RD suede seats vs. Inscription full leather seats

jason_ · May 28, 2018

Chapps said:
Tempting, but all of them are quite a drive away. I might still do it, but would naturally call in advance. Galpin Volvo had an RD listed in their inventory, but when we got there, we found out it had been sold two days before to someone who paid cash and $1k over MSRP. I think that was a mistake for the dealership to make one customer happy while guaranteeing that they don't get orders from many other customers. Very short-sighted. I had gone in there, determined to order the RD (unless something was awful about the test drive), but without one to view in person, I walked out without becoming a customer. There were two other customers waiting there who were also very disappointed about being told that the RD demo was on the lot, only to find out it wasn't. They only had a single XC40 on hand - the demo Momentum, which seemed to have a flaw or two.

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Another reason dealers sell a demo is that it is getting high in mileage from all the test drives.

GrecianVolvo · May 28, 2018

jason_ said:
Another reason dealers sell a demo is that it is getting high in mileage from all the test drives.

True. As far as my market is concerned, I am ensuring they replace their demo with mileage with a fresh car so they always have a demo for a test-drive.

GrecianVolvo · May 28, 2018

Chapps said:
Galpin Volvo had an RD listed in their inventory, but when we got there, we found out it had been sold two days before to someone who paid cash and $1k over MSRP. I think that was a mistake for the dealership to make one customer happy while guaranteeing that they don't get orders from many other customers. Very short-sighted.

Galpin is not one of my stores (I know, they are in SoCal but they fall out of my area for some reason); I agree 100%. It's very short sighted to sell their demo since the supply is extremely limited. That is why I ensure most of my stores refresh their demo fleet; once a car reaches 500 to 800 miles, I tell them to sell it and put a fresh car in.

I had gone in there, determined to order the RD (unless something was awful about the test drive), but without one to view in person, I walked out without becoming a customer. There were two other customers waiting there who were also very disappointed about being told that the RD demo was on the lot, only to find out it wasn't. They only had a single XC40 on hand - the demo Momentum, which seemed to have a flaw or two.

That is exactly the very same reason I am advocating against selling a demo car.

Chapps · May 28, 2018

GrecianVolvo said:
Galpin is not one of my stores (I know, they are in SoCal but they fall out of my area for some reason); I agree 100%. It's very short sighted to sell their demo since the supply is extremely limited. That is why I ensure most of my stores refresh their demo fleet; once a car reaches 500 to 800 miles, I tell them to sell it and put a fresh car in.

That is exactly the very same reason I am advocating against selling a demo car.

Glad to hear (see) you saying that. I was very frank with the salesperson, letting him know that I felt his short term sale profit was at the expense of many more sales. If I had sat in an RD that day and liked it, I would have ordered one on the spot. Now I'm 3 weeks out and still haven't ordered my XC40. I'm hoping that one of the local dealers gets one soon. But l'll probably just order the Inscription (just wish it came in fire engine red!).

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Holliver · May 28, 2018

I may be a little late to the party and Gracian has already commented on the real/not real question. However, should anyone still be interested...

The official Swedish Volvo site describes the seats of the r-design XC40 as:

"Stolarna har paneler i nubuck med bolster och inlägg i perforerat nappaläder med kontrasterande vita sömmar och passpoaler för en verkligt sportig känsla. Nubucktextil är en vacker högteknologisk väv med enastående grepp och naturlig ventilation. Perfekt för vardagen tack vare att det är praktiskt och slitstarkt. Perforerat nappaläder har en jämn och naturlig finish och perforeringarna förbättrar ventilationen."

For those not fluent in Swedish, even if driving a Volvo (mind the possible poor translation) [emoji6]:

"The seats have panels of nubuck with bolsters and inlays in perforated nappa leather with contrasting white seams and "passpoals" (?) for a really sporty feeling. Nubuck textile is a beautiful high technology weave with astounding grip and natural ventilation [...]".

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Orphanscribe · May 29, 2018

Holliver said:
with contrasting white seams and "passpoals" (?)

"passpoals" = "piping" Thanks. Your input should end the debate. But it won't.

Chapps · May 29, 2018

Holliver said:
I may be a little late to the party and Gracian has already commented on the real/not real question. However, should anyone still be interested...

The official Swedish Volvo site describes the seats of the r-design XC40 as:

"Stolarna har paneler i nubuck med bolster och inlägg i perforerat nappaläder med kontrasterande vita sömmar och passpoaler för en verkligt sportig känsla. Nubucktextil är en vacker högteknologisk väv med enastående grepp och naturlig ventilation. Perfekt för vardagen tack vare att det är praktiskt och slitstarkt. Perforerat nappaläder har en jämn och naturlig finish och perforeringarna förbättrar ventilationen."

For those not fluent in Swedish, even if driving a Volvo (mind the possible poor translation) [emoji6]:

"The seats have panels of nubuck with bolsters and inlays in perforated nappa leather with contrasting white seams and "passpoals" (?) for a really sporty feeling. Nubuck textile is a beautiful high technology weave with astounding grip and natural ventilation [...]".

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Many thanks. Yes, I actually had Google translate that part a few days ago. I think I've moved beyond the 'is it or isn't it real leather' question to 'will I prefer Nubuck (textile) or regular ol' polished leather seats?'. I just can't find a local RD to drive/inspect. Maybe one of the local dealers will finally get a new one this week.

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Chapps · May 29, 2018

Orphanscribe said:
"passpoals" = "piping" Thanks. Your input should end the debate. But it won't.

Yep, probably not. And that's really Volvo's fault, not the folks here in the forum. They could solve it by calling it 'Nubuck textile' everywhere, but are playing coy with the US car market, where truth in advertising rules are far more lax than in Europe.

Regardless, I'd love to see this textile and judge whether I could live with that type of seating. Maybe I'll love it - but there's no way to tell without sitting in an RD. Which isn't available locally as of today. Sigh.

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Chapps · May 29, 2018

jason_ said:
Another reason dealers sell a demo is that it is getting high in mileage from all the test drives.

Not in this one case. The dealer had barely received the car when a customer offered them $1k over MSRP, and they said they couldn't say no. That lack of consideration for their other customers and potential sales really put a pause on my impending car purchase. I'll still do it, but I'm not very likely to use this place as my dealership.

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ChrisB1 · Jun 2, 2018

I had a similar experience with a dealership. In mid-late March I went to the dealership to see if I could have them track down a low-mileage CPO xc60. Sales Rep told me about the XC40 at that time (since it is MY2019, I mistakenly thought it wouldn’t be available till the Fall).

But they didn’t have a Momentum or an R-design for me to test drive, because their first batch “sold so quickly.” I.e., they made no effort to ensure there would be at least ONE at the dealership. Sales Rep said “come back next week” to test drive XC40. Meanwhile I have no car due to my prior car being totaled, and I’m supposed to wait a week just to test drive?

On my own initiative I went to another Volvo dealership, 25 miles away, to test drive the xc40 (they had only an R-DES with lava interior). So I test drove that one (but ultimately bought one from the first dealership I went to.)

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GrecianVolvo · Jun 2, 2018

Chapps said:
Not in this one case. The dealer had barely received the car when a customer offered them $1k over MSRP, and they said they couldn't say no.

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Very short sighted, IMO. Even if someone offered me $5,000 over MSRP I would not sell it. My thinking "I can make $5k over MSRP now or I hang on to it and make over 20 sales at MSRP in tHE next month or so by being able to provide test drives to interested customers"....not a Math major in college but I think I can figure out the math on this one.

rumyn · Jun 2, 2018

GrecianVolvo said:
Very short sighted, IMO.

Just FYI, this is a common practice here too. One dealer had an R-Design for 1 day as a demo, that was it. I got to sit in it for 5 minutes before it was sold that same day. Had to track one for a test drive 60 miles away.
All the R-Designs that delaers get now - all "pre-sold". It's been a good month now with lack of inventory.
Not a huge deal for us, we are in no rush, but even to place an order I'd love to get to know the product.

Chapps · Jun 2, 2018

GrecianVolvo said:
Very short sighted, IMO. Even if someone offered me $5,000 over MSRP I would not sell it. My thinking "I can make $5k over MSRP now or I hang on to it and make over 20 sales at MSRP in tHE next month or so by being able to provide test drives to interested customers"....not a Math major in college but I think I can figure out the math on this one.

Well, you clearly get it. This is also about establishing a relationship with a buyer so that they'll come back again and again , whenever they need a new car. Ironically, when I was at Galpin, the dealers were falling all over a couple who were there to pick out their umpeenth car with the dealership. They were clearly quite wealthy and were looking at the top of the line - kisses for all the dealers - but I felt left out in the cold. I think there was very little interest in pushing the XC40 vs. models like the XC90. Too bad, because I was ready to buy a car that day. Three weeks later, I still haven't ordered the XC40, because I still haven't been able to drive an RD. I'm not in a rush, but sooner would be better.

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SilveredLake · Jun 2, 2018

Chapps said:
Well, you clearly get it. This is also about establishing a relationship with a buyer so that they'll come back again and again , whenever they need a new car. Ironically, when I was at Galpin, the dealers were falling all over a couple who were there to pick out their umpeenth car with the dealership. They were clearly quite wealthy and were looking at the top of the line - kisses for all the dealers - but I felt left out in the cold. I think there was very little interest in pushing the XC40 vs. models like the XC90. Too bad, because I was ready to buy a car that day. Three weeks later, I still haven't ordered the XC40, because I still haven't been able to drive an RD. I'm not in a rush, but sooner would be better.

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I didn't enjoy my experience with Galpin. Culver City is much better and I'm sure they have an XC40 to test drive.

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GrecianVolvo · Jun 2, 2018

Chapps said:
Well, you clearly get it. This is also about establishing a relationship with a buyer so that they'll come back again and again , whenever they need a new car. Ironically, when I was at Galpin, the dealers were falling all over a couple who were there to pick out their umpeenth car with the dealership. They were clearly quite wealthy and were looking at the top of the line - kisses for all the dealers - but I felt left out in the cold. I think there was very little interest in pushing the XC40 vs. models like the XC90. Too bad, because I was ready to buy a car that day. Three weeks later, I still haven't ordered the XC40, because I still haven't been able to drive an RD. I'm not in a rush, but sooner would be better.

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Go to the stores I mentioned and you will be able to drive one. I know it's a "hike" but may be worth the time. Then you can order one.

SvenskSkott · Jun 4, 2018

Ordered an RD last week. I too was kind of concerned about the nubuck, mostly if it would stain. A lot of online reviews say it is very comfortable. Scotch guard has a nubuck specific product. I think I'll try that.

Fastfly · Jun 4, 2018

I was able to sit in a momentum and R-Design side by side and I thought the comfort of the front seats were comparable (R-Design being a bit more grippy like people have said).

The big difference for me was the rear seats. For some reason, both my significant other and I thought the rear seats in the R-Design were a LOT more comfortable than the seats in the Momentum.

Both rear seats suffer from lack of thigh support. The seats are just too short.

Fluffy · Jun 18, 2018

Having come from a Beemer with boston leather seats I felt I was compromising with the nubuck/leather on my R Design FE. 1k miles down the road though and I'm sold on these seats. The comfortable nubuck inserts do look a cool contrast that match the contrasting black roof and white paint of my car. I still like the idea of full leather but I'm definitely a convert with the Volvo nubuck/leather seats for the R Design.

jaynlisa · Jul 12, 2018

Chapps said:
Thanks for that personal review. Yeah, I'd prefer pure polished leather for the seats, as seen in the Inscription, but I also prefer the RD's styling. Damnit, I want that fire engine red paint job, not some subtle shade of gray. [emoji16]

Have you seen that "fire engine red" paintjob in person? It's very orange looking and not anywhere close to fire engine red unfortunately. I wish it were, or more like Mazda's soul red crystal metallic, but it's just too orangey for me.

subSwe · Jul 12, 2018

In the Swedish configurator you can fit a R-design with either leather or nubuck. Maybe possible to special order from US too?

RD suede seats vs. Inscription full leather seats

jason_

GrecianVolvo

GrecianVolvo

Chapps

Holliver

Orphanscribe

Chapps

Chapps

Chapps

ChrisB1

GrecianVolvo

rumyn

Chapps

SilveredLake

GrecianVolvo

SvenskSkott

Fastfly

Fluffy

jaynlisa

subSwe

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