Shake, rattle and roll with the C70 convertible (Volvo C70 2.0 T Convertible)

Member Name: UKGuy

Product:	Volvo C70 2.0 T Convertible
Date:	20/11/05 (1741 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Open air motoring with room for 4 (just)

Disadvantages: scuttle shake, dated switchgear

It was courtesy of the Volvo 'Freedom' event that I found myself behind the wheel of the C70 2.4T Convertible for 45 minutes. A longer drive would have enabled me to really get to know the car, but alas I only had just under an hour so this review is very much about first impressions.

I first 'woke up' to Volvo's C70 when I saw Val Kilmer's movie "The Saint". He cut a dashing picture in this sleek bronze coupe that looked every bit as elegant and powerful as the character himself. I even remember sitting in the cinema thinking "I wouldn't mind one of those!". That was back in 1997 - have I changed that much?

From the outside, the drop top is still a reasonably good looking car, given that it was launched in the UK some ten years ago. With many convertibles of that era it definately looks better with its fabric roof down rather than up, but either way it's a car that still enjoys a little presence if only now because it's interesting in a dated sort of way. Purists will say it rides too high, with cavernous gaps between the top of the tyre and the wheel arch, but there's probably a reason for that as we'll see.

Slipping behind the wheel you're cossetted by a well padded leather seat which is adjustable in all the right directions, and which is firm yet forgiving compared to many of todays rock hard excuses for car seats. It's once you're settled in that seat that you realise you sitting in a child of the (early) 90's - in fact I'd have put the switchgear styling as even earlier! While the three dials (fuel/temp, speed, revs) are clearly laid out in front of you, there is a myriad of switches arranged in a row either side of the steering wheel. There's headlights - instrument lights - front fogs - rear fogs - headlamp adjustment (steering wheel) 'STC' - roof - info (with a twist selector under it) - heated screen. The inner switches are of course well hidden by the steering column, but I guess you learn where they are. You then have your heater and climate control dials/buttons, below which is a rather busy looking stereo unit. I dare say it all works well enough, and all the toys are there, it just looks so... dated. As for the wiper and indicator stalks, they're like something out of Blake's Seven. All in all it's functional rather than inspired.

My biggest surprise was yet to come as I fired her up and gently pulled away across the Losely Estate. With the outside temperature at a sunny but frosty 5 degrees, I just had to have the roof down as this is what these cars are all about - wind, or in todays case, frost in the hair. Still, with my somewhat eager heated seat quite literally cooking my behind and the heater vents angled carefully towards my hands, I wafted out towards the public roads which is where I got my first shock. This car felt about as solid as a jelly sitting on a table with a wonky leg!! I could barely believe the amount of scuttle shake on all but the smoothest stretches of road. While my seat felt firmly enough attached to the chassis, the doors, steering column, dashboard and windscreen all gave the appearance of an amateur dance troup - struggling to stay in step but not quite managing it. The result was this wobbly, shuddery feeling that I haven't experienced since my 1972 Triumph Spitfire. There just seemed to be no stiffness to the body, and despite the ride actually being quite compliant and soaking up minor irregularities reasonably well, it left me feeling that you'd have to be a seriously loyal Volvo fan to want this as your sunshine stallion. Ok, maybe it would be unfair to compare this 6,000 mile '05 reg example against say an Audi A4 cabriolet of the same age, but the two really are like chalk and cheese - the A4 feels just soooo much more solid and precise. Fortunately there is an all new C70 in the pipeline and I can only figure that it will wipe the floor with this older model. That said, this car is still on sale in the UK for a not-insignificant £25,000, so all I can say is - wait until the new model comes out, and let's hope it's a lot more solid to drive than this one.

Ok, aside from the bodywork that has a mind of its own, it's not a bad car to drive. As I said, the ride is relatively supple, the seats are comfortable and supportive, and visibility is ok with the hood up. Performance from the 2.4T doesn't actually feel that quick, yes 60mph comes up in around 8.5s but it does it without any neck-snapping or tyre scrabbling fuss. As for 70mph and beyond, well it's not the sort of car I'd want to explore that 137mph potential in given the lack of overall stiffness, and as for hustling it down country lanes, the lack of taught handling doesn't inspire confidence. Volvo have always made a big thing of safety in their cars and I don't doubt that this model has all manner of protection gizmos, quietly waiting should the worst happen. All you need to know is that it should take care of you, although the funny thing is that as I drove this car I got the distinct impression that here's a car wearing an '05 plate on top of some early 90's design and technology.

So where does that leave the C70? As a new car it just doesn't make sense. The new C70 looks so much nicer, has a folding steel roof that looks as good up as it does down, and must surely ride a a heck of a lot better. So what about as a 2nd hand ride for high days and holidays. Well I guess it would make a capable tourer for two (any more than that and you have no room for luggage in the smallish boot), but there have to be better alternatives, and after all, Volvo's only enjoy 'average' reliability. The current A4 cabrio can be found for under £20K, and a 2nd hand BMW 3 Series convertible would perform better, albeit at a slightly higher price. Nope, I can only think you've got to be a die-hard Volvo fan to want this car - actually that sounds a lot worse than it is. Styling is ok (if dated), ride is ok, running costs are average, it's really just refinement (scuttle-shake) where it loses out, which for a biggish cabrio of this type is probably where it would want to play it's trump card - to hook all those country folk who like a nice waft around the lanes. Sadly, all they'll get is their monacles and pearls being shaken loose!

I had high expectations for this car, after all Volvo market it as 'performance, precision and stability'. Sadly it may have been able to boast that catch phrase a decade ago, but today you simply can't impress your mates and loved-ones with this comfy but shakey convertible.

Did you know?
- As you're raising the roof, two red lights flash above the rearview mirror... just in case you missed the large black roof pirouetting above your head!
- The roof takes 30 seconds to open.
- When folded, the roof takes about 75% of the available boot space!
- I never did discover all the various settings for the 'info' button.
- The heated seats are either 'Off' or 'Roasting'.

Summary: Comfortable and spacious drop top but with vibro-massage steering wheel.

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