Volvo C70— a beautiful package at a hefty price
By Lorne Drury, Staff Writer

Nothing says summer like a long, leisurely drive in a convertible.
And when it’s a spectacular-looking one like the 2008 Volvo C70, it makes the drive even sweeter.
However, as pretty and as competent as car as it is, it’s also pricey—$61,895 for the tester I recently drove.
Even by European price standards that’s getting up there, and the C70 is priced well above some other retractable hardtops like the VW Eos and Chrysler Sebring.
That said, if money was no object, I’d have one in a minute. In fact, I said to my wife that even though we have a different car to test every week, there are some that are harder to part with than others. The C70 is one such car.
Good looks is probably its Number 1 attribute, because the C70 is anything but practical. When you put the top down, there is very little room under a plastic cover that has to be pulled down in the trunk before the roof can be retracted.
Granted, there is a back seat which can be used for storage, but where do you put your luggage and stuff if you have to make a stop and don’t want to put the top back up and down again?
And speaking of the top, it’s something to marvel at when you push a button on the centre console to start it’s downward operation. In fact, the 25-to-30 second ritual is likely to draw a crowd as the three parts fold their way neatly on top of each other into the trunk.
On an earlier test drive of the 2007 model, we took a trip to Sarnia to visit family for a graduation ceremony. One of the neighbours happened to be outside and he is a big Volvo fan so he asked to see the top in operation. Before I was finished, the entire family was stationed at the edge of the driveway to see the retractable hardtop do its little dance in and out of the trunk area.
Some may call the retractable hardtop a fad, but I think they make so much sense in a country like ours. They do take up more trunk space and are less practical in that sense, but the hardtop idea sure is nice in the winter. But be warned, that many retractables are noisy and rattly when the weather cools down.
The C70 comes with only one engine, a 2.5-litre five-cylinder turbo, producing 227 hp at 5,000 rpm and 236 lb/ft of torque. It is mated with a smooth-shifting six-speed manual transmission that is a treat to operate. A five-speed automatic with manual mode ($1,500) is available as an option.
Horsepower is up nine over the 2007 model and a few new options are available on the 2008 model including Volvo Blindspot Information System (BLIS) and keyless drive ($575) that allows drivers to unlock the car and start it up without taking the key from their pocket.
Volvo’s brochure advertises room for four, but the 2+2 setup makes it cramped for taller back seat passengers, even with the front seats moved forward. But in a pinch, there is room for more than two passengers— something many convertibles on the market don’t offer.
My tester came in a striking Magic Blue exterior colour with a Passion Leather Calcite interior— an attractive combination.
Anyone who has been on a different planet for the past few years will have missed the transformation of  Volvo from boxy, squat, unattractive vehicles to sleek, sexy contemporary ones that still manage to maintain Volvo’s safety-first image.
Among the standard features are four-wheel anti-lock braking system (ABS), electronic brake-distribution (EBD), dynamic stability and traction control (DSTC), emergency brake assist (EBA), whiplash protection system (WHIPS), door mounted inflatable curtain (DMIC), roll over protection system (ROPS), driver and front passenger multi-stage air bags with knee pad, seatbelt pre-tensioners, side impact protection system with side impact air bags, collision energy management body structure and pedestrian protection. As you can see, Volvo hasn’t gotten away from making safety its top selling feature.
As with all Volvos, I loved the seats. The power front driver’s seat provided just the right amount of back and thigh support. Heated front seats came as part of the Premium Package ($2,850) that also included Passion leather upholstery, retractable side view mirrors with puddle lights, rain sensor, Homelink, auto dimming rear view mirror with compass and headlamp washers.
As mentioned, the rear seats are kid-friendly, but really not conducive for long drives for adult passengers.
If performance is your desire, you may be in for a bit of disappointment with the C70, based on the same platform as the S40 sedan.  With its sleek exterior look, the C70 has all the earmarks of a sports car despite its 2+2 seating.
However, with only 227 hp and a fairly hefty weight to propel, acceleration is far from sports car-like. Nevertheless, it’s more than adequate for most drivers. Torque steer, common for most turbocharged, front-engine cars,  is quite pronounced if you like to do jack rabbit starts, but in most cases, the C70 gets to speed smoothly and easily.
The ride quality is quite soft and comfortable for a convertible and there is a good degree of rigidity in the body when travelling rough roads.
The  interior  look  and quality is first rate as in most Volvos. The classic floating centre stack is an interesting feature that I particularly like. The leather-wrapped steering wheel is thicker than most and has a very solid,  substantial feel to it. A tilt/telescoping steering wheel is standard.
The weather couldn’t have been nicer for a convertible than during my time with the C70 so I had the top down at any opportunity.
On the highway at higher speeds with the windows up, there’s surprisingly little wind buffeting and with the upgraded Dynaudio stereo (a $2,250 option) cranked up, what could be better than a summer cruise in a convertible.
Starting at $56,795, the C70 is pricey yet more practical than many convertibles on the market thanks to its retractable hardtop. If you’re shopping for a luxury drop-top, be sure to put this one on your list for a test drive.

2008 VOLVO C70 T5
AT A GLANCE
BODY STYLE: luxury retractable hardtop
DRIVE METHOD: front-engine, front-wheel drive
ENGINE: 2.5-litre, turbocharged five-cylinder (227 hp, 236 lb/ft).
FUEL ECONOMY: 11.3L/100 km city (25 mpg) city, 7.5L/100 km (38 mpg) highway.
PRICE: $56,795, as tested $61,895
WEBSITE: www.volvo.ca