Volvo C30

I received my C30 2.0 in early June. Prior to this, the only cars I have driven for any appreciable length of time were Japanese non-premium models. Thus, the C30 represented a whole new driving experience which was initially rather pleasant, given the car's smooth handling and array of features. Although still largely acceptable, a few letdowns (some of which are pretty annoying) quickly surfaced.

The biggest bugbear is the long lag time and occasional violent juddering when shifting into reverse gear. There was more than one occasion when I was left holding up a whole string of cars in the middle of the carpark driveway, all of us waiting for my car to finally engage the reverse gear. At other times, especially if I shift the lever to reverse before the car has come to a complete stop, the car would convulse in violent stop-starts as it reversed. I have since learnt to stop the car before I shifted to reverse but none of my other, mass market cars have been so unforgiving.

Reversing woes, it seems, aren't limited to the gear. The locally-fitted reverse sensor is also subject to mood swings and at times, inexplicably beeps continuously as though I'm about to hit a wall even though I'm more than a car length from the nearest obstacle.

Although the drive is one of the better aspects of the car, the ride can be a tad bumpy. Passengers in my car don't seem to notice but I somehow get the feeling that my old Mazda 3 is easier on the bottom as it passes over the irregularities and humps on the road.

Other than these grouses, I'm generally satisfied with the car (only if I take into consideration the price I bought it for when the COE was rock bottom earlier this year) but I would not be overly enthusiastic in recommending it to those who may be looking to buy a car in this segment.