So it's hard for Volvo, who was never in the "luxury" level of the market (although it had some models that came close), neither it is known for having "sports" cars in the American market, to come and launch a car like the C30 and propose it is both, when it has never proven to be neither. The competition at this level is not wide, but is pretty hard. I am biased towards the A3 (besides the presence of the Mini, 1-series and VW) and the C30 doesn't come close to offering a better product, even less a comparable product to those cars.

— caixa2 (View Profile)

Posted on 7/23/2008 11:15:08 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3   

This is perfect timing for me. I'm in the market for a hot hatch right now. I test drove the C30 last week and thought it was good looking and competent with a refined ride but it wasn't an engaging drive. The engine sounds good on paper but in the real world it doesn't pull very hard and the handling is a bit numb and lacking in dynamics. I then drove the GTI an hour later and had a big smile on my face as I was driving it. Strong acceleration and balanced handling. I prefer the looks of the C30 and the refinement but it just isn't a fun car to drive. Couple that with the fact that a C30 is is $100 more per month on a lease than a comparably equipped GTI. Volvo is making it very easy for the consumer to pass over the C30 and that is why I am.

— goojman (View Profile)

Posted on 7/23/2008 11:16:41 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

If they had that rumored 350hp AWD C30-R, I'd be really interested, or something closer to the Mazdaspeed3. An extra 2 doors wouldn't hurt either. If I have to live with the dorkiness of a hatch, at least it should be utilitarian! On the plus side, it's very roomy for my 6'7" self, I love the clean, Swedish dash design, the 18" wheels look great and I think the exterior looks great. It's just a bit on the soft side, performance-wise. My next car is probably either going to be a Mazdaspeed3, a CPO BMW 3er, or a 1-series.

— Redwood (View Profile)

Posted on 7/23/2008 11:19:45 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

I believe is the value and the price.

— MZauto (View Profile)

Posted on 7/23/2008 11:32:20 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

Owning a BMW right now, yes, the C30's dash is clean to me haha.

— Redwood (View Profile)

Posted on 7/23/2008 11:33:13 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

I WANTED the C30 very badly.

but it was too the options were too confusing and it was too expensive. in march, i got a vw R32 for about $100 cheaper/ month than a C30 with everything but a sat nav.

its just too much money and too confusing.
lets hope ford learns its lesson when they bring the euro focus hatch to the states.

— DROOPYSAKK (View Profile)

Posted on 7/23/2008 12:17:35 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

I like their new XC60, does that make me feminine?

— no1listensanyway (View Profile)

Posted on 7/23/2008 12:28:17 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

You guys are right about Volvo's lackluster support for this car. I haven't seen any TV ads for the C30 either. But then I haven't seen any A3 or Mini-Cooper or 2-series ads for quite a while either.

I checked out this car once it hit the dealers. I could fit in the front seats without a problem. (I wish I could say the same thing about the BMW 1-series.) And I liked the infinite number of option combinations, similar to the Mini approach to options. The C30's looks weren't bad either. However, if Volvo expected it to compete with the Audi A3, BMW 128/135 or Mini-Cooper, I knew they would be disappointed.

The Volvo's I-5 engine was peppy enough to keep up with all of its rivals except for the BMW 135i. However, the Swede's handling was pedestrian compared to the aforementioned rivals. The car's styling was a little sedate compared to its rivals. In addition, the C30 got pricey once you started adding options.

The C30 seems like a nice entry-level Volvo, with traditional Volvo emphasis on safety, sensibility and clean, understated Scandinavian styling. However, the A3,128/135 & Mini-Cooper are a lot more fun to drive, and look it.

— Audiphile (View Profile)

Posted on 7/23/2008 12:28:57 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1   

As a MINI owner and having driven the C30, I am really not that surprised that the C30 isn't doing all that well. They simply can't compete with the heritage of BMW and the MINI brand that simply are well known to be quality sporting cars. Besides, the C30 goes against the grain of Volvo's typical conservative buyer, and it's too expensive... My $24k MINI has all the goodies and power I could want in that price range.

— CarCrazedinCali (View Profile)

Posted on 7/23/2008 1:25:49 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

*snort* the C30 and the Mini are completely different rides. I admire the Mini but you've got to enjoy pain if you're going to use it for long highway trips or as a daily driver on lengthy commutes. The C30 can handle those.

I also vastly preferred the C30 after test-driving both it and the Audi A3 -- and going into the buying process thinking I'd buy an A3. It was the Audi's styling that left me unimpressed -- it said "Volkswagen at a premium price" to me.

Still, the C30 is a bit of a football bat, so to speak. It has the automatic problem of being a two-door luxury hatchback, which makes it an Army of One in the U.S. Its rear hatch, while very attractive, really cuts down on utility. The five-cylinder engine, which I like, is nonetheless scary to U.S. customers. The brand most assuredly doesn't scream "sporty hatch." The sportiness of the ride trails Audi, Mini, BMW and VW (although it is very, very comfortable).

Still, last I saw, Volvo was making its numbers (it had predicted about 6K U.S. sales a year) until all car sales went in a tailspin.

And there's this: The C30 is built in Belgium, not Sweden. That error alone should put a damper on the "back to Sweden" alleged reporting.

— Frobozz (View Profile)

Posted on 7/23/2008 3:34:11 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

STARTING AT $27,695 MSRP in Canada. Not including freight, PDI & taxes... Ha Ha Ha....

— cRacKhEaDaLLeY (View Profile)

Posted on 7/23/2008 6:40:16 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

A few days ago we published a rumor submitted to us by a Ford insider regarding Volvo's new C30 being shipped back to Sweden due to slow sales.

Apparently, the rumor is not true and the Spies can only surmise at this point that our source is a disgruntled Ford employee trying to stir up trouble.

Here is the response from Volvo PR.

I've followed AutoSpies.com since its inception and, while I find the site to be often entertaining and informative, the site's credibility is compromised when a false story is published. The claim that Volvo C30s are being shipped back to Europe is bogus and, I can only surmise, has to be a total fabrication.

Here's why: Every vehicle shipped to the United States is, of course, a U.S.-spec car. That means it meets the standards set by the U.S. Government. European countries have different standards for things such as emissions, tire noise, safety, software, headlights, instrument clusters, etc. Common sense should make it clear that a U.S.-spec car won't be sold in Europe and a European-spec car won't be sold here. The time and money spent by a manufacturer to retrofit a car would be astronomical.

I will point out, too, that May and June were the two best months ever for C30 sales in the United States. Our 2008 sales are very close to our projection.

From a journalistic perspective, I'm surprised the writer didn't call us to do any fact-checking or ask for a response. The only "source" for the story was someone inside...Ford?!? That's sloppy reporting and your readers deserve better. Whoever wrote the piece deserves a proverbial tongue-lashing from you because the story served no purpose, was untruthful and misled your readers.

The decision to keep the story on your site rests with you. By keeping it on your site, though, you risk losing your readers' trust.

Geno

___________________________________
Geno Effler
Vice President, Public Affairs
Volvo Cars of North America

Geno,

We do our best to check our sources and in this case the source couldn't have been any stronger.

But what we can't judge is the INTENT of why certain people say certain things.

We report, people decide.

001

— Agent001 (View Profile)

Posted on 7/30/2008 3:46:05 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1