I'm in Love and will buy a beer of your choice

[Dargan]

I finally prized myself out of my faithful 240 (at 600000km) and into my new (well for me anyway) chariot. I am reliably informed from US posts that I can cruise at 99mph all day in this steed but it isn't going to happen on the Sunshine Coast to Brisbane run. This is a sneaky shot to see if you know your cars. I will buy a beer (of your choosing) to the member who can identify my new love correctly. If a Xmas meet member you can collect this Friday if you are right, others will have to come to the Sunshine Coast to collect.
See http://www.pixspot.com/displayimage.php ... 0006&pos=0

[MCWB]

Hmm, is it a Volvo 850?

[xerubus]

Hmm... I'd say it's the 1996 Volvo 900 series... 960 to be precise..

[BBJ]

I'm with xerubus, It's a Volvo J's Volvo: '960'1996 red one goes faster.LOL

[bago100]

Dargan

Did you say 600,000?

It's a Volvo - no idea what model.

Should be a great car, but even Volvo acknowledge, the drivers are a bit of a worry

Hope you and your car have a long happy relationship!

[the foto fanatic]

Couldn't see whether there was a hat on the parcel shelf to be absolutely sure, but the headlight & wipers suggest a Volvo.

I'll keep my eyes peeled for you on the Sunshine Motorway.

[Dargan]

Xerubus got it almost to the year. Lucky your in Brisbane too, so I owe you on top of the Moet when I return. Bago100 and others in the area we will sort out a pub meet downtown before Xmas?

If you like Coopers that would cap it off, but its your choice when we meet. I pick up the little beast this Tuesday and only hope it goes halfway to being as good as my faithful 240 (yes it has done 600000 km and I would put money down that I could do another 200000km in it if I wanted too, and it is the original motor) I have handed it on to my eldest son.

[gstark]

Couldn't see whether there was a hat on the parcel shelf to be absolutely sure, but the headlight & wipers suggest a Volvo.

I'll keep my eyes peeled for you on the Sunshine Motorway.

The wheels are pure Volvo.

For obvious reasons I chose to steer well clear of this thread.

[Dargan]

Good 'turn' of phrase Gary. I am hoping this implies the Swedish brick is in your good books?

[gstark]

Let me put it this way: I appreciate that Volvos are good cars, with excellent primary safety features.

Unfortunately, many of those who drive Volvos rely upon the secondary safety features, rather than their vehicle control skills and the primary safety features, to keep them safe whilst travelling from point B to point of impact.

[xerubus]

Xerubus got it almost to the year. Lucky your in Brisbane too, so I owe you on top of the Moet when I return. Bago100 and others in the area we will sort out a pub meet downtown before Xmas?

If you like Coopers that would cap it off, but its your choice when we meet. I pick up the little beast this Tuesday and only hope it goes halfway to being as good as my faithful 240 (yes it has done 600000 km and I would put money down that I could do another 200000km in it if I wanted too, and it is the original motor) I have handed it on to my eldest son.

Guiness is my poison.

I think a pub meet would be wonderful. How about the breakfast creek hotel?

Good luck with the new car... and enjoy...

Cheers

[the foto fanatic]

Yes, I second that!

[MattC]

Unfortunately, many of those who drive Volvos rely upon the secondary safety features, rather than their vehicle control skills and the primary safety features, to keep them safe whilst travelling from point B to point of impact.

C'mon Gary, where did you get that from. That is unfair. In reality Volvo drivers are no different to the rest of us. If anything, it should be those who drive Land Cruisers in the city who should be wearing your comments.

Cheers

Matt

[Dargan]

I am completely immune from criticism and cocooned in my little safety cell etc etc etc.

Seriously though, I have owned some reasonably sophisticated wheels in the past eg; CX2400 low flying missile that it was, but I have grown to admire the engineering integrity of these Volvo cars and their longevity. They are half Greman made in any case. I used to ride bikes so I am seriously aware of other users on the road, 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. 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.

Possible photo theme forming in my mind to demonstrate the immense uselessness of these vehicles in city environments.

[gstark]

Unfortunately, many of those who drive Volvos rely upon the secondary safety features, rather than their vehicle control skills and the primary safety features, to keep them safe whilst travelling from point B to point of impact.

C'mon Gary, where did you get that from. That is unfair. In reality Volvo drivers are no different to the rest of us. If anything, it should be those who drive Land Cruisers in the city who should be wearing your comments.

As well.

But Volvo drivers are a different breed entirely.

I was driving on I30 in Dallas, returning from DFW to my home just north of downtown Dallas. There was a Volvo in the next lane; the car was travelling at about 60 mph. That's MILES per hour. The car was full of household effects; the driver was obviously moving house. But as I said, the car was FULL of household effects; all rearward vision was obscured.

It was jusy past sunset, dark, and the car had no lights on.

The driver was - again, at about 60 MPH - intently studying a roadmap.

I decided that somewhere other than adjacent to this particular accident looking for somewhere to happen was a better place to be.



And sadly, this is not atypical of how totally unaware of their environments Volvo drivers seem to be.

[gstark]

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.

[Dargan]

Perhaps we will have to meet Gary, to ensure that you can see I am not in a dreamworld of my own making. I have to say I half agree with you though as in this area (Buderim which has been described as the retirement capital of Australia) there are a few drivers of that type.

Stupid advertising promotions aside (bloody Volvo drivers etc) the latest crop of Volvos are pretty impressive vehicles eg; 200kw plus everything that opens and shuts.

You make some good points though, but they could be equally relevant to Pajero, Voyager, Tarago etc drivers on the road. I guess vigilance is the key primary safety issue in the same way that your index finger is the key factor in whether you can use a calculator or not.

See you on Friday night. I am ridiculously expectant about the D70 meet and am looking forward to a good night. Here's to future friendships.

[gstark]

Dargan,

Perhaps we will have to meet Gary, to ensure that you can see I am not in a dreamworld of my own making. I have to say I half agree with you though as in this area (Buderim which has been described as the retirement capital of Australia) there are a few drivers of that type.

A good friend of mine lives in Laguna Hills CA - I'll be visiting him over the holidays, having just found a decent airfare to the USofA - very near a large retirement centre called Liesure Village, or something along those lines. Locally, it's colloquially known as Siezure Village.

The, er, driving around where he lives can be quite traumatic, with LOLs peering out from below the wheel of a Caddie land yacht. I've noticed similar trends in Surfers Paradive.

Stupid advertising promotions aside (bloody Volvo drivers etc) the latest crop of Volvos are pretty impressive vehicles eg; 200kw plus everything that opens and shuts.

I agree completely: Volvos are great cars, and I've already acknowledged that. The problem is not the cars; it's the people operating them, and too often - largely because of their marketing - those people want that cucoon.

Then, when you get to the 26 year old Volvos still in great running order, it's the academics and/or students who get them. And they're often well into their own dream worlds too.

You make some good points though, but they could be equally relevant to Pajero, Voyager, Tarago etc drivers on the road.

Absolutely. The minivans are not as agressive as the 4WDs, but they do suffer from similar performance issues.

See you on Friday night. I am ridiculously expectant about the D70 meet and am looking forward to a good night. Here's to future friendships.

It's promising to be a great night.

Looking forward to meeting you, and those here whom I've not yet had the pleasure of meeting.

[Dargan]

Uh, Gary I am an academic. Not the dreaming spires type though.

[gstark]

Uh, Gary I am an academic. Not the dreaming spires type though.

There will always be exceptions that prove the rules.

[Matt. K]

Dargan
I got 500000 clicks ut of my old 240 and the head had never been off the motor. I gave the car away and recently saw it with 4 large newzealanders in it towing a yacht!
My 740 is giving sterling service and my next Volo will be the 940.
They are great cars. Enjoy!