New toys, auto edition...

Pilgrim · January 26, 2013, 08:20:04 PM

My wife is going to retire her 1994 BMW 325i (great car and runs like a watch, but has 160K miles and it's her business car). Finally found one she likes...2009 Volvo C30 Hatchback, very red!

The happy couple (you can't see my mouth moving, saying "Yes, dear"...)

OldManC · January 26, 2013, 08:23:29 PM

I love 2 door sedans and clubman style cars, and that one has the same look to me. I like it!

gweimer · January 26, 2013, 09:13:20 PM

Nice car! Reminds me a little of the old P1800 wagon.

Dave W · January 26, 2013, 10:33:44 PM

Quote from: gweimer on January 26, 2013, 09:13:20 PM
Nice car! Reminds me a little of the old P1800 wagon.

That's exactly what I thought!

Pilgrim · January 26, 2013, 10:39:04 PM

Exactly! Volvo purposely re-created the glass tailgate to echo the classic 1800ES. They worked hard to make it reminiscent of the classic sports wagon. It has good pickup, too - turbocharged I-5 engine. 0-60 is around 6.6 seconds, and I'm sure a moderate chip would improve on that.

Funny thing is that we went specifically looking for a manual transmission, which we both prefer to drive. My wife really liked the C30 but neither of us liked the clutch in the 6-speed model they had. It had light pedal effort and had practically no feel when it was coming into engagement. I've driven sticks for 40 years and still had trouble getting a smooth engagement and disengagement. We both had the same problem - we found it really difficult to drive it smoothly. We agreed that it might be a lot more pleasant to drive an automatic, so we tried the red one which is an auto 5-speed with a Tiptronic-style gate; we can move the shifter to the manual shift gate on the right and shift up and down manually.

She ended up getting the automatic, and I agreed it was a better option at this point.

Funny - I've had two Audis with turbo 5's (a 1984 5000S and a 1990 200) so I'm pretty comfortable with the idea of a turbo I5...even in a Volvo.

BTW - this is a long-established family dealership and they had a pristine dark green with tan leather Volvo 1800 coupe parked in the showroom...just like this white one I found a photo of.

rahock · January 27, 2013, 05:36:38 AM

I like Volvos

. I had a gold 1972 P1800 back in 72 and totaled it after about 2 years and then I bought a blue 1970 P 1800.
Good machines but expensive if something goes wrong.
Rick

Denis · January 27, 2013, 07:08:04 AM

Nice! I like the way those Volvos look. Simple, very pretty.

My 240 wagon is in the shop for a heart transplant and should be done in a week or so. I miss the hell out of my wagon!

patman · January 27, 2013, 11:10:28 AM

I had two different 240 wagons...loved them.

gweimer · January 27, 2013, 11:36:43 AM

I actually had a 240 wagon for a couple weeks years ago. I had borrowed it from my ex-FIL. I wanted to buy it, but couldn't come up with the cash at the time. Great car, though!

Rob · January 27, 2013, 01:50:15 PM

That wouldn't look all bad if it drove in reverse

Highlander · January 27, 2013, 01:53:27 PM

Quote from: Pilgrim on January 26, 2013, 08:20:04 PM
... you can't see my mouth moving, saying "Yes, dear"...

[Chevalier] Ah yes, ah remember eet well [/Chevalier]

Pilgrim · January 27, 2013, 01:54:15 PM

A concern today - some buyer's remorse on her part. She has been driving a BMW 325i and it's more responsive - just a snappier car and more a driver's car.

I'll get her decision tonight but we might be headed back to the dealership. Never done that before, should be interesting if necessary. Hope it's not. She's kind of on the fence. We usually keep cars 10 years or so, and it's hard for her to change cars.

Pilgrim · January 27, 2013, 06:21:44 PM

Looks like we're headed back to the dealership tomorrow AM. I've never returned a car but in business there's always a way to do things with an appropriate fee. It's worth it because we keep cars a long time and I want her to be completely happy with what she gets.

Life keeps providing new experiences, doesn't it?

Lightyear · January 27, 2013, 06:58:08 PM

Seems like here in Texas there's some kind of law that says "less than X days and under Y miles" you can return the vehicle - I could be wrong.

Pilgrim · January 27, 2013, 10:19:10 PM

State laws differ a lot, but this was bought at a long time family Volvo dealership that has a great reputation. I think we'll work it out OK. We did the deal late Saturday so they haven't had the chance to turn in paperwork anywhere. That may make it a bit more simple. I already have a voice mail in the Business Manager's phone.