Are Volvos Unpopular in the L.A. Area? (Merced: neighborhoods, to buy)

[Exitus Acta Probat]

I cannot remember seeing too many late model Volvos in L.A. Are they not popular here or is it just my perception?

[DabOnEm]

Go to Silver Lake/Echo Park. You'll see them.

[jm1982]

http://online.wsj.com/mdc/public/pag...autosales.html

In general it looks like they don't sell that many Volvo cars in the U.S

About 9 times less Volvos versus BMWs or Mercedes , so I'm not sure if it's just an L.A thing.

It's possible there are some cities or neighborhoods where they are more popular though.
My first car was an old volvo. They are definitely pretty solid cars.

[majoun]

Volvos were never that popular in the L.A. area. They were bigger in the East and Midwest. The same type of people who had Volvos in places like Chicago and Boston had BMWs here.

Volvo's popularity in the US in general declined when the Japanese companies got into the high end of the market. Volvos rightly or wrongly have a reputation for not being reliable and having a lot of issues, so once Lexus and Acura started making vehicles in the same price range that actually were reliable and dependable, Volvo's market shrank. Toyota and Honda beat Volvo at their own game.

[Exitus Acta Probat]

Indeed, they've never been particularly popular here, but I recall seeing many more of them in the past, circa 20 years ago. However, I cannot recall having seen even one recently, save the occasional run down beater on life support. And looking at the Volvo website, there are some models I don't think I've ever actually seen on the street, such as the Polestar, though I've seen countless comparables from BMW, Mercedes, and Audi.

I think Volvo would be smart to change their grill style and emblem, because right there is probably what's killing their brand.

[majoun]

Originally Posted by Exitus Acta Probat

Indeed, they've never been particularly popular here, but I recall seeing many more of them in the past, circa 20 years ago.

It's been 30 years since Honda entered the high end market with Acura, and 27 years since Toyota and Nissan entered the luxury market with Lexus and Infiniti. Given the Japanese companies' reputations for reliable, well-built cars, why would the prospective customer for vehicles like that pick a car with a dubious reputation for reliability, which is super-expensive to repair, and which is a bit aesthetically challenged, like a Volvo, over a Lexus, Acura, or Infiniti?

[ryanms3030]

Originally Posted by Exitus Acta Probat

Indeed, they've never been particularly popular here, but I recall seeing many more of them in the past, circa 20 years ago. However, I cannot recall having seen even one recently, save the occasional run down beater on life support. And looking at the Volvo website, there are some models I don't think I've ever actually seen on the street, such as the Polestar, though I've seen countless comparables from BMW, Mercedes, and Audi.

I think Volvo would be smart to change their grill style and emblem, because right there is probably what's killing their brand.

Polestar, which is just a tuned version of the S60/V60 is interesting because it fills the gap that Volvo has always had with performance enthusiast cars. But the Polestar is pretty lackluster when compared to a BMW M3 for about the same price. Not to mention you can get a Corvette Stingray or any number of American new school muscle cars for less that will blow the doors off the Polestar. But they have never understood the performance market. They had the C30 hatchback a few years ago that if nothing else looked unique but cost more then a VW GTI or Subaru WRX and was woefully underpowered compared to those cars and many others in the same category. Volvo made a living on safety but now in a world where every manufacturer is at the same level of safety there is nothing unique about Volvo. And seriously as a luxury brand, I think the high end Hyundais like the Equus and Genesis are much nicer then the equivalent Volvos

[Exitus Acta Probat]

Originally Posted by majoun

It's been 30 years since Honda entered the high end market with Acura, and 27 years since Toyota and Nissan entered the luxury market with Lexus and Infiniti. Given the Japanese companies' reputations for reliable, well-built cars, why would the prospective customer for vehicles like that pick a car with a dubious reputation for reliability, which is super-expensive to repair, and which is a bit aesthetically challenged, like a Volvo, over a Lexus, Acura, or Infiniti?

There are many people where I live who seem to prefer European cars over Japanese cars in regards to expressing their financial status, regardless of overall value for their toman...um...I mean dollar. I see plenty of BMW's, Merecedes', and Audis, but Volvos are few and far between.

I was unaware that Volvo had quality issues, which surprises me.

[majoun]

Originally Posted by Exitus Acta Probat

There are many people where I live who seem to prefer European cars over Japanese cars in regards to expressing their financial status, regardless of overall value for their toman...um...I mean dollar. I see plenty of BMW's, Merecedes', and Audis, but Volvos are few and far between.

I was unaware that Volvo had quality issues, which surprises me.

If one can afford a vehicle like that and wants something European, there's no reason not to go German. Mercedes and BMW have long been more popular than Volvo in California.

Volvo has quality issues when you compare it to the Japanese or the Germans. Now, if you're comparing it to Chrysler or GM, OTOH....

[ryanms3030]

Originally Posted by majoun

If one can afford a vehicle like that and wants something European, there's no reason not to go German. Mercedes and BMW have long been more popular than Volvo in California.

Volvo has quality issues when you compare it to the Japanese or the Germans. Now, if you're comparing it to Chrysler or GM, OTOH....

A lot of Jews still refuse to buy a German car