Mercury vs. Volvo

[Norboo]

What is the difference and which is more reliable?

thank you.

 

[superpop]

Re: Mercury vs. Volvo

Volvo

 

[cmyers_uk]

Re: Mercury vs. Volvo

Volvo, Do a search though on this forum , this came up before a few months back.

 

[Dunaruna]

Re: Mercury vs. Volvo

[colour=blue]Both make quality units, both have problems.

The power plants are essentially the same - GM.

 

[DaveM]

Re: Mercury vs. Volvo

You might want to check on where the nearest certified Volvo service center is in your area. The lack of available Volvo parts and service in the Seattle area was a surprise to me. And for that reason I would go with Merc next time.

 

[gregtay]

Re: Mercury vs. Volvo

You might want to check on where the nearest certified Volvo service center is in your area. The lack of available Volvo parts and service in the Seattle area was a surprise to me. And for that reason I would go with Merc next time.

Or just affordable Volvo service centers! Seattle Boat Company might offer great service but they are very $$$$$. I take my boat down to Gonnasons in Kent... they do Volvo and they don't overcharge (but you won't get a fancy building and a cup off coffee when you drop your boat off.)

Isn't there a Reinell dealer in Woodinville now?... I would think they would sell/service Volvo.

 

[vipzach]

Re: Mercury vs. Volvo

For both of you guys that jumped in and said Volvo..........I want to see some proof or are you just saying that because there are more merc ?'s on here?

 

[calwldlif]

Re: Mercury vs. Volvo

I luv having a Volvo.........
untill it is time to FIX

 

[blouderback]

Re: Mercury vs. Volvo

Mercruiser.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Mercury vs. Volvo

Talk to the ones who work on them and see what they say.

 

[jastacey]

Re: Mercury vs. Volvo

I've had Mercrusier and now I own an old Volvo 280 outdrive, I had to do some repairs to the outdrive and what I found is: cone clutch, smooth shifts vs. dog clutch with an interupter switch = more things to go wrong, and the shift cable is very easy to change out. mercruiser heats-up on long cruises, needs drive showers = more money, also the aquamatic drives run much cooler, mercruiser's have a gimbal bearing that always craps out, volvo's have a intermeadiate housing what does away with the rear engine mounts = no alignment issues once the engine layout is set-up. changing the bellows is very easy on the aquamatic drives, vs: PIA for the Mercrusier, if your going to build a high torque motor, the old aquamatic drives will handle the higher HP, mercruiser had to wait for the patents to expire, before the came out with the bravo drives, which are very close to a copy of a volvo drive, the only issues I have on the older volvo's are lack of power trim and that dammed reverse lock.

 

[AlanR]

Re: Mercury vs. Volvo

Mercruiser. Every bodys owned one and theres lots of parts out there So it brings the price down alot, Also there really bullet proof

 

[Cptkid570]

Re: Mercury vs. Volvo

jastacey, I agree with what you said about the older volvos. Very nice design, very easy to work on. Bulletproof drive. But the tilt/trim system wasn't very good.. and the mechanism to keep the drive down in reverse sucks.

Norboo - this is on the older volvo outdrives. You didn't mention what year you'd be getting.

 

[DaveM]

Re: Mercury vs. Volvo

[Seattle Boat Company might offer great service but they are very $$$$$. I take my boat down to Gonnasons in Kent... they do Volvo and they don't overcharge (but you won't get a fancy building and a cup off coffee when you drop your boat off.)

Isn't there a Reinell dealer in Woodinville now?... I would think they would sell/service Volvo.

For those not familiar with this area, traffic (2:30PM - 7:30PM) makes the 13 miles to Seattle a 1+ hour drive. Kent is pretty far, but traffic is better (45 min) and that makes it worth a try. Thanks for the tip.

Perhaps something changed at Seattle Boat Company, but they were always far too busy to deal with me--service rolled over to voicemail and they never returned calls. A sales dude referred me to a place in Ballard for Volvo service. And although they sell Volvo (my boat came from there), they did not stock Volvo parts.

I have used Yarrow Bay Marina--very pricey, huge service backlog, but very good. Friendly too. There is a new dealer in Woodinville that I need to check out.

 

[cmyers_uk]

Re: Mercury vs. Volvo

For both of you guys that jumped in and said Volvo..........I want to see some proof or are you just saying that because there are more merc ?'s on here?

Cone Clutch much better than my friends CLUNK guess your in gear then Gary,

The 4 mins it takes me to change the impellor,

Duo Prop

To me the question is who is unhappy with their Volvo? Most people I read about will recommend them, secondly things dont get a reputation unless there is some basis behind it (black anchor).

If you are happy with your merc great I'm happy with my volvo and when I change it will be for another Volvo. It does not worry me that there are more Merc questions on here , there are more in circulation so its to be expected.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Mercury vs. Volvo

I have owned both Volvo and Mercruiser(Dog Clutch). This includes older style Volvo as well as latest Volvo. Have also owned stringer OMC and OMC Cobra.

If you are comparing Volvo with Mercruiser dog clutch there is no comparison...Volvo hands down. Since I have not owned a cone clutch Merc, I can't comment on those.

 

[calwldlif]

Re: Mercury vs. Volvo

Looking at the main page of this forum
all I see is Merc:'(

 

[Don S]

Re: Mercury vs. Volvo

Looking at the main page of this forum
all I see is Merc:'(

Don't forget all those OMC (Other Mercruiser Company) posts

 

[bigbrownbuku]

Re: Mercury vs. Volvo

no contest. volvo is far easier to work on/repair then mercruiser.

if i ever meet the bright spark that mounted the cool fuel module under the engine mount ill have a few quiet words.
there seriously are better alternatives for mounting a water pump also.

volvo drives > mercruiser drives

dont even get me started on searays.........

 

[Bondo]

Re: Mercury vs. Volvo

Well,....... While I can't argue the Cone Clutch Vs. Dog Clutch,.......
No Doubt the Cone Clutch IS Better,.........

IF you're a Junkyard Dog like Me,.....
Building boat drivelines out of Recycled Parts,......

Mercruiser Can't be Beat,.......
In My area,... There are probably 1000 Merc.s for every Volvo.......
That means I can Find Merc.s,+ their Parts for Little or Nothing.......
Where as Volvos Co$t an Arm,+ 2 Legs for very Simple parts.......
And,.... Availability,......
Mercruiser parts can be found EVERYWHERE...............
Volvos,..??..... Well,... You'd Better be Very Friendly with your local Parts Supplier........
'Cause He's going to Own your childs college education,.. Long before your child is college age.........

And,...... The Commonallity,+ Interchangability of the Mercruisers Can't be Beat.........