It probably depends on the model of Volvo, whereas lexus is reliably reliable. I know the previous s40's & such were based on mazdas, which shouldn't be too bad for major problems.
The fuel economy and maintenance cost "savings" of a Volvo over a Lexus is nearly non existent. The fuel economy of a 2011 IS350 and an S80 are identical yet the S80 has a worse resale value and higher repair costs. Maintenance costs can't be less on the S80 because repair costs are higher. Typically a vehicle with low maintenance costs also has low repair costs. Some maintenance costs are fixed so two different vehicles would have similar maintenance costs. As for a 2016 S80 vs an IS200T, the fuel economy "improvement" is only 3mpg while again, the maintenance costs should be similar while the depreciation and repair costs should be higher for the Volvo.
That is an excellent question! A question only YOU can answer since after all, this whole comparison thing started off with you comparing an IS350 with a Volvo S80, cars from two different segments. It's funny that you exclude the IS200T but not the IS350 as the IS200T would sort of be an acceptable comparison to an S80. IS200T is more fair only because it's a turbo 2L vs the IS350 being a 3.5L V6 but otherwise, the vehicles aren't comparable as you've pointed out. IS200T/IS350 are actually compact sedans vs the S80 which is a midsize car.Thank you for your constructive input...
More assumptions and assertions without any backup.
The cars that I cited were 2016 MY from Edmunds, not 2011, as I've noted before. 2011 MY cars are clearly a different situation. For 2016 MY cars the S80 gets 29MPG combined and the IS350 (RWD) gets 22MPG or (AWD) 21MPG combined. See: https://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/bymodel/2016_Volvo_S80.shtml and https://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/bymake/Lexus2016.shtml
I don't know why you keep trying to correlate the S80, a full-size sedan, to an IS200T, a mid-size sedan. Stop making faulty comparisons.
No. Cars that are high maintenance are cars that aren't built very well and consequently are expensive to own. Older cars are more expensive to own than newer cars. Older cars are significantly higher maintenance than newer cars. A Prius is the lowest maintenance/least expensive car to own in its segment because it has no belts, no transmission fluid replacements (that it really needs in 10 years), no clutches, regenerative braking, easy on oil, inexpensive tires, and high reliability. Prius doesn't have a lot of parts that are known to fail. I mean, is it a repair or maintenance if you know you're going to have to replace a part on a regular basis? It's like the BMW throttle body problem that trident pointed out. Is that a repair or maintenance? Either way, very expensive and stupid.As for the relationship between maintenance and repair costs... wouldn't it make more sense that a car with a rigorous maintenance schedule would have low repair costs? With more failure points being inspected and/or adjusted regularly one would logically conclude that fewer failures would occur.
Since this topic is getting fairly out of hand, I figure I'd hijack and post a "what if" for AT garage to ponder with me:
I'm a mega Type A personality and need to plan and theorize my life pretty maximally. I foresee my next vehicle not being the tiny hatch/sedan of my yesteryear, but rather a mid/large family sedan, as I'm sure I will be married in a few years, and have some little wildlings within the next 4 to 5. Been looking at the Chevy SS and Dodge SRT8 pretty heavily as favorite in the sport-sedan segment. BWM/Audi are too expensive to get what these both offer: Ponies.
Have either of my fellow garage members partaken in any test drives of these 2 beauties, or maybe in fact own one??
I wouldn't touch a Dodge in a million years. They are garbage and will be falling apart after a few years of ownership. And unless you like acres of cheap hard plastic and rental car styling I'd avoid them like the plague.
I'd look at a used CTS-V if you want power. There is always the CPO route with zee German makes too. They make some pretty powerful V8 powered cars and if you can swing a 2 year old off lease model they've already taken that huge depreciation hit.
I'd certainly consider used. Just not sure I'd touch zee German cars ever, because once that CPO warranty runs out, I feel like I'd be dishing out the $$ left and right for fixes. MY friends 3 series had 3 coil failures in the 2 years he's had it.I wouldn't touch a Dodge in a million years. They are garbage and will be falling apart after a few years of ownership. And unless you like acres of cheap hard plastic and rental car styling I'd avoid them like the plague.
I'd look at a used CTS-V if you want power. There is always the CPO route with zee German makes too. They make some pretty powerful V8 powered cars and if you can swing a 2 year old off lease model they've already taken that huge depreciation hit.
Well, I'm pretty much set in life right now. Yeah things change, but I'm planning on marrying my current g/f, we've been dating for 3.5 years. My little mazda 3 is barely big enough to lug around my hockey bag, let alone a kid or two and all the various shit that goes along with it. I keep cars for long enough that I think about the 5-10 years of ownership.The wisdom of planning a car purchase for possibilities years down the road aside, and the need for that much power aside, if the chevy ss drives like its g8 predecessor it's imo a better driving car than the chrysler, which is boaty.
I've always wanted a V8 engine. This was confirmed when I drove my buddies 2016 mustang GT and nearly pooed my pants driving it as fast as I could. Nothing will ever replicate that sound or feeling of it. Sorry turbo 6's...The srt's are nicer than the rentals, as they should be. They still appeal to a certain demo though that values macho masculinity highly.
That is an excellent question! A question only YOU can answer since after all, this whole comparison thing started off with you comparing an IS350 with a Volvo S80, cars from two different segments. It's funny that you exclude the IS200T but not the IS350 as the IS200T would sort of be an acceptable comparison to an S80. IS200T is more fair only because it's a turbo 2L vs the IS350 being a 3.5L V6 but otherwise, the vehicles aren't comparable as you've pointed out. IS200T/IS350 are actually compact sedans vs the S80 which is a midsize car.
The correct comparison is an ES350 vs a Volvo S80. Even if you upgraded to the Hybrid ES300h, it's still several thousand dollars less in the MSRP. The starting MSRP on the Volvo S80 is $43K while the starting MSRP on the ES350 is $37K and $41K for the ES300h.
No. Cars that are high maintenance are cars that aren't built very well and consequently are expensive to own. Older cars are more expensive to own than newer cars. Older cars are significantly higher maintenance than newer cars. A Prius is the lowest maintenance/least expensive car to own in its segment because it has no belts, no transmission fluid replacements (that it really needs in 10 years), no clutches, regenerative braking, easy on oil, inexpensive tires, and high reliability. Prius doesn't have a lot of parts that are known to fail. I mean, is it a repair or maintenance if you know you're going to have to replace a part on a regular basis? It's like the BMW throttle body problem that trident pointed out. Is that a repair or maintenance? Either way, very expensive and stupid.
I've always wanted a V8 engine. This was confirmed when I drove my buddies 2016 mustang GT and nearly pooed my pants driving it as fast as I could. Nothing will ever replicate that sound or feeling of it. Sorry turbo 6's...
k that's cool, but it's not big enough for the needs that I see my life demanding in 4-5 years from now.You can drive that mazda 3 pretty fast too if you learn how to drive.
Yes I know it's not the engine itself. My 600cc sport bike only had 100hp and was the fastest thing I've yet to ride.
The main reason I'd like something with a bit more balls to it is for highway passing. Here in NJ, highway rush hour traffic is kill or be killed. You have to pass and drive super aggressive, or you get stuck behind 18 wheels and other grandma like cars in the right hand lane. The mazda3 is okay, I make it, but life would be a lot easier with moar ponies. That and as I said, more room.
I've been waiting for mazda to come out with a new model now for years. You'd think with the ST and now the RS out, they'd be at least releasing renderings or something. Mazdaspeed3 was my favorite hatch to drive yet.A Mazdaspeed3 would fix your power problem.
Again, if mazda showed any interest in making performance vehicles again, I'd be all over it.An even better value is the best mazdaspeed 6 you can find. I swear these things cost like half a used STI.
Anyway, the Chevy SS is going to be the better chassis than the chrysler.
My wife has fit our daughter+stuff in her 3 (and my 6) without any real issues for the last 14 months, and any issues will disappear completely once she is out of her rear-facing car seat in the next year-ish.k that's cool, but it's not big enough for the needs that I see my life demanding in 4-5 years from now.
Would have less storage space than your 3, I believeUsed ATS-V
Yeah 1 young child is fine, even 2 young children can fit in a smaller sedan/hatch. I'm thinking more along the lines when they are a bit older. But yeah this is all a "what if" and there's still plenty of time to plan and think.My wife has fit our daughter+stuff in her 3 (and my 6) without any real issues for the last 14 months, and any issues will disappear completely once she is out of her rear-facing car seat in the next year-ish.
The only time it was really an issue was for a long holiday road trip where I also wanted to bring my telescope (6" diameter and a big stand) along...so we just rented a crossover.
2nd kid at some point may require a new vehicle purchase to replace my 6, just to get another hatchback/wagon/xover in the fleet. Full-size cars will have more trunk than my 6, but shape has been more of an issue than bulk so far, so I'd rather have a hatch with less floor area than a bigger trunk.
Would have less storage space than your 3, I believe
True. Come to think of it, the ol ball and chain is buying a Forester sometime soon, so that'll still be kicking by that time. Her current car is an 07 Fusion with 180k on it.Well, for the first kid you still have a 60/40 split you can use no problem, or you stack stuff in the footwells of the rear passenger cabin (this is what we do when we take my 6 on a trip). By the time the second kid rolls around, the first one should need less stuff, and if you're buying on a 4-5 year time horizon you'll be on your next next car by then anyway.
This is the part where I mention that I wish there were still good station wagons these days. The Golf Sportwagen is a bit too small (only the cargo area of a Ford Escape), and Volvo/MB/BMW wagons are way too expensive.
True. Come to think of it, the ol ball and chain is buying a Forester sometime soon, so that'll still be kicking by that time. Her current car is an 07 Fusion with 180k on it.
Any excuse I have to keep a small sporty hatch/sedan is ok with me!!!! But... I'm sure she won't approve of my test drives of Impreza's, S3's and RS's :-/