Volvo vs. Saab: Swedish models take their tops off

[91 s-10baja]

Volvo vs. Saab: Swedish models take their tops off
Surprisingly, a nation with practically no sunshine for much of the year produces a couple of pretty good drop-tops.
By Peter Valdes-Dapena, CNNMoney.com staff writer
July 14 2006: 6:45 PM EDT

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- You wouldn't think a Scandinavian country would produce very good convertibles. It's a little like getting your sweaters from Hawaii.
But the lack of sun might just be a plus for Swedish car makers. A convertible's flaws really show up when the top is up. It might look awkward. There can be wind noise. And, when you're not enjoying the sun on your shoulders and the wind in your hair, you start wishing for things like more back seat space.
Photo GallerySee more photosA good convertible is one that's good when its top is up, not just when it's down.
Two Swedish convertibles, the Volvo C70 and Saab 9-3, are similarly priced in the low-$40,000 range. In keeping with the Swedish tradition of concern for human welfare, both have airbags in all the right places, electronic stability control and rollover protection systems.
Both are reasonably livable drop-tops that you could easily stand to drive year-round.........

......
Is there a winner in this contest? Sorry, but not really. Neither car is bad but neither is perfect, either. As in many cases, it really depends on what you are in it for.
If you're not in it for excitement and you're willing to accept a less directly involved feeling in your drive, I'd say the Volvo is overall the better car. And darned sweet-looking, too.

http://money.cnn.com/2006/07/10/auto...bles/index.htm

[Quickening]

Even though its a tie basically, hopefully they review again with the refreshed 9-3. And hopefully get one with the Navigation (interior looks best with it), and with the refresh the interior quality is overall better. Heres to hoping

[GM-Joe]

I read that last week and my opinion is that I do not trust CNN, they have too many biases towards anything related to a domestic automaker. Earlier in the week they said the Toyota builds as many cars as Ford in the U.S.; that is about how much I respect their point of view.

But even as you read the article, you can just feel the bias from them, it is rediculous; no wonder people flock to the Japanese and Germans, they believe what they read, even if the source is uneducated or even frivalous.

Personally, I would take the Saab, even if I didn't own one because I think their convertible is the best looking 4 or 5 passenger convertible in the world.

[saturnsteve]

That new C70 is a nice car! I like the look of it a lot.

[mkaresh]

I actually find the new C70 much less attractive than the old one and even ugly. Awful proportions, overly obvious joints in the roof because of the thick siderails.

The G6 convertible is far more attractive, at least on the outside. Shame about the somewhat junky interior.

I don't currently have C70 pricing in my database. Would people be interested in it?

[MBHockey13]

I drove the new Volvo C70 when I was in Sweden. It is a VERY nice car - and it drove excellent!

[Butz]

Swedish models take their tops off

That would of been nice

[toronado10]

Originally Posted by Butz

That would of been nice

That's what I was thinking.

[big swede]

I think that these are two of the best looking reasonably priced convertibles for sale right now and I think it would probably come down to a test drive to be able to come up with a winner.

The thread might have the best title ever and would be a hands down winner if you took off the Volvo vs. Saab part.

[asim]

Originally Posted by saturnsteve

That new C70 is a nice car! I like the look of it a lot.

I actually like it too! I wouldn't mind taking one (well I wouldn't mind taking any car for free).

[Old Dood]

Originally Posted by asim

I actually like it too! I wouldn't mind taking one (well I wouldn't mind taking any car for free).

I always liked the Volvo styling...even the older boxy ones. Volvo's are decent cars. I just do not want to pay for repairs. Here in Mid Michigan there is not allot of mechanics that "know" allot about them. The dealership here in Lansing is not known for their stellar service.