Volvo C30

[CAOSyAMOR]

I drove the C30 - hated it. I wanted to like it, I really did. But the C30 is boring, plus like others have said you should really go for a 4door. My votes based on actual real world experience would be for either the 4door GTI OR the Audi A3

cheers

edit: by boring I mean the transmission is slow and unresponsive, poorly geared.. There is too much body roll for such a small car, the clutch is too light, the interior is bland and undirected.

I feel this car has tuning potential, but it would take a lot to get it to where the GTI/A3 are to begin with. Also if you were going 'auto', nothing beats the DSG - amazing transmission. Resale value will be higher with either the GTI or the A3, there are far more performance upgrades for them as well. The 2.0T can be tuned to a reliable 250 or 300 horse with a simple chip and DV.

just my two cents

[Jand3rson]

Probably yhe best looking C30 I've seen yet:

[TexasTerp]

When I was born my dad gave up his 280z for a volvo. a couple years later when my sister was born he had hated the volvo and bought my 4 door e30. What I learned from him, he bought the volvo due to safety for the first kid (me), but he kept longing for the power and fun of his past cars (280z, 440 Roadrunner, GTO) so he bought the bimmer.

you are gonna hate 2 doors for kids, always get a 4 door it will make your life so much easier. I vote for the Audi A3. Why aren't you looking at any low mileage e46's or 5 series, you can definitely find a great condition 4 door for well within your range. I still vote for the A3 regardless, great car!

[CAOSyAMOR]

[atomic]

[aaron325ix]

just get a 4 door m42 e30 and call it a day. You will save so much with all the ancillary kid costs.

congrats by the way:D

[416stroker]

just get a 4 door m42 e30 and call it a day. You will save so much with all the ancillary kid costs.

congrats by the way:D

Thanks arron. But arnt the 4door e30s no differnt than the 2 doors? The only thing is she'll want a motor swa with an s50 thanks to jean. He talked about it with her that one time at a meet.

[aaron325ix]

Thanks arron. But arnt the 4door e30s no differnt than the 2 doors? The only thing is she'll want a motor swa with an s50 thanks to jean. He talked about it with her that one time at a meet.

I'm just saying, e30's are fairly cheap and easy to work on, which you know.
m42's are efficient and reliable.
a 4-door is what you need now with the youngin.
and aparantly the little lady likes e30's anyway, she goes to meets for christs sake.
why get a car payment?
Plus you can do the swap at a later date.:p
Just dont let her talk to Jean too much in the mean time.

[416stroker]

I'm just saying, e30's are fairly cheap and easy to work on, which you know.
m42's are efficient and reliable.
a 4-door is what you need now with the youngin.
and aparantly the little lady likes e30's anyway, she goes to meets for christs sake.
why get a car payment?
Plus you can do the swap at a later date.:p
Just dont let her talk to Jean too much in the mean time.

I Wish I could talk her into a 4dr e30. I know she would trade her truck for a coupe. believe me I tried to talk her into one. I want to get her an E30 but she wants a new car.

O I know Jean talked to her for like twenty mins. at that one meet and told her to get an e30 with an S50 and an auto trans. and she hassnt forgotten about it. I she thinks mines fun to drive. and would love to smoke my m50 with an s50


If work doesnt pick up she'll probably have her own E30. Theres no way I can aford a car right now. But Im getting everything ready to go for the army when my unemployment runs out. So I can just fall back on that and then my bonus could cover a lot5 of the $ car.

[BimmerTom]

Here's my take...

You've got a kid now. Get something reliable, responsible, useful, and by all means, SAFE. An E30 is not a car I want my kid and spouse riding around in. We have a B5.5 Passat and a 05 Yukon. Passat is nice since you're not having to heave a kid up into it, but the space of the Yukon is handy. We have the Yukon so I can drag the E30 around to autocrosses and take the whole family along. I just came back from a BMWCCA event at the Tire Rack. Had the car on the trailer, wife and kids, along with the dog, and all of our luggage for the weekend. Still pulled 12mpg on the highway, and cruised in comfort.

If anything, I would say the A3 is your best bet, hands down. I'd rock that in a heartbeat.

But, my old standby family hauler is still the current Toyota Sienna, with the 3.5. Seriously, go drive one. The fact it can light the tires thru first gear, and runs 0-60 in the 7-ish range is pretty impressive.

But, yeah... It does look like you're driving a heel.

Anyways, congrats, enjoy the new kid, and take care.

[konky]

[konky]

[CAOSyAMOR]

^^ I could post pics of heavily modded hot hatches all day long but I'm going to go out on a limb and say that the OP's prime directive is to get a good looking car suitable for him, his wife, and his child.

There is no doubt those C30's look better than factory but less face it they are even more impractical as a DD now, and bending over to get a child in the back of one of those will be even more of a pain in the ass.

Again, if the OP wants to go the modding route there are countless more options available for the GTI/A3 2.0T.

You know the old saying: You can dress a C30 up but.. It's still a Volvo.

[Aptyp]

I love the way c30's look from factory. Definitely the best looking hatch on the market today.

[hugh jass]

get something used, cheaper, and with 4 doors. you will hate taking the car seat in and out with a coupe, trust me. buying a new car is nice but you end up taking a huge hit on the depreciation. let someone else take that hit and find an 07 or 08 car you both like. if you're both starting out the last thing you want to do is spend a bunch of money on a car if you don't have to. find a 15k and stick the rest of the cash in the bank and start a 529 college fund for your little guy.
not trying to preach, just my 2 cents....