David S. Wallens
David S. Wallens Editorial Director
7/20/18 10:47 a.m.
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The XC40 is Volvo’s new entry info the “compact luxury SUV market.”

But here’s the big news: In addition to traditional buy and lease programs, it’s also available as part of the new Care by Volvo program. This is a 24-month “subscription plan” that includes Liberty Mutual insurance, scheduled maintenance and concierge service. And then, after 12 to 24 months …

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Duke
Duke MegaDork
7/20/18 10:53 a.m.

That's about what I'm paying (including insurance) for a fully loaded 2017 AWD S60 Inscription with almost nothing down and 0% financing.  At 4 years old it will be paid for outright and will have less than 25,000 miles on it and 10 years of payment-free ownership left.  I do not think I am their target market.

The0retical
The0retical UltraDork
7/20/18 10:58 a.m.

In reply to David S. Wallens :

Considering the effort a lot of people expend on their phone, or at least with the frequency they complain about them, I'm not sure that's the parallel I'd want to draw.

Vigo
Vigo UltimaDork
7/20/18 11:15 a.m.

Eh, car ownership is so passe. You could call this 'too soon', or you could call it cutting edge! Home ownership will be the next to go. This changing economy will eventually 'relieve' people of many of the 'burdens' that come with pesky ownership. DRM is a scary acronym. 

 

To give Volvo credit, it really will be difficult to get yourself killed in their car when you can no longer accelerate or turn at the wrong time (because you don't control it). 

This is probably the golden age of Volvos that are beautiful and perform well and can be owned and operated by the technical minority of the American population that can actually purchase a new car. 

mtn
mtn MegaDork
7/20/18 11:23 a.m.
Duke said:

That's about what I'm paying (including insurance) for a fully loaded 2017 AWD S60 Inscription with almost nothing down and 0% financing.  At 4 years old it will be paid for outright and will have less than 25,000 miles on it and 10 years of payment-free ownership left.  I do not think I am their target market.

 

This is going after the leasers. 

Matt B
Matt B UltraDork
7/20/18 11:34 a.m.

What mtn said.  It doesn't sound that revolutionary.  It sounds like a marketing terminology slapped on bundling insurance with a lease.  I guess that's different, but I'm pretty sure I can manage to get a better rate than whatever Liberty Mutual has averaged out for this program.

300zxfreak
300zxfreak New Reader
7/20/18 12:38 p.m.

Welcome to the latest in a generation of cars designed for 20-something gamers. I have a BMW 328i XDrive that is a great driving car, but a lousy car to operate. Same shift pattern as the Volvo it appears, along with multi-level menus to navigate in order to do something simple like adjust the climate control, or select the audio source, and don’t even get me started on having to push the “Start/Stop” button TWICE to shut off the car, or pull the door handle TWICE to exit the stupid car.

I always wanted a Bimmer, finally got one, and now I’m just ambivalent about the whole experience, next let’s address my favorite: Run Flat Tires..........

I’m much happier driving my 1990 Nissan 300ZX TT..........

Duke
Duke MegaDork
7/20/18 12:50 p.m.
300zxfreak said:

...don’t even get me started on having to [] pull the door handle TWICE to exit the stupid car.

The double pull is because it self-locks when driving, or you are locking it while you are inside.  The first pull unlocks it; the second pull opens it.  Turn the self-locking option off and the doors will open on a single pull.

The double-pull thing is nice if you are the type who drives around with the car locked (like my wife is).  On my TSX I have to remember to unlock the doors first using the switch, then go to the door handle.  On my old E46 all I had to do was make a quick double-pull and I was out.  Much easier.

300zxfreak
300zxfreak New Reader
7/20/18 3:31 p.m.

In reply to Duke : I kind of understand their logic, but all my latest cars have auto lock, and it still only takes one pull to exit.......I think BMW has a case of Hondaitis, they just do some things because they can.

 

z31maniac
z31maniac MegaDork
7/20/18 3:35 p.m.
300zxfreak said:

In reply to Duke : I kind of understand their logic, but all my latest cars have auto lock, and it still only takes one pull to exit.......I think BMW has a case of Hondaitis, they just do some things because they can.

 

I'm not sure you're an objective source considering your professed love for dried out vacuum hoses devil

nutherjrfan
nutherjrfan SuperDork
7/20/18 8:05 p.m.

Looks good in the flesh. Not often I walk over to a new vehicle to check it out.smiley

300zxfreak
300zxfreak New Reader
7/20/18 9:06 p.m.

In reply to z31maniac : I’ll have you know that all my vacuum hoses are perfectly pliable and supple.

Duke
Duke MegaDork
7/21/18 9:10 p.m.

In reply to 300zxfreak :

In more than 50 years of self-awareness, I have never been in a car that just opened from the inside even when it was locked. 

Knurled.
Knurled. GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
7/21/18 9:49 p.m.
Duke said:

In reply to 300zxfreak :

In more than 50 years of self-awareness, I have never been in a car that just opened from the inside even when it was locked. 

Ford has done that for years, the inside door handle also unlocked the door.  Kind of a double-action door handle.

 

This was good, because Ford lock buttons went flush when locked, so you couldn't manually unlock them from the inside, pulling the inside door handle was the only way.

 

They started doing this roughly around the same time that they required TWO hands to get the key out of the ignition.  Right hand on the key, left hand to push the button on the left side of the column that allowed you to rotate the lock cylinder all the way back so you could get the key out.

Aspen
Aspen Reader
7/21/18 9:55 p.m.

In reply to 300zxfreak :

BMW: stop button turns engine off, locking door turns rest off, or it will turn off after 10 minutes, no need to press button twice.   Climate is easy... fan speed button and a temperature knob for 95% of what you want. I find the radio pretty straight forward and no worse than my Sony in the Suby or the Lexus radio, Ymmv

 

You can program locks to unlock when you turn off the engine, needs to be coded by dealer or get coding software if you really can't stand the double pull.

Run_Away
Run_Away GRM+ Memberand HalfDork
7/22/18 12:16 a.m.

How does the insurance thing work?

$750 per month for anybody? So if someone has a terrible driving record it's still $750?

 

Matt B
Matt B UltraDork
7/23/18 8:41 a.m.
Run_Away said:

How does the insurance thing work?

$750 per month for anybody? So if someone has a terrible driving record it's still $750?

 

Someone told me that applicants have to "qualify" for the program, so LM has an out for the truly terrible. That could be inaccurate hearsay though.

Knurled.
Knurled. GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
7/23/18 11:30 a.m.

In reply to Matt B :

Don't you have to qualify for a lease anyway?

Matt B
Matt B UltraDork
7/23/18 11:56 a.m.

In reply to Knurled. :

Yeah, I'm just saying the insurance part is just one more requirement.

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