Volvo

aluminium cab = more chances to left the accident scene in body bags

 

I was looking at all the marketing stuff for Volvo & somewhere there is something stating that Volvo is the world's largest mfg. of diesel engines 9 liter & above. Maybe they should look at trying to be the most reliable at 9L < ?

There is a price premium for the ISX on the dealers lots over the D12's & when I asked a salesman at a dealer last week he gave me a straight answer & not some bogus sales pitch. He said that while the D12 is a all around good engine, you may get stuck looking for a place to have it fixed when it does break, paying a larger tow bill & waiting on parts. While I had seen/heard that elsewhere, it was good to see he was straight up about things from the get go.

 

I've driven Volvos before. Very nice riding trucks, with or without front airbags. The heaviest and most crashworthy trucks on the market. The only things I don't like are that the gauges are hard to see around the steering wheel, because of the airbag which I don't like either, and the big Dumbo-ear mirrors that you can't see around. Other than that I like them.

 

I drive an 07 VNL630 basically the same as the 670 but smaller midroof sleeper. It has the ISX cummins. At 427,000 miles I have had almost no problems with it in regards to mechanical. The things I dislike are as mentioned already gauges hard to see around steering wheel, steer axle airbags ( just makes the truck pull if you get in an uneven road or off the edge more than I think it should and causes it to "bounce around" on unsmooth roads ), for me I cannot get real comfortable at 6'4" because of legroom, but as far as fleet trucks go it is one of the better ones I have driven. I just have a hard time with it after driving a w900 for several years but all in all they are pretty good trucks. The one thing that I have heard is that once the Volvo's get older in age and higher miles on them they start to have electrical issues but as I stated 427,000 miles and none so far for me ( knocking on wood ). Hope this helps

 

I like them because they turn tight. They have one of the best turning radius in the market. I like to bad mouth them any chancce I get, but they are not really that bad of a truck at all. I drove one coast to coast and very north to south. I would like the truck better if I could make it mine and keep other stuff out of it.

 

I went from a Century to a 780, with an air ride front axle. A better ride, and the Century was a good ride. Tons more storage space. Slightly worse turning radius, but not much. At 260K having dash lights, radio, electric window problems. But always works fine when I'm near a dealer!

 

If it has NO trailer hand valve, and the Cummins ICON system, it's likely one of those (or these, rather) fleet spec'd trucks. I'm finding out, many dollars later, that these things have severe problems with electronics. And, engine model doesn't make a difference. When it goes bad, it's gonna get ugly. As in, I am really diligent with my money. To a point where I had saved almost half the note on the truck within six months. Now, about ten months later, I may need to file chapter 13. These things are white elephants. Do your research. Pay that ten dollars to read those articles regarding the lawsuits. You think the economy has put companies out of business? I'm learning, just in the last few days, that VOLVO has put a few out of business, as well. I, also, heard (from a VERY reputible source [a shop technician at a VERY LARGE carrier in which my truck came from]), that companies are trying to phase these heaps out of their fleets. I quote, verbatum, "We can't keep them moving long enough to make them worth keeping. I hope you got a good deal on it. We only paid $60,000 for them brand new. We're turning them out to dealers for $12-15,000 a piece. $18,000 for the really good ones." I imagine mine, being a 2006 model, wasn't one of the $18s. I paid, or singed a note, for $52,500, after a $10,000 cash down payment. Just for laughs, I took it to a different dealer to inquire about it's trade in value, under the guise of prospecting for a brand new one. On a brand new truck, I was told the best I could get out of it for trade is $15,000. How's that for a kick in the junk? Thinking of buying a Volvo 670? Run!!! As fast as you can to the nearest IH dealer. Or, just get ahold of me. I'll fix you right up with one. Hurry, though! Before it's too late!!! This one won't last! Anyone know where I can buy a pound of C4? Oh, wait. Nevermind. I'm broke. And, stuck 800 miles from home, with a truck that won't stay running long enough to get up to highway speeds.

 

Oh yeah. As a side note, I'll say this. I'm not a big fan of 379s. Mostly, due to their interior configurations. To me, they are kinda like supermodels. Fun to look at, but I'm not sure I'd wanna be stuck in one. But, the money you're gonna spend getting the run around on the Volvo would dress out a Peterbilt quite nicely. If I had it to do over again, guess what I'd be driving. Sorry, if I seem like I'm ranting, here. But, wanna make sure my point is clear. I just hate to see anyone take it in the shorts without, at least, gettin' a reach around. Don't be the sucker they see coming. I've driven many a Freightliner many a mile. The only time I lost my lunch in one wasn't because I was in a Freightliner. And, anyone who tells you different, about the 670s, either works for them, or has been pretty lucky. Ask these co. drivers about them. About half of them will tell you what I am saying. Fifty-fifty odds don't sound very good to me. I just wish I'd have listened to begin with. Like most, I saw a "cheap truck". I guess I was right about the first word. Good luck shopping.

 

I take it you own a es Swiftie truck. Some do have electrical problems and some do not. I have met happy owners to bad owners like you who want to get rid of this truck.

KH

 

I didn't, nor do I intend to divulge any names. Company, or otherwise. There were several involved. I called a few of them. I learned that one, in particular, did go belly up. They claim it was due to the use of these trucks. One of their major customers told them to get rid of the Volvos, or they'd find a carrier without them. They were an operation reporting $50,000,000 profits prior to biting the Volvo hook. Like I said. It's about fifty-fifty. But, would you want to be faced with those odds when buying a truck? I realize you weren't/aren't trying to shoot me down, here, Kinghunter. I just hope no one reads your post interpreted as promotion. Again, I hate to see anyone get roped into one of these. I'm aware that every make has problems. But, to this degree? By the way. I see you drive a Pete. Testify.