volvo pls
Volvo recalls 59,000 cars over software fault
51–60 of 68 posts
Re: Volvo recalls 59,000 cars over software fault
#52Why don't any of the luxury car brands (other than Lexus) focus on reliability? It seems so strange that the market is willing to pay ~$40-$80k for a car totally indifferent to its engineering quality. If I were to own a luxury car, I'd want to know its engineering is rock-solid first and foremost. I'd want to be proud of it as a machine not just a symbol. Maybe that's just a techie thing, though. Volvo has been noto…
> Why don't any of the luxury car brands (other than Lexus) focus on reliability
The Mercedes-Benz/Puch G-Class hasn't changed that much since 1979. It's a mid-size four-wheel drive luxury SUV, a real cross country vehicle. Deer hunters, various military, VIPs, presidents and the pope, many use the G-Class.
Re: Volvo recalls 59,000 cars over software fault
#53Jeep had a very similar recall. I have a 2007 Jeep Wrangler, the first year of the major redesign. This was the first Wrangler with modern electronics, including stability control. In the first year, there were three recalls for software updates.
The worst one was a tendency for the system to crash while going uphill at slow speed in hot weather. The crash caused the engine to quit and restart, the dashboard would blank, light up for self-test, and reset, the transmission would downshift, and the CD player would stop. However, everything did recover within one second. That sounds very similar to Volvo's problem.
Re: Volvo recalls 59,000 cars over software fault
#54Earlier quoted context omitted.
My power steering went out once. The car was drivable, but just barely. Likewise if you've ever pumped the brakes while the engine is off, you know that braking power drops to almost nothing. If that happened suddenly on the road 'loss of steering and brakes' is exactly how I would describe it. Sure it might not be completely accurate, but it is definitely a dangerous situation whatever you call it.
Eh, my car has a finicky engine and I've learned that it's perfectly drivable without power steering or brakes. I've lost power while taking tight turns, and while it was a bit surprising the first time or two I had no trouble keeping it under control. Unless the driver has significantly less strength than the average person, or is unwilling to drop whatever might be in their off hand to get it too the wheel, I'd say…
Newer cars generally have a much lower steering ratio (forgot the actual term for it) so steering without the power assist is a lot more difficult since turning the wheel fully in one direction might be only 1 full rotation of the wheel on a newer car vs 3-4 on an older one. Newer cars are also generally heavier making it even more difficult to steer.
Re: Volvo recalls 59,000 cars over software fault
#55Earlier quoted context omitted.
Eh, my car has a finicky engine and I've learned that it's perfectly drivable without power steering or brakes. I've lost power while taking tight turns, and while it was a bit surprising the first time or two I had no trouble keeping it under control. Unless the driver has significantly less strength than the average person, or is unwilling to drop whatever might be in their off hand to get it too the wheel, I'd say…
Newer cars generally have a much lower steering ratio (forgot the actual term for it) so steering without the power assist is a lot more difficult since turning the wheel fully in one direction might be only 1 full rotation of the wheel on a newer car vs 3-4 on an older one. Newer cars are also generally heavier making it even more difficult to steer.
How new are you defining newer to be? My car is a '96 mazda 626. I have driven around a '68 volvo, with no power steering and that definitely was much easier than my car when the engine dies. Has typical steering setup changed that much since '96? (Legitimately asking the question here, not trying to be rhetorical)
Cars have definitely gotten heavier as you say, and volvos have always been on the heavier side.
Re: Volvo recalls 59,000 cars over software fault
#56Is there any coding standards like in aviation (DO-178) for cars?
The scope is not the same as DO-178 but the nearest would be the Function Safety norm ISO 26262.
Re: Volvo recalls 59,000 cars over software fault
#57Why don't any of the luxury car brands (other than Lexus) focus on reliability? It seems so strange that the market is willing to pay ~$40-$80k for a car totally indifferent to its engineering quality. If I were to own a luxury car, I'd want to know its engineering is rock-solid first and foremost. I'd want to be proud of it as a machine not just a symbol. Maybe that's just a techie thing, though. Volvo has been noto…
Where is Volvo considered a luxury car brand? Here in the UK I don't know anyone who would call it that.
In many countries around the world it is definitely a luxury brand.
Re: Volvo recalls 59,000 cars over software fault
#58Earlier quoted context omitted.
Newer cars generally have a much lower steering ratio (forgot the actual term for it) so steering without the power assist is a lot more difficult since turning the wheel fully in one direction might be only 1 full rotation of the wheel on a newer car vs 3-4 on an older one. Newer cars are also generally heavier making it even more difficult to steer.
How new are you defining newer to be? My car is a '96 mazda 626. I have driven around a '68 volvo, with no power steering and that definitely was much easier than my car when the engine dies. Has typical steering setup changed that much since '96? (Legitimately asking the question here, not trying to be rhetorical) Cars have definitely gotten heavier as you say, and volvos have always been on the heavier side.
A 96 626 is on the older side as far as steering goes, and from what I recall driving that generation 626 it has a lower/looser steering ratio than most cars these days, though I can't seem to find any numbers with a quick search.
As far as how much steering systems have changed, many are still more or less the same variable ratio rack and pinion systems, but most have moved to electronic steering assist instead of hydraulic, which allows for a higher steering ratio since you can adjust the strength of the assist on the fly (to have more control/less of an assist at higher speeds and with the wheel centered but a stronger assist when slower and turning the wheel) so low ratios aren't needed to keep the wheel easily turnable at low speeds. On top of that some cars are going full on steer by wire now, though not many due to the understandable reliability issues.
Re: Volvo recalls 59,000 cars over software fault
#59I've rented a Volvo V70 for the weekend that sounds like it's just the model that they're recalling. So far, no issues, and given the ice patches on the road today I'd hope it stays that way. It's a pretty cool car otherwise, lots of nifty features to make driving easier and safer, like adaptive cruise control, lane warnings, dead angle warnings, automatic break (at low speeds) when detecting obstacles, like a car suddenly stopping ahead. If this thing would steer by itself I wouldn't have to do anything – if this is the way of the future then sign me up!
Re: Volvo recalls 59,000 cars over software fault
#60Earlier quoted context omitted.
Not sure where they got their data from, but see https://www.cartelligent.com/blog/which-car-brands-do-people... -- claims 67% leasing for MB, and 70% for BMW. It's common because people can't really afford them :-), and don't want to finance the full amount if they're not going to keep the vehicle past 3 years anyway.
I don't follow the line of reasoning that leasing is cheaper than buying outright. Via a lease you still pay interest on the full value of the asset, plus a negotiated cost having a relationship to depreciation. If leases were bad deals for the auto manufacturers they would probably stop writing them. One nice thing that a lease offers is a defined cost. If your luxury sedan turns out to be a basket case, the warrant…
Leasing is cheaper if you have to pay VAT (10% of the sale price in Washington) - you only pay it your lease payments, as opposed to the full price of the car.
If you want to drive a new car every three years, and you buy & resell, VAT will cost you a lot more then a lease.