Dargan wrote:I have grown to admire the engineering integrity of these Volvo cars and their longevity.
Absolutely. They're well made, and have wonderful primary and secondary safety features.
So too do Mercedes (better than all others in both respects, IMHO) BMW, Alfa and VW.
but I agree that some individuals do use their sense of 'invulnerability' to force their way. Having said that I seriously think that Volvo drivers are nowhere near as unaware of their fellow drivers as the plague of 4WD vehicles that inhabit our roads now.
There's a fundamental difference between the typical Volvo driver and the typical 4WD driver that you're referring to, and that's their attitude.
The Volvo driver is often in a dream world, possibly beligerently ensconced in their safety capsule. And yes, their vehicle is safe.
By way of contrast, the typical 4WD (or pretend 4WD) is infherently unsafe, with a high CofG making it unstable when a sudden change of direction is applied to it.
But their driver, rather than being in a dream world, often seems to think that because their vehicle is big, they must be safe, and they will charge through situations with an aggression that Arnie can only hope to emulate in a movie.
Where it gets really ugly is when you get a basically safe 4WD - BMW - with a typically arrogant young BMW driver in a hurry.
And for those in the know ... watch out for those who aspire to own a BMW. A VW Golf is their poison - it's German, after all - and don't even think about getting in their way!
Having lived in the country for many years now, I know where a 4WD is required and it is not in the main street of Noosa or the school pickup point.
I have no argument with that.