It’s now almost ten years – I bought my current 2012 Volvo C30 T5 in Sept 2011. It’s been a great car – I usually get “new car syndrome” around every four years, but the Volvo has kept me entertained with its raspy 2.5 liter turbo five cylinder, 6 speed manual, and those great seats. But it’s getting time for a timing belt/water pump/cam seals change – not a cheap fix; especially here in Japan. I anticipate it will need a new clutch after that. And while I’ve been lucky, I’ve found that at the 8-10 year mark, most European cars will start to nickel and dime you. So I’m considering something new, and have pared it down to five models. I’ll likely pull the trigger this Summer or Fall when some of these models have new versions coming out – before then, I’d be interested in your opinion…
Toyota Crown RS. As I mentioned in an earlier post, I’ve had three different generations of Toyota’s Crown – and I was very happy with each one. They were typical Toyota – bullet-proof mechanically and very refined. I’m not a big fan of the current front styling, but it’s not a deal-breaker – and the rest of the car is extremely nice.
High Points: Meticulously assembled, very luxurious, dealer on almost every street corner – easy to service.
Lows: All things being equal, I kind’a prefer something a little sportier, not unique – see one on every street corner.
2020 Subaru Levorg at Tokyo Motor Show
Subaru Levorg. This is the WRX wagon that is not exported to the states. It comes with the 2.0 turbo flat four with 305 hp. The current model has been around since 2014 and a new version will be introduced later this year. Rumors are it will come with 1.8 and 2.4 liter turbo engines with lots more horsepower.
High Points: All the fun of a WRX with the space of a wagon.
Lows: Only auto transmission and it’s a CVT – Ugh…
Golf GTI. The new Mark VIII GTI looks really nice – I’ve always wanted one but have shied away due to the reliability reputation. But reports seem to indicate VW is improving on that score.
High Points: Delightful to drive – and you can get a manual!
Lows: That sneaky feeling in the back of your mind that something is about to go wrong.
2020 Mazda 6 Concept
Mazda 6 (Atenza). I’ve always liked the current generation Mazda 6 – I think it looks more like a Jaguar than any of that brand’s current models. It’s been around in its current form since 2013 and a new model is due this Jul – it’s a looker too. Mazda has also “premium-upped” their interiors recently, and they’re a very nice place to spend some time. It may also have Mazda’s new inline six cylinder engine.
High Points: Beautiful to look at – enjoyable to sit in.
Lows: Might have some new-model kinks to work out, but I doubt it.
Volvo V60. I like all of Volvo’s current models and as I mentioned, I’ve had good luck with the C30. This V60 wagon hits the sweet spot for me in terms of size and luxury – and the Scandinavian interiors are a thing of beauty.
High Points: The styling, the seats.
Lows: At the far end of my budget but think I can swing it.
Well, what do you think? I’m about 60% decided on one, but always appreciate more opinions; especially from our knowledgeable CC enthusiasts. Thanks.
I’m a Mazda fanboy for disclosure’s sake.
Either the 6 or the Volvo. I’ve heard terrible things about Volvo’s quality recently so if it’s already a stretch maybe it’s not the best idea but I think we can all agree that bad ideas usually look the best and in this case that’s definitely true. The V60 is car that I could see falling in love with easily, assuming it held up.
Mazda’s current move toward nice interiors makes the 6 a great choice. It’s a bit pedestrian but of course it’s also still a Mazda so you know it will drive alright. I doubt it will be available with a stick. Also Mazdas have often had first model year problems so maybe not the best idea to get an unproven one… That said their entertainment stack is better than anything else I’ve ever used just due to the great dial control, screen placement, and separate volume knob. It’s such a quality of life thing that I’d value it extremely highly.
Hard to go wrong with the Scoob if you’re fine with an aging design and somewhat disappointing interior just so you can go fast but at the same time I’d rather have the Volvo if I was getting a wagon because I’d rather be comfortable than fast day to day. It’s not that it doesn’t have appeal, but let’s be real here if it isn’t far and away the one you want, you’re probably not going to want to live with the compromises that make it what it is.
I’m completely flat on the VW and Crown for exactly the reasons you state. I don’t trust the VW and I’d only buy a Toyota once I was certain that I never want to enjoy driving ever again.
I saw a really nice ’75 AMC Concord online. It was a white hatchback with a blue interior. Not sure if it had A/C, but it did have an automatic, and AMC’s legendary seven main bearing straight six. A/C would be a fairly straightforward addition, as there are kits made for older cars. It was in very nice condition.
I’d choose the Volvo because of its styling alone. The current idiom for automotive styling seems to involve needless aggression and incongruity of line, but I feel like the current Volvo will age well. On the other hand, the new GTI looks pretty clean and it’s perennially lauded, so that too would be a nice choice.
Volvo, without a doubt.
The V60 and V90 are the best looking cars currently on the market.
Low, wide and sleek, they really stand out from the blobby, generic offerings of the competition.
GTI for sure. The others are larger than your C30 … if you need the space, I get it, but otherwise size would seem like a drawback in Japan. Plus the manual. Our 2015 Golf VII has been 100% reliable, albeit only 40K miles, and the driving experience (1.8T, 5 speed manual) and general fit and finish and detailing are superb. Plus the manual. If you really need a larger car, the Volvo would be my choice, though I haven’t owned one for 45 years 😀.
“What dman said”. My 2015 Mk VII Golf Sportwagen has been 99.9% reliable. Single issue: noticed rear dome light would turn off only if car locked. Repaired under warranty by replacing fixture. Gave me free loaner over long weekend. 1.8T, 5-speed manual FWD superb, averaging 6 l/ 100 km. Wagon’s extra 11″ length lets me easily stow long cross country skis, but it’s still a compact car. Mk VII is a mature proven design, Mk VIII could have first year issues, as has been reported in German press.
toyota or mazda. stay away from volvo. volvo’s are chinese owned and made where you are… and they are soon to be getting out of combustion engines going to electric only. they are warranty nightmares and repair nightmares out of warranty. nice thing with mazda is they are not associated with ford anymore and aligning with toyota on some models, so mazda quality today has gotten better. the mazda 6 used to horrible when associated with ford, but today i think i’d buy one. and toyota…. enough said about toyota. subarus are a tough one… the 6 cylinder is known to blow gaskets if you keep it for a while and the six is hard on the automatic transmissions…. if you have to go with subaru i’d go 4 cylinder manual made in japan… which is likey where you are. that’s my two cents.
I have owned Volvos and Mazdas. Beyond a shadow of doubt, the Mazdas have been better quality and more fun to drive. The Volvo just aged poorly. The only issue I ever had with the Mazdas is rust (a Mid-West virus).
There is a connection between your C30 and Mazda. The C30 shared the same platform as the Mazda3, and Mazda was the lead design for that global platform. You like your C30 because of the Mazda chassis!
Yes, Volvo’s have been good-looking vehicle’s over the past 2 decades, but Mazda has consistently been the better manufacturer of quality vehicles with great driving manners. This is a no-brainer!!!
I need to correct myself. Ford led the platform development for the C30, Mazda3, and Focus. Mazda led the platform development for the Mazda2 and Fiesta. The Mazda3 has since migrated away from the Ford Focus platform for 2 reasons —- 1. Ford divested it’s interests in Mazda about 10 years ago. 2. Mazda found Ford’s platforms were not weight efficient.
Bottom line, your C30 is on a Ford chassis, which was also shared with Mazda back then.
I can see the merits of all of them but if you’ve never owned a GTI of any sort then it’s time. Just like one simply has to own a Miata and an Alfa (any Alfa) at some point…
Well, the Crown RS is certainly honest in its badging, looking like a Lexus GS s160 from 1997 that is belching, the Subaru is an obvious lineal descendant of the Aztek and bestowed with an unfinished compromise name from a bitterly divided nomenclature committee, the VW Golf is driven by approximately 72 million people globally – 32 of whom have had no complaints – and may easily be lost, the Mazda out-Jags even Jags from the past but there is also an olde-Jag internal penalty and I seem to recall you are nearly 7”5′, which leaves only the Volvo, and you should too, unless for you it’s really Geely or nothing (their present reliability status being barely higher than the front spoiler).
So, a sensibly modernised Flxible Clipper it is then.
You’d fit comfortably, and you can still park it under a neighbour’s F-350.
Are you considering a hybrid on that Toyota Crown? There are two hybrid powertrains, a 2.5L four (223 hp) and a 3.5L V6 (354 hp), and just one non-hybrid, a 2.0L four (241 hp).
All good choices except the Subaru!
My in laws bought a new XC90 two years ago and it’s been very good to them. They’ve put a ton of miles on it already and many of those were pulling a heavy trailer, too.
That V60 is drop dead gorgeous.
That’s a fairly eclectic range to select from.
Personally, I’d probably take the VW (in red) or the Mazda, subject to actually seeing it
The Toyota and Subaru leave me unmoved, but may work/look better in Tokyo where I suspect I’d for an auto as well, and whilst the Volvo interior looks good, my experience with the previous V60 tells me that the driving experience, especially in an urban environment, was actually pretty poor. Bulky, awkward ergonomics and not that much space in the car considering the size.
I would say either the VW GTI love the interior or the Subaru WRX wagon. Going by looks on both of the choices. Not a fan of the Volvo’s interior, don’t like the front of the Toyota but the Monza 6 would be a 3rd choice.
GTI
Jim Brophy + Volvo =
His bus articles were amazing, he actually made me want to write about European buses for a while, especially the Spanish oddballs
Well I always keep cars for their entire lifetime as the new car disease has never really affected me. However, if I did have such an affliction and knowing my good history with Mazda I would take the 6. Only, of course, if it had a stick otherwise I’d pass as there will be no automatics for me as my daily drivers. Reliability is always first for me.
I know between the Mazda and the Volvo, at the 10 year point of keeping them, I could still get parts for the Mazda from Mazda but am sure I couldn’t from Volvo. I can still get OEM parts today for my 91 626 from Mazda.
When someone asks me for car buying advice my first question is always “how do you plan to use it?” You haven’t said much about that. Your current car is a size up and functionally similar to my MINI: Two-or-three seats with hatch and roughly a cubic meter for cargo with the rear seats folded. A handy size for urban environments. Sporting pretensions. And so forth. It sounds like you’re happy with that format and your main concern is future maintenance costs and reliability.
Then I look at the choices you laid out for us and I’m kind of baffled. The GTI is the obvious functional replacement, with the Subaru and Volvo having slightly more people space, a lot more cargo space, and a much bigger footprint. In the sedan choices it looks like comfort versus fun. It looks like you want to move in a new direction. Carry more adults in comfort? Haul more stuff? Impress the Geisha down the street (I kid)? Please tell us more!
Because this is the Internet I am obligated to comment on your choices. I’d go for the GTI for two main reasons: packaging efficiency (Japan!) and fun. Manual transmissions will not be around for much longer. As to the “big” wagons, the Volvo looks like a nice place to be, and I personally hate the CVT of the Subaru, but I’ll bet it makes more economic sense. As to the sedans, the Mazda 6 is “driver’s car” and the Crown is a “passenger’s car.” Where are you, in your gut, on that spectrum?
The good thing is none of them are bad cars. And of course, Johannes Dutch came through with a picture of what many of us were thinking ought to be the sixth choice.
GTI
Thanks very much for all the suggestions and advice – especially the humorous ones…
I’ll do a follow-up once I figure it out later this year. Jim.
I don’t know how things are in Japan.
Around here, my newest vehicle is my wife’s 2003 Trailblazer, ~240K miles. It will not get replaced until 300K or 20 years; potentially not even then.
My daily driver is a ’98 Monte Carlo; with not a single straight body panel, and the white paint falling off in dinner-plate flakes. On the up-side, Dear Old Dad didn’t drive it much; I’ve put on more miles in the three years I’ve had it than Dad drove it from new. Currently about 40K.
Fix the Volvo, keep it, don’t make a new-car payment.
What do you intend to use your new car for? All are good choices. If driving in the city pull the trigger on the new Golf. you only live once so you should have a car that you want. The new Mazda 6 sedan also works good. That’s the one to get if you can’t good get a deal on the VW. the Volvo is beautiful but may tend to bite you in the end. How long do you plan on hanging onto this car?
If you prefer a stick-shift, which of your choices are available that way.
Otherwise, I tend to value reliability first. So my choice would be the Toyota, followed by the Mazda. As someone mentioned, the Subaru CVT might be best avoided, and Volvo’s future and VW’s reliability is uncertain.
Happy Motoring, Mark