1998 Volvo C70 review

1998 Volvo C70
Sleek coupe emerges from boxy cocoon.

By Ray Thursby

Overview

Volvo has been reworking its image in recent years. Once known for building boxy, safe, utilitarian and somewhat stodgy sedans and station wagons, the Swedish company now gets plaudits from car enthusiasts for having transformed its products into performance cars for enthusiast drivers.

Safety and utility features have been retained and further enhanced. Yet those boxy edges have been rounded. And the last traces of lackluster performance have been swept away in a rush of turbocharged, double-overhead cam power.

For the benefit of those who have yet to notice these changes sweeping through Volvo's model line, the new C70 coupe is intended to serve as a highly visible rolling billboard.

Developed in association with Tom Walkinshaw Racing, an English company best known for its championship-winning Jaguar and Volvo race cars, the svelte C70 combines updated Volvo hardware in a dramatic new two-door design that makes for a most appealing package.

Walkaround

Volvo's chief stylist once remarked that saying he worked on the Volvo design team often had the effect of saying he was on the Dutch bobsled team. That's no longer the case. Volvo stylists have done a remarkably good job of making their new coupe look exciting and familiar at the same time.

In front, the trademark rectangular grille with its diagonal trim flash dominates, but this boxy element is surrounded by rounded forms that create a sporty appearance. In profile, the C70 has a contemporary look relieved by tastefully applied sculptural elements. Its proportions are similar to those of the new Mercedes-Benz CLK coupe, but Volvo's execution is more dramatic.

From the rear, the C70 exhibits a family resemblance to Volvo's S70 sedan. Wheels and tires make a large contribution to the C70's rakish, hunkered-down appearance. For years, stylists have exhibited sketches of concept cars that draw much of their visual appeal from large tires filling fender openings. Practicality usually cuts these down to a more traditional size by the time images on paper are translated into steel. Volvo chose to stay with the fanciful large rims and rubber, equipping the C70 with standard 17-inch alloy wheels. The optional 18-inch wheels, as supplied with our test car, are even more dramatic.

By class standards, the C70 is fairly large, riding on the same 104.9-inch wheelbase as its sedan sibling--with which it shares many chassis and drivetrain components.

Though only a single version of the C70 is offered, Volvo offers buyers considerable leeway in configuring the car to their preferences. There are, for example, two spring and shock absorber settings available (firm and firmer), two wheel and tire options, manual and automatic transmissions, traction control, heated front seats, upgraded leather upholstery and a choice of finishes for interior wood trim. Everything else the driver of a luxury sport coupe might want is already standard equipment.

A convertible version of the C70 is set to make its debut during the 1998 model year.

Interior Features

Long-time Volvo fans will find the C70's cabin familiar territory. The curvaceous yet somehow still blocky dashboard and center console, controls, fittings and materials are just what they will expect.

For newcomers, getting settled in is a matter of using the myriad of adjustments available for seats and steering wheel. Once the right fore/aft and up/down moves are made, driver and front-seat passenger will be comfortable in snug, supportive seats, and will have plenty of glass around them for unimpeded visibility. Leg- and headroom are abundant.

The back seat is a different matter. Getting in requires some squirming, after which adults will find space rather limited. If said grownups slouch enough to avoid having their heads contact the roof liner, they'll be short of legroom. In any case, the back seats are suitable only for short trips.

With two aboard, however, the C70 interior is first-rate. The instrument cluster has black numerals on gray-faced gauges; this changes to white on black when backlit at night. A trip computer is also provided. Knobs and switches feel substantial; they are large, laid out well, and easy to use. That's especially true of the radio and vent system controls.

Having an audio system speaker sticking out of the top of the dashboard looks odd but it, along with nine other speakers, is driven by a 400-watt amplifier and delivers unusually good sound reproduction. A three-disc CD changer is part of the package, which also includes AM and FM radio plus a cassette player. This in-dash three-disc changer seems like the perfect compromise between having a six-disc changer inconveniently located in the trunk and a CD player in the dash that holds only one disc.

Unlike many earlier coupes, the C70 has plenty of luggage space, accessed by a large trunk lid that opens right down to bumper level. The 13 cubic-foot compartment is squared off and fully lined.

Driving Impressions

The C70 takes some getting used to for drivers who haven't had a lot of seat time in sporty versions of the S70 sedan and V70 wagon. The 2.3-liter five-cylinder engine sounds strange and vibrates at idle or under acceleration. Some whistle from the turbocharger is apparent at low speeds.

After a momentary initial lull, the C70 accelerates from a stop with alacrity, gathering speed quickly once past its 2700-rpm torque peak. The lull and the rapid acceleration are both a result of the turbocharger. From there, the sky--and your driver's license--seem like the only limits; the coupe cruises happily at any speed the driver chooses. Despite this predilection for performance, the test car returned a commendable 21.5 mpg average, better than we expected given our rather heavy-footed use.

A five-speed manual transmission is standard. We think it's the best choice because it makes the best use of the power available. However, a four-speed automatic transmission is an option.

Penalties of the C70's suspension settings will be evident long before the benefits. Around town, the steering is unusually heavy, and the ride is harsh and jiggly unless the pavement below is flawless. Matters don't improve much as speed increases; most drivers and passengers will find the rough, jiggly ride and noise from engine and tires rather tiring in short order.

This can be easily cured by ordering a C70 with the softer suspension settings. Ride quality is sure to be more acceptable for everyday use. We'd also recommend sticking with the standard wheel/tire package, as ultra low-profile tires contribute to ride harshness. Unless you prize sheer cornering speed above all other factors, a C70 set up as the test car was will be more frustrating than fun.

The exception to this is when you're on the kind of roads sports car enthusiasts seek out. The C70 takes corners with agility, responds instantly to driver commands, and is fun to drive fast. Hard acceleration results in a tug at the steering wheel as engine torque fights with the tires, but otherwise the C70 gets high marks for its high-speed behavior. The brakes are superb as well.

Summary

Though much of the preceding evaluation may seem harsh, the C70 is a very nice car. The exterior is dashing and handsome, the interior is comfortable, beautifully trimmed, and the front seats are roomy. There's no shortage of performance, either.

But a prospective buyer must tread cautiously before signing the deposit check. Be sure, if looking for speed, that the stiffer suspension isn't too rough for your taste, and that the noise and harshness transmitted by the larger tire option are not more bothersome than their racy appearance is worth. Think carefully before making a choice between transmissions, too.

Make the right choices and the C70 can be a delightful and versatile sport coupe. It will still be too performance-oriented to have mass appeal, but for those whose tastes run to what it offers, the slinky new Volvo is a desirable proposition.

Source by : http://www.nctd.com