OK, Ray, you've thrown down the gauntlet and I feel (as a Volvo 240
wagon and LBC owner) I have to respond. (apologies for the low LBC content)
> 1) Many of the people who buy Volvos because they are safer than other
> cars are the kind of drivers who *should* buy Volvos, because they are
> safer than other cars. Otherwise, they haven't a snowball's chance in
> hell of surviving to old age.
Considering the way I tend to drive my '8, I need all the help I can
get :-) Besides, somewhere along the way someone pasted a sign that
says 'hit me' on me and when someone runs a red light or makes an
illegal turn into me, I'd rather be in a Volvo than in my '8 (heck of
a lot easier to replace too :-)
> 2) There is a subset of Volvo owners why *say* they bought a Volvo
> for its safety, but in reality they are just feeling guilty for having
> spent $28,000 for a car in a world where children are starving.
Um, I never paid more than $5K for a Volvo in my life. And the last one
I bought only had 100K miles on it (barely broken in :-) Maybe you're
thinking of those folks that buy Lexi? :-)
> 3) Because so many Volvo drivers boast of accidents they survived only
> because they were in a Volvo, the prospective buyer of a used Volvo
> should assume it has been salvaged at least once.
You can usually tell if a train has hit it though (true story: I was at
a dealer where they had a 240 smashed all to hell. I asked what had
happened and they told me that a) a train had hit it and dragged it for
a bit and b) the driver walked away. It impressed me, although I think
anyone who would put their car in front of a train is somewhat deficient)
> 4) Contrary to popular opinion, Volvos *do* wear out. However,
> they often keep running long after they are worn out. Those who are
> extremely insensitive to matters mechanical may erroneously conclude that,
> because their Volvo runs and gets them places, it is not worn out. It is
> best not to get in the way of such people.
I had one with 250K+ miles. The engines generally don't need much attention
(other than timing belts) before 200K miles. Besides, by definition, if
it works, it's not worn out :-)
> (Comment on 4--to be fair to drivers of 240 series cars, I must concede
> that an overweight 4 cylinder car of antique design may give about the
> same driving sensations when it is new and when it is worn out.)
And they are much peppier than the wagons :-) And why is a fan of 20
year old auto design complaining about antique design? :-)
> 5) Those who buy Volvos because they expect them to last forever have
> clearly never asked themselves if this is a reasonable expectation,
> given that Volvo engineers cannot make the hubcaps stay on.
This merely shows that they have their priorities straight. I'd much
rather have the hubcaps fall off and the engine keep running than vice versa.
Besides, I have alloy wheels on my wagon so there are no hubcaps to fall
off :-) (they really set the rust off nicely too :-)
> 6) The model number on the rear of a Volvo has never made much sense, and
> as time goes on, it makes less and less. Only God and Swedish product
> planners know if a 740 costs more or less than a 850.
The 140 series actually made sense, as did the early 240s (242 = 2 door,
244 = 4 door, 245 = wagon). But for some reason this reasonable scheme
was abandonded. Anyway, I lost track after the 240s. I'm not interested
in daily drivers that cost more than $5K anyway.
> 7) Since the demise of the 544, only 17 people have ever bought Volvos
> because they found them to be fun to drive.
For fun, I have LBCs. For commuting and protection (and hauling) I have
a Volvo wagon. It's a real tossup over what hauls more: my S10 pickup
or my wagon.
So there! :-)
Paul "If you're gonna hit me, do it when I'm in the wagon" Amaranth
--
Paul Amaranth Manager User Services - office: (810) 370 4541 (also voicemail)
(e-mail) amaranth@vela.acs.oakland.edu
Mosaic page: http://www.acs.oakland.edu/links/amaranth/amaranth.html
Cars: '80 TR8(vroom!), '73 Stag(blown engine), '70 E-type (basket case)
|